The Maiden CHAPTER 8.
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When Mr. Lee went to his office on the morning of the day named as that on which he was to give an answer to Herbert Gardiner, he felt in a very uncomfortable state of mind. The cause for this was two-fold. First, he could not help feeling a strong desire for the proposed union; and second, he felt that the interview with the young man, would be an embarrassing one. But it could not be avoided.
He was sitting in his own private room, about eleven o'clock, when Gardiner came in, smiling pleasantly, and bowing with perfect ease and self-possession. But in a few minutes, his manner changed. The disturbed state of Mr. Lee's mind was communicated to his own.
"You know the nature of my business, Mr. Lee," he said, after talking indifferently for a short time. "What is the answer I am to receive at your hands?"
"I regret exceedingly," returned Mr. Lee, "to be compelled to decline your very flattering offer; but my daughter is firm in her opposition to our wishes in the matter. We have — "
"Your daughter objects?" the young man said, with an instantly flushed face, rising quickly to his feet. "Humph!"
There was an air of contempt and conscious superiority in the manner of Gardiner, that seriously offended Mr. Lee.
"Yes sir," he said, his own manner also changing. "She objects, and she, doubtless, has good reasons for it; for she never acts from prejudice or caprice."
"Ha! ha! Doesn't she indeed? The young man had lost control of himself, and spoke very contemptuously. He was quick-tempered, proud, and could ill bear anything like opposition. The unexpected rejection of his suit from one whose social position was below his, had chafed him severely.
Mr. Lee's eyes were fixed instantly upon the young man with a rebuking look. This, while it made him conscious of the error he was committing, did not tend to soothe the sudden irritation of his mind. For nearly a minute he returned Mr. Lee's steady gaze; and then with a muttered curse, he turned on his heel and strode from the room.
The father of Anna drew a long breath, as soon as he found himself alone — sat with eyes upon the floor for some time, and then got up, and walked to and fro, in a deeply abstracted mood. While doing so, one of the Directors of the Company, of which he was the President, an intimate friend, came in. He noticed that Lee was disturbed, and inquired the reason; when the interview just had was related.
"Gardiner!" ejaculated the friend. "And he really had the audacity to offer himself to your sweet Anna?"
"He offered himself," replied Mr. Lee, "but why should that be called audacity."
"Humph! You certainly don't know him."
"I never heard a breath against him, in my life."
"I have then; and words too. Why, this Herbert Gardiner, is no more fit for the husband of a pure-minded creature like Anna, than a devil is to consort with an angel!"
"You speak strongly."
"Not more so than I should speak. It is strange that you have never heard that his character was notorious."
"He is in business with a very excellent young man."
"Oh yes; his capital does that. But a business connection and a marriage are two very different things. I might be willing to enter into business relations with a man, that I would not like to see the husband of my daughter."
"Very true. But tell me something specific about Gardiner."
"He is, in the broadest sense of the words, a man about town. Do you understand what that means?"
"I do. But are you certain?"
"I know it to be the case. His associates are often of the vilest character, and his habits exceedingly irregular. Depend upon it, he would have cursed your child in marrying her. From all I have seen and heard of that young man, I would sooner see Anna in her grave — than his wife!"
"Thank Heaven! There is no danger of such a sacrifice. But why should he have sought my daughter's hand?"
"It is a tribute to her loveliness. Even one like him could bow before it. But the love of mere external grace and beauty by a man without principle, is only of brief duration. These do not minister long to his selfishness — and then the flower that charmed for a brief season, is thrown aside with indifference, or trampled upon with scorn!"
When Mr. Lee returned home, his feelings were widely different from those with which he had left his family in the morning. The reader has seen the change.
CHAPTER 9.
"Ah, William," said Mrs. Leslie, coming into her parlor. "Thomas only said that a gentleman had called to see me. The stupid fellow! I thought he could recollect your face."
"And did! but he is deficient, no doubt, in the memory of names."
"You seem to be in a very good mood, this morning, William."
"O yes. That's always the case. Why shouldn't I? This is a very pleasant world, if a man will but have sense enough to take his share of the good things of life, as they are going. But I have called upon you on a particular business, Mrs. Leslie."
"You have?"
"Yes. And first, I want to know whether, in an affair of the heart — a-hem! — I can confide in you implicitly?"
The face of Mrs. Leslie brightened up.
"Confide in me? Of course you can," she replied, affecting a slightly offended air.
"Very well. Then I want to have a good long talk with you."
"But, surely, this isn't my young friend, William Archer? And are you really smitten with the bright eyes of some charming maiden? I am delighted to hear it."
"A-hem! Not too fast, Mrs. Leslie. I can't exactly say that I am downright in love; for I don't think it is in me to love anyone very deeply, except my humble self. But it strikes me, that I ought to begin to calculate the main chance — to look to the future. I am now twenty-seven, and have gone on at a pretty wild rate. Though I don't think I am quite so bad as some good sort of people are disposed to think me. They talk pretty hard of me, sometimes, don't they?"
Mrs. Leslie assumed a grave face, as became her, and replied —
"It's a fact, William; you are spoken of, pretty severely. But I have always taken your part. I knew there was good in you."
"As there is in everyone. Thank you — thank you, my friend. Well, as I was saying, I have been going on, for the last six or seven years, at a wild rate, and am beginning to fear that, if I don't sober down a little, it will not be quite so good for me in the end. Now, how shall I sober down? that is the question?"
"Get a sweet little wife."
"That's just my own opinion. And here I want your advice. If I marry, it must be either for love or money. Or rather, my wife must be the loveliest woman to be found; or she must have some substantial virtues. One or the other of these is indispensable. And I will tell you why. Between you and myself, I have got nearly to the end of my rope. My father left me a fair property, but it's pretty well all used up — in what way, it is now no good to mention. It is enough that it has taken to itself wings and flown away."
"You surprise me, William!"
"It is true; and there is now no use of crying over it. My only wise course is, to make an effort to better my fortune. I have looked around me for some time, and have, finally, selected two young ladies, between whom my choice must lie. There are plenty to choose from; but, some that I would like to be on very amiable terms with, seem inclined to give me the cold shoulder. One of the two, I have selected, I would prefer to the other. But, if she is not to be had, the other is; at least I think so."
"Don't be too optimistic. But name your choice; and then I can tell you better."
"I may count on your aid?"
"Oh, certainly. You needn't doubt that for a moment. But, why do you think of anything beside a wife with money, if matters are becoming desperate with you?"
"I have an old uncle, who is as rich as a Jew."
"So you have."
"But, the old rascal has upbraided several times, for my free way of living. When he finds out that I have run through my patrimony, he will cut me off, I am afraid, without a dollar. But, if I have the sweet creature for a wife I have fixed my eyes upon, she will soften his heart right down, and take me, for her own dear sake, at once into his good graces. I know the old fellow's weakness."
"Ah! That's your game! You calculate with coolness. Now tell me who this charming creature is. Am I acquainted with her?"
"Yes. Her name is Anna Lee. I first saw her in your house."
Mrs. Leslie looked grave.
"No chance for me, then?" inquired the young man.
"I'm afraid not."
"Is she engaged?"
"No. But she has just declined one of the best offers in the city — an offer favored by her parents."
"She has! Who is the disappointed lover, please?"
"Herbert Gardiner."
"Impossible! Has he offered himself — and been refused?"
"Yes. And angry enough he is about it. I think the girl was a great fool — indeed I know she was. But it's her own misfortune."
"There may be a chance for me, though, for all that."
"I should very much doubt it. And I'll tell you why. My opinion is, that she has heard something about Gardiner's habits, and has been silly enough to make that an objection, as if any young men were as pure as saints."
"Ho! ho!" laughed Archer.
"I imagine that here lies the gist of the whole matter. And, as bad report says a great deal more about you than it does about Gardiner, I should think your chance with the girl not worth speaking about."
"I don't like to think that. She is certainly a lovely creature. And now that she has sent Gardiner off, I would like, above all things, to make a conquest of her."
"It would be something of which to be proud. But, as I said before, I don't believe you have even the smallest chance of success. Who is the other young lady, on whom you have fixed your eye?"
"Florence Armitage."
"Ah! Her father is not so very wealthy."
"No, not so rich as Croesus. Still he may be worth some forty or fifty thousand now, and is in the way of being worth three times as much in the next ten years. He is doing, at this time, so I have clearly ascertained, about the best business of any man in the city."
"I can't say that Florence is a favorite with me."
"Nor with me either. She lacks maidenly reserve, and that sensitiveness of feeling so beautiful in a young woman. Do you know, that she once as good as asked me to take her to see Fanny Ellsler kick up her heels in a style that I shouldn't like my sister, if I had one, to witness?"
"You took her?"
"O yes; how could I help it? She was delighted, and called the Ellsler's dancing by all sorts of charming names; while I, who am pretty much of a hardened sinner, and hard to put to the blush, felt half ashamed to look the girl in the face."
"Humph!"
"I can get her for the asking, I know. But I want to try Anna Lee. She is much more to be desired, portionless, even by me, than Florence is, with all her expectations."
"Your chance, I must again say, is a very poor one."
"Do you think it useless to try?"
"Almost. But, it is said, there is nothing like trying."
"Will you aid me?"
"All in my power. But she hasn't been to see me since her affair with Gardiner came to an issue; and I am not sure that she intends visiting me again."
"You must send for her. How soon are you going to have another of your pleasant gatherings? Pretty soon?"
"I think so."
"How soon? I wish to strike while the iron is hot."
"In two or three weeks."
"Can't you say next week?"
"I don't know. Next week will be here very speedily."
"Can't you, just for my sake?"
"I like to be obliging, especially to my young friends. Perhaps I may be able to do so."
"Say you will."
"No, no, Mr. Impatience! I shall do no such thing. If all things conspire, I will have company next week. But don't forget the adage — 'There is luck in leisure,' and that it is specially applicable in matters of this kind."
"I'll win her, as sure as my name is William Archer!" said the young man, his confidence increasing, the more he thought about Anna Lee.
"Don't be too certain. Anna has a cool head, as well as a warm heart."
"I know. But every young lady has her weak point, and I'll try hard to find out hers. Once certain of that, and I am safe."
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