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。
