The Old Man's Bride CHAPTER 14.
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The little scene enacted at the house of Mr. Bullfinch, on the occasion of bringing home the bride, was unfortunate. The quick temper and strong self-will of the old man, were thus fully exhibited in the beginning; while he saw something more in his young wife than he had expected to find — a dignified, womanly firmness — which he might not hope to bend. In the almost fragile, mild, retiring, beautiful girl — he had seen nothing but what was passive or yielding. In winning her to his home, he had looked for the possession of an object from which only pleasure would come. Such a thing as opposition to his will had never been taken into the account. He scarcely regarded her as one capable of opposition. In an instant, the delusion vanished.
On the other hand, Helen had seen nothing about Mr. Bullfinch that led her to regard him as anything but a kind, mild-tempered man. This sudden ebullition, therefore, while it surprised — armed her against him. And so, between the two, was established, from the very beginning, a position of antagonism, not strongly marked at first, but still existing, and the fact thereof never for a moment absent from the consciousness of both parties.
The abandonment of her home by his niece, was a circumstance for which Mr. Bullfinch was altogether unprepared. Not only as a public rebuke, did it hurt him; but the act did violence to his real affection for one who had been to him for so many years as a child — loved, indulged and cared for. Had the question of marrying Helen and giving up Fanny been presented for decision — could he have clearly seen this issue — the old man would have hesitated long before taking a step that now promised far less of happiness, than his fond imagination had pictured. Fanny knew all his tastes and habits, and had endeared herself to him by a daily regard for his comfort. Inordinately selfish, as such men are — he loved her the more, because she ministered to his enjoyments. With her as a daughter, and Helen as a wife, he had anticipated a culmination of earthly good. But even as he grasped the cup which was to intoxicate him with pleasure — a crude hand jostled it, and spilled more than half its contents upon the earth. Without Fanny, he felt that home would be robbed of half its sunshine; and he had already too good reason to doubt the ability of his young wife to restore the absent light. How little of good promise was there, in all this, for the future!
From the beginning, there was, on the part of Helen, a defective estimation of the daily wants of her husband. Her own father was nothing of an epicure, and few men sought, less than he, pleasure in a mere gratification of sensual appetites. She-had not learned, therefore, to know the wants of a man like Mr. Bullfinch. Mr. Lee required little service from those around him. Greater pleasure he always derived from ministering — than from being ministered to. But Mr. Bullfinch thought only of himself, and was disappointed and fretted if everything did not bend to his gratification. Considering her home education, and the character of her mind, a mere child was about as well fitted for the wife of Adam Bullfinch — as the young creature he had dragged into a position from the duties of which her whole nature revolted. Had Fanny Milnor remained, the difficulties of Helen's position would have been less; as it was, more was expected of her than it was in her power to give.
A week from the inauspicious marriage day had elapsed. It was morning, and Mr. Bullfinch was walking the floor of the breakfast-room with a step the quickness of which showed his mind to be disturbed. Every now and then he would pause, glance at the time-piece on the mantle, and again resume his uneasy movement. At length, his impatience overleaped the barriers of repression; lifting a small table-bell, he rung it violently. Mr. Lee, who was reading, in one of the parlors, supposing this to be the summons to breakfast, came up, and entered the room. He saw, in a moment, by the dark brow of Mr. Bullfinch, and the unfurnished table, his error. And, so, without speaking, he retired, wishing, in his heart, that he were back again, with his wife and child, in the poor but independent home from which Helen's inauspicious marriage had lifted them. As he reached the parlor, he heard the bell again, rung louder and more impatiently than before.
A waiting-woman now appeared, in the breakfast-room, in answer to this repeated summons.
"What's the meaning of this? Why is breakfast not ready?" said Mr. Bullfinch, angrily. "I don't know, sir," was the timid reply. Well, somebody ought to know! Here it is, half an hour past the usual time. Go down into the kitchen, and see what on earth's the matter. Nothing goes right in this house, now."
As Mr. Bullfinch said this, Helen entered the room, fixing, as she did so, her large, calm eyes upon him, with a look which subdued, yet inwardly chafed him.
"I wish you would see a little after things," said he, in a greatly modified, yet reproving voice. "I like order and punctuality. I've always been used to it — and and must have it."
"What is wrong, now?" inquired Helen, coldly.
"Wrong! Don't you see that it's almost an hour past our usual breakfast time?"
Helen glanced at the time-piece, and merely said —
"Is it any fault of mine?"
A rebuking reply trembled on the lips of Mr. Bullfinch; but he had already learned to fear the excitement of certain moods in his young bride; and, therefore, wisely restrained its utterance.
In the pause thus created, and while both parties stood looking at each other, with something of defiance in their manner, the waiter came in with breakfast.
"Ready, at last," said Mr. Bullfinch, moodily. "This will never suit me."
The bell was rung, and Mr. and Mrs. Lee joined their daughter and her husband at the table.
Silently the meal passed. Each heart was oppressed. How different from the pleasant breakfasts enjoyed by Mr. Bullfinch and his niece for so many years! As mistress of his household, Fanny had studied and met her uncle's tastes and peculiar habits in almost everything. She was truly attached to him, and derived pleasure from thus anticipating and meeting his wants. Affection made the service delightful. No morning meal was set upon the table, in the preparation of which she had not given some direction, and in which was not some dish which her epicure uncle regarded as a favorite. And so, they ever met at breakfast in cheerful mood, and enjoyed it together.
Ah! how different were all the daily meals now! Mr. Bullfinch had bought a wife with gold — a young and beautiful wife — and she was now the mistress of his household.Bought love! It was mocking him already like an unsubstantial shadow.
Silently the morning meal passed, and comfortless to Mr. Bullfinch. Not a dish had the old taste, for the directing hand of the absent one was lacking. This, to the old man, was a serious drawback, for in eating was included a large measure of his daily satisfaction in life. Of this, his young wife knew nothing. She did not, in fact, comprehend how anyone could make the pleasures of the table, a paramount thing. Her father had always been to her, the type of manly virtues and endowments, and he never found fault with what was set before him — but ever partook of the plainest food with apparent relish. Her mother had little taste for the kitchen. And so, the domestic education of Helen in no way fitted her for the wife of Adam Bullfinch.
The unenjoyed breakfast over, the old man left for his store, in no pleasant mood, and Helen was alone with her parents.
"I never saw such a man!" exclaimed Mrs. Lee, almost as soon as he had left their presence, and before the street door closed on his retiring form. "Nothing pleases him; and he is as sour, at times, as vinegar!"
"Breakfast was late, and it fretted him," said Helen, in an apologetic manner.
"I wonder if he never had breakfast late in his life before?" replied Mrs. Lee.
"I don't know, I'm sure," Helen spoke in an absent manner. "But, we must try and remedy the defect. It may easily be done, I suppose, and if so, I must do it."
"Yes, my child," said Mr. Lee — "do it by all means. Mr. Bullfinch is a man of orderly, punctual habits, and little matters like this fret him a great deal. You will soon get to understand his wishes and peculiarities, and it will be your duty, and I hope your pleasure" — Mr. Lee's voice faltered a little in spite of his effort to retain its calmness, "to meet the one, and adapt yourself to the others."
"I will try to do right, father," Helen replied. Her voice was steady, but her father saw that her eyes were humid.
"Ah!" he sighed to himself, as she passed from the room, "what a trial! May God give her strength to bear it."
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