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image that he could not rid himself of it for one minute； 〃nor would
he wish to do so；〃 he said； 〃if she would be his Marian； his own
Marian； his very own。 But if not〃 and then he explained to her；
with all a lover's warmth； and with almost more than a lover's
liberty； what was his idea of her being 〃his own； his very own；〃 and
in doing so inveighed against her usual light…heartedness in terms
which at any rate were strong enough。
But Marian here it all well。 Perhaps she knew that the lesson was
somewhat deserved； and perhaps she appreciated at its value the love
of such a man as Maurice Cumming； weighing in her judgment the
difference between him and the Ewings and the Grahams。
And then she answered him well and prudently； with words which
startled him by their prudent seriousness as coming from her。 She
begged his pardon heartily； she said； for any grief which she had
caused him； but yet how was she to he blamed； seeing that she had
known nothing of his feelings？ Her father and mother had said
something to her of this proposed marriage； something； but very
little； and she had answered by saying that she did not think Maurice
had any warmer regard for her than of a cousin。 After this answer
neither father nor mother had pressed the matter further。 As to her
own feelings she could then say nothing； for she then knew nothing；
nothing but this； that she loved no one better than him； or rather
that she loved no one else。 She would ask herself if she could love
him； but he must give her some little time for that。 In the
meantimeand she smiled sweetly at him as she made the promiseshe
would endeavour to do nothing that would offend him； and then she
added that on that evening she would dance with him any dances that
he liked。 Maurice； with a self…denial that was not very wise；
contented himself with engaging her for the first quadrille。
They were to dance that night in the mess…room of the officers at
Newcastle。 This scheme had been added on as an adjunct to the
picnic； and it therefore became necessary that the ladies should
retire to their own or their friends' houses at Newcastle to adjust
their dresses。 Marian Leslie and Julia Davis were there accommodated
with the loan of a small room by the major's wife； and as they were
brushing their hair； and putting on their dancing…shoes； something
was said between them about Maurice Cumming。
〃And so you are to be Mrs。 C。 of Mount Pleasant；〃 said Julia。 〃Well；
I didn't think it would come to that at last。〃
〃But it has not come to that； and if it did why should I not be Mrs。
C。； as you call it？〃
〃The knight of the rueful countenance； I call him。〃
〃I tell you what then； he is an excellent young man； and the fact is
you don't know him。〃
〃I don't like excellent young men with long faces。 I suppose you
won't be let to dance quick dances at all now。〃
〃I shall dance whatever dances I like； as I have always done；〃 said
Marian； with some little asperity in her tone。
〃Not you； or if you do； you'll lose your promotion。 You'll never
live to be my Lady Rue。 And what will Graham say？ You know you've
given him half a promise。〃
〃That's not true； Julia；I never gave him the tenth part of a
promise。〃
〃Well； he says so；〃 and then the words between the young ladies
became a little more angry。 But； nevertheless； in due time they came
forth with faces smiling as usual； with their hair brushed； and
without any signs of warfare。
But Marian had to stand another attack before the business of the
evening commenced； and this was from no less doughty an antagonist
than her aunt； Miss Jack。 Miss Jack soon found that Maurice had not
kept his threat of going home； and though she did not absolutely
learn from him that he had gone so far towards perfecting her dearest
hopes as to make a formal offer to Marion； nevertheless she did
gather that things were fast that way tending。 If only this dancing
were over！ she said to herself； dreading the unnumbered waltzes with
Ewing； and the violent polkas with Graham。 So Miss Jack resolved to
say one word to Marian〃A wise word in good season；〃 said Miss Jack
to herself； 〃how sweet a thing it is。〃
〃Marian；〃 said she。 〃Step here a moment； I want to say a word to
you。〃
〃Yes； aunt Sarah；〃 said Marian； following her aunt into a corner； not
quite in the best humour in the world； for she had a dread of some
further interference。
〃Are you going to dance with Maurice to…night？〃
〃Yes； I believe so；the first quadrille。〃
〃Well； what I was going to say is this。 I don't want you to dance
many quick dances to…night； for a reason I have；that is； not a
great many。〃
〃Why； aunt； what nonsense！〃
〃Now my dearest； dearest girl； it is all for your own sake。 Well；
then； it must out。 He does not like it； you know。〃
〃What he？〃
〃Maurice。〃
〃Well； aunt； I don't know that I'm bound to dance or not to dance
just as Mr。 Cumming may like。 Papa does not mind my dancing。 The
people have come here to dance and you can hardly want to make me
ridiculous by sitting still。〃 And so that wise word did not appear
to be very sweet。
And then the amusement of the evening commenced； and Marian stood up
for a quadrille with her lover。 She however was not in the very best
humour。 She had； as she thought； said and done enough for one day in
Maurice's favour。 And she had no idea； as she declared to herself；
of being lectured by aunt Sarah。
〃Dearest Marion；〃 he said to her； as the quadrille came to a close；
〃it is an your power to make me so happy；so perfectly happy。〃
〃But then people have such different ideas of happiness；〃 she
replied。 〃They can't all see with the same eyes； you know。〃 And so
they parted。
But during the early part of the evening she was sufficiently
discreet； she did waltz with Lieutenant Graham； and polk with Captain
Ewing； but she did so in a tamer manner than was usual with her； and
she made no emulous attempts to dance down other couples。 When she
had done she would sit down； and then she consented to stand up for
two quadrilles with two very tame gentlemen； to whom no lover could
object。
〃And so； Marian； your wings are regularly clipped at last；〃 said
Julia Davis coming up to her。
〃No more clipped than your own；〃 said Marian。
〃If Sir Rue won't let you waltz now； what will he require of you when
you're married to him？〃
〃I am just as well able to waltz with whom I like as you are； Julia；
and if you say so in that way； I shall think it's envy。〃
〃Hahaha； I may have envied you some of your beaux before now； I
dare say I have。 But I certainly do not envy you Sir Rue。〃 And then
she went off to her partner。
All this was too much for Marian's weak strength； and before long she
was again whirling round with Captain Ewing。 〃Come； Miss Leslie；〃
said he； 〃let us see what we can do。 Graham and Julia Davis have
been saying that your waltzing days are over； but I think we can put
them down。〃
Marian as she got up； and raised her arm in order that Ewing might
put his round her waist； caught Maurice's eye as he leaned against a
wall； and read in it a stern rebuke。 〃This is too bad；〃 she said to
herself。 〃He