第1章

byAnthonyTrollopeThereisnothingsomelancholyasacountryinitsdecadence，unlessitbeapeopleintheirdecadence。IamnotawarethatthelattermisfortunecanbeattributedtotheAnglo—Saxonraceinanypartoftheworld；butthereisreasontofearthatithasfallenonanEnglishcolonyintheislandofJamaica。

Jamaicawasoneofthosespotsonwhichfortuneshonewiththefullwarmthofallhernoondaysplendour。Thatsunhasset；——whetherforeverornononebutaprophetcantell；butasfarasaplainmanmaysee，thereareatpresentbutfewsignsofacomingmorrow，orofanothersummer。

ItisnotjustorproperthatoneshouldgrieveoverthemisfortunesofJamaicawithastrongergriefbecausehersavannahsaresolovely，herforestssorich，hermountainssogreen，andheriverssorapid；

butitisso。Itispiteousthatalandsobeautifulshouldbeonewhichfatehasmarkedformisfortune。HadGuiana，withitsflat，level，unlovelysoil，becomepoverty—stricken，onewouldhardlysorrowoveritasonedoessorrowforJamaica。

Asregardsscenerysheisthegemofthewesterntropics。Itisimpossibletoconceivespotsontheearth’ssurfacemoregracioustotheeyethanthosesteepgreenvalleyswhichstretchdowntothesouth—westfromtheBlueMountainpeaktowardsthesea；andbutlittlebehindtheseinbeautyaretherichwoodedhillswhichinthewesternpartoftheislanddividethecountiesofHanoverandWestmoreland。TheheroofthetalewhichIamgoingtotellwasasugar—growerinthelatterdistrict，andtheheroinewasagirlwholivedunderthatBlueMountainpeak。

Theverynameofasugar—growerasconnectedwithJamaicasavoursoffruitlessstruggle，failure，anddesolation。Andfromhisearliestgrowthfruitlessstruggle，failure，anddesolationhadbeenthelotofMauriceCumming。AteighteenyearsofagehehadbeenleftbyhisfathersolepossessoroftheMountPleasantestate，thanwhichinherpalmydaysJamaicahadlittletoboastofthatwasmorepleasantormorepalmy。ButthosedayshadpassedbybeforeRogerCumming，thefatherofourfriend，haddied。

Thesemisfortunescomingontheheadofoneanother，atintervalsofafewyears，hadfirststunnedandthenkilledhim。Hisslavesroseagainsthim，astheydidagainstotherproprietorsaroundhim，andburneddownhishouseandmills，hishomesteadandoffices。Thosewhoknowtheamountofcapitalwhichasugar—growermustinvestinsuchbuildingswillunderstandtheextentofthismisfortune。Thentheslaveswereemancipated。Itisnotperhapspossiblethatwe，now—a—days，shouldregardthisasacalamity；butitwasquiteimpossiblethataJamaicaproprietorofthosedaysshouldnothavedoneso。Menwilldomuchforphilanthropy，theywillworkhard，theywillgivethecoatfromtheirback；——naytheveryshirtfromtheirbody；butfewmenwillenduretolookonwithsatisfactionwhiletheircommerceisdestroyed。

ButeventhisMr。Cummingdidbearafterawhile，andkepthisshouldertothewheel。Hekepthisshouldertothewheeltillthatthirdmisfortunecameuponhim——tilltheprotectiondutyonJamaicasugarwasabolished。Thenheturnedhisfacetothewallanddied。

Hissonatthistimewasnotofage，andthelargebutlesseningpropertywhichMr。Cummingleftbehindhimwasforthreeyearsinthehandsoftrustees。ButneverthelessMaurice，youngashewas，managedtheestate。Itwashewhogrewthecanes，andmadethesugar；——orelsefailedtomakeit。Hewasthe"massa"towhomthefreenegroeslookedasthesourcefromwhencetheirwantsshouldbesupplied，notwithstandingthat，beingfree，theywereillinclinedtoworkforhim，lethiswantofworkbeeversosore。

MountPleasanthadbeenaverylargeproperty。Inadditiontohissugar—canesMr。Cumminghadgrowncoffee；forhislandranupintothehillsofTrelawneytothataltitudewhichinthetropicsseemsnecessaryfortheperfectgrowthofthecoffeeberry。Butitsoonbecameevidentthatlabourforthedoubleproducecouldnotbehad，andthecoffeeplantationwasabandoned。Wildbrushandthethickundergrowthofforestreappearedonthehill—sideswhichhadbeenrichwithproduce。Andtheevilre—createdandexaggerateditself。

Negroessquattedontheabandonedproperty；andbeingabletolivewithabundancefromtheirstolengardens，werelesswillingthanevertoworkinthecanepieces。

Andthusthingswentfrombadtoworse。InthegoodoldtimesMr。

Cumming’ssugarproducehadspreaditselfannuallyoversomethreehundredacres；butbydegreesthisdwindledowntohalfthatextentofland。Andtheninthoseoldgoldendaystheyhadalwaystakenafullhogsheadfromtheacre；——veryoftenmore。Theestatehadsometimesgivenfourhundredhogsheadsintheyear。Butinthedaysofwhichwenowspeakthecrophadfallenbelowfifty。

AtthistimeMauriceCummingwaseight—and—twenty，anditishardlytoomuchtosaythatmisfortunehadnearlycrushedhim。Butneverthelessithadnotcrushedhim。He，andsomefewlikehim，hadstillhopedagainsthope；hadstillpersistedinlookingforwardtoafuturefortheislandwhichoncewassogenerouswithitsgifts。

Whenhisfatherdiedhemightstillhavehadenoughforthewantsoflifehadhesoldhispropertyforwhatitwouldfetch。TherewasmoneyinEngland，andtheremainsoflargewealth。ButhewouldnotsacrificeMountPleasantorabandonJamaica；andnowaftertenyears’

strugglinghestillkeptMountPleasant，andthemillwasstillgoing；butallotherpropertyhadpartedfromhishands。

BynatureMauriceCummingwouldhavebeengayandlively，amanwithahappyspiritandeasytemper；butstrugglinghadmadehimsilentifnotmorose，andhadsaddenedifnotsouredhistemper。HehadlivedaloneatMountPleasant，orgenerallyalone。Workorwantofmoney，andtheconstantdifficultyofgettinglabourforhisestate，hadlefthimbutlittletimeforayoungman’sordinaryamusements。Ofthecharmsofladies’societyhehadknownbutlittle。Verymanyoftheestatesaroundhimhadbeenabsolutelyabandoned，aswasthecasewithhisowncoffeeplantation，andfromothersmenhadsentawaytheirwivesanddaughters。Nay，mostoftheproprietorshadgonethemselves，leavinganoverseertoextractwhatlittlemightyetbeextractedoutoftheproperty。Ittoooftenhappenedthatthatlittlewasnotsufficienttomeetthedemandsoftheoverseerhimself。

ThehouseatMountPleasanthadbeenanirregular，low—roofed，picturesqueresidence，builtwithonlyonefloor，andsurroundedonallsidesbylargeverandahs。Intheolddaysithadalwaysbeenkeptinperfectorder，butnowthiswasfarfrombeingthecase。Fewyoungbachelorscankeepahouseinorder，butnobacheloryoungoroldcandosoundersuchadoomasthatofMauriceCumming。EveryshillingthatMauriceCummingcouldcollectwasspentinbribingnegroestoworkforhim。Butbribeashewouldthenegroeswouldnotwork。"No，massa:mepainhere；menoworkeeto—day，"andSambowouldlayhisfathandonhisfatstomach。

Ihavesaidthathelivedgenerallyalone。OccasionallyhishouseonMountPleasantwasenlivenedbyvisitsofanaunt，amaidensisterofhismother，whoseusualresidencewasatSpanishTown。ItisorshouldbeknowntoallmenthatSpanishTownwasandistheseatofJamaicalegislature。

ButMauricewasnotoverfondofhisrelative。Inthishewasbothwrongandfoolish，forMissSarahJack——suchwashername——wasinmanyrespectsagoodwoman，andwascertainlyarichwoman。Itistruethatshewasnotahandsomewoman，norafashionablewoman，norperhapsaltogetheranagreeablewoman。Shewastall，thin，ungainly，andyellow。Hervoice，whichsheusedfreely，washarsh。Shewasapoliticianandapatriot。SheregardedEnglandasthegreatestofcountries，andJamaicaasthegreatestofcolonies。ButmuchasshelovedEnglandshewasveryloudindenouncingwhatshecalledtheperfidyofthemothertothebrightestofherchildren。AndmuchasshelovedJamaicashewasequallysevereinhertauntsagainstthoseofherbrother—islanderswhowouldnotbelievethattheislandmightyetflourishasithadflourishedinherfather’sdays。

"Itisbecauseyouandmenlikeyouwillnotdoyourdutybyyourcountry，"shehadsaidsomescoreoftimestoMaurice——notwithmuchjusticeconsideringthelaboriousnessofhislife。

ButMauriceknewwellwhatshemeant。"WhatcouldIdothereupatSpanishTown，"hewouldanswer，"amongsuchapackastherearethere？HereImaydosomething。"

Andthenshewouldreplywiththefullswingofhereloquence，"ItisbecauseyouandsuchasyouthinkonlyofyourselfandnotofJamaica，thatJamaicahascometosuchapassasthis。WhyisthereapackthereasyoucalltheminthehonourableHouseofAssembly？

Whyarenotthebestmenintheislandtobefoundthere，asthebestmeninEnglandaretobefoundintheBritishHouseofCommons？A

pack，indeed！Myfatherwasproudofaseatinthathouse，andI

remembertheday，MauriceCumming，whenyourfatheralsothoughtitnoshametorepresenthisownparish。Ifmenlikeyou，whohaveastakeinthecountry，willnotgothere，ofcoursethehouseisfilledwithmenwhohavenostake。Iftheyareapack，itisyouwhosendthemthere；——you，andotherslikeyou。"

Allhaditseffect，thoughatthemomentMauricewouldshrughisshouldersandturnawayhisheadfromthetorrentofthelady’sdiscourse。ButMissJack，thoughshewasnotgreatlyliked，wasgreatlyrespected。Mauricewouldnotownthatsheconvincedhim；butatlasthedidallowhisnametobeputupascandidateforhisownparish，andinduetimehebecameamemberofthehonourableHouseofAssemblyinJamaica。

ThishonourentailsontheholderofitthenecessityoflivingatorwithinreachofSpanishTownforsometenweekstowardsthechoseofeveryyear。Nowonthewholefaceoftheuninhabitedglobethereisperhapsnospotmoredulltolookat，moreLetheaninitsaspect，morecorpse—likeormorecadaverousthanSpanishTown。Itisthehead—quartersofthegovernment，theseatofthelegislature，theresidenceofthegovernor；——butneverthelessitis，asitwere，acityoftheverydead。

Here，aswehavesaidbefore，livedMissJackinalargeforlornghost—likehouseinwhichherfatherandallherfamilyhadlivedbeforeher。AndasamatterofcourseMauriceCummingwhenhecameuptoattendtohisdutiesasamemberofthelegislaturetookuphisabodewithher。

Nowatthetimeofwhichwearespeciallyspeakinghehadcompletedthefirstoftheseannualvisits。Hehadalreadybenefitedhiscountrybysittingoutonesessionofthecolonialparliament，andhadsatisfiedhimselfthathedidnoothergoodthanthatofkeepingawaysomepersonmoreobjectionablethanhimself。Hewashoweverpreparedtorepeatthisself—sacrificeinaspiritofpatriotismforwhichhereceivedaverymeagremeedofeulogyfromMissJack，andanamountofself—applausewhichwasnotmuchmoreextensive。

"DownatMountPleasantIcandosomething，"hewouldsayoverandoveragain，"butwhatgoodcananymandouphere？"

"Youcandoyourduty，"MissJackwouldanswer，"asothersdidbeforeyouwhenthecolonywasmadetoprosper。"Andthentheywouldrunoffintoalongdiscussionaboutfreelabourandprotectiveduties。

ButatthepresentmomentMauriceCumminghadanothervexationonhismindoverandabovethatarisingfromhiswastedhoursatSpanishTown，andhisfruitlesslaboursatMountPleasant。Hewasinlove，andwasnotaltogethersatisfiedwiththeconductofhislady—love。

MissJackhadothernephewsbesidesMauriceCumming，andniecesalso，ofwhomMarianLesliewasone。ThefamilyoftheLeslieslivedupnearNewcastle——inthemountains，thatis，whichstandoverKingston—

—atadistanceofsomeeighteenmilesfromKingston，butinaclimateasdifferentfromthatofthetownastheclimateofNaplesisfromthatofBerlin。InKingstontheheatisallbutintolerablethroughouttheyear，bydayandbynight，inthehouseandoutofit。

InthemountainsroundNewcastle，somefourthousandfeetabovethesea，itismerelywarmduringtheday，andcoolenoughatnighttomakeablanketdesirable。

Itispleasantenoughlivingupamongstthosegreenmountains。Therearenoroadsthereforwheeledcarriages，noraretherecarriageswithorwithoutwheels。Alljourneysaremadeonhorseback。Everyvisitpaidfromhousetohouseisperformedinthismanner。Ladiesyoungandoldlivebeforedinnerintheirriding—habits。Thehospitalityisfree，easy，andunembarrassed。Thesceneryismagnificent。Thetropicalfoliageiswildandluxuriantbeyondmeasure。Theremaybeenjoyedallthatasouthernclimatehastoofferofenjoyment，withoutthepenaltieswhichsuchenjoymentsusuallyentail。

Mrs。Lesliewasahalf—sisterofMissJack，andMissJackhadbeenahalf—sisteralsoofMrs。Cumming；butMrs。LeslieandMrs。Cumminghadinnowaybeenrelated。AndithadsohappenedthatuptotheperiodofhislegislativeeffortsMauriceCumminghadseennothingoftheLeslies。SoonafterhisarrivalatSpanishTownhehadbeentakenbyMissJacktoShandyHall，forsotheresidenceoftheLeslieswascalled，andhavingremainedthereforthreedays，hadfalleninlovewithMarianLeslie。NowintheWestIndiesallyoungladiesflirt；itisthefirsthabitoftheirnature——andfewyoungladiesintheWestIndiesweremoregiventoflirting，orunderstoodthesciencebetterthanMarianLeslie。

MauriceCummingfellviolentlyinlove，andduringhisfirstvisitatShandyHallfoundthatMarianwasperfection——forduringthisfirstvisitherpropensitieswereexertedaltogetherinhisownfavour。

Thatlittlecircumstancedoesmakesuchadifferenceinayoungman’sjudgmentofagirl！Hecamebackfallofadmiration，notaltogethertoMissJack’sdissatisfaction；forMissJackwaswillingenoughthatbothhernephewandhernieceshouldsettledownintomarriedlife。

ButthenMauricemethisfaironeatagovernor’sball——ataballwhereredcoatsabounded，andaides—de—campdancinginspurs，andnarrow—waistedlieutenantswithsashesorepaulettes！Theaides—de—

campandnarrow—waistedlieutenantswaltzedbetterthanhedid；andasoneaftertheotherwhiskedroundtheball—roomwithMarianfirmlyclaspedinhisarms，Maurice’sfeelingswerenotofthesweetest。

Norwasthistheworstofit。Hadthewhiskingbeendividedequallyamongten，hemighthaveforgivenit；buttherewasonespeciallynarrow—waistedlieutenant，whotowardstheendoftheeveningkeptMariannearlywhollytohimself。Nowtoamaninlove，whohashadbutlittleexperienceofeitherballsoryoungladies，thisisintolerable。

HeonlymethertwiceafterthatbeforehisreturntoMountPleasant，andonthefirstoccasionthatodioussoldierwasnotthere。Butaspeciallydevoutyoungclergymanwaspresent，anunmarried，evangelical，handsomeyoungcuratefreshfromEngland；andMarian’spietyhadbeensoexcitedthatshehadcaredfornooneelse。Itappearedmoreoverthatthecurate’sgiftsforconversionwereconfined，asregardedthatopportunity，toMarion’sadvantage。"I

willhavenothingmoretosaytoher，"saidMauricetohimself，scowling。ButjustashewentawayMarianhadgivenhimherhand，andcalledhimMaurice——forshepretendedthattheywerecousins——andhadlookedintohiseyesanddeclaredthatshedidhopethattheassemblyatSpanishTownwouldsoonbesittingagain。Hitherto，shesaid，shehadnotcaredonestrawaboutit。ThenpoorMauricepressedthelittlefingerswhichlaywithinhisown，andsworethathewouldbeatShandyHallonthedaybeforehisreturntoMountPleasant。Sohewas；andtherehefoundthenarrow—waistedlieutenant，notnowbedeckedwithsashandepaulettes，butlollingathiseaseonMrs。Leslie’ssofainawhitejacket，whileMariansatathisfeettellinghisfortunewithabookaboutflowers。

"Oh，amuskrose，Mr。Ewing；youknowwhatamuskrosemeans！"ThenshegotupandshookhandswithMr。Cumming；buthereyesstillwentawaytothewhitejacketandthesofa。PoorMauricehadoftenbeennearlybroken—heartedinhiseffortstomanagehisfreeblacklabourers；buteventhatwaseasierthanmanagingsuchasMarionLeslie。

MarianLesliewasaCreole——asalsowereMissJackandMauriceCumming——achildofthetropics；butbynomeanssuchachildastropicalchildrenaregenerallythoughttobebyusinmorenorthernlatitudes。Shewasblack—hairedandblack—eyed，butherlipswereasredandhercheeksasrosyasthoughshehadbeenbornandbredinregionswherethesnowliesinwinter。Shewasasmall，pretty，beautifullymadelittlecreature，somewhatidleasregardstheworkoftheworld，butactiveandstrongenoughwhendancingorridingwererequiredfromher。Herfatherwasabanker，andwasfairlyprosperousinspiteofthepovertyofhiscountry。HishouseofbusinesswasatKingston，andheusuallyslepttheretwiceaweek；

buthealwaysresidedatShandyHall，andMrs。LeslieandherchildrenknewbutverylittleofthemiseriesofKingston。Forbeitknowntoallmen，thatofalltownsKingston，Jamaica，isthemostmiserable。

IfearthatIshallhavesetmyreadersverymuchagainstMarianLeslie；——muchmoresothanIwouldwishtodo。AsaruletheywillnotknowhowthoroughlyflirtingisaninstitutionintheWestIndies——practisedbyallyoungladies，andlaidasidebythemwhentheymarry，exactlyastheiryoung—ladynamesandyoung—ladyhabitsofvariouskindsarelaidaside。AllIwouldsayofMarianLeslieisthis，thatsheunderstoodtheworkingoftheinstitutionmorethoroughlythanothersdid。AndImustaddalsoinherfavourthatshedidnotkeepherflirtingforslycorners，nordidheradmirerskeeptheirdistancetillmammawasoutoftheway。Itmatterednottoherwhowaspresent。Hadshebeencalledontomakeoneatasynodoftheclergyoftheisland，shewouldhaveflirtedwiththebishopbeforeallhispriests。Andtherehavebeenbishopsinthecolonywhowouldnothavegainsayedher！

ButMauriceCummingdidnotrightlycalculateallthis；norindeeddidMissJackdosoasthoroughlyassheshouldhavedone，forMissJackknewmoreaboutsuchmattersthandidpoorMaurice。"IfyoulikeMarion，whydon’tyoumarryher？"

MissJackhadoncesaidtohim；andthiscomingfromMissJack，whowasmadeofmoney，wasagreatdeal。

"Shewouldn’thaveme，"Mauricehadanswered。

"That’smorethanyouknoworIeither，"wasMissJack’sreply。"Butifyouliketotry，I’llhelpyou。"

Withreferencetothis，MauriceasheleftMissJack’sresidenceonhisreturntoMountPleasant，haddeclaredthatMarianLesliewasnotworthanhonestman’slove。

"Psha！"MissJackreplied；"Marianwilldolikeothergirls。WhenyoumarryawifeIsupposeyoumeantobemaster？"

"AtanyrateIshan’tmarryher，"saidMaurice。AndsohewenthiswaybacktoHanoverwithasoreheart。Andnowonder，forthatwastheverydayonwhichLieutenantEwinghadaskedthequestionaboutthemuskrose。

ButtherewasadoggedconstancyoffeelingaboutMauricewhichcouldnotallowhimtodisburdenhimselfofhislove。WhenhewasagainatMountPleasantamonghissugar—canesandhogsheadshecouldnothelpthinkingaboutMarian。Itistruehealwaysthoughtofherasflyingroundthatball—roominEwing’sarms，orlookingupwithraptadmirationintothatyoungparson’sface；andsohegotbutlittlepleasurefromhisthoughts。Butnotthelesswasheinlovewithher；——nottheless，thoughhewouldsweartohimselfthreetimesinthedaythatfornoearthlyconsiderationwouldhemarryMarianLeslie。

TheearlymonthsoftheyearfromJanuarytoMayarethebusiestwithaJamaicasugar—grower，andinthisyeartheywereverybusymonthswithMauriceCumming。ItseemedasthoughtherewereactuallysometruthinMissJack’spredictionthatprosperitywouldreturntohimifheattendedtohiscountry；forthepricesofsugarhadrisenhigherthantheyhadeverbeensincethedutyhadbeenwithdrawn，andtherewasmorepromiseofacropatMountPleasantthanhehadseensincehisreigncommenced。Butthenthequestionoflabour？Howheslavedintryingtogetworkfromthosefreenegroes；andalas！howoftenheslavedinvain！Butitwasnotallinvain；forasthingswentonitbecamecleartohimthatinthisyearhewould，forthefirsttimesincehecommenced，obtainsomethinglikeareturnfromhisland。Whatiftheturning—pointhadcome，andthingswerenowabouttoruntheotherway。

ButthenthehappinesswhichmighthaveaccruedtohimfromthissourcewasdashedbyhisthoughtsofMarianLeslie。Whyhadhethrownhimselfinthewayofthatsyren？WhyhadheleftMountPleasantatall？HeknewthatonhisreturntoSpanishTownhisfirstworkwouldbetovisitShandyHall；andyethefeltthatofallplacesintheisland，ShandyHallwasthelastwhichheoughttovisit。

AndthenaboutthebeginningofMay，whenhewashardatworkturningthelastofhiscanesintosugarandrum，hereceivedhisannualvisitfromMissJack。AndwhomshouldMissJackbringwithherbutMr。Leslie。

"I’lltellyouwhatitis，"saidMissJack；"IhavespokentoMr。

LeslieaboutyouandMarian。"

"Thenyouhadnobusinesstodoanythingofthekind，"saidMaurice，blushinguptohisears。

"Nonsense，"repliedMissJack，"IunderstandwhatIamabout。OfcourseMr。Lesliewillwanttoknowsomethingabouttheestate。"

"Thenhemaygobackaswiseashecame，forhe’lllearnnothingfromme。NotthatIhaveanythingtohide。"

"SoItoldhim。Nowtherearealargefamilyofthem，yousee；andofcoursehecan’tgiveMarianmuch。"

"Idon’tcareastrawifhedoesn’tgiveherashilling。Ifshecaredforme，orIforher，Ishouldn’tlookafterherforhermoney。"

"Butalittlemoneyisnotabadthing，Maurice，"saidMissJack，whoinhertimehadhadagooddeal，andhadmanagedtotakecareofit。

"Itisallonetome。"

"ButwhatIwasgoingtosayisthis——hum——ha。Idon’tliketopledgemyselfforfearIshouldraisehopeswhichmayn’tbefulfilled。"

"Don’tpledgeyourselftoanything，aunt，inwhichMarianLeslieandIareconcerned。"

"ButwhatIwasgoingtosayisthis；mymoney，whatlittleIhave，youknow，mustgosomedayeithertoyouortotheLeslies。"

"Youmaygivealltothemifyouplease。"

"OfcourseImay，andIdaresayIshall，"saidMissJack，whowasbeginningtobeirritated。"ButatanyrateyoumighthavethecivilitytolistentomewhenIamendeavouringtoputyouonyourlegs。IamsureIthinkaboutnothingelse，morning，noon，andnight，andyetInevergetadecentwordfromyou。Marianistoogoodforyou；that’sthetruth。"

ButatlengthMissJackwasallowedtoopenherbudget，andtomakeherproposition；whichamountedtothis——thatshehadalreadytoldMr。LesliethatshewouldsettlethebulkofherpropertyconjointlyonMauriceandMarianiftheywouldmakeamatchofit。NowasMr。

LesliehadlongbeencastingahankeringeyeafterMissJack’smoney，withastrongconvictionhoweverthatMauriceCummingwasherfavouritenephewandprobableheir，thispropositionwasnotunpalatable。SoheagreedtogodowntoMountPleasantandlookabouthim。

"Butyoumayliveforthenextthirtyyears，mydearMissJack，"Mr。

Lesliehadsaid。

"Yes，Imay，"MissJackreplied，lookingverydry。

"AndIamsureIhopeyouwill，"continuedMr。Leslie。Andthenthesubjectwasallowedtodrop；forMr。LeslieknewthatitwasnotalwayseasytotalktoMissJackonsuchmatters。

MissJackwasapersoninwhomIthinkwemaysaythatthegoodpredominatedoverthebad。Shewasoftenmorose，crabbed，andself—

opinionated。butthensheknewherownimperfections，andforgavethoseshelovedforevincingtheirdislikeofthem。MauriceCummingwasofteninattentivetoher，plainlyshowingthathewasworriedbyherimportunitiesandillateaseinhercompany。Butshelovedhernephewwithallherheart；andthoughshedearlylikedtotyranniseoverhim，neverallowherselftobereallyangrywithhim，thoughhesofrequentlyrefusedtobowtoherdictation。AndshelovedMarianLesliealso，thoughMarianwassosweetandlovelyandsheherselfsoharshandill—favoured。ShelovedMarian，thoughMarianwouldoftenbeimpertinent。Sheforgavetheflirting，thelight—heartedness，theloveofamusement。Marian，shesaidtoherself，wasyoungandpretty。She，MissJack，hadneverknownMarian’stemptation。AndsosheresolvedinherownmindthatMarianshouldbemadeagoodandhappywoman；——butalwaysasthewifeofMauriceCumming。

ButMauriceturnedadeafeartoallthesegoodtidings——orratherheturnedtothemanearthatseemedtobedeaf。Hedearly，ardentlylovedthatlittleflirt；butseeingthatshewasaflirt，thatshehadflirtedsogrosslywhenhewasby，hewouldnotconfesshislovetoahumanbeing。Hewouldnothaveitknownthathewaswastinghisheartforaworthlesslittlechit，towhomeverymanwasthesame——

exceptthatthoseweremosteligiblewhosetoeswerethelightestandtheiroutsidetrappingsthebrightest。Thathedidloveherhecouldnothelp，buthewouldnotdisgracehimselfbyacknowledgingit。

HewasveryciviltoMr。Leslie，buthewouldnotspeakawordthatcouldbetakenasaproposalforMarian。IthadbeenpartofMissJack’splanthattheengagementshouldabsolutelybemadedownthereatMountPleasant，withoutanyreferencetotheyounglady；butMauricecouldnotbeinducedtobreaktheice。SohetookMr。Lesliethroughhismillsandoverhiscane—pieces，talkedtohimaboutthelazinessofthe"niggers，"whilethe"niggers"themselvesstoodbytittering，androdewithhimawaytothehighgroundswherethecoffeeplantationhadbeeninthegoodolddays；butnotawordwassaidbetweenthemaboutMarian。AndyetMarianwasneveroutofhisheart。

AndthencamethedayonwhichMr。LesliewastogobacktoKingston。

"Andyouwon’thaveherthen？"saidMissJacktohernephewearlythatmorning。"Youwon’tbesaidbyme？"

"Notinthismatter，aunt。"

"Thenyouwillliveanddieapoorman；youmeanthat，Isuppose？"

"It’slikelyenoughthatIshall。There’sthiscomfort，atanyrate，I’musedtoit。"AndthenMissJackwassilentagainforawhile。

"Verywell，sir；that’senough，"shesaidangrily。Andthenshebeganagain。"But，Maurice，youwouldn’thavetowaitformydeath，youknow。"Andsheputoutherhandandtouchedhisarm，entreatinghimasitweretoyieldtoher。"Oh，Maurice，"shesaid，"Idosowanttomakeyoucomfortable。LetusspeaktoMr。Leslie。"

ButMauricewouldnot。Hetookherhandandthankedher，butsaidthatonthismatterhemusthehisownmaster。"Verywell，sir，"sheexclaimed，"Ihavedone。Infutureyoumaymanageforyourself。Asforme，IshallgobackwithMr。LeslietoKingston。"Andsoshedid。Mr。Lesliereturnedthatday，takingherwithhim。Whenhetookhisleave，hisinvitationtoMauricetocometoShandyHallwasnotverypressing。"Mrs。Leslieandthechildrenwillalwaysbegladtoseeyou，"saidhe。

"RemembermeverykindlytoMrs。Leslieandthechildren，"saidMaurice。Andsotheyparted。

"Youhavebroughtmedownhereonaregularfool’serrand，"saidMr。

Leslie，ontheirjourneybacktotown。

"Itwillallcomerightyet，"repliedMissJack。"Takemywordforithelovesher。"

"Fudge，"saidMr。Leslie。Buthecouldnotaffordtoquarrelwithhisrichconnection。

Inspiteofallthathehadsaidandthoughttothecontrary，MauricedidlookforwardduringtheremainderofthesummertohisreturntoSpanishTownwithsomethinglikeimpatience，itwasverydullwork，beingtherealoneatMountPleasant；andlethimdowhathewouldtopreventit，hisverydreamstookhimtoShandyHall。Butatlasttheslowtimemadeitselfaway，andhefoundhimselfoncemoreinhisaunt’shouse。

AcoupleofdayspassedandnowordwassaidabouttheLeslies。OnthemorningofthethirddayhedeterminedtogotoShandyHall。

Hithertohehadneverbeentherewithoutstayingforthenight；butonthisoccasionhemadeuphismindtoreturnthesameday。"Itwouldnotbecivilofmenottogothere，"hesaidtohisaunt。

"Certainlynot，"shereplied，forbearingtopressthematterfurther。

"Butwhymakesuchaterriblehardday’sworkofit？"

"Oh，Ishallgodowninthecool，beforebreakfast；andthenIneednothavethebotheroftakingabag。"

Andinthiswayhestarted。MissJacksaidnothingfurther；butshelongedinherheartthatshemightbeatMarian’selbowunseenduringthevisit。

Hefoundthemallatbreakfast，andthefirsttowelcomehimatthehalldoorwasMarian。"Oh，Mr。Cumming，wearesogladtoseeyou；"

andshelookedintohiseyeswithawayshehad，thatwasenoughtomakeaman’sheartwild。ButshenotcallhimMauricenow。

MissJackhadspokentohersister，Mrs。Leslie，aswellastoMr。

Leslie，aboutthismarriagescheme。"Justletthemalone，"wasMrs。

Leslie’sadvice。"Youcan’talterMarianbylecturingher。Iftheyreallyloveeachotherthey’llcometogether；andiftheydon’t，whythenthey’dbetternot。"

"Andyoureallymeanthatyou’regoingbacktoSpanishTownto—day？"

saidMrs。Leslietohervisitor。