A Year in Jamaica by Diana Lewes

Author:Diana Lewes [Diana Lewes]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781780600369
Publisher: Eland Publishing
Published: 2013-03-17T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

Bill

‘I AM VERY SORRY,’ said Bill.

He and I were standing on the verandah at Arcadia looking out to the north. It was early on the afternoon of the day following the dance and he was dressed in his Sunday suit.

‘I really am sorry,’ he repeated, continuing to gaze, not at me, but out over the sea. ‘And I have come, with my brother, to apologise.’

As I did not reply, the worried expression on his face deepened.

‘Will you forgive me?’ he pleaded.

Avoiding a direct answer I began to question him as to what had happened on the previous evening. ‘Do you mean to say that you actually fought and prevented my partners coming to dance with me?’

‘Yes I did.’

‘How many of them?’

‘Four, I think.’

Bill was physically strong and in hard condition and I could imagine that what he said was no more than the truth. The recollection of the untidy figure he had cut in the doorway at Retreat the previous evening came back to me, reminding me that he would be well able to fight and win if he set his mind to it. But that he should have wanted anything sufficiently to make him forget the ordinary courtesy which he owed to his guests staggered me. I felt as if I were up against something elemental and uncontrolled in him, something which I had never met with before and which I found it difficult to understand.

Being uncertain how to cope with the situation and a little puzzled by Bill’s manner, I fell back on the admonition I myself had so often received when I had done anything wrong in the school room.

‘Do you think that was kind?’

Bill changed his weight from one foot to the other. He seemed uncomfortable.

‘I didn’t hurt any of them,’ he said quickly, ‘at least not seriously. Most of them were quite willing to give you up when they saw I was earnest.’

‘I have no doubt of that.’

My answer was, I thought, a smart and clever one; but my sarcasm was lost on my companion. His hair was unusually well brushed, probably thanks to his brother’s good offices. His merry face was drawn into serious lines but he did not seem really upset. There was no sign in his face or manner that he regretted what he had done.

‘When I said “was it kind?” I did not mean “did you hurt them?”’ I said. ‘But was it kind of you, as a host, to treat your guests like that?’

Bill answered in his usual calm, unruffled voice.

‘No, it was not. That is what my brother said and that is why I have come to apologise.’

I found it difficult to argue successfully with anyone who agreed with me and yet who refused to look at me. As far as I could see, he had been told what to say to me and had learnt his lesson well. I could imagine his elder brother insisting that he should come and apologise, rubbing in the enormity of his deed on the long drive from Retreat.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.