Part 34 (1/2)
And a neat and pleasant place it looked when Jean and Marion went in that day. Into the pretty parlour the bride that was to be looked shyly, scarcely venturing to follow them.
It was Marion who displayed to Jean the various pretty and useful things already gathered.
On the mantel-piece was a handsome clock, and over it the picture of a s.h.i.+p with all her canvas spread, sailing over smooth seas, in the full light of the sun of an Arctic summer day. There was a low rocky sh.o.r.e in sight, and the gleam of icy peaks in the distance; but the s.h.i.+p with the suns.h.i.+ne on the spreading sails was the point of interest in the picture--and a pleasant picture it was for the eyes of a sailor's wife to rest upon. They were both Mr George Dawson's gift to the bride, Marion told Jean. Jean nodded and smiled.
”Yes, I know,” said she.
”Miss Dawson,” said Annie taking one step over the threshold where she had been standing all the time. ”It is all your brother's work, and you must let me say to you what I canna say to him. Though he had done no more good in the world, it was worth his while to live, to help in the saving such a lad as Tam Saugster.”
”They helped one another,” said Jean softly.
”Ay. That I can easily believe. There are few men like Tam when ance ye ken him.”
”And Jean thinks there are few like George,” said Marion smiling, as they came away.
”And isna that what you think of your brother?” said Jean.
”Oh! yes; and with good reason,” Marion said; and the rest of their talk was of their brothers, till they came to the gate of Saughleas.
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.
A MEETING.
Mr Dawson and Miss Jean were sitting on the terrace by the parlour window as they went in. Jean knew by many signs that her father and Marion had come to be very good friends, and she was prepared to see him give her a warm and kindly welcome. But she was a little surprised at the ease and pleasure with which Marion met him. She did not turn away after a shy brief greeting, as the young people who came there were rather apt to do, but smiled brightly and answered merrily when he asked her whether she had enjoyed all that she had expected to enjoy when she came to Portie. And then she sat down on the gra.s.s at Miss Jean's feet, and looked round with a sigh of satisfaction at ”the bonny place.”
”What kept you on the way?” asked Miss Jean. ”Oh! we came round by the sh.o.r.e,” said her niece, ”and we sat a while at the Tangle Stanes, and then we went in to see Mrs Cairnie--and by the by--we didna see her after all.”
”She was sleeping,” said Marion.
”And we were admiring the fine things that Captain Saugster has been gathering for his bride,” said Jean.
”That would hardly have kept you long,” said Mr Dawson. ”A few chairs and a table, and a bed and blankets, and some dishes.”
”But we saw more than that; didna we, Marion?”
”Yes. Even Annie herself wasna thinking of chairs and tables and dishes. It was of the new home that is to be there, we were thinking, and it never might have been, if--Jean, tell them what Annie said.”
”Tell it yourself,” said Jean.
”I canna just mind all,” said Marion with hesitation. ”But it was to Mr George Dawson that they owed it all--their happiness, I mean--and that it was a grand thing to have a hand in saving such a lad as Tam.”
”She thinks muckle o' Tam, it seems,” said Mr Dawson laughing. ”And he is a good sailor, if he can only keep hold o' himsel' where the drink is concerned.”
”His Master will keep hold of him, I trust,” said Miss Jean.
”And is he to sail the 'John Seaton,' papa?” asked Jean.
”That is what George says. There is a risk, but we'll take it, and Tam will be none the less safe for the responsibility, let us hope.”
”Annie is proud and glad, and so are all the Saugsters,” said Marion.