The Two Husbands CHAPTER 2
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"Well, as for me, Jane, I am sure that I would rather have a man with some spirit in him, than to be tied to such a drone as Walter Gray. Why, I would die in a week. I can't for my life, see how you can enjoy his society for a moment!"
"I should think any woman ought to be able to enjoy the company of a man of sense," Jane remarked, quietly.
"Surely, Jane, you don't pretend by that to set up Walter Gray as the superior of Charles Wilton, in regard to intelligence?"
"Certainly I do, Cara."
"Why, Jane! There is no comparison, in this respect, between them. Everyone knows that while Walter is dull, even to stupidity — Charles has a brilliant, well-informed mind. It is only necessary to hear each converse for an hour, to decide upon their respective merits."
"In that last sentence you have uttered the truth, Cara, but the result would depend much upon the character of the listeners. For a time, no doubt, if Charles made an effort to show off, he would eclipse the less brilliant and unobtrusive Walter. But a close and discriminating observer would soon learn to judge between sound — and sense, between borrowed thoughts — and truthful sentiments originating in a philosophical and ever active mind. The shallow stream runs sparkling and flashing in the sunlight — while the deeper waters lie dark and unattractive."
Cara shook her head as her friend ceased speaking, and replied, laughingly —
"You can beat me at talking, Jane — but all your philosophy and poetry can't make me think Charles Wilton less brilliant and sensible — or Walter Gray less dull and spiritless."
The two young men whose merits Jane Emory and Cara Linton had thus been discussing, had been law students for some years in the same office, and were now just admitted to practice at the bar in one of our Atlantic cities. They were friends, though altogether unlike each other. Walter Gray was modest and retiring, while Charles Wilton was a dashing, off-hand kind of a fellow, with more pretensions than merit. The mind of Walter was rather sluggish, while that of his friend was quick, and what some were disposed to esteembrilliant. The one was fond of dress and show, and effect; while the other paid less regard to these things than was really necessary to make him, with many, an agreeable companion.
But the quick perceptions of Charles, were not equal to the patient, untiring application of Walter. When admitted to practice, Wilton could make an effective, brilliant speech, and in ordinary cases, where an appeal to the feelings could influence a jury, was uniformly successful. But, where profound investigation, concise reasoning, and a laborious array of authorities were requisite, he was no competitor for his friend Gray. He was vain of his personal appearance, as has before been indicated, and was also fond of pleasure andcompany. In short, he was one of those dashing young men to be met with in all professions, who look upon business as an necessary evil, to be escaped whenever a opportunity offers — whose expectations of future prosperity are always large, and who look for success, not in the roads of patient, laborious application — but by a quicker and more brilliant way. They hope to produce a sensation by their tact or talents, and thus take fortune by storm.
Few, indeed we might say none, of this class succeed. Those who startle a community by rapid advances, are, in all cases, such as have, to quick perceptions and brilliant powers, added much labor. Talent is nothing without prolonged and patient application; and those who suppose the road to success lies in any other way, may discover their error too late.
The estimation in which the characters of these two young men was held, at least by two individuals — the preceding conversation has apprised the reader. Each made his impression upon a certain order of mind, and each was regarded, or lightly esteemed, accordingly. Although in talents and in a right estimation of life and its true ends, the two young men were altogether dissimilar; yet were they friends, and in many respects intimate. Why they were so, we shall not stop to inquire, but proceed to introduce them more particularly to the reader.
"I suppose you are going to Mrs. Melton's this evening?" said Wilton to his friend, a few weeks after the period indicated in the opening of this story.
"I feel as if I would like to go. A social evening, now and then, I find pleasant, and I have no doubt it is useful to me."
"That is right, Walter. I am glad to see you coming out of your recluse habits. You need the polish and ease that social life will give you."
"I feel that, Wilton. But I fear I am too old now to have all the rough corners knocked off, and worn smooth."
"O, don't despair. You'll make a ladies' man after awhile, if you persevere, and become more particular in your dress. But, to change the subject, a little, tell me what you think of Cara Linton? Her father is worth a plum, and she is just the showy, brilliant woman, of which a man like me would be proud of."
"As you ask me, Charles, I must reply candidly. I would think her a dear bargain, with all her father's money thrown in with her; and as to your other reasons for thinking of her as a wife, I consider them, to speak plainly, as I always do to you, despicable!"
"And why so, Mr. Philosopher?"
"A wife should be chosen from much higher considerations than these. What do you want with a brilliant, showy wife? You marry, or ought to marry, a companion for yourself — not a woman for the world to admire."
"You are too matter-of-fact, Walter. Your common sense ideas, as you call them, will keep you grubbing in a mole hill all your life.
"I would like to see the woman you would choose for a wife!"
"I wish you had a few of these common sense ideas which you despise so much. I am afraid, Charles, that the time is not very distant, when you will stand sadly in need of them."
"Don't trouble yourself, Walter. I'll take care of number one. Let me alone for that. But, I would like to know your serious objections to Cara? You sweep her aside with one wave of your hand, as if she were too insignificant to be thought of for a moment."
"I said that I would consider her a dear bargain, and so I would — for she would not suit me at all."
"Ah, there I believe you. But come, let me hear why she would not suit you."
"Because she has no correct and common sense estimation of life and its relations. She is full of poetry and romance, and fashion, and show, and all that kind of thing; none of which, without a great deal of the salt of common sense, would suit me."
"Common sense! Common sense! Common sense! That is your hobby. Truly, Walter, you are absurd on the subject of common sense; but, as for me, I will leave common sense to common people. I go in for uncommon sense."
"The poorest and most unprofitable sense of all, let me tell you. And one of these days, you will discover it to be so."
"It is no use for us to compare our philosophical notes, I see plainly enough," Wilton responded. "We shall never view things in the same light. You are not the man of the world you should be, Walter. Men of half your merit will eclipse you, winning opulence and distinction — while you, with your common sense notions, will be plodding on at a snail's pace. You are behind the age, and a stranger to its powerful, onward impulses."
"And ever do I desire to remain behind the age, Wilton, if mere pretension and show is its ruling and impulsive spirit."
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