miss sarah jack, of spanish town, jamaica-第5章
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thought that he saw a tear in her eye as she went。
He did ride back to Spanish Town that afternoon； after an early
dinner； but before he went Marian spoke to him alone for one minute。
〃I hope you are not offended with me；〃 she said。
〃Offended！ oh no； how could I be offended with you？〃
〃Because you seem so stern。 I am sure I would do anything I could to
oblige you； if I knew how。 It would be so shocking not to be good
friends with a cousin like you。〃
〃But there are so many different sorts of friends；〃 said Maurice。
〃Of course there are。 There are a great many friends that one does
not care a bit for；people that one meets at balls and places like
that〃
〃And at picnics；〃 said Maurice。
〃'Well； some of them there too； but we are not like that； are we？〃
What could Maurice do but say； 〃no；〃 and declare that their
friendship was of a warmer description？ And how could he resist
promising to go to the picnic； though as he made the promise he knew
that misery would be in store for him？ He did promise； and then she
gave him her hand and called him Maurice。
〃Oh！ I am so glad；〃 she said。 〃It seemed so shocking that you
should refuse to join us。 And mind and be early； Maurice； for I
shall want to explain it all。 We are to meet； you know； at Clifton
Gate at one o'clock； but do you be a little before that； and we shall
be there。〃
Maurice Cumming resolved within his own breast as he rode back to
Spanish Town； that if Marian behaved to him all that day at the
picnic as she had done this day at Shandy Hall； he would ask her to
be his wife before he left her。
And Miss Jack also was to be at the picnic。
〃There is no need of going early；〃 said she； when her nephew made a
fuss about the starting。 〃People are never very punctual at such
affairs as that； and then they are always quite long enough。〃 But
Maurice explained that he was anxious to be early； and on this
occasion he carried his point。
When they reached Clifton Gate the ladies were already there； not in
carriages； as people go to picnics in other and tamer countries； but
each on her own horse or her own pony。 But they were not alone。
Beside Miss Leslie was a gentleman； whom Maurice knew as Lieutenant
Graham； of the flag…ship at Port Royal； and at a little distance
which quite enabled him to join in the conversation was Captain
Ewing； the lieutenant with the narrow waist of the previous year。
〃We shall have a delightful day； Miss Leslie；〃 said the lieutenant。
〃Oh； charming； isn't it？〃 said Marian。
〃But now to choose a place for dinner； Captain Ewing；what do you
say？〃
〃Will you commission me to select？ You know I'm very well up in
geometry； and all that？〃
〃But that won't teach you what sort of a place does for a picnic
dinner；will it； Mr。 Cumming？〃 And then she shook hands with
Maurice； but did not take any further special notice of him。 〃We'll
all go together； if you please。 The commission is too important to
be left to one。〃 And then Marian rode off； and the lieutenant and
the captain rode with her。
It was open for Maurice to join them if he chose； but he did not
choose。 He had come there ever so much earlier than he need have
done； dragging his aunt with him； because Marian had told him that
his services would be specially required by her。 And now as soon as
she saw him she went away with the two officers！went away without
vouchsafing him a word。 He made up his mind； there on the spot； that
he would never think of her againnever speak to her otherwise than
he might speak to the most indifferent of mortals。
And yet he was a man that could struggle right manfully with the
world's troubles； one who had struggled with them from his boyhood；
and had never been overcome。 Now he was unable to conceal the
bitterness of his wrath because a little girl had ridden off to look
for a green spot for her tablecloth without asking his assistance！
Picnics are； I think； in general； rather tedious for the elderly
people who accompany them。 When the joints become a little stiff；
dinners are eaten most comfortably with the accompaniment of chairs
and tables； and a roof overhead is an agrement de plus。 But；
nevertheless； picnics cannot exist without a certain allowance of
elderly people。 The Miss Marians and Captains Ewing cannot go out to
dine on the grass without some one to look after them。 So the
elderly people go to picnics； in a dull tame way； doing their duty；
and wishing the day over。 Now on the morning in question； when
Marian rode off with Captain Ewing and lieutenant Graham； Maurice
Cumming remained among the elderly people。
A certain Mr。 Pomken； a great Jamaica agriculturist； one of the
Council； a man who had known the good old times； got him by the
button and held him fast； discoursing wisely of sugar and ruin； of
Gadsden pans and recreant negroes； on all of which subjects Maurice
Cumming was known to have an opinion of his own。 But as Mr。 Pomken's
words sounded into one ear； into the other fell notes； listened to
from afar；the shrill laughing voice of Marian Leslie as she gave
her happy order to her satellites around her； and ever and anon the
bass haw…haw of Captain Ewing； who was made welcome as the chief of
her attendants。 That evening in a whisper to a brother councillor
Mr。 Pomken communicated his opinion that after all there was not so
much in that young Cumming as some people said。 But Mr。 Pomken had
no idea that that young Cumming was in love。
And then the dinner came； spread over half an acre。 Maurice was
among the last who seated himself； and when he did so it was in an
awkward comfortless corner； behind Mr。 Pomken's back； and far away
from the laughter and mirth of the day。 But yet from his comfortless
corner he could see Marian as she sat in her pride of power； with her
friend Julia Davis near her； a flirt as bad as herself； and her
satellites around her； obedient to her nod； and happy in her smiles。
〃Now I won't allow any more champagne；〃 said Marian； 〃or who will
there be steady enough to help me over the rocks to the grotto？〃
〃Oh； you have promised me！〃 cried the captain。
〃Indeed； I have not； have I； Julia？〃
〃Miss Davis has certainly promised me；〃 said the lieutenant。
〃I have made no promise； and don't think I shall go at all；〃 said
Julia； who was sometimes inclined to imagine that Captain Ewing
should be her own property。
All which and much more of the kind Maurice Cumming could not hear；
but he could seeand imagine； which was worse。 How innocent and
inane are； after all； the flirtings of most young ladies； if all
their words and doings in that line could be brought to paper！ I do
not know whether there be as a rule more vocal expression of the
sentiment of love between a man and woman than there is between two
thrushes！ They whistle and call to each other； guided by instinct
rather than by reason。
〃You are going home with the ladies to…night； I believe；〃 said
Maurice to Miss Jack； immediately after dinner。 Miss Jack
acknowledged that such was her destination for the night。
〃Then my going back to Spanish Town at once won't hurt any onefor；
to tell the truth； I have had enough of this work。〃
〃Why； Maurice； you were in such a hurry to come。〃
〃The more fool I； and so now I am in a hurry to go away。 Don't
notice it to anybody。〃
Miss Jack looked in his face and saw that he was really wretched； and
she knew the cause of his wretchedness。
〃Don't go yet； Maurice；〃 she said； and then added with a tenderness
that was quite uncommon with her； 〃Go to her； Maurice； and speak to
her openly and freely； once for all； you will find that she will
listen then。 Dear Maurice； do； for my sake。〃
He made no answer； but walked away； roaming sadly by himself among
the trees。 〃Listen！〃 he exclaimed to himself。 〃Yes； she will alter
a dozen times in as many hours。 Who can care for a creature that can
change as she changes？〃 And yet he could not help caring for her。
As he went on； climbing among rocks； he again came upon the sound of
voices； and heard especially that of Captain Ewing。 〃Now； Miss
Leslie； if you will take my hand you will soon be over all the
difficulty。〃 And
