The Bramleighs of Bishop's Folly Part 87

"Make cigarettes for me, then. There 's the bag," said he, lazily.

"I declare, our Bohemianism progresses famously," said she, half tartly.

"What do you think of this proposal, Nelly?" The question came late, however; for Nelly was already on her way to the house.

"Don't go, that's a good girl. Don't leave me here to my own thoughts,--they 're not over jolly, I promise you, when I'm all alone."

"Why, it's your good spirits that amaze me," replied she. "I don't remember seeing you so cheerful or so merry long ago, as you are now."

"You mean that I wasn't so happy when I had more reason to be so? But what if I were to tell you out of what a sad heart this joy comes; how every day I say to myself, 'This is to be the last of it!' Not," said he, in a bolder voice, "that I want to think about myself; this terrible disaster that has befallen my family is infinitely worse than anything that can attach to _me_. Even yet I cannot bring myself to believe this great smash." She made no answer, and he went on: "I can't make out if Nelly herself believes it. You all wear such cheerful faces, it 's not easy to understand in what spirit you take this reverse."

"I think that your return has recompensed Nelly for everything."

"She was always the best of us; it's no great praise, that same; but I mean--but it's no matter what I mean, for you are laughing at me, already."

"No, indeed, I was not. If I smiled, it was in thinking how little all your casualties have changed you."

"For that matter, I suspect we may compliment or condemn each other, whichever it be, on equal terms."

"So at last I have got you to say a civil thing to me. You tell me I am the same delightful, fascinating creature you knew me long ago."

"I said nothing about fascination," said he, sternly.

"Not directly, of course. Your tact and delicacy were proof against such indiscretion; but you know you meant it."

"I 'll tell you what I know: I know that I never saw a girl, except yourself, who liked to pain--aye, to torture--those who cared for her; who would infinitely rather indulge her mood of mockery than--than--"

"Pray, finish. It's not every day I have the fortune to hear such candor. Tell me what it is that I postpone to my love of sarcasm?"

"I 've done. I 've been very rude to you, and I ask your pardon. I was not very polished in my best of days, and I take it my late schooling has not done much to improve me. When I was coming here I swore an oath to myself that, no matter what you 'd say to me, I 'd not lose temper, nor make a resentful answer to anything; and now I see I 've forgotten all my good intentions, and the best thing I can do is to ask you to forgive me, and go my ways."

"I 'm not offended," said she, calmly, without raising her eyes. "I suppose if the balance were struck between us, I did more to provoke _you_ than you did to wound _me_."

"What is this I hear about being provoked and wounded?" cried Nelly, coming up to where they sat.

"Your brother and I have been quarrelling, that's all. We thought it the pleasantest way to pa.s.s the time till you came back; and we have succeeded to perfection."

"I declare, Julia, this is too bad," cried Nelly.

"But why 'Julia'? Why am I singled out as the culprit? Is he so above reproach that he could not be in the wrong?"

"I know I was in the wrong, and I 've said so; but now let Nelly be judge between us. Here is the way it began--"

"The way what began, pray?" asked Julia.

"There, now, that's the way she pushes me to lose my temper; and when she sees I 'm angry she grows all the calmer."

"She's downright disagreeable," said Julia; "and I don't know why a frank, outspoken sailor condescends to speak to her."

"Well, he 's pretty sure to get the worst of it," muttered he.

"Poor Jack," said Nelly, caressingly. "And for all that he likes the ill-treatment better than all the flatteries he meets elsewhere."

"That shrug of the shoulders does not say so," said Julia, laughing.

"Come," cried she, with a merry voice, "let us do something more worthy of this delicious morning. Let us have a walk up the mountain; we can have shade all the way."

"What's that little dome,--there, above the trees?" asked Jack.

"That's the campanile of our little chapel. I 'll fetch the key, and we 'll go and visit it. We 've not been to see it yet."

"But George would like to come with us;" and so saying, Julia hastened away to find him.

"Oh, Nelly, I love her better than ever, and she scorns me even more,"

said he, as he hid his head on his sister's shoulder.

"My poor dear Jack; how little you know her! You never sorrowed over your last parting as she did. We have had all of us great reverses.

They, as well as ourselves; and that spirit of Julia's--there is another name for it than mockery--has carried her through her troubles better than a more pretentious philosophy."

"But she is not even friendly with me, Nelly. None of you make me feel what I have sunk to as she does."

"There, again, you are unjust--"

"Right or wrong, I'll bear it no longer. I only wait now till Gusty comes back. I want to shake his hand once more, and then, girl, you have seen the last of me."

Before Nelly could reply, Julia and her brother had joined them.

"Here 's news," said George, showing a letter,--"Augustus will be with us to-morrow; he only writes a few lines to say,--'I have nothing particularly cheering to report, and it will all bear keeping. I mean to be at home on Wednesday next. I am all impatience to see Jack; the thought of meeting him more than repays me my reverses here. Give him my love.--A. Bramleigh.'"

"We shall have plenty to do to prepare for his arrival," said Julia.

"We must postpone our visit to the chapel. Would this ill.u.s.trious prince condescend to help us to move tables and chests of drawers?"

Jack threw a very significant glance towards Nelly, as though to say, "She is at the old game."

"Well, sir? I wait your answer," said Julia.

"For twenty-four hours I am at your orders," said Jack.

"And then under what commander do you serve?"

"Captain Fortune, I suspect," said he, gravely. "A gentleman, or lady, perhaps, that has shown me no especial fondness up to this."

"Jack says he is going to leave us," said Nelly, as her eyes filled up.

"But why?" cried George.

"But why?" echoed Julia.

"Haven't I given proof enough," said Jack, with a faint laugh, "that I'm not what Miss Julia there calls a very logical animal; that when I get a wayward fancy in my head I follow it faithfully as if it was a strong conviction. Well, now, one of these moments has come to me; and thinking, besides, that this pleasant sort of life here is not exactly the best preparation for a rougher kind of existence, I have made up my mind to slip my cable after I 've seen Gusty."

"Well, then, let us profit by the short time left us," said Julia, quietly. "Come and help me in the house. I shall want you, too, George."