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。