miss sarah jack, of spanish town, jamaica-第4部分

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〃that　you　cannot　tear　yourself　away　for　more　than　one　day。　　You'll
not　be　able；　I　suppose；　to　find　time　to　come　to　our　picnic　next
week？〃

Maurice　said　he　feared　that　he　should　not　have　time　to　go　to　a
picnic。

〃Oh；　nonsense；〃　said　Fannyone　of　the　younger　girls〃you　must　come。
We　can't　do　without　him；　can　we？〃

〃Marian　has　got　your　name　down　the　first　on　the　list　of　the
gentlemen；〃　said　another。

〃Yes；　and　Captain　Ewing's　second；〃　said　Bell；　the　youngest。

〃I'm　afraid　I　must　induce　your　sister　to　alter　her　list；〃　said
Maurice；　in　his　sternest　manner。　　〃I　cannot　manage　to　go；　and　I'm
sure　she　will　not　miss　me。〃

Marion　looked　at　the　little　girl　who　had　so　unfortunately　mentioned
the　warrior's　name；　and　the　little　girl　knew　that　she　had　sinned。

〃Oh；　we　cannot　possibly　do　without　you；　can　we；　Marian？〃　said　Fanny。
〃It's　to　be　at　Bingley's　Dell；　and　we've　got　a　bed　for　you　at
Newcastle；　quite　near；　you　know。〃

〃And　another　for〃　began　Bell；　but　she　stopped　herself。

〃Go　away　to　your　lessons；　Bell；〃　said　Marion。　　〃You　know　how　angry
mamma　will　be　at　your　staying　here　all　the　morning；〃　and　poor　Bell
with　a　sorrowful　look　left　the　room。

〃We　are　all　certainly　very　anxious　that　you　should　come；　very　anxious
for　a　great　many　reasons；〃　said　Marian；　in　a　voice　that　was　rather
solemn；　and　as　though　the　matter　were　one　of　considerable　import。
〃But　if　you　really　cannot；　why　of　course　there　is　no　more　to　be
said。〃

〃There　will　be　plenty　without　me；　I　am　sure。〃

〃As　regards　numbers；　I　dare　say　there　will；　for　we　shall　have　pretty
nearly　the　whole　of　the　two　regiments；〃　and　Marian　as　she　alluded　to
the　officers　spoke　in　a　tone　which　might　lead　one　to　think　that　she
would　much　rather　be　without　them；　〃but　we　counted　on　you　as　being
one　of　ourselves；　and　as　you　had　been　away　so　long；　we　thoughtwe
thought；〃　and　then　she　turned　away　her　face；　and　did　not　finish　her
speech。　　Before　he　could　make　up　his　mind　as　to　his　answer　she　had
risen　from　her　chair；　and　walked　out　of　the　room。　　Maurice　almost
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
difficult