The Twa Miss Dawsons Part 29

Captain Harefield made one of such parties now and then, but not so frequently as had been the case last summer. He was a person of more importance at Blackford House now than he had been then, and though his sister was not there to take care of him, there were others there ready and willing to do the work in which it must be confessed she had failed.

He was so good-natured, and so unaccustomed to exert his own will against any one who a.s.sumed the right to guide him, that he was easily taken possession of. It was agreeable also to be made much of, to be consulted and included in all arrangements for business or pleasure, so that he did not find his stay at Blackford House "a bore," as he had done last summer, and he was less inclined to stray away into other parts to look for pleasure.

The less frequently that he came to Saughleas, the more kindly and frankly he was received by Jean, who liked him very well since he seemed to have put foolish thoughts out of his head. But he came often enough to put foolish thoughts into the heads of other people. The young people who came to the house, watched with interest the Captain's shy devotion, and Jean's friendly indifference, not quite sure the last was altogether real. Mrs Seldon, during the weeks of her stay, never doubted as to his object in coming, and sensible of the importance attached to having a place in county society and a t.i.tle in prospect, she doubted as little as to the result of his devotion, and Mr Dawson, with a mingling of feelings which he could not easily have a.n.a.lysed, repeated to himself that "Jean had the ball at her foot, whatever way it might end." But Miss Jean held fast to her first opinion, that Jean was safe from any temptation to yield to him, and so was another who had not had Miss Jean's experience.

"Oh! Miss Jean, I am the most unfortunate little creature in all Portie, I think. I'm ay doing or saying something that I shouldna."

"My dear, ye are worse than unfortunate if that be true. What have ye been at now?"

"It was quite true, what I said, only I wish Mr Dawson hadna heard us.

We were speaking about--about Miss Dawson--"

Marion hesitated. She was not quite sure how Miss Jean herself would like to hear that the young folk had been discussing her niece and her affairs so freely.

"It was only that he heard us. I'm ay vexing Mr Dawson, I think."

"Are you?" said Miss Jean, smiling.

"Ay, am I. Don't you mind the apple-tree that was broken, and don't you mind?" several other circ.u.mstances that it vexed the girl to remember.

But Jean herself coming in, the vexation of the moment could not be discussed and Marion was not sorry.

It had happened thus. She had come early to Saughleas with the young Petries intending to set out at once on an expedition that had been planned to the Castle, but something had delayed several of their party, and the younger folk were whiling away the time of waiting, chatting and laughing as they sat on the gra.s.s. By and by the well-known dog-cart pa.s.sed.

"Haloo! There is your Englishman, Marion," said Hugh Corbett. "I wonder he didn't come in. He'll be back again to go with us, unless we make haste to get away."

"Well, and why should not he come with us? The more the merrier," said his sister.

"And he's no' _my_ Englishman," said Marion with dignity; "and for that matter ye are only an Englishman yoursel'."

"Only an Englishman! Just hear her!" said Hugh.

"And ye're not even an Englishman. You are neither one thing nor the other," said Grace Petrie laughing. "If ye were to bide a while in Portie, ye might maybe pa.s.s for a Scotchman, however."

"Oh, indeed! Might I? That's encouraging."

This was a favourite subject of discussion between these young people, and much banter pa.s.sed with regard to the nationality of the Corbetts.

"But he is no' Marion's Englishman anyway," said Jack Petrie in a little. "He only falls back on Marion when Miss Dawson's company is no'

to be had."

"And it's only because Marion saves him the trouble of saying a word.

She is such a chatterbox," said Hugh. "And he'll have to fall back on her altogether soon, I'm thinking."

"I'm sure that's no' what our Milly thinks," said Jack. "She says that Miss Dawson--"

"Your Milly! She judges other folk by hersel'! Miss Dawson wouldna look at him," said Marion Calderwood.

"But she does look at him, whiles," said Grace.

"But that's because she's no' ay thinkin' about--about the like o' that Him indeed! He might as well go and ask for one of the young princesses at once."

They all laughed and exclaimed.

"Well, she would be no more above him in one way than Miss Dawson is in another. A baronet? What o' that? Any body might be a baronet, I suppose," said Marion.

"But nothing short of a lord will do for Jean Dawson, ye think. I doubt she'll bide a whilie," said Jack scornfully.

"And she can afford to bide a whilie. Miss Dawson is sufficient for herself," said Marion loftily. "But I don't expect you to understand me, Jack; and I don't think it is nice for us to be speaking that way about Miss Dawson."

"I agree with you," said Emily.

"So do I," said Hugh. "But I have one question to ask, and only one.

Who of all the gentlemen you have ever seen would you think good enough or great enough for Miss Dawson."

"Oh! as to good enough, that is not what Marion means," said Grace.

"No. Nor great enough," said Emily. "Well--just suitable--worthy of her, in every way? In mind, body, and estate. Come, let us hear."

"Yes, come, let us hear."

"In mind, body, and estate," repeated Emily laughing. "I think enough has been said already," and Marion rose to go away. "But if ye will have it--I never saw any body in every respect worthy of Miss Dawson-- except, perhaps--But yet--" Marion hesitated, and then added,--

"I dinna believe there is another in all Scotland like Miss Dawson."

"I agree--nor in England either," said Hugh. "But I rise to ask a question--"

He had risen, but it was evidently with the design of intercepting Marion, who was moving over the gra.s.s intent on getting away.

"I leave it to the company if we have not a right to hear what is to be said; and, what is more, you are not going away till you tell us."

He did not touch her, but he looked quite ready to do it.

"Nonsense, Hugh! You are not to vex Marion," said his sister; but she drew near with the rest to listen.

"'Not one in all Scotland,' she said," repeated Grace laughing.

"Let us stick to the point," said Hugh.

Marion reddened and fidgeted, and measured the distance with her eye with the evident intention of running away, and all this Hugh noted-- nodding and smiling.

"Ye canna gar Marion speak, if she's no willin'. I've seen her tried,"

said another Petrie.

"Why shouldna I speak?" said Marion, realising the impossibility of getting away. "Except that--it's no' a thing to speak about--here.

What I mean is this. But yet if she were to give her whole heart to any one--he would be the right one--even if--but she would never care for one who was not worthy. Now let me go."

"Yes--certainly. Well?"

Marion had made up her mind to say no more. But when Grace Petrie, tossing her head and laughing, said that she could guess who the exception might be, she changed her mind again.