The Old Man's Bride CHAPTER 17.
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It was on this occasion, that Mr. Bullfinch and his niece met for the first time since Fanny turned from him with so stinging a rebuke. As each became conscious of the other's presence, each felt that a time of trial had come. Neither knew the exact feeling of the other, nor how the other would act. It would not do — each felt this — to meet without recognition; and it would little comport with good breeding, to make any marked exhibition of coldness or ill-feeling. As long as it could well be done, each avoided the other; but, at last, they were thrown into immediate contact, and in such a way, that they must act as total strangers, or pass a few words with each other. Many eyes were on them, and they knew it.
They met, but not a ripple on the surface was discovered even by the closely observant. A few pleasantly uttered common-places passed between them, and then they were separated by the crowd, each to breathe more freely, and with a sense of relief that the first meeting was over.
In the mean time, Mrs. Bullfinch was drawing an admiring circle around her, and acting her part with consummate skill. In assuming a new character, she seemed to have become a new creature, with new powers, and a new education. Surprise and pleasure were elicited on all sides. If there was, as might naturally be expected from one in her circumstances, a little over-acting — the defect was seen only by a few. Most of those who were in pleased contact with her, saw nothing in the assumed character, but what was real. She did not force herself into a prominent position; she exhibited nothing of boldness; did not act so much as react — and in no case inordinately. In a word, a strongly-grounded admiration of the woman soon came to be a prevailing sentiment, and even Fanny Milnor, who kept rigidly aloof, yet maintained a close observation, felt her prejudices insensibly melting away.
"What a sacrifice!"
"And she, the wife of that old man?"
"It is inconceivable!"
"What could she have seen in him?"
These, and similar expressions, passed occasionally, from lip to lip.
"I am altogether puzzled," said one.
"She is an enigma to me," said another.
"She is a brilliant, fascinating woman," remarked a third.
"There'll be a rich young widow for somebody before long," said a fourth, shrugging his shoulders and arching his eyebrows. "I rather think, that I will defer my matrimonial speculations for a few years."
"Do you think old Bullfinch so very rich?" was responded to this.
"I would like to be worth about half what he is," replied the first speaker.
"There is some difference of opinion on this head. His paper has been hawked about rather freely for the last six months."
"That may not be his fault."
"Though the fault of his credit. Some of the banks, I know, will not touch it."
"You surprise me."
"What I say is true, nevertheless. I saw a man, only yesterday, who had over fifteen thousand dollars of his paper, which he was offering at one-and-quarter percent."
"That looks a little dubious."
"So it strikes me. You can wait for the widow — but, take my advice, and don't build too strongly on the fortune."
"I don't know," was returned with a smile, "that I could resist the lady's personal attractions, if they survived to her widowhood."
"That may not be for another twenty years. Old Bullfinch comes from a long-lived generation."
"O dear!" lightly responded the other. "We can't have everything just our own way. But, what could have possessed her to marry that old man? Not love, certainly."
"No, it was money."
"Then she must be a heartless woman."
"Something is wrong, without doubt. The marriage is unnatural, and must have had its origin in constraint, or overweening avarice. There has been a lack of womanly virtuesomewhere. Do you know that the niece of Mr. Bullfinch, whom he had raised almost as his own child, left the house on the very day she entered it, and had not crossed the threshold since?"
"No!"
"It is yet true."
"Who was she?"
"A Miss Milnor — and she is here tonight."
"Ah! Can you point her out to me? I would like to observe her conduct in relation to them. It will present a fine study in human nature."
"There she is in conversation with Mr. Wellford."
"Ah! That's the young lady. Well, there is certainly a look of spirit about her."
The two men observed, in silence, for some moments, the personages alluded to. They were in earnest conversation.
"Did you see that look?" said one of them suddenly.
"What look?" asked the other.
"The look cast upon them by Mrs. Bullfinch."
"No." And, as he spoke, he turned his eyes towards Helen. "There's something in that which I don't just comprehend," he said, after a brief observation.
"Nor do I. Unless I err, there was something of the fire of jealousy in her eyes."
"Just so, I read them. There! See! She is looking at them again. What can it mean? Ah! Now I remember having heard something of a lover. Can Wellford possibly be the man?"
"Why should she give him up — for an old man like Bullfinch? His worldly condition, if not quite so good now, promises, in my opinion, to be much the best. You know he is a member of the house of Lane, Latta & Co."
"I do. But little more than a year ago, he was only a clerk in that house. His prospects at the time Miss Lee was married, and his prospects now, are very different."
"I must know something farther in regard to this matter," said the other. "There's a new study in human nature here, at least, for me."
"If you would probe the matter pretty effectually, I will suggest a mode of procedure," remarked the friend.
"Well?"
"Are you acquainted with Mr. Bullfinch?"
"I am not."
"Does he know you?"
The friend shook his head.
"He is on the side of the room away from his wife just now."
"So I perceive."
"As a stranger you are not supposed to be aware of the fact, that so beautiful a young creature — a mere girl as it were — holds to an old man like him the relation of a wife."
"Go on. I am all attention."
"Approach, and enter into conversation. It will then be the easiest matter in the world to make allusion to the charming Mrs. Bullfinch."
"Ah! I take your drift. You wish me to excite his jealousy?"
"Make allusion to Wellford. It will be the more effectual if Mrs. Bullfinch should happen to cast upon the young gentleman a glance or two, such as we detected just now."
"I understand my part fully," was replied. "Thank you for the suggestion. If I don't awaken a tempest in at least one mind tonight, then I'm mistaken."
"Take care that you don't do harm," said the friend, in a warning voice.
"Harm! what harm?"
"You may destroy the peace of that old man."
"Would it not be a just punishment for his wickedness in marrying that young creature? What right had he to rob her of her true love in life? To lay a sacrifice like that — upon the reeking altar of sensuality. Hah! I burn with indignation at the thought. If I can lay upon him a scorpion lash — right freely will I do it!"
"As you choose. But, to my thinking, you are assuming towards him, rather unadvisedly, the joint office of judge and executioner. In matters like this, all are free to act as they think best. Consent must precede marriage. His wife, therefore, is quite as much a party in this business, as himself. Why he alone should be punished for a mutual fault, is what I do not clearly comprehend."
"I can't stop to argue this matter," was replied. "My mind is already made up. So now for introducing my probe into this festering sore."
And, as he said this, the young man moved away from his friend, and was soon at the side of Mr. Bullfinch. In a little while, with much adroitness, he succeeded in engaging the old man in conversation.
"What a charming creature that is!" said he breaking in, with well-managed abruptness, upon a remark of his companion. And he glanced towards Mrs. Bullfinch.
The countenance of the latter became lit up with pleasure in an instant; but before he had time to indicate the relationship in which he stood towards her, the young man added —
"I'm told that she is the wife of old Adam Bullfinch. But, I presume, there is a mistake in this."
"I believe not," was the rather grave answer.
"You surprise me! Well, I can only say, that I admire the old fellow's taste. When I want a wife, I'll get him to look out for me!"
This rather familiar way of speaking about himself and his affairs, made Mr. Bullfinch hesitate as to a declaration of his identity. To avow himself now, would be, he felt, rather embarrassing. He, therefore, determined to let his companion talk on in supposed ignorance as to the true personality of his auditor. He merely remarked —
"Mrs. Bullfinch is certainly a charming woman."
"Oh, delightful! If I were her husband, I would feel strongly inclined to cage her up at home. Why, half the men here are in love with her already."
The arrow had struck. A cloud fell instantly on the brow of Mr. Bullfinch.
"She had a lover, I'm told," was the next remark. "I wonder if there is any truth in it. Someone said he was here tonight."
The old man's eyes turned instantly towards Wellford.
"There! Did you see that look?" said his companion, touching familiarly the old man's arm.
"What look?"
"The look Mrs. Bullfinch cast on Mr. Wellford, who is in earnest conversation with that young lady — said to be the niece of her husband, and to have left his house indignantly on the very night of their marriage."
The eyes of Mr. Bullfinch were instantly fixed upon his wife, who was regarding the two people just mentioned, with the peculiar look before described. Well might he take thealarm. Such a look never rested upon a man, in whom the heart had no interest.
"Wellford is the man — I'll wager a kingdom of it!" said the evil antagonist of Mr. Bullfinch, triumphantly.
The old man startled, as if stung by a serpent. Thrown off of his guard, he said, in a low, angry voice —
"Who are you, sir, who dares to trifle with me after this fashion!"
The young man instantly shrunk away, and retiring to another part of the drawing-rooms, spent the rest of the evening in observing the result of his evil handiwork.
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