Jupiter Lights Part 30

"I dare say we can," Paul answered.

They stood there together for a moment, rapping it and testing it in various ways; then they separated, perfectly understanding each other.

"I really didn't try to come with her:" this was the secret meaning of Hollis's remark about the canoe.

And "I know you didn't," was the signification of Paul's answer.

Cicely and Eve were sitting on the beach. It was a wild sh.o.r.e, clean, untouched by man; the pure waters of the lake rolled up and laved its glistening brown pebbles. Jack ramped up and down against Eve's knees.

"Sing to Jacky--poor, _poor_ Jacky!" he demanded loudly.

"That child is too depressing with his 'Poor Jacky'!" said Cicely.

"Never say that again, Jack; do you hear?"

"Poor, _poor_ Jacky!" said the boy immediately, as though he were irresistibly forced to try the phrase again.

"He heard some one say it to that parrot in Port aux Pins," explained Eve.

"Oh, I shall never be able to govern him!" Cicely answered.

"Sing to Jacky, Aunty Eve--poor, poor Jacky!"

And in a low tone Eve began to sing:

_"'Row the boat, row the boat up to the strand;_ _Before our door there is dry land._ _Who comes. .h.i.ther all booted and spurred?_ _Little Jacky Bruce with his hand on his sword.'"_

Paul came up. "Now for a walk," he said to Cicely.

"I am sorry, Paul. But if I sit here it will be lovely; if I walk, I am afraid I shall be too tired."

"I'll stay here, then; I am not at all keen about a tramp."

"No, please go. And take Eve."

"Uncly Paul, not _old_ Eve. I want old Eve," announced Jack, reasonably.

"You don't seem to mind his calling you that," said Paul, laughing.

"Why should I?" Eve answered. "I don't care for a walk, thanks."

"Make her go," continued Cicely; "march her off."

"Will you march?" asked Paul.

"Not without a drum and fife."

Jack was now cooing without cessation, and in his most insinuating tones, "Sing to Jacky--poor, _poor_ Jacky. Sing to Jacky--poor, _poor_ Jacky!"

She took him in her arms and walked down the beach with him, going on with her song in a low tone:

_"'He knocks at the door and he pulls up the pin,_ _And he says, "Mrs. Wingfield, is Polly within?"_ _"Oh, Polly's up-stairs a-sewing her silk."_ _Down comes Miss Polly as white as milk.'"_

"Eve never does what you ask, Paul," remarked Cicely.

"Do I ask so often?"

"I wish you would ask her oftener."

"To be refused oftener?"

"To gain your point--to conquer her. She is too self-willed--for a woman." She looked at Paul with a smile.

The tie between them had become very close, and it was really her dislike to see him rebuffed, even in the smallest thing, that made her say, alluding to Eve, "Conquer her; she is too self-willed--for a woman."

Paul smiled. "I shall never conquer her."

"Try, begin now; make her think that you _want_ her to walk with you."

"But I don't."

"Can't you pretend?"

"Why should I?"

"Well, to please me."

"You're an immoral little woman," said Paul, laughing. "I'll go; remember, however, that you sent me." He went up the beach to meet Eve, who was still walking to and fro, singing to Jack, Hollis accompanying them after his fashion; that is, following behind, and stopping to skip a stone carelessly when they stopped. Paul went straight to Eve. "I wish you would go with me for a walk," he said. He looked at her, his glance, holding hers, slowly became entreating. The silence between them lasted an appreciable instant.

"I will go," said Eve.

Jack seemed to understand that his supremacy was in danger. "No, old Eve--no. I want old Eve, Uncly Paul," he said, in his most persuasive voice. Then, to make himself irresistible, he began singing Eve's song:

_"'Who pums idder, all booted an' spurred?_ _Little Jacky Bruce wiz his han' on his sword.'"_

Hollis came up. "Were you wanting to go off somewhere? I'll take Jack."

"Old man, _you_ get out," suggested Jack, calmly.

"Oh, where does he learn such things?" said Eve. She thought she was distressed--she meant to be; but there was an undertide of joyousness, which Hollis saw.

"On the contrary, Jack.u.m, I'll get in," he answered. "If it's singing you want, I can sing very beautifully. And I can dance too; looker here." And skipping across the beach in a Fisher's Horn-pipe step, he ended with a pigeon's wing.

Jack, in an ecstasy of delight, sprang up and down in Eve's arms.

"'Gain! 'gain!" he cried, imperiously, his dimpled forefinger pointed at the dancer.

Again Hollis executed his high leap. "Now you'll come to me, I guess,"

he said. And Jack went readily. "You are going for a walk, I suppose?"

Hollis went on. "There's nothing very much in these woods to make it lively." He had noted the glow of antic.i.p.ation in her face, and was glad that he had contributed to it. But when he turned to Paul, expecting as usual to see indifference, he did not see it; and instantly his feelings changed, he felt befooled.

Jack made prodding motions with his knees. "Dant! dant!"