Jeff laid to heart the Major's wisdom; but when it came to acting upon
it the difficulty arose. He often wondered why his tongue became tied
and his throat grew dry when he was in Margaret's presence these days
and even just thought of saying anything serious to her. He had known
Margaret ever since she was a wee bit of a baby, and had often carried
her in his arms when she was a little girl and even after she grew up
to be "right big." He had thought frequently of late that he would be
willing to die if he might but take her in his arms. It was, therefore,
with no little disquietude that he observed what he considered his
friend's growing fancy for her. By the time Lawrence had taken a few
strolls in the garden and a horseback ride or two with her Jeff was
satisfied that he was in love with her, and before a week was out he
was consumed with jealousy. Margaret was not the girl to indulge in
repining on account of her lover's unhappiness. If Jeff had had a
finger-ache, or had a drop of sorrow but fallen in his cup her eyes
would have softened and her face would have shown how fully she felt
with him; but this--this was different. To wring his heart was a part
of the business of her young ladyhood; it was a healthy process from
which would come greater devotion and more loyal constancy. Then, it
was so delightful to make one whom she liked as she did Jeff look so
miserable. Perhaps some time she would reward him--after a long while,
though. Thus, poor Jeff spent many a wretched hour cursing his fate
and cursing Pick Lawrence. He thought he would create a diversion by
paying desperate attention to Margaret's guest; but it resolved itself
on the first opportunity into his opening his heart and confiding all
his woes to her. In doing this he fell into the greatest contradiction,
declaring one moment that no one suspected that he was in love with
Margaret, and the next vowing that she had every reason to know he
adored her, as he had been in love with her all her life. It was one
afternoon in the drawing-room. Rose, with much sapience, assured him
that no woman could have but one reason to know it. Jeff dolefully
inquired what it was.