It was then that the querulous
crane rose, and testily protested against the selling of his
favorite haunt in the sandy peninsula, which only six months of
Jim's excesses had made imperative. It was then that a mournful
curlew, who, with the preface that he had always been really
expecting it, reiterated the story that Jim had been seen more than
once staggering home with nervous hands and sodden features from a
debauch with the younger officers; it was the same desponding fowl
who knew that Maggie's eyes had more than once filled with tears at
Jim's failings, and had already grown more hollow with many
watchings. It was a flock of wrangling teal that screamingly
discussed the small scandals, jealous heart-burnings, and curious
backbitings that had attended Maggie's advent into society. It was
the high-flying brent who, knowing how the sensitive girl, made
keenly conscious at every turn of her defective training and
ingenuous ignorance, had often watched their evening flight with
longing gaze, now "honked" dismally at the recollection. It was at
this hour and season that the usual vague lamentings of Dedlow
Marsh seemed to find at last a preordained expression. And it was
at such a time, when light and water were both fading, and the
blackness of the Marsh was once more reasserting itself, that a
small boat was creeping along one of the tortuous inlets, at times
half hiding behind the bank like a wounded bird.
Pages:
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76