The Maiden CHAPTER 5.
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Herbert Gardiner, notwithstanding the light manner in which he had permitted himself to speak of Anna Lee, among his convivial friends — felt strongly attracted towards her. As has been seen, he could not hide the disappointment he felt at her refusal to go to Mrs. Leslie's party. He believed the reason she gave to be the true one, but considered it altogether insufficient.
"If she cared as much about my company, as I do about hers," he said to himself, as he walked in half ill-humor away, "she would have gone if all the family had been sick. What do I care for this party if she is away?"
And he snapped his fingers disdainfully.
"But I shall have to go, I suppose, for the mere sake of appearances; though I shall soon make myself scarce. Confound the girl's mother! What business had she to get sick just at this moment?"
With such thoughts, the young man slowly pursued his way towards Mrs. Leslie's dwelling. Mrs. Leslie was a widow lady, with one son and a daughter, who occupied a kind of middle ground between the highest and second class. Her husband, who had been dead some years, belonged to one of the best families in the state. From causes not necessary to mention here, he lost a large portion of his property; and when he died, left his family only in moderate circumstances, although by no means poor. Compelled to give up to a great extent, the style in which she had lived, Mrs. Leslie yet retained all of her former associations. Gardiner was intimate with her son; and, therefore, often visited in the family.
Mr. Lee had lived neighbor for some time to Mrs. Leslie, and owing to this circumstance, his wife and daughter became acquaintances of the latter. Pleased with Anna's beauty, intelligence, and charming manners, Mrs. Leslie introduced her into company at her house, and this brought her into a different circle from the one she had been used to moving in. Here she first met Florence Armitage, with whose opinions and conduct the reader has already been made acquainted; and here she also first met Herbert Gardiner, who had been struck with her appearance on the street. The father of Miss Armitage was in better circumstances than Mr. Lee, although his position in society was no higher. Gardiner's station has already been mentioned.
Mrs. Leslie was one of that dangerous class of people known as match-makers. She had made some efforts to bring about an arrangement between Gardiner and her own daughter; but that was set at rest by the announcement of Emma Leslie, that she had already engaged herself to an individual, to whom the mother did not feel inclined to make any serious objection. Having, therefore, no views of her own in regard to the young man, she, very naturally, following the bent of her inclinations, looked about to see who would suit him. The evident impression made upon his mind on meeting Anna Lee, determined her course of action. The young man was half in love, she saw, and also perceived that Anna was not displeased with his attentions.
"The very thing," murmured Mrs. Leslie, with an inward glow of delight. "They will make a charming couple. She is worthy of just such a match, and it shall be made for her."
What Mrs. Leslie considered a "good match," regarded external circumstances alone. Of the moral fitness of a young man and a young woman for becoming married partners, she never thought for a moment. It was beyond the circle of her ideas. To Gardiner, she said, as soon as she could get his ear after his first meeting with Anna,
"She's just the one for you, Herbert."
"Do you think so?" returned the young man, smiling.
"Yes, and I am really in earnest. I wonder I never thought of her for you before."
"It is strange, certainly. How much obliged I am to my friend Mrs. Leslie, for being so thoughtful for me. And you really think this young lady just the thing?"
"I do, seriously."
"She is certainly a sweet girl."
"You might say so, if you knew her as well as I do. Her mind is as sweet as her face."
"How long have you known her?"
"For some months."
"Tell me who she is, precisely?"
"The daughter of John Lee, President of Insurance Company."
"Ah! I know him well enough; and a very clever man he is. But then, Mrs. Leslie, I can't make love to the daughter of the President of an Insurance Company. My parents would never hear to it."
"Tut, my boy! If you can really love her, pick her out and elevate her to your own station. My word for it — she will grace any position. As to your father and mother, any mere objection arising from pride or prejudice will soon give way; and, then they will thank you for choosing one whom they cannot but love."
"There is something in that; but I must see her a few times more. I have often met her in the street, and been struck with her appearance; in fact, I have been trying for the last three months to find out who she was."
"Ah, indeed! I am glad of that. Depend upon it, you were cut out for each other."
In this way, Mrs. Leslie managed to fan into a flame the feelings which Gardiner had felt in favor of Miss Lee. To Anna, she broached the matter with more caution; for she understood her character very well. At first the maiden seemed to shrink in displeasure from anything like a connection of her name with that of the young man. But Mrs. Leslie soon saw that what she had said, was working its way into her heart.
When next Anna met Gardiner, her eyes drooped beneath his earnest gaze. Mrs. Leslie saw this, and her lips closed in a quiet smile of self-satisfaction.
"That matter is certain," she said to herself, with exultation.
In all this, the mistaken woman imagined herself actuated by the best of motives. She was sure that Anna was worthy the hand of Gardiner; and she believed that, as the bride of one in his station, she could not but be happy. She knew nothing about the real moral qualities of the young man; indeed she never once thought about them. All was right, in that respect, of course.
"Where is Miss Lee?" she asked of Gardiner, on the night of the party at her house, which had been given for the purpose of bringing certain young people together, and giving them a chance. "I thought you were to have called for her?"
"And so I did. But she wouldn't come." The young man spoke as if a good deal disturbed.
"Wouldn't come? From what reason?"
"She made an excuse that her mother was sick."
"The exact truth, if Anna said so."
"No doubt she was a little indisposed. But I don't believe she was so sick but that Anna could have left her easily enough. In fact, I know this to be the case, from the very manner in which she spoke of her mother's indisposition."
"You come to conclusions too hastily, my young friend," returned Mrs. Leslie. "If Anna told you that she could not go out on account of her mother's indisposition, she told you only the truth. That was her reason, and none other; depend upon it. I know her well"; and know, that if she had not wanted to come, she would have told you so, without the slightest hesitation. Anna Lee has a noble love of truth."
"Perhaps so," and Gardiner moved his head incredulously.
"I know that she has, Herbert. And you must believe me in this."
"If I can."
"You are a weak and foolish young man. Faint heart never won fair lady. If you give up so easily, you are not worthy the hand of so sweet a girl as Anna Lee, who has not her equal in this city. I must find someone else to carry off the prize."
"As you please," coolly replied Gardiner.
"Very well. I shall not long have her upon my hands. There is a quiet-looking young man whom you have sometimes seen at my house, named Hartley. He took a fancy to Florence Armitage, some time ago, but it did not last long. He gradually moved himself off from her. Why, I have never learned, though I sounded him more than once on the subject. Well, this young man has had his eye upon Anna ever since his coldness towards Florence commenced. So far, he has contented himself with observing her, so to speak, from a distance. But I can see his eye begin to brighten up, now, at her name; and he has already asked me several questions about her."
"Hartley? Who is he?"
"Don't you remember to have met him?"
"No."
"Let me see if he is here. Yes, there he sits near the window, talking to Caroline Etheridge."
"Not that smoothed-faced genius?"
"He hasn't your wealth of whiskers, certainly."
"He beginning to think of Anna Lee! Ha! ha!"
"It is true, upon my word."
Gardiner gave his head an indifferent toss, saying, as he did so —
"If he can win her, let him wear her."
"A woman's heart, Herbert," replied Mrs. Leslie, "is a strange substance. It takes impressions easily, but when they are once made, it is impossible to efface them. I would be sorry indeed that any hand should first impress the heart of Anna Lee but yours. See to it yourself, that this does not take place."
Their conversation had already been too much prolonged under the circumstances, and Mrs. Leslie moved from the young man's side, to mingle more generally with her company. When left alone, Gardiner's eye turned instinctively towards Hartley.
"Who is the young man you spoke to me about a little while ago?" he said, when next he found himself at the side of Mrs. Leslie.
"I believe he is clerk or junior partner in a Market Street house."
"Humph!" And Gardiner turned away with a manner that said — "is that all?"
The fact that Anna did not come, made the young man altogether indifferent to the pleasures of society. It was all in vain that a bevy of young girls, with bright eyes, and bewitching smiles, sought to entrap his heart. He scarcely saw them. Even Florence Armitage, who would have liked to make an impression on him, in spite of her friendship for Anna, could not get him to her side.
In about an hour, the young man quietly stole away, and went to the theater. It was past two o'clock when he came home, more fully under the influence of wine than he had been for months. But neither his father nor mother knew of this. Their senses were locked in slumber, hours before he sought his pillow.
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