CHAPTER XI.THE FINGER OF FATE!
"Gigantic shapes and shadows gleam,Portentous through the night."
"Gigantic shapes and shadows gleam,Portentous through the night."
"Gigantic shapes and shadows gleam,Portentous through the night."
"Gigantic shapes and shadows gleam,Portentous through the night."
"Gigantic shapes and shadows gleam,
Portentous through the night."
Longfellow.
Fromthis time forward, Mr. Lisle occasionally accompanied his companion to Ross, and listened to the band, and was even to be met with at tennis parties, in brave defiance of Mrs. Creery's frowns and Miss Caggett's snubs. Helen noticed that he was tabooed, and lost no opportunity of speaking to him or smiling on him—but such opportunities were rare. Mr. Quentin had a way, acquired by long practice,—of elbowing away all intruders from the vicinity of those whom he delighted to honour; and effectually introduced his own large person between Helen and any other swains that might seek her society;—in short, he monopolized her completely. Mr. Lisle had entirely abandoned photography, shooting, and sailing, for the very poor exchange of therôleof a dispassionate spectator. Why did he come to Ross to see what he did not like? his friend's handsome face bent over the beautiful Miss Denis, eliciting her smiles and merry laughter. Naturally, like most lookers-on, he saw a good deal—the envious outer circle of young men, and Miss Caggett, who had long ago made a truce with Helen, but who loved her as little as of yore, and was about as fond of her as any lady could be who beheld her rivalappropriating her own special property! Still, she figuratively folded her enemy to her bosom, and smothered her feelings wonderfully,—but Mr. Lisle fathomed them. Perhaps he had a fellow-feeling for her, who knows? It appeared to him, that the citadel of Miss Denis's heart was carried at last; and who could wonder, that an inexperienced school-girl would long hold out against the artillery of Mr. Quentin's attractions; attractions that had proved irresistible to so many of her sex! No, he noticed that she coloured, and looked conscious whenever he appeared, and was not that a sure symptom that the outer fosse was taken? Little did he imagine, that the unfortunate young lady felt exactly as if she were helplessly entangled in the web of a huge spider, that she would have given worlds to rid herself from this ever-hovering, ever-overshadowing presence,—that so effectually kept any one she wished to speak to aloof and out of reach. Her natural good nature, and politeness, prevented her from actually dismissing him, and she had not the wit, or the experience to get rid of him otherwise. She had indeed ventured on one or two timid hints, but with regard to anything touching another person's wishes, Mr. Jim had no very keen perceptions; and with respect to his own company being anything but ever welcome, he would not have believed Miss Denis, even if she had told him so in the plainest terms! Why shouldshebe different to the rest of her sex? they all liked him! So Mr. Quentin kept his station by her side, by his own wish, and by public concurrence. He immediately joined her whenever she appeared, carried her bat, her shawl, or her band programme, held her tea-cup, walked home with her, and visited her three or four times a week. It was too tiresome, that he should be her invariable companion, and vainly had she endeavoured to break her chains, but he was older, and more experienced, than she was,—and thoroughly understood the art of makingherconspicuous, and himself immovable! Little did Mr. Lisle guess that Miss Denis would have much preferred him as a companion. Alas! the world is full of contrariness.
Mr. Quentin appreciated Helen because she was difficult to fascinate, Helen appreciated Mr. Lisle because he held himself aloof, and nevergave any one the chance of acquiring that familiarity, which notably breeds contempt! and Mr. Lisle was greatly surprised to find, that he was exceedingly envious of his friend, that he admired Helen Denis more than any girl he had ever seen! But he admired, and stood afar off; no thought of disloyalty to James Quentin. Noarrière penséeof that motto, "All's fair in love and war," ever entered his mind, he was only sorry, as he said to himself, that he was too late!
The Settlement band played twice a week in the little public gardens on Ross, and their strains were an irresistible summons to all the (free) inhabitants. One special afternoon, we notice Mrs. Home holding animated converse with Mr. Latimer, in his cool, black alpaca coat; we see Mrs. Creery enthroned on a sofa (which she always provided) alone, clad in a gorgeous combination of colours, that could only have been achieved by a daring soul! We observe Helen and Miss Caggett in company—the latter had apologized for her outbreak. "It would notdo," she said to herself, "to be on bad terms with the Denis girl, she was too popular, all the men would be on her side, Captain Rodney, Mr. Green, and that ugly Irishman, Dr. Malone; wretches who were always praising her rival in her hearing!" A day or two after the storm, she had gone to Helen, and begged and implored her to forget a certain scene between them in the forest above North Bay; declared that she would be miserable for life if Helen was not her friend, that she would rather have her little finger than Mr. Quentin's whole person, that she would sooner marry the typical crossing-sweeper than him, and that she had been very cross and bad-tempered, and hoped that Helen would forget an occasion that it would make her blush to recall! This was very fine, butwhohad ever seen Miss Caggett blush? However, Helen was quite ready to accept the olive-branch, and, like the school-boys, to say "Pax."
There was a considerable gathering at the band, including "Mr. Quentin and Co.," as Mrs. Creery humorously called them. On band nights, the former usually reclined on the sward, literally and figuratively atHelen's feet, but to-night this butterfly was occupied (in quite a temporary manner) with a nice-looking widow, who had come over from Rangoon to pay a visit to her sister, Mrs. King, at Viper. People were walking about in couples, standing in groups, and sitting down in rows. Mrs. Creery (who did not appreciate the solitude of greatness) nodded to Helen to approach, and take a place beside her, saying, rather patronizingly, as she accepted the invitation, "So I hear that your little bachelor's dinner went off quite nicely, and that everything was eatable except the ice pudding!"
Helen felt annoyed, "quite nicely" was indeed but faint praise, after all the trouble she had taken, and the success that she flattered herself she had achieved.
She made no reply, but became rather red.
"And you had Mr. Quentin, of course, and the General, and Mr. Latimer, and Dr. Parks. What champagne did you give them; from the mess, or the bazaar?"
"Bazaar champagne! Oh, Mrs. Creery"—indignantly—"there is no such thing, is there?"
"Yes, and why not? I believe no one can tell the difference between it and that expensive stuff at the mess. I declare—" her attention suddenly distracted to another quarter—"look at Mr. Lisle, in a respectable suit of clothes"—glancing over to where that gentleman was talking to three men.
"Billy!" she screamed to one of Mrs. Home's little boys, "go over to Mr. Lisle, and tell him that I want him at once. Fancy"—turning to Helen and speaking in a tone of pious horror—"those men are European convicts, tickets-of-leave, and allowed to use the garden and library—a very unwise indulgence. I quite setmyface against it, and so I've told the General. Of course no decent person would speak to the wretches; no one but a man like Lisle!"
"What have they been sent here for?" asked her companion.
"One for forgery, one for stabbing a man in a sailor's row in Calcutta, and one was,hesays, sent here by mistake; but most of them saythat! Well," raising her voice, "Mr. Lisle, permit me tocongratulate you on your choice of companions."
"Poor creatures! They never have the chance of exchanging a word with any one but each other, it pleases them, and doesmeno harm. Lots of worse fellows are at large,—and prospering!"
"Oh, pray don't excuse yourself, Mr. Lisle. Birds of a feather—you know the adage."
"Yes, thank you, Mrs. Creery," making an inclination of such exaggerated deference, that Helen now understood what Miss Caggett meant, when she said that he was polite to rudeness. "You sent for me, Mrs. Creery?"—interrogatively.
"Yes, because I did not choose to see you talking to those jail birds! You can talk tomeinstead."
Here was alluring invitation!
"Of course you know Miss Denis—but only recently. You were late in welcoming her to Port Blair!"
"I have the pleasure of knowing Miss Denis, but as to welcoming her to Port Blair, such a proceeding would be altogether presumptuous on my part, and no doubt she received a welcome, from the proper quarter." And he once more bowed himself before Mrs. Creery.
Helen could scarcely keep her countenance when she met his eyes, and hastily turned off her smiles by saying,—
"I am sorry you could not dine with us last night."
"Mr. Lisleneverdines out," replied the elder lady, speaking precisely as if she was Mr. Lisle's interpreter.
"Quentin is talking of getting up a dinner," he said, "in fact he is rather full of it."
"Dinner! Well, don't let him give it till full moon. I hate crossing in the dark, and be sure it is on a mutton-day!" said the elder lady authoritatively. (N.B. Mutton was only procurable once a week.)
"I will remember your suggestions, but a good deal depends on the butler, andhisinclination. He is rather an imperious person, we have but little voice in the domestic arrangements."
"You!"—scornfully—"of course not; but I should hope that Mr. Quentin is master of his own house."
"He leaves all to Abraham, and generally everything has turned out well—except perhaps the writing of themenu! Last time, people were a little startled on glancing over it, to see that they were going to partake of 'Roast lion and jam pupps.'"
Helen laughed delightedly, but the elder lady gravely said, "Oh, roast loin and jam puffs. Well, that's the worst of not having a lady in the house. Such mistakes never happen inmyestablishment!"
"Would you like to take a turn now, Miss Denis?" said Mr. Lisle, glancing at her as he spoke.
"I daresay she would, and so would I," returned Mrs. Creery briskly, rising and walking at the other side of him, an honour for which he was by no means prepared.
"What is that unearthly noise?" inquired Helen; "whatare those sounds that nearly drown the band?"
"Yes; reminds me of a pig being killed," rejoined Mr. Lisle; "but it is merely the Andamanese school-children on the beach. This is the day that theirwildparents come to see them; they arrived this morning in a big canoe, and doubtless brought all kinds of nice, wholesome, dainty edibles for their young people. They are sitting in a circle, whooping and yelling, realbonâ fidesavages! Would you like to come out and see them?"
"Certainly not," exclaimed Mrs. Creery, indignantly.
At this moment they were joined by the General and Captain Rodney, who had just entered the gardens.
"Have you heard anything more about that fellow, sir?" inquired Mr. Lisle.
"No; nothing as yet, but Adams and King are doing their best. I fancy he has taken to the bush."
"Oh! then in that case, the Andamanese will soon bring him in," observed Mr. Latimer. "That, or starvation; roots and berries won't keep soul and body together, though many have tried the experiment."
"What!whatis all this about? What do you mean?" inquired Mrs. Creery, excitedly.
"Oh! rather a bad business at Hadow last night. One of the convicts killed a warder, and has got away," replied the General.
"How did it happen?"
"It seems that this fellow, Aboo Sait, a Mahomedan, has always been an unusually bad lot. A few months ago, he nearly beat out the brains of another convict with his hoe, merely excusing himself on the plea that he was tired of life, and wanted to be hanged. However, as his victim recovered, we were unable to oblige him, and he was heard to say that he would do for a white man next time! Last night, just before they went to section, he was missed, and one of the warders was sent to look for him; but as he did not return, a general search was made, and the warder was found on his face among the reeds, stabbed through the heart, and Aboo was still missing."
"I'm glad he is on the mainland!" ejaculated Mrs. Creery, with a shudder. "I would not change places with Mrs. Manners for a trifle!"
"Then he is not so desirous of being executed as you imagined," said Mr. Lisle. "He did not give himself up."
"Not he!" rejoined the General. "Life is sweet; his threats meant nothing."
"Perhaps he has gone off to sea," suggested Colonel Denis. "I know they have all a foolish notion that those far-away islands are India, and that the steamboat that brings them here, merely goes round and round for a few days to deceive them—they being below under hatches."
"No fear of his taking to the water, Colonel," replied the General. "I have put a stop to that little game with the boats, and no convict crew can now take out a boat, unless the owner, or some European, is with them. The rascals went off with no end of boats, and got picked up at sea as shipwrecked lascars, &c. Two even got so far north as London, in the affecting character of 'castaways.'"
"And how did they fare there?" inquired Helen.
"In princely style, by their own account, they would like to repeat the visit; they were fed and clothed and fêted and supplied with money; they actually went to the theatre, and had their photographs taken—the last a fatal snare—but they were vain! The moment they landed in Bombay, thanks to their photos, the police wanted them, sent them back to us—and here they are!"
"Yes, the boats were a great temptation; but now they go off on logs," said Mr. Latimer, "and even take to the sea in chains; the Malays, especially, can swim like fish. However, their fellow-convicts are getting too sharp for them; the reward of five rupees puts them on their mettle."
"Too much on their mettle, sometimes!" protested Mrs. Graham, who had joined the group. "Last monsoon, my boatmen nearly capsized the boat one evening I was returning from church. What between the runaway's struggles to escape, and their determination to land him, once or twice we were all within a point of going over. My screams and expostulations were quite useless!"
"The natives are very sharp after convicts, too," said the General; "and I'll double the reward this time; it's not pleasant to leave such a scoundrel as Aboo Sait loafing round the settlements,—especially as he isarmed!
"Miss Denis," turning to Helen, "there is a very singular object in the sky to-night, which I'm sure you have never seen; we call it Moses' Horn. Lisle, you should take her up the hill, and let her see it before it fades. I've a lot of work to do, and I'm going home," (to Helen) "or I would not depute any one to exhibit this rather rare sight."
In compliance with the General's suggestion, Helen and Mr. Lisle left the little gardens together (despite Mrs. Creery's angry signals to the former), and walked up to the flagstaff, and surveyed the sea and sky, and beheld a long purple streak extending from the south, and pointing as it were directly to the island. It was very sharply defined, and gigantic in size, and had to Helen rather an awful, and supernatural appearance.
"It is shaped like a finger," she said at last. "I never saw anything so strange!"
"Yes, the finger of fate," agreed her companion, "and if I were superstitious, I would say that it was pointing straight at us. Perhaps there may be some remote connection between our planets; perhaps they are identical."
As they stood gazing, the phenomenon gradually melted away before their eyes, and was replaced by the moon, which now rose out of the sea like a huge fire balloon!
"The moon is irrepressible out here," remarked Mr. Lisle, "she seems always to the fore."
"So much the better," replied Helen, "these Eastern nights are splendid. I wonder, by-the-way, why the moon has always been spoken of by the feminine gender."
"As the Lady Moon? Oh! that question is easily answered:—Because she is never the same two days running."
"Now, Mr. Lisle, I call that rude—a base reflection on my sex. I don't believe we are half as changeable as yours.
" 'One foot on sea and one on shore,To one thing constant never.'
" 'One foot on sea and one on shore,To one thing constant never.'
" 'One foot on sea and one on shore,To one thing constant never.'
" 'One foot on sea and one on shore,To one thing constant never.'
" 'One foot on sea and one on shore,
To one thing constant never.'
Pray, to whom does that refer?" and she looked at him interrogatively.
"I could give you a dozen quotations on the other side, but I will spare you; it is my opinion that women are as changeable as weathercocks."
"An opinion founded on your own experience?"
"Well, no, I am wise;Iprofit by the experience of my friends."
"Oh!" rather scornfully, "second-hand things are never valuable!"
Mr. Lisle laughed and said, "Well, don't let us quarrel. What did we start with? Oh! the moon;" and gazing over at that orb, he added, "I, too, can repeat poetry, Miss Denis, and this seems just a fitting place to quote:
" 'Larger constellations burning—mellow moons and happy skies;Breadths of tropic shade, and palms in clusters—knots of paradise.' "
" 'Larger constellations burning—mellow moons and happy skies;Breadths of tropic shade, and palms in clusters—knots of paradise.' "
" 'Larger constellations burning—mellow moons and happy skies;Breadths of tropic shade, and palms in clusters—knots of paradise.' "
" 'Larger constellations burning—mellow moons and happy skies;Breadths of tropic shade, and palms in clusters—knots of paradise.' "
" 'Larger constellations burning—mellow moons and happy skies;
Breadths of tropic shade, and palms in clusters—knots of paradise.' "
This was an apt quotation, and exactly illustrated the scene before them. The loud striking of a clock aroused these two people from a rather reflective silence; it recalled them sharply from day dreams, to the dinner-hour! And, after a little desultory conversation, they retraced their steps, and rejoined the crowd in the gardens just as the band was playing "God Save the Queen."