CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.
A week later Arthur's picnic came off under circumstances of unusual_eclat_. The extravagant fellow had arranged everything on so luxuriousa scale that Mellicent sat in a dream of happiness, building castles inthe air, in which she continually drove about in dog-carts, travelled inreserved carriages, and ate luncheons provided by Buzzard. Her plumpface assumed quite a haughty aspect, as she mentally acknowledged thesalutations of the crowd, and issued orders to flunkies, gorgeous inpowder and knee-breeches. It was enough happiness just to sit and thinkof it, and munch the delicious chocolates which Arthur dispensed amonghis guests.
It was a pretty scene--that group of young people in the Pullmancarriage, the girls in their white dresses, the tall, handsome men, thecheery little chaperon in the centre. The professor and Esther sat by awindow whispering earnestly together, for having been separated for aweary length of ten whole days, they had naturally large arrears of talkto make up. Arthur pointed out the various objects of interest toEunice, as the train whizzed past, and Peggy sat glued to the side ofMrs Bryce, determined not to be monopolised by Hector thus early in theday. Rob had come with his brother, but she felt little satisfaction inhis presence, knowing that he had tried to refuse the invitation, andhad only yielded on Arthur's assertion that he was needed for help, notornament, and must come whether he liked it or not, to lend a hand withthe oars. He looked pre-occupied and solemn, but was absolutelyfriendly in his manner, rejoicing in the fineness of the weather, andcongratulating Peggy on the success of her dressmaking experiment, ofwhich he had heard from his brother. To explain that Hector's reportwas entirely prejudiced, seemed but a tacit acknowledgment of hisinfatuation, and Peggy blushed in sheer anger at the perversity of Fate,the while she gave the true version of the affair, and dilated on herown sufferings.
"It will be a lesson to me for life not to interfere with the businessof others, and take the bread out of the mouths of professionals byamateur interference," she concluded grandiloquently, and Rob smiled inhis grave, kindly fashion. It seemed to Peggy that there was an addedkindliness in his smile of late, and several times during the morningshe looked up suddenly, to discover his eyes fixed upon her with ascrutiny at once so tender, so anxious, and so searching, that she wasobliged to turn aside to conceal her tears.
When the train arrived at its destination, a couple of carriagesconveyed the travellers on the next stage of their journey, and withtheir arrival at the little fishing village came the first hitch in theprogramme. Arthur had written in advance to ask that two of the bestboats should be reserved for his party, and that a fisherman should bein readiness to go in each, so that his friends need not exertthemselves more than they felt inclined. It is one thing, however, todespatch an order to the depths of the country, and quite another tofind it fulfilled. As a matter of fact, the letter was even now lyingunopened in the village post-office, and Arthur was confronted with theintelligence that men and boats had departed _en masse_ to attend aregatta which was taking place some miles along the coast. Only a fewof the oldest and most unwieldy boats had been left behind, and neitherman nor boy could be found to row them. Here was a fine predicament! Asnapshot taken of the party at this moment would have been an eloquentstudy in disappointment, and each one looked expectantly at Arthur,waiting for him to find a solution of the difficulty.
"Here is a fine pickle! I'm furious with myself, and yet I don't seewhat more I could have done. There are two alternatives before us, sofar as I can see--either we must get into one of these old tubs and rowourselves across, or give up the island altogether, and spend the daywhere we are."
At this there was a groan of dismay, for, truth to tell, the village wasof an uninteresting character, and the sands felt like an oven in theshadeless noon. To spend the day here would indeed be waste of time,while only a few miles off lay the island of their dreams--thatwonderful island, with the blue waves splashing its shores, the kindlytrees shading its crest.
"The island! the island!" cried the girls in chorus, while the menlooked at each other, braced themselves up, and said:
"We can do it. Why not? It will be a stiff pull, but the day is ourown. We can take our time, and rest when we are tired. Let us go atonce and choose a boat."
It was Dobson's choice, however, or very nearly so, for the only boatsleft were tubs indeed, in which a score of passengers could have beenaccommodated as easily as eight. Large as they were, however, there wasone member of the party who seemed diffident about their sea-goingquality, and, wonderful to relate, that person was Peggy herself.
"Is it safe?" she kept asking. "Is it safe? Are you quite sure it issafe?"--and her companions stared in amazement at this sudden access ofnervousness.
"Why, Peggy, you are surely not turning coward in your old age!" Arthurcried laughingly, as he dragged at the unwieldy bulk. "If you areafraid of this old bark, I don't know when you would feel safe. It islike going to sea in a pantechnicon!"
"And after a voyage to India, too! How funny! I am not a bit afraid,and I have never been out of England in my life. Are you afraid ofbeing drowned?" chimed in Mellicent, with an air of superiority whichgoaded Peggy past endurance.
"I was not thinking of myself. It is possible sometimes to be nervousfor another," she blurted out, and the next moment wished her tongue hadbeen bitten off before she had uttered such a rash remark; for whatcould Rob think, or his companions either, but that the person for whomshe was anxious was present among them? They had not heard MrsAsplin's words of entreaty, or seen the strained expression on her faceas she murmured, "Remember, dear! Oh, be sure to remember!"
She turned and walked along the shore by herself, clasping her hands ina passion of longing and pity.
"I gave her my promise, and I'll keep it, whatever they think. It willbe my fault if anything goes wrong. I know, and they don't!"
It was one o'clock before the island was reached, for the row out took along time, despite the fact that the amateur oarsmen were all fairlyproficient at their work. Even the professor pulled with a will, whileto see haughty Hector in his shirt sleeves, with his hair matted on hisforehead, was indeed a novel experience. Arthur was stroke, andMellicent sat in front and coached him in his duty, to the amusement ofthe company and his own unspeakable delight, and Eunice dabbled her handin the water, and sent little showers of spray tossing up into the air.Every now and then, when Arthur made a reply to Eunice more professedlydeferential than usual, her eyes met his, and they smiled at eachother--that smile of happy, mutual understanding which had grown commonbetween them in the last few months. Peggy intercepted one of theglances, and felt at once rejoiced and sorrowful; rejoiced because itwas good to see Arthur started on the way she would have him go,sorrowful because she realised, as many another had done before her,that his gain must also be her loss, and that just in proportion asEunice became necessary to him her own importance must decrease.
When all was said and done, however, it was impossible to indulge in lowspirits in the hours that followed. Oh, the delights of that island,the dear, shingly beach with its little pools full of a hundred brinytreasures, the long trails of seaweeds, which were credited with thegift of foretelling weather as well as any barometer; the tiny crabsthat burrowed among the stones; the sea anemones, the jelly-fish, soinnocent to regard, so deadly to encounter. They were all there, withtiny little pink-lined shells, and pebbles of marvellous transparencywhich must surely, surely, be worth taking to a lapidary to examine!What cries of delight followed the landing, what hasty summoning of thewhole party to witness some fresh discovery; what trippings on slipperystones, and splashing of fresh white dresses! Then, too, the long-checked pangs of hunger asserted themselves, and would no longer berestrained, and the men were hardly allowed time to fasten the boat, goimperiously were they hurried on shore with the precious freight ofhampers.
Lunch was spread beneath the tree, and was no sooner finished thanMellicent inquired, "When's tea?" a request which the
hearers felt boundto deride, though in reality it found an echo in every heart.Astonishing as it may appear, a picnic lunch invariably seems to createa longing for the cup which cheers, and on this occasion the sea air hada sleepifying influence which increased that desire.
"I re-ally think we had better have it soon. I can hardly keep from y-awning all the time!" cried Mrs Bryce, suiting the action to the word,and such was the result of infection that two pairs of hands went up toas many mouths even as she spoke.
"Very well, then, say four o'clock. Can't possibly have it beforethen," said Arthur, struggling vainly to keep his jaws together. "Oh,this will never do. Come down to the rocks, all of you, and get a goodblow to freshen you up. I never saw such a company of sleepers!"
Eunice and Mellicent followed obediently enough, while the lovers seatedthemselves in a quiet corner, and Rob lay down on the sand beside one ofthe little pools, to watch the movements of the crawling insects. Histrained glance was quick to understand the purport of what would haveseemed aimless fittings to and fro to an ordinary observer, and soon outcame notebook and pencil, and he was hard at work chronicling a dozeninteresting discoveries. Peggy lingered behind to offer her help toMrs Bryce, but that good lady, being secretly anxious to indulge inforty winks, seconded Hector Darcy's protest in so emphatic a mannerthat she had no loophole for delay. She strolled with him down to theshore, following Arthur and his companions, but not so closely thatthere was not a distance of several yards between the two big stoneswhich had been selected as resting-places. So far as privacy ofconversation was concerned, the yards might have been miles, for thewaves dashed up with a continual murmur, and the breeze seemed to carrythe sound of the voices far out to sea. Peggy clasped her hands on herknee, and gazed before her with dreamy eyes. Her little face lookedvery sweet and thoughtful, and Hector Darcy watched her beneath the brimof his hat, and built his own castle in the air, a castle which hadgrown dearer and more desirable ever since his return to England. Theopportunity for which he had been waiting had come at last, and surelyit was an omen for good that it had come by the side of that sea whichhad witnessed their meeting; which, if all went well, would witnesstheir start together on the new life!
"I shall be going back to India soon, Peggy," he said softly. "The timeis drawing near;" and Peggy looked in his face, and realised that whatshe had dreaded was at hand, and could not be avoided. She heard herown voice murmur words of conventional regret, but Hector took no noticeexcept to look still deeper into her eyes.
"Am I to go alone, Peggy?" he asked gently. "I have been an independentfellow all my life, and thought I needed no one but myself, but that isall altered since I met you! I should get along badly now without youto help me, and share my lot!"
"Oh, Hector, no! Don't say so. It's all a mistake. How could I helpyou? I have been a hindrance, not a help. It was owing to mycarelessness that you hurt yourself, and it was only your generositywhich made light of it. Father says it is a serious thing for a soldierto sprain his ankle, for it is never so strong again, and may fail himat a critical moment. I know quite well how much harm I have done you."
"Do you, Peggy? I don't agree with you there; but if it is so, is notthat all the more reason why you should do me a good turn now? I don'tmind your blaming yourself, dear, if it makes you the more inclined tobe generous. I have loved you ever since we met, and it would beimpossible to part from you now. I need you, Peggy; come to me! Be mywife, and give me the happiness of having you always beside me."
He spoke with a whole-hearted earnestness which brought the tears intoPeggy's eyes, but she shook her head none the less firmly.
"I can't! I can't! It would be doing you a worse injury than thefirst. I should be no help to you, Hector, for I don't care for you inthe way you mean, and I could never marry a man unless I loved him withall my heart. It is all a mistake--indeed it is. You only imagine thatyou care for me because you have seen a great deal of me lately, and Iseem part of home and the old life. When you have gone back to India,you will forget all about me, or be glad that I did not take you at yourword."
Hector pressed his lips together and gave a strained attempt at a smile.
"I am not a boy, Peggy. I know what I want, but you--you are so young,how can you be sure of yourself yet? I am not going to take `No' for ananswer. I will wait--ask for an extension of leave--come home for youlater on. You shall have time, plenty of time, but I will not let youdecide at once. You don't know your own mind!"
"Oh, Hector!" Even at that critical moment a gleam of fun twinkled inPeggy's eyes. "Oh, Hector, how can you? No one has ever accused mebefore of not knowing my own mind. I know it only too well, and I willnot let you wait on, to gain nothing but a second disappointment. Ishould not change, and listen, Hector--it would be a bad thing if I did!I like you very much--far, far better than I ever believed I could dowhen we first met, for you seemed so different then, so haughty andself-satisfied, that if you had not been Rob's brother I should havedisliked you outright. I see now that I judged you too quickly, butthere is still so much difference between us that we should never behappy together. You are a man of the world, and like to live in theworld, and conform to its ways, and at heart I am nothing but aBohemian. I have no respect for the rules and regulations of Society,and the only feeling they arouse in me is a desperate desire to breakthrough them and shock Mrs Grundy. I am erratic, and careless, andforgetful. I am ashamed of it, and honestly mean to improve, but, oh,poor Hector, how you would suffer if you had to put up with me duringthe process! You ought to marry a clever woman who would keep yourhouse as you would like it kept, and help you on by her gracious ways,not a madcap girl who has not learned to manage herself, much less otherpeople. Dear Hector, I thank you with all my heart for thinking sokindly of me and paying me such an honour, but, indeed, indeed, itcannot be."
She laid her hand on his as she spoke with a pretty, winsome gesture,and Hector just touched it with his own, and then let it drop. Hisexpression had altered completely while she was speaking, and he hadlost his air of assurance. Those few words which had dropped out sounconsciously had convinced him of the hopelessness of his cause moreentirely than any argument. "If you had not been Rob's brother." Shewould have disliked him if he had not been Rob's brother. She could notdislike one who was Rob's brother! Innocent Peggy little suspected theeloquence of that confession, but Hector understood, and read in it thedownfall of his hopes. He sat gazing out to sea, while she looked athim with anxious eyes, and for a long time neither spoke a word.Then--"I could have loved you very dearly, Peggy," he said softly, "verydearly!" The strong chin trembled, and Peggy's heart yearned pitifullyover him, but she noticed with relief that he spoke in problematicalfashion, as if the love were more a possibility of the future than apresent fact. Men of Hector Darcy's type set an exaggerated value onanything which belongs to themselves, the while they unconsciouslydepreciate what is denied them. Peggy understood that the very fact ofher refusal of himself had lessened her attractions in his sight, andthe knowledge brought with it nothing but purest satisfaction.
It was a relief to both when the summons to tea relieved them from theirpainful _tete-a-tete_, but if they flattered themselves that theirdisturbed looks escaped the notice of their friends, they were quitemistaken. Each member of the party, even to Mellicent herself, wasaware that some development of the situation had taken place sincelunch, and pondered anxiously as to what it could be. At the one momentit seemed that they must surely be engaged; at the next it was asevident that they were not; and Mellicent composed imaginary interviewsthe while she demolished cakes and biscuits, in which she heard Peggy'svoice murmuring alternate vows of love and friendship.
"He has proposed to her, I'm certain of it!" she told herself, "and oh,how I wish I had been there! I'd simply love to have heard him do it.I'm glad women don't have to ask men to marry them, it must be soembarrassing to be refused! Now, if Hector Darcy had proposed to me, Ishould have said `Ye
s' out of sheer fright, but Peggy would refuse aprince to-morrow, if she got the chance. I wonder what she said to him!In books the girl always says, `I cannot give you my love, but I willalways be your friend.' I should be so cross, if she said that to me,that I should want to shake her. How could you be friends with a personwho had made you so miserable? ... Now she is smiling at him aspleasantly as ever ... They _must_ be engaged! I'll be bridesmaidagain, and get a nice present! I wonder what Rob--"
But at this interesting moment Arthur broke in upon her surmises bycalling attention to the current which was sweeping round the island.
"Just look at that water rushing past!" he cried. "We didn't noticeanything like that when we rowed across. It was slack tide then, Isuppose, and now it is rising. It is running strong! I say, what aboutthat boat? We had better look after her at once."
Rob leapt to his feet before the words were well spoken, and ranhurriedly forward. His companions watched him go, saw him cross theplot of grass, come out from beneath the shadow of the trees, and standfor a moment silhouetted against the sky; then he stopped short, andthrew up his hands with a gesture of dismay. It was indeed a sight tofill the onlooker with dismay, for the tide had reached the spot wherethe boat was moored, and was drifting her rapidly towards the shore!