Part 29 (1/2)

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.”