Marshall Saunders

“ Her effort was evidently crowned with success, for with a flattered air he went on: “Yes, you were stolen from me when you were a baby. Where has Fordyce been hiding you all these years?”
The mention of her husband’s name threw Nina into a state of mingled resentment, terror, and anger. Could it be that she had made a mistake,—that this man was not mad? Could it be that the man in America was a usurper,—the lonely man reading his paper and thinking of her? No, there was her real father, she could never love another; and mad or not mad, she would not encourage this man. ”

“ Nina had utterly broken down. As she sat dismally weeping, the fresh night air struck her hot [Pg 236] face. She raised her head. A wind had sprung up. The window curtains were swelling out now like—like the sails of the Merrimac. Oh! if she could with one bound spring to the deck of that dear old ship, the black, safe river flowing between her and her perplexities, a strong arm ready to protect her, a strong brain willing to advise her. ”

“ One quarter of an hour went by, then another, and at the end of the second Nina turned feebly and murmured, “What is it, Merdyce?”
Ever since the day that he repulsed her in her quest for her husband, the boy had been her faithful, devoted attendant, ready in every case to fulfil her wishes, sometimes even to anticipate them. He was gently shaking her arm now. Never on the face of the great deep would there be a more delighted face rising above a black jacket and brass buttons. ”

“ As Captain Fordyce turned and looked over his shoulder, a small cloud dragged its white fleece across the silver crescent.
“See what it is to have an evil eye,” he said, half aloud; “at one glance from me the scene changes.”
Nina knew little of the dark side of his nature, and, touched by the suppressed bitterness of his tone, she felt it incumbent on her to say something to comfort him.
“You have not an evil eye, ’Steban. You have a good eye, and people like you,—your sailors, too.” ”

“ She was quite alone in a tiny room not a quarter as large as her bedroom in Rubicon Meadows. She was very, very young. She had left her darling home and two people who adored her. She was going to sea with a monster whom she hated and could never, never live with. The passengers on the steamer would probably be fine city people who would despise her as a green country girl; but she did not care. She would wear her red jacket to breakfast every morning if she wished. ”

“ Nina tried to resume her interrupted soliloquy, but the charm was broken. She cast a regretful glance at the sparkling sea, the rosy sky; then, turning, looked down a near skylight into the dining-saloon. Everybody was at dinner. The stewards, like kindly birds of prey, hovered over the long tables, then departing, wheeled and circled about the corners of the room, in their efforts to obtain fresh supplies of food for their hungry charges.
The Merrimac was carrying several hundred people out to the high seas; many nationalities, many grades of society, were represented ”

“ What should she do to rid herself of him? She dared not ring the bell and ask a servant to show him out. It was dangerous to cross the whims of a madman; and, with a shudder, she pictured a sudden lapse into anger on his part, and the breaking of Lady Forrest’s gilt furniture.
Well, some unexpected way of deliverance might open. In the meantime, she must force herself into composure, and try to keep him in good humour.
Fortunate for her was it that he appeared a cheerful madman. One of the gloomy, raving kind would send her into hysterics. ”

“ Nina clung to his arm with all her strength. “His mother—I promised her to look after him,” he said, putting her aside as easily as if she were a baby; and she wrung her hands as he escaped from her grasp.
Some one had thrown a life-buoy. He struck out for it as he reached the water; then with swift, steady strokes swam toward the dash of gold on the blue waters astern, where poor Prince Charlie was making a gallant struggle for life. ”

“ And you must be poor and have to work hard just like a dog, because that will keep you out of mischief. And you mustn’t live in a grand house. No, no, sir, you are too rich. I could never take care of all that grand furniture. House-cleaning would quite upset me; and I hate fine clothes and white kid gloves. It would frighten me to own all those things; and I just detest sitting up straight and keeping my lips pursed up in a smile. I would rather have meadows, nice big meadows to run over, or the deck of a ship—’ ’Steban, what are you doing? ”

“ Nina thought of Miss Marsden’s words, “Even good dogs will bite,” and answered meekly in the affirmative.
“Don’t you suppose I have been watching you during the last two days?”
“Have you?” she said, quickly.
He smiled. “I know every breath you draw. There is nothing of the coquette about you. You like to admire men at a distance. Near at hand they frighten you. A caress from any man but myself would send you into hysterics.” ”

“ Miss Marsden shook her head. “You will be an apt pupil in the school of old Father Time, my dear; but I am a class ahead of you yet. I think that Englishman is the ugliest man I ever saw.”
“So do I,” said Nina, demurely.
“He has an honest ring in his voice, certainly; but given the occasion, I dare say he will distinguish himself with the best of them.”
“I dare say he drinks,” said Nina. “I guess all men drink when they aren’t gambling. I expect my husband is as bad as the worst of them—and lie, too. I suppose Captain Eversleigh didn’t mean a word of what he said about you.” ”

“ Nina was listening in profound attention. “And which do you prefer?” she asked, when he finished.
“The last, I think, though all are well enough in their turn.”
“Well, there’s some queerness about men, too,” said Nina, taking up the cudgels for her sex.
“Far queerer than women, my dear, and with more of a strain of the brute. However, every woman, be she saint or angel, has in her a scrap of devilry.”
“’Steban!” she said, reproachfully.
“She has, birdie; latent or patent, it’s there all the same; and a man who undertakes to govern a woman without recognising that fact is an idiot.” ”

“ Grayley’s inane face enlivened itself. “You are not doing the poor fellow justice with your faint praise. My friends whom he visited—the Dunmoor-Marleys, of New York—said that his aunt, old Lady Glenville, who lives in Park Lane, London, actually bows down and worships him. She is a fine old lady, regular English type; rides horseback like a girl. She brought him up; his parents are dead. Her husband is an admiral, old Admiral Glenville. I dare say you have heard of him, Miss Marsden,” and she leaned across Nina to look at Nina’s silent companion. ”

“ You are better than a chest full of medicine. After lunch, we will try to effect a combination of all these garments.”
Nina gazed at her in admiration when she was fully dressed. “You are like the tall green poplars on the meadows at home,” she said, impulsively. “I wish I were like you.”
“Nonsense, child; men like a rosebud like you far better than a poplar like me.”
Nina shook her head unbelievingly, and trotted after her to the deck. Marie established them both comfortably in steamer chairs, in the midst of shawls and rugs, then she betook herself to the society of Lady Forrest’s maid. ”

“ Fordyce!’ How could you,—how dare you?”
Captain Fordyce suppressed his amusement. “Well, are you not Mrs. Fordyce?”
“No; you must not write me down your wife. I want to be Miss Danvers.”
“Have you no regard for my reputation, pussy-cat?”
“You said young ladies could travel with captains.”
“Yes, they can,” he said, soothingly, “but I prefer you to take the name that belongs to you. You are always crying honesty. What about sailing under false colours?”
“I think we had better have some breakfast,” she said, haughtily.
“Yes, Nina, but first go take off that red toggery.” ”

“ Eversleigh,” said Captain Fordyce; “and perhaps we will get you out of all this. I want a first mate for my ship. Your husband is a man of many parts, I think we should work well together.”
“And I should have you to talk to,” exclaimed Nina. “How charming that would be! Don’t you want to be a sailor, Captain Eversleigh?”
He glanced at his handsome uniform, laughed heartily, then said: “What are you two people looking forward to? Are you going to sail the wide ocean all the days of your lives?” ”

“ Your wider range of feelings and emotions makes you more interesting than men. For instance,—to find you always a placid, smiling doll would bore me to death; but when I lay my fingers on the handle of my door I never know what I may find within. There may be a young tomboy climbing over the furniture; or an elderly young prude sitting stiffly, with a book in hand, who will draw herself up and look at me through imaginary spectacles when I speak to her; or there may be a fashionable young lady in high-heeled shoes and an elaborate gown, who will turn up her nose at my rough coat ”

“ Her husband hesitated, then said, unwillingly: “He is a jack-of-all-trades. His forte used to be gambling; but I believe now he hangs about theatres,—he manages to exist.”
“Would he have been unkind to me if I had gone with him?” asked Nina, nervously.
Her husband scowled. “Don’t talk about him,—he is a brute. He cares no more for you than for a dog in the streets. Put him out of your thoughts.”
Nina leaned her head against a chair seat, closed her eyes, and gave herself up to meditation. ”

“ Nina darted a glance at the sleepy maid in the upper berth, shook her head and hurried from the room. With a light heart she trotted down the long passages. The Boston girl was a darling. She thoroughly approved of her. She was far more interesting to talk to than that faultfinding ’Steban. She did not miss him at all. She was glad that she had in some way offended him. She did not want to know what it was about. Very likely he was jealous of that wretched man, Delessert; and she scowled at his open cabin door that she was just passing. ”

“ Now I will give place to the Rubicon Meadows boys. You have played fast and loose with me about our engagement, and I don’t believe you ever intend to marry me. If you don’t call me back before I get to that second row of gooseberry-bushes you will never see me again.”
“You don’t mean ‘never,’” said the girl, hotly, over her shoulder; “you’re tired and cross, and you’ve lost your last remnant of temper. You’re in a pretty state of mind to come proposing to a girl.”
“Good-bye, Nina,” he continued, calmly. ”

“ Mrs. Fordyce was not with her husband. She was escorted by a barrister well-known to the house. The guest of honour, the honourable Arthur Gravesham, fourth son of the Earl of Greenfell, was in front with Lady Forrest. He was not much to look at, and with a yawn the woman went to her sewing. This was not a grand dinner-party. The gowns were not worth noticing, and as for that black-moustached husband of the girl she had just dressed, he was in an evening suit at least three years old in cut. No gentleman wore lapels of that shape now.
Nina’s head was swimming, yet outwardly she was an iceberg. ”

“ He nodded, then as she rose he said, softly, “Won’t you kiss your husband, little girl, before you leave him?”
She flung up her head. Wilfulness, wounded pride, and obstinacy were working within her. She knew now that, although his homage was distasteful to her, she had been disturbed by the discontinuance of it. And he was speaking coolly of leaving her. She did not know whether he was in earnest or not. And she was to write to him if she wished to see him. Did he forget that that was a reversal of the natural order of things? The man should seek the woman, not the woman the man. ”

“ Neptune sent a great sea-serpent to ravage the kingdom of her husband, a king of Ethiopia, because she, naughty Cassiopeia, had had the presumption to declare herself fairer than the sea-nymphs. Astonishing, isn’t it, how vain women are?”
“I know what those two stars are,” said Nina, drawing her lemonade bottle from under her arm, and pointing it skywards, “Castor and Pollux, twin brothers, who, unlike any specimens of perfect youth we have nowadays, were so much attached to each other that Jupiter set them among the stars.” ”

“ Captain Fordyce gently stroked the back of her head, but made no effort to utter a word.
“Is he my father?” asked Nina, suddenly lifting her face.
He did not reply.
“Will you tell me?” and her voice was almost fierce.
“How can I tell?” he muttered at last. “I did not see him.”
She pushed him away from her, and sprang to her feet. “Is my father a good man?”
“A good man,” he repeated, restlessly. “What is a good man?” ”

“ Danvers treated her to an exhibition of open-mouthed astonishment and disapproval. “Melinda, are you crazy to talk of such goings-on?”
“Men don’t do such things nowadays,” she said, soothingly, “but there’s a heap of wild nature in a good many of us. I guess you’d like to turn Fordyce out this very minute.”
“You bet your life I would,” said the fat man, with energy, and without premeditation. “I’d send him flying down that road. He’s too old for Nina. Let her marry one of the boys around here.”
“Do you know what she calls the Rubicon Meadows boys?” asked Mrs. Danvers, dryly. ”

“ You’re just like wildfire. Now I’ve liked that little girl just as if she was my own, but not like you, Melinda. A man’s wife is different. I wonder you speak of such a thing, and I a deacon in the church.”
“I wasn’t speaking of anything but your acting like a foolish father,” she said, indignantly. “Of course you’d never think of comparing Nina to me. She’s only a baby, and whatever happens, Israel Danvers, I hope you’ll remember I am your wedded wife. ”

“ Grayley always clapped her lily-like hands and gaily assured him that never before, off the stage, had she seen a man fall so gracefully.
He took her merriment not at all in good part, and usually wandered away. But always to come back; for the other people on board, the men especially, for some reason or other kept themselves severely away from him. Captain Eversleigh, who at first had shown a slight preference for his society, now, Nina noticed, never addressed him, but was constantly with the tall youth Maybury. ”

“ Something more about the money, and he threw away the stump of his cigar and ejaculated a prosaic “Hey?”
“’Steban,” she whispered again, “what is love?”
He was not in a condition of mind to expatiate on the beauties of the ardent attraction of one human being for another. Recognising this, she went on, in the same low voice: “You’re nothing but a plain, every-day, commonplace sort of man. There’s no poetry in your nature, never was, and never will be. I will tell you what love is;” ”

“ It is not American, I assure you. We call everybody at home ‘Mr.’—even the butcher. I am sure I apologise to you both. I will not offend again, Mr. Gravesham and Sir Hervey!” and with a slight and most becoming confusion she quietly continued her dinner.
Mr. Gravesham was sulky and would talk no more, and Sir Hervey was discomposed and a little trifle discontented with his usual favourite; but no one else took the occurrence to heart. Lady Forrest was talking amiably and obliviously to her neighbours, and at last Captain Fordyce’s attention was concentrated on the bowed head of his young wife. ”