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Ngamihi; or The Maori Chief's Daughter

Chapter XLIII. "What a Pity that I had Slippers on."

page 177

Chapter XLIII. "What a Pity that I had Slippers on."

After some moments of exquisite silence, Jessie remarked, nestling close to me:—

"I believe, Lance, that Lieutenant Lovelock insulted yon this morning? Do not mind him dear, as I am sure he is not a gentleman. He was introduced to me a few days ago by the Doctor, and I found it difficult to be civil. He haunts me where ever I go, and glares at me so through his eyeglass, that I am sometimes afraid that he intends to do me harm. It often reminds of some lines from Beppo, the Conscript:—

'Our Laura's Turk still kept his eyes upon her,—
  Less in the Mussulman than Christian way—
Which seemed to say, 'Madam, I do you honor,
  And while I please to stare, you'll please to stay.'
Could staring win a woman, this had won her;
  But Laura could not thus be led astray,—
She had stood fire too long and well to boggle
  Even at this stranger's most outlandish ogle.'

I overheard him say to a person, "pon honour she is not too bad, only she is too fond of mixing with non-coms. I knew what he meant, and felt angry enough to do him an injury."

page 178

"I should not like to offend you dear if you look as fierce as that."

"Never mind, I will keep my fierce looks for objects like him," she answered, giving me a kiss.

"Oh my, good gracious!" said Mr. Munroe from the middle of the room, "What a pity I had slippers on!"

Jessie instantly bolted out of the room, leaving me covered with confusion.

"Well sir," he continued, "is this the way you conduct yourself in my house?"

My confusion increased, and I stammered out something, when the old gentleman began to roar with laughter.

"Mr. Munroe," I began as soon as I was able to speak, "pardon me for allowing you to find out a secret which I had hoped to——"

"Secret!" he said, laughing, "well, go on."

"I had hoped for a more fitting occasion than the present to ask you for permission to pay my addresses to your daughter, but circumstances unforseen have forced me to speak now. The letter that you gave me this evening was from my mother recalling me to England on family matters—I—that is—we—found out the state of our feelings—and—and—the fact of the matter is, I love your daughter, sir, and trust you will forgive my presumption."

"Forgive you, Douglas?" he answered, pretending to get into a rage. "But," he added kindly, "don't mind me. This is no secret, for I have long suspected how matters stood between you and Jessie. She is a good girl, and I know of no one to whom I page 179could better intrust her than yourself. Take her my boy, and as she has been a good daughter, I have no doubt she will make a good wife. And now as to your future, of course you will leave off soldiering. I don't think the troubles can last much longer. Many of the chiefs have followed Taipua's example, and the Government are doing all they possibly can to arrange a peaceable settlement of the whole native difficulty. Jessie will have nearly all my property, so you need not trouble about the future."

"Words cannot express my gratitude for your kindness Mr. Munroe—but really—"

"There that will do; tell the rest to my lass; Jessie" he called, "are you there?"

"Yes, dad," answered Jessie making her appearance, her face suffused in blushes.

Mr. Munroe folded her in his arms, and then suddenly disengaging himself, said huskily:—

"There my dear, good night, I can't stand any more now," and hurriedly left the room.

Our conversation during the next half hour would not interest my readers. Suffice it to say I took my leave, the happiest man in the world I felt indeed that life had brighter prospects for me than I had ever dared to hope, and with the love of Jessie had dawned a future, the brightness of which almost dazzled me.

On my way to the barracks, I met Andrews. He generally managed to waylay me before going to bed, and we usually talked over the events of the day.

page 180

"You seem particularly spry to-night, Sergeant,' he remarked.

"Well, I do feel happy, Andrews. I have taken your advice and proposed to Miss Munroe."

"Hooray!" he answered, I'll take my davey you got the right answer!"

"Yes, I got the right answer, Andrews. I had no idea of putting my happiness to the test to-night, but something occurred and out it all came, and I have been accepted."

"Snakes alive; but I'll put a nail in the Lootenant's coffin in the morning. I'll tell his servant of it, and he'll soon know."

"No, Andrews, say nothing about it at present, I would rather Mr. Munroe speak first of our engagement."

Next morning Captain Snell told me that he intended to hold an inquiry into the burning of Gustave Hirch's house, and the abduction of his daughter Arline. The inquiry which was purely formal, was held more particularly for the object of letting the townspeople hear the particulars for themselves of that sad affair.

"Many of the people," said the Captain, "have a grudge against Taipua, and as it was chiefly owing to his exertions that Arline Hirch was rescued, I want to let them hear all about it. Give notice to the men who brought the Maoris in, to attend at the orderly room at eleven o'clock, and let Arline Hirch also know of it, as I want her evidence. The Doctor and several others will be present. There is something else I wanted to say—Oh, yes; tell Andrews to bring to the orderly room, all the arms and other things which were taken from the Maoris. And now come round to the men's quarters with me, I want to show you how I want the new shelves arranged."