CHAPTER III
ON THE VERANDA
It was a clear, moonlight night when Pancho Brown, Mrs. Hatherly, andErminio Oliviera, the _Estremedura_'s captain, sat in big cane chairs onthe veranda of the Hotel Catalina, Las Palmas. The Catalina is long andlow, and fronted with a broad veranda, a rather more sightly buildingthan tourist hotels usually are, and its row of windows blazed thatnight. They were, most of them, wide open, and the seductive strains ofa soft Spanish waltz drifted out with the rhythmic patter of feet andswish of light draperies, for the winter visitors had organised aconcert and informal dance. A similar entertainment was apparently goingon in the aggressively English Metropole, which cut, a huge, squareblock of building, against the shining sea a little further up thestraight white road, while the artillery band was playing in the alamedaof the town, a mile or two away. The deep murmur of the Atlantic surfbroke through the music in a drowsy undertone.
Pancho Brown was essentially English, a little, portly gentleman with aheavy, good-humoured face. He was precise in dress, a little slow inspeech, and nobody at first sight would have supposed him to bebrilliant, commercially or otherwise. Still, he had made money, whichis, perhaps, the most eloquent testimony to anybody's business ability.He was then meditatively contemplating his daughter, who was strollingin the garden with a young English officer from the big white warshipin the harbour. A broad blaze of silver stretched back across the seatowards the hazy blueness in the east beyond which lay Africa, and itwas almost as light as day. Mrs. Hatherly followed his gaze.
"An only daughter must be a responsibility now and then," she said. "Ihave never had one of my own, but for the last few months my niece hasbeen living with me, and I have had my moments of anxiety."
Pancho Brown, who fancied she was leading up to something, smiled in afashion which suggested good-humoured indifference, though he was quiteaware that his daughter was then talking very confidentially to theyoung naval officer.
"I am afraid I do not deserve your sympathy," he said. "Jacinta's motherdied when she was eight years old, but ever since she came home fromschool in England Jacinta has taken care of me. In fact, I almost thinkit is Jacinta who feels the responsibility. I am getting a little old,and now and then my business enterprises worry me."
"And does that young girl know anything about them?"
"Jacinta," said Brown, "knows a good deal about everything, and itreally doesn't seem to do her any harm. In fact, I sometimes feel thatshe knows considerably more than I do. I make mistakes now and then, butif Jacinta ever does I am not aware of them."
"Still, a girl with Miss Brown's appearance--and advantages--mustnaturally attract a good deal of attention, and, of course, one has----"
Brown smiled at her indulgently. "When Jacinta chooses her husband Ishall, no doubt, approve of him. I am not sure," he added, with an airof reflection, "that it would make any great difference if I didn't."
"You are to be envied," said his companion, with a little sigh. "I feelthe responsibility circumstances have placed on me is unpleasantlyheavy, and I am almost sorry I missed the Madeira boat two or threeweeks ago. If we had gone in her we should not, of course, have been inLas Palmas now."
"It is almost as evident that I should have been left forlorn to-night,"said Brown, with cumbrous gallantry.
Mrs. Hatherly appeared to reflect. "It is a curious thing that MissBrown assured me we should not catch the steamer that night, though wehad apparently half an hour to spare; but in one respect it was perhapsfortunate, after all. If we had gone to Madeira I should not haveconsulted Dr. Lane, who seems to understand my case so thoroughly; but,on the other hand, we should have seen no more of Mr. Jefferson."
"It is not such a long way to Madeira, and there is a steamer every weekor so. From what I know of Mr. Jefferson, I think it is possible hewould have gone there, too."
"You are well acquainted with him?"
Brown glanced at her with a faint twinkle in his eyes. "I know a littleabout everybody in these islands, madam. Mr. Jefferson is considered astraight man, and I may mention that he meets with Jacinta's approval. Ialmost think I could vouch for his character. I wonder," and he smiledgenially, "if it would be as much to the purpose if I said that he hadjust been left eight thousand pounds?"
"Eight thousand pounds is not very much," and Mrs. Hatherly turned tohim as if for guidance. "Mr. Jefferson called on me this afternoon, andit would be almost three weeks before I could get a letter from Muriel'sfather, who trusted her to me. Of course, a good deal would depend uponwhat I said about him; but, after all, Muriel has not a penny of herown."
"The sum in question is apt to go a long way when the man who has it isan American, and I really think you could leave him and Miss Gascoyne tosettle the affair between them." Brown stopped a moment, and then added,as if by an afterthought: "It is, of course, quite possible that theyhave done so already; and, in any case, I am not sure, my dear madam,that Jefferson would be very greatly discouraged by your opposition. Heis--as has been said--an American."
The little, red-cheeked lady made a gesture of resignation, but justthen Captain Oliviera, who spoke a little English, and appeared to feelhimself neglected, broke in:
"You come here for your healt, seA+-ora?" he said. "Bueno! My sobrecargogo by the step, and he is savvy much the medsin. Me, he cure,frecuentemente, by the morning. Ola, I call him!"
"Otra vez," said Brown, restrainingly, and Mrs. Hatherly favoured thecaptain, who was big and lean and bronzed, with a glance of interestedscrutiny.
"You are an invalid, too?" she said. "One would scarcely fancy it. Infact, you seem very robust to me. What do you suffer from?"
Brown made this a trifle plainer, and Don Erminio smiled. He had nogreat sense of fitness, and was slightly reckless in his conversation.
"Mi t'roat, and the head of me--by the morning," he said, and made acurious gurgling to give point to the explanation. "El sobrecargo helaugh and say, 'Aha, mi captain, you want a peek-a-up again.' It is ofmucho effecto. I go call him. He make some for you."
"Peek-a-up!" said Mrs. Hatherly, and Brown laid his hand restraininglyupon the gallant skipper's arm.
"It is a preparation they find beneficial at sea, though I do not thinkit would suit your case," he said, and Oliviera roused himself to afurther effort.
"Good man, mi sobrecargo. Much education. Also friend of me. I say himoften: 'Carramba! In Spain is no dollar. Why you stay here?' Aha, SeA+-orAustin savvy. By and by he marry a rich English seA+-orita."
It occurred to Mrs. Hatherly that Brown's face lost a trifle of itsusual placidity as his eyes rested on his daughter, who was, however,still apparently talking to the naval officer. The Catalina did notpossess a particularly attractive garden then, but there were a fewdusty palms in it, and any one strolling in their shadow that moonlightnight could see the filmy mists drifting athwart the great blackcordillera, and the wisp of lights that twinkled above the hissing surfalong the sweep of bay until they ended in a cluster where thewhite-walled city rose above the tossing spray. There were several pairsof young men and women who apparently found the prospect attractive, butBrown did not notice Austin among them. He and Mrs. Hatherly sat in theshadow, but Oliviera was in the moonlight, which was probably how ithappened that a man who appeared in the lighted doorway close by turnedtowards him, evidently without noticing the others.
"That you, Don Erminio? Then come right along," he said. "I've got togive somebody a good time, and you have so much human nature it's easypleasing you. Get up on your hind feet, and have some champagne--enoughto make your throat bad for a month, if you feel like it."
Oliviera rose with alacrity. "Aha!" he said. "I come."
He wasted no time in doing it, though he reluctantly spared a moment tomake his companions a little grave inclination, for Don Erminio was,after all, a Castilian, and when he had gone the two who were leftlooked at one another. The joyous satisfaction in the voice andattitude of the man at the door had its significance for both of them.Mrs. Ha
therly looked troubled, but there was a faint twinkle in hercompanion's eyes.
"I wonder if Mr. Jefferson often gives his friends invitations of thatkind?" she said.
Brown smiled reassuringly. "I almost think I could answer for hisgeneral abstemiousness. Still, there are occasions upon which even themost sedate of us are apt to relax a little, and wish to share oursatisfaction with our friends."
"Then," said Mrs. Hatherly, with evident anxiety, "you fancy----"
"I should almost fancy this is one of the occasions in question."
The little, red-cheeked lady rose with a sigh. "I have tried to do myduty," she said. "Now, I think I must find Muriel, if you will excuseme."
She left him, and when Brown also sauntered into the hotel the verandaremained empty until Jacinta came up the broad stairway just as ithappened that Austin came out of the door. She was attired diaphanouslyin pale-tinted draperies, and seemed to Austin, almost ethereal as shestopped a moment at the head of the stairway with the moonlight uponher. He was, however, quite aware that material things had their valueto Jacinta Brown, and that few young women had a more useful stock ofworldly wisdom. In another moment she saw him, and made him a littlesign with her fan. He drew forward a chair, and then leaned against thebalustrade, looking down on her, for it was evident that Jacinta hadsomething to say to him.
"As I haven't seen you since that night on board the _Estremedura_, Inaturally haven't had an opportunity of complimenting you," she said.
"May I ask upon what?" and Austin looked a trifle uneasy.
"Your discretion. It would, perhaps, have been a little cold for amoonlight swim, and one's clothing would also be apt to suffer. Afterall, there was, of course, no reason why it should afford you anypleasure to display your gallantry."
Austin's face flushed. "There have been other occasions when it wouldhave pleased me to twist Macallister's neck," he said. "No doubt youoverheard what he said to me?"
"I did," said Jacinta, who looked at him quietly over her fan. "It is alittle astonishing that neither of you noticed me. Still, of course,your attitude was, at least, sensible. What I do not understand is whyyou saw fit to change it a minute or two later. I had, I may mention,left the poop then."
"I'm not sure I understand."
Jacinta laughed musically. "Now," she said, "I really believe you do."
"Well," said Austin, with a doubtful smile, "if you think I wentoverboard of my own will to win your approbation, you are mistaken. Idid not go at all. I was, in fact, thrown in. Macallister is, as youknow, a somewhat persistent person."
"Ah!" said Jacinta. "That explains a good deal. Well, I feel almosttempted to be grateful to him for doing it, though you were, of course,sensible. There was really no reason why you should wish me to credityou with courage and humanity--especially when you didn't possess them."
Austin hoped she did not see that he winced, for although he had borne agood deal of her badinage, he felt his face grow hot. He was quite awarethat this girl was not for him, and he had, he believed, succeeded inpreventing himself falling in love with her. It seemed quite fittingthat she should regard him as one of her servants, and since he couldlook for nothing more, he was content with that. He had, however, aspice of temper, and sometimes she drove him a trifle too hard.
"Still," he said, "if I ever did anything really worth while, I think Ishould insist upon your recognising it, though it is scarcely likelythat I shall have the opportunity."
"No," said Jacinta, reflectively, "I scarcely think it is; but, afterall, I have a little to thank you for. You see, you did delay the_Estremedura_. I suppose you have not seen Mr. Jefferson during the lasthalf hour?"
"No," said Austin, with a little start of interest. "Has he----"
"He has. Muriel, at least, has evidently arrived at an understandingwith him. I am not sure they saw me, but I came across them a littlewhile ago--and they looked supremely happy."
There was satisfaction in her voice, but it was with a mildly ironicaland yet faintly wistful expression she gazed at the shining sea. Itsomewhat astonished Austin, though there was so much about Jacinta thatwas incomprehensible to him.
"Well," he said, "I'm glad; but I should scarcely have fancied MissGascoyne would have attracted Jefferson. After all, one would hardlyconsider her a young woman who had very much in her. Indeed, I havewondered why you were so fond of her."
Jacinta smiled curiously as she looked at him. "She is wonderful toJefferson. There is no grace or goodness that she is not endued with inhis estimation."
"But if she doesn't possess them?"
"Then," said Jacinta, decisively, "because he believes she does, shewill acquire them. There are women like that, you know, and I am notsure that sensible people like you and I don't lose the best of lifeoccasionally. If a man believes a girl of Muriel's kind angelic she isvery apt to unfold shining wings, though nobody else ever fancied thatshe had anything of the kind about her."
"Ah!" said Austin, who was a little stirred, though he would not admitit. "No doubt you know. A good many men must have thought that of you."
Jacinta laughed again. "No, my friend," she said. "I have met men whothought me amusing, and two or three who thought me clever--but that isa very different thing--while it is possible that the others rememberedI was Pancho Brown's daughter. So, you see, my wings have not unfolded.In fact, I sometimes think they are in danger of shrivelling away."
There was nothing that Austin could say, for he was the _Estremedura_'ssobrecargo, and had never forgotten that Pancho Brown was reputed to bemaking several thousand a year. Still, he found silence difficult, andchanged the subject.
"Well," he said, "you haven't told me yet why you are so fond of MissGascoyne."
"She--is--good, and, after all, goodness really does appeal to some ofus. Besides, when I went to an English school, a stranger, more Spanishthan English in thought and sentiment, and most of the others held alooffrom me, she saw I was lonely, and came and made friends with me. I wasglad to cling to her then, and you see I haven't forgotten it."
There was a tone in the girl's voice which sent a little thrill throughthe man. It was very clear that Jacinta did not forget a kindness, andhe had once or twice already had glimpses of her deeper nature. While hestood silent, and, as it happened, in the shadow, Miss Gascoyne cameout of the door and approached Jacinta with the moonlight on her face.Austin was almost startled as he glanced at her.
When he had last seen Muriel Gascoyne he had considered her a comelyEnglish girl without imagination or sensibility. She had, in fact,appeared to him narrow in her views, totally unemotional, and more thana little dull, certainly not the kind of young woman to inspire orreciprocate passionate admiration in any discerning man. Now, as shecame towards him with her eyes shining and the soft colour in her face,which was very gentle, she seemed transfigured and almost radiant. Shestooped and kissed Jacinta impulsively.
"I am so happy, my dear," she said. "We owe ever so much to you."
Austin had the grace to wish himself somewhere else, though he did notsee how he could get away, but Jacinta, with her usual boldness, turnedin his direction.
"Well," she said, "I almost think you owe Mr. Austin a little, too. Ifhe hadn't stopped the _Estremedura_ you would probably have been inMadeira now."
Again Muriel Gascoyne astonished Austin, for though it was evident shehad not been aware of his presence, she showed no embarrassment, andsmiled at him with a simplicity which, though he had not expected itfrom her, had in it the essence of all womanly dignity.
"Yes," she said, "I realise that. Mr. Austin, Harry has been looking foryou everywhere."
Austin made her a little grave inclination, and then, because she seemedto expect it, shook hands with her.
"I am glad that the man you have promised to marry is one of myfriends," he said. "There is not a better one in these islands."
He did not remember what Miss Gascoyne said, and perhaps it was not ofany particular consequence, but when she left them it
happened that heand Jacinta did not look at one another. There was, in fact, an almostembarrassing silence, and through it they heard the rhythmic swing of asoft Spanish waltz, and the deep-toned murmur of the sea. Then Jacintalaughed.
"I wonder what you are thinking?" she said.
Austin smiled, somewhat drily. "I was endeavouring to remember thatthere are a good many things the _Estremedura_'s sobrecargo mustdispense with. It is exceedingly unlikely that anybody will ever leaveme eight thousand pounds."
"I fancy there are a good many of us who would like to have a good dealmore than we will probably ever get," said Jacinta. "It can only be avery few who ever hear the celestial music at all, and to them it comesbut once in their life."
Austin looked at her quietly. "A little while ago I should not haveconsidered Miss Gascoyne capable of hearing it; but now, and because Iknow the man she has promised to marry, I almost think she will, atleast occasionally, be able to catch an echo of it. It must be difficultto hear that orchestra once and forget it."
Jacinta turned to him with a curious little smile in her eyes. "You andI are, of course, sensible people, and fancies of that kind have nothingto do with us. In the meanwhile, it is really necessary that I shouldappear in one or two of the dances."
Austin made a little gesture that might have expressed anything, and sherose and left him standing on the veranda.