Soon after his arrival at Spanish Town he had been
taken by Miss Jack to Shandy Hall, for so the residence of the
Leslies was called, and having remained there for three days, had
fallen in love with Marian Leslie. Now in the West Indies all young
ladies flirt; it is the first habit of their nature--and few young
ladies in the West Indies were more given to flirting, or understood
the science better than Marian Leslie.
Maurice Cumming fell violently in love, and during his first visit at
Shandy Hall found that Marian was perfection--for during this first
visit her propensities were exerted altogether in his own favour.
That little circumstance does make such a difference in a young man's
judgment of a girl! He came back fall of admiration, not altogether
to Miss Jack's dissatisfaction; for Miss Jack was willing enough that
both her nephew and her niece should settle down into married life.
But then Maurice met his fair one at a governor's ball--at a ball
where red coats abounded, and aides-de-camp dancing in spurs, and
narrow-waisted lieutenants with sashes or epaulettes! The aides-de-
camp and narrow-waisted lieutenants waltzed better than he did; and
as one after the other whisked round the ball-room with Marian firmly
clasped in his arms, Maurice's feelings were not of the sweetest.
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