Hard Cash

gged an introduction. The great banker’s son was attended to at once. Julia saw them coming, as her sex can see, without looking. Her e

this dance, sir,

asked Hard

plea

p with clanking heel, and, glancing haughtily up at him, carried Julia off, like a steam-tug towing away some fair schooner. To these little thorns society treats all anxious lovers, b

he could see her daughter dance: on this he took her to the embrasure of a window opposite where Julia and h

tor. “In white? I did not see any beauty in white,” replied his da

tle captain? I don’t see much beauty

king and all,” suggested a

earls!” said a third

h: “who puts on real pearls as big as pe

ke a savage going to spring, that she laid her hand upon his wrist, and said gent

was winding in and out before their eyes a Grace, and her soft musli

it set out better. It’s as l

rn it was wa

it wa

a rag, no

move,” whis

quality unknown to these provincial shopkeepers; a rajah gave it us: her pearls were my mother’s, and have been in every court in Europe; and she herself is beautiful, would be beautiful dre

a heavenly smile; she had been furtively watching them

p to Hardie. “Do you know th

rls, in that exquisite Indian muslin, which floats so gracefully, while the o

a! Yes. In

ch a liberty with th

s, impetuous thing.” As for the hostile party, staggered at first by the masculine insolence of yo

of the ball?” ask

not that mawkish th

therington is the bel

ington?” asked the Ox

chalk-faced girl, dressed in pink with red

ooked at him with marked anxiety. He returned her look, and was sore puzzled what it meant, till he found Mrs. Dodd had withdrawn softly fr

, said authoritatively, “Mrs. Dodd sends me to conduct you to her. With your permiss

breath wooing his neck; oh, the thrill of that moment! but her first wo

am the most un

he added with one of her gushes of naivete, “and I

down the loveliest of her sex. Your mamma told me to keep quiet. And so I did till I got a fair chance, and

iving as to the pecuniary value of my costume; ha! ha! Oh — you — foolish! — Fancy noticing that! Why it is in little sneers that the approval of the ladies shows itself at

d the fairest of her se

ic, and Alfred’s company; “so now come and be reconciled to the best and wisest of her sex; ay, and

nt for you, real or feig

risk a scene. You served me right by abandoning me; I feel the reb

saw I had acquired a generous, hot-headed ally, who was bent on doing battle with insects; so I

struck

s dance; but it is a waltz and my guardia

daughters to romp and wrestle in public, and call it walt

nd said with a smile, “Well, perhaps it is a little ro

perhaps you can waltz p

had given his whole soul

opping the tyrant. Away with you bo

y made just two catlike steps forward,

erything was a thrill — the first meeting and timid pressure of their hands, the first delicate enfolding of her supple waist by his strong arm but trembling hand, the delightful unison of their unerring feet, the movement, the music, the soft delicious whirl, her cool breat

r danced a gauntlet. On each side admira

hey are turni

That’s how the o

w males: “How we

w females: “How

but themselves and the other music, till two valsers a deux temps plunged into them. Thus s

“You dance very well, sir.” This was said to justify her unguarded admission, a

I had so much

ll. I am all

hing — you are so good you seem to have forgotten it — but I dare not hope that — I mean at Henley

with true feminine and Julian inconsistency her bosom fluttered like a dove. “I never exchanged

d, and looked at her

made it, as acquaintances are made; but please to observ

covering his wits in part. “

d a lady of what you oug

you are an angel of

o join mamma,” said she in the

ery turn, and they took a good many in the space of a r

ed common-place views of a dau

y could stop him, and caught a fly. He was dripping. Mrs. Dodd expressed her regrets; he told her i

Mrs. Dodd to Julia, with a smile, as soon a

in the very next pew. He wore a calm front of conscious rectitude; under which peeped sheep-faced misgivings as to th

d calmly over the wooden partition, and made him read with her out of her book. She shared her hymn-book with him, too, and sang her Maker’s praise modestly and soberly, but earnestly, and quite undisturbed by her lover’s presence. It seemed as if thi

by the pailful; and she had a thick shawl but no umbrella. H

cessary; it

ut little; yet they seemed to interchange volumes; and, at each g

gress. But now for a time it advanced on beaten tracks. Alfred had the right to call at Albion Villa, and he came twice; once when Mrs. Dodd was out. This was the time he stayed the two hours. A Mrs. James invited Jane and him to tea and exposition. There he met Julia and Edward

as she could no longer keep Julia from knowing her worldly brother, and hoped a way might be opened for her to rescue Edward, she relaxed her general rule, which was to go into no company unless some religious service formed

at young lady keeps me on thorns. I never feel secure she will not say or do something extravagant or unusual: she seems to suspect sobriety and good taste of being in league with impiety. Here I succeed in bridling her a little; but encounter a female enthusiast in he

g and talking after sunset, yet without candles. She profited f

not equal to your sense; so profit by mine. A girl of your age must never be talked of with a person of the other sex: it is fatal; fatal! but if you permit yourself to be singled out, you will be talked of, and distress those who love y

faint voice. After a pause she faltered out,

hensions on that score; you are a child, and he is a precocious boy, and rather a flirt. Bu

revived. She saw plainly now that Mrs. Dodd only accepted Alfred as a pleasant acquaintance: as

ent and unguarded, under that penetrating eye, which she felt would now be on the watch. She rose hurriedly, said as carelessly as she could, “I am going to the school,” and tying her bonnet on all in a flurry, whipped out at the back-door with her shawl in her hand just as Sarah opened the

o book two of his eighteen to play against the All–England Eleven next month. “As for you, my worthy sir (turning to Edward), I shall just put you down without ceremony. But I must

ward, quietly. “Papa is no player at all. Anything

, played in first-rate form, left shoulder well up, and achieved — wit

at is that?” inq

the other Oxonian, com

t is tha

s egg,” and was becoming obsolete, meant the cypher set by the

on of the day penetrates to your ver

dundant: thrown in b

t does i

t. British is inserted in imitation of our

he captains “moral influence.” “Last match,” said he, “Barkington did not do itself justice. Several, that could have made a stand, were frightened out, rather than bowled, by the London professionals. Then Captain Dodd went in, and treated those artists with the same good-humoure

ion, should he reach home in time. Then, to get rid of Alfred before Julia’s return, the amiable worldling turned to Edwar

ith far less alacrity than he had ent

isit?” asked Alfred, a

. By-the-bye, I wil

l me out of a scrape. I promised to bring her here; but her saintshi

aid Edward. “I am not the a

a pretty sure sign she likes the looks of him. But perhaps you don’t want to be converted;

ly, “ I only wish she could make me

ss of it. Call at two, and Jenny will receive you very kindly, and will show you yo

” said Edwa

went the reader can perhap

which sat so well on him, “don’t you thin

ain time before replying sincerely) said she ha

fancies she is prettier than Miss Hardie. H

d withdraw from their acquaintance. Excuse me; I must pu

olled towards Hardie’s house. Mr. Hardie, senior, had left three days ago on a visit to London; Miss Hardie received him; he passed the afternoon in

went up-stairs, and put on her bonnet and shawl before the glass; then moulded on her gloves, and came down equipped. On the stairs was a large window, looking upon the open field; she naturally cast her eyes through it in the direction she was goin

Why was her head averted from that encroaching boy, and herself so near him? Why not keep her distance, and look him full in the face? Mrs. Dodd’s first impulse was that of leopardesses, lionesses, hens, and all the mothers in nature; to dart

red the s

urned away and made an effort to leave him. But Mrs. Dodd, standing there quivering with maternal anxiety, and hot with shame, could not but doubt the sincerity of that graceful resistance. If she had been quite in earnest, Julia had fire enough in her to box the little wretch’s ears. She ceased even to dou

she curved her stately neck to go, she caught the lovers’ parting; and a very pretty one too,

hey turned, declined, drooped, and rested one half moment on her captor’s shoulder,

hardly seated when Julia’s innocent voice was heard calling “Mamma, mamma!” and soon she came bounding into the drawing-room, brimful of good news, her cheeks as red as fire and her eyes wet with h

t soon the colour died out of Julia’s face as well, and she began to cower with vague fears

ve you be

e school,”

our compan

angry with me!

ian name! You try m

indeed! You frighten me. What will become of me?

s to be trusted after this. ‘What have you done’ indeed? Only risked your own mother’s esteem, and nearly broken

d looks!” and fell to sobbing so wildly that Mrs. Dodd altered her tone with almost ludicrous rapidity. “There, do not terrify me with your impetuosity, after

aid he, and would walk with me, and keep saying he loved me. So, to stop him, I said, ‘M-much ob-liged, but I was b-busy and had no time to flirt.’ ‘Nor have I the ininclination,’ said he. ‘That is not what other

speech; as much as to say

r once retreats, nor even st-ops. ‘But I ask you to be my wife,’ said he. Oh, mamma, I trembled so. Why did I tremble? I don’t kno

and said, “Was there

with you. But instead of that, my lord said calmly, ‘That was understood; he loved me too well to steal me f

swer that did

im such a treasure as Me unless I stood his friend?’ (For the b-b-brazen Thing turns humble now and then.) And, oh, mamma, he did so implore me to pity him, and kept saying no man ever loved as he loved me, and with his begging and praying me so passionately — oh, so passionately — I felt

moment she was caught up with Love’s mighty arms, and her head laid on

tance again, nor unheard. “And therefore,” said she, “let me hear from your own lips how so serious an

ing her head, “you are mistak

ooked all a

ave; and, woman-like, dwelt on the depths of loyalty and delicate love she had read in Alfred’s moonlit face that night at Henley. She said no eloquence could have touched her like it. “Mamma, something said to me, ‘Ay, look at

s due to the influence of Dr. Whately. For, by nature

secret? Why not trust me, your

nd hoped so you would take them, and make me speak out. But when I tried to tell you plump, something kept pull — pull —

mind must surely have gone to sleep. I was a poor simple woman who thought her daughter was to be always a child. And you were very wrong to go and set a limit to your mother’s love: t

ood deal embarrassed, but this was no sooner seen than it was relieved by Mrs. Dodd with tact and gen

and said, “No: he left for Lond

d be to write to him at once. I need hardly tell you that w

atter of reasonable form, I prefer he should answer for himself.” Alfred would write by this post. “It is a mere form,” said he, “for my fathe

eir lives from the best of parents. Returning to the topic of topics, he proposed an engagement. “I have a ring in my pocket,” said this brisk wooer, looking down. But this Mrs. Dodd thought premature and unnecessary. “You are nearly of age,” said she, “and then you will be able to marry, if you are in the same

uld indeed be ungrateful if I could not wait a post for

m with writing materials, and

ILLA, Sep

I should have told you of it before you left, but in truth I had no idea I was so near the goal of all my earthly hopes; there were many difficulties: but these have just cleared away almost miraculously, and nothing now is wanting to my happiness but your consent. It would be affectation, or worse, in me to doubt that you will grant it. But, in a matter so delicate, I venture to ask you for something more: the mother of my ever and only beloved Julia is a l

ter is my first step towards leaving the paternal roof under which I have been so happy all my life,

t go far from you. I have been unjust to Barkington: or rather I have echoed, without thought, Oxon

to say, it is that very lady’s daughter; and I think when you see her you will say the breed has anything but declined, in spite of Horace mi

father, and believe me, ever

ED HA

is masterpiece. She hesitated. Then he told her with juvenile sev

call me names,” said she, turning it off after her fas

ely. “You and I are to have no separate existence

per for me to hear. I shall not like it

e delicacy that had tempered her curiosity

ou from your papa, I will never estrange you from him; oh, never, never. May I go for my work? For methinks, O most erudite, the ‘maternal dame,’ on domestic cares intent, hath confided t

ty children’s great cloaks: her mother had cut them, and in the height of the fa

chance of his speaking! How often she said one thing so as to express its opposite, a process for which she might have taken out a patent! How she and Alfred c

dull for her mother. To have such a thought was to fly to her; and she flew so swif

? I am a wretch. I

have but surprised the natural regrets

kewarm to my own sweet, darling, beautiful, blessed, angel mother? Look at me: I am as much your Julia as ever; and shall be

hat even virtue can only pour when young, and youth when virtuous; and, at the words I have emphasised by the poor device of capitals, two lovely, supple

ld. You are turning to a woman visibly: and you were such a happy child. Hence my misgivings, and these weak tears, which you h

ia replied, from Alfred, that Jane had received a letter last night, and, to judge by the contents, Mr

ou call h

; has not much mind, Alfre

. Dodd. “What? madness in the fa

in a great hurry; “no madnes

A serious doubt passed through her, whether, if Mr. Hardie did not write soon, she ought not to limit

ion Villa his head-quarters. Darting in from London, h

heek by chowl.” Julia turned scarlet, and Alfred ejaculated so l

puppy’ was: and she never would tell me. All I could get from her,” added he, turning sudd

ly said no vainer,” c

o dissect himself just as he would a stranger. “I am a vain m

are that,” sugges

than you, young Oxford

ind

an, I’ve an eye like a hawk. And what’s that

n your favourite organ, the

Edward; “it is logic. He is coachin

ing, young Pidant. Logic is a

r we delight in

us, Ji

o’ your

at is a profounder remark than you seem

to Alfred, “I wish I could steal your poor dear headaches: you might g

ism by being nearly inaudible, and by

Is her sleep broken still, ma’am? Are her spirits up and down? Shall we have to go back t’ old Short

” said Mrs. Dod

e ducks: one of them did not s

amity was diversified and the mirth nowise lessened by consta

cards: he could play, yet talk chronothermalism, as the fair

m out of his pocket and undo them; presently Sampson, in his rapid way, clutched hold of them;

EATOR IN THE DAY

e young and comely Edward she wished to save from the diabolical literature, the painted perdition, and not the uninteresting old sinner Sampson

burning cheeks and compressed lips. “Dr. Sampson,” said she, with cold dignity, “you will, I am sure, oblige me by making no more comments; sincerity is not always discreet; but it is always respectable: it is one of your own titles to esteem. I dare sa

iano, and their words, uttered in a low voice, were covered

ve forsworn these vanities. I have

l; and surely we can choose our songs, as ea

re. At least I found it so; my playing was highly praised, and that stirred up vanity:

dear me, they praise every lady, even when we have been singing every other note out of tu

ed into temptation, and shall

t a temptation. At that

ing:” and a parent is not to be disobeyed upon a doubt. If papa were to insist on my going

me, my dears, Dr. Sampson is ge

dies’ singing is a poor substitute f

epends upon the s

y tell one fashionable tune from another; and nobody can tell one word from another, when t

aa Vaullee, Vaullee, Vaullee, Vaullee,

hat sounds l

but it’s Drydenish in ar

fate Fallen, fallen, fallen, fallen, Fallen f

nswer for Julia that she shall speak as dis

be in no hurry to spatter us with their word-jelly. Does some spark of pity linger

t Sampson recanted, and broke in upon the —” very pretty “—“how sweet”— and “who is it by?” of the others, by shouting, “Very weak trash very cleanl

, dearest; sing something

n go farther away, dear;

aving observed the contempt with which men of sense visit the sorry pretenders to music, who are tuneless and songless

rd for his double merit in having been born, and going to a ball. People who thus apply the fine arts in modern days are seldom artists; accordingly, this parasite could not invent a melody; so he coolly stole Aileen Aroon, soiled it by inserting sordid and incongruous jerks into the refrain, and ca

uniform a

y Bi

the immo

ble jerks, and her enthusiastic daughter having the optio

e the ea

en a

n childh

en a

ike a

h around

the fai

en a

he laug

en a

he timi

en a

he tend

string’d h

is Trut

en a

a valle

en a

a cotta

en a

at valley

a gentl

f the ha

en a

he song

en a

he dance

en a

her cha

er laugh

her co

en a

t with ti

en a

must fa

en a

are sack

s are sca

s a fix

en a

uence as fervid and delicate as ever rung in the Forum. She gave each verse with the same just variety as if she had been reciting, and, when she came to the last, where th

they meet!) heave the inner man when genius interprets. Judge, then, what it was to Alfred, to whom, with these great words and thrilling to

t her, open, but unread, in her hand, unable to take her eyes from the inspired songstress. However, just before the song ended, she did just glance down, and saw it was signed R

that a provincial banker could refuse an alliance with a creature so peerless as that. But so it was; and despite her habitual self-go

he piano in spite of remonstrance, and soon noticed her mother’s face; for from

, l

ything the m

It was the very heroism of courtesy; for their presence was torture to her. At last, to her infinite relief, they went, and she was left alone with her children. She sent the servan

, my beautiful daughter, who would grace the highest family in England.” With this Mrs. Dodd began to choke,

id Julia softly, “

, trembling a little, “have

ink I

ou will need them

but turned her own head away, not to