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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 then a party of seven or eight； scrambling over
some stones； came nearly on the level on which he stood； in full view
of him； and leading the others were Captain Ewing and Miss Leslie。
He turned on his heel to go away； when he caught the sound of a step
following him； and a voice saying； 〃Oh； there is Mr。 Cumming； and I
want to speak to him；〃 and in a minute a light hand was on his arm。
〃Why are you running away from us？〃 said Marian。
〃Becauseoh； I don't know。 I am not running away。 You have your
party made up； and I am not going to intrude on it。〃
〃What nonsense！ Do come now； we are going to this wonderful grotto。
I thought it so ill…natured of you； not joining us at dinner。 Indeed
you know you had promised。〃
He did not answer her； but he looked at herfull in the face； with
his sad eyes laden with love。 She half understood his countenance；
but only half understood it。
〃What is the matter； Maurice？〃 she said。 〃Are you angry with me？
Will you come and join us？〃
〃No； Marian； I cannot do that。 But if you can leave them and come
with me for half an hour； I will not keep you longer。〃
She stood hesitating a moment； while her companion remained on the
spot where she had left him。 〃Come； Miss Leslie；〃 called Captain
Ewing。 〃You will have it dark before we can get down。〃
〃I will come with you；〃 whispered she to Maurice； 〃but wait a
moment。〃 And she tripped back； and in some five minutes returned
after an eager argument with her friends。 〃There；〃 she said； 〃I
don't care about the grotto； one bit； and I will walk with you now；
only they will think it so odd。〃 And so they started off together。
Before the tropical darkness had fallen upon them Maurice had told
the tale of his love；and had told it in a manner differing much
from that of Marian's usual admirers； he spoke with passion and
almost with violence； he declared that his heart was so full of her
image that he could not rid himself of it for one minute； 〃nor would
he wish to do so；〃 he said； 〃if she w