Volume II. The Wife CHAPTER 5.
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On the next day, Hartley, accompanied by Anna and her mother, started out to select furniture. It must be told that Anna did not defer to the taste of her husband quite so fully as she had represented her mother as doing to Mr. Lee. At the cabinet-maker's, there were several pieces of furniture that she induced him to purchase, notwithstanding he had expressed a decided preference for a different style of the same article. The reason may be easily guessed. A difference of, perhaps, fifty dollars in a sofa; as much more in a set of chairs, or a pair of pier tables, not any better for the additional price, but only a little more showy, was the only cause for this lack of deference to her husband's taste on the part of Anna.
Sometimes, the very natural desire to have things his own way, and the disposition felt to make a show — caused Hartley to feel chafed. But his good sense, aided by the experience he had gained since marriage, brought his mind back again to its true balance. He could not but approve the motives of his wife, and acknowledge that she was acting with prudence.
After their parlor, and a part of their bedroom furniture, including carpets, had been selected — Hartley gave up all the rest into the hands of Anna.
In about two weeks the house was ready; the whole work of furnishing it having gone on under the direct supervision and instruction of Anna, aided by the wise counsel of her mother. When all was completed, the young couple took possession of their new home. Hartley was delighted with everything. The parlors were really beautiful.
"That sofa is much handsomer than I thought it was," he said, looking at it with pleasure. "It had a common appearance to me at the cabinet maker's."
"Because you saw it there in contrast with more showy ones," returned Anna. "I think it a real beauty, myself. I wouldn't ask a better one."
"Nor I, now that I can see what it really is. These chairs, too, are good enough for anyone. I don't know that a neater pattern could be found. In fact, everything looks better than I had any idea that it would."
"If we cannot be happy in a house furnished as well as this is — James, we cannot be happy anywhere," Anna said, leaning hard upon his arm, as she stood with her husband in the center of their parlor, from which position they had been looking around them. "We need nothing for the sake of display; but only what will make us comfortable, and enable us to maintain that social position in which we can best act for the good of all around us."
As soon as Mrs. Hartley had commenced housekeeping, she was visited, as a thing of course, by all her friends. Some admired everything. Some approved the young wife's taste, and commended her prudence, while others wondered why she chose a particular article of furniture instead of another that was more fashionable; or why she did not get Saxony instead of Brussels carpeting for her parlors, and a great deal more of a like tenor. Among these friends was Mrs. Riston.
"Ah, my dear! So you have done as you threatened," said this lady, meeting Anna with a free air, and then looking around with a scrutinizing eye.
"Yes," was replied. "I have made a fair start in the world, and hope I shall be able to keep steadily on to the end with a clear conscience."
"It is more than many of us will do, then, let me tell you. Clear consciences are rare things in these days. But let me see what kind of a beginning you have made. These are your parlors."
The lady looked around for a while, and then shook her head.
"What is the matter? Are not things to your taste?"
"Not exactly."
"What do you see wrong?"
"Nothing that can justly be called wrong; but much that is not at all in keeping with your husband's condition in life."
"I don't know about that. I think everything is in keeping."
"It is more than I do then. How much did you pay for your sofas?"
"One hundred and sixty dollars for the pair."
"I thought they were not above that price. What in the world possessed you to buy such common looking furniture? Or, did your husband think them plenty good enough?"
The blood mounted to Anna's face, at this reflection upon her husband.
"No, they were my own choice," she quickly replied. "He liked a pair at two hundred and twenty dollars, and would have taken them if I had wished it."
Mrs. Riston shook her head.
"You are a silly child, Anna; but you will know better after awhile. It makes me downright angry with you every time I think about that splendid house in Walnut Street, which you were foolish enough to refuse. But what else have you got? Solar lamps and candelabras! Why in the world didn't you have the gas brought into the house?"
"We did talk about it; but concluded to defer it for the present. It would have increased the cost of furnishing considerably."
"Cost of furnishing! Nonsense! Your husband is able enough to do it."
"That may be, but it is not always the best way to expend money too freely. We both prefer to gain a little more experience than we have, before we dash out too boldly."
"If you don't dash out now — you will never do it. Take my word for that."
"No matter. Happiness in this life doesn't consist in dashing out. I, for one, shall be far happier in this quiet little nook, than I would be if I were mistress of a palace!"
Mrs. Riston gave her head an incredulous toss, and said,
"All that is well enough — very good talk. But I do not believe that you are so far superior to the rest of your gender as not to be captivated by elegance and splendor."
"I could have had a very elegant house and furniture of the most costly kind, if I had said but the word."
"And a great fool you were for not saying the word. You will repent of it one of these days."
Anna could not help smiling at her friend's earnestness.
"A rare display you would make, no doubt," she remarked, playfully.
"Wouldn't I! If I had the purse-strings, I'd go to housekeeping tomorrow. Then I'd show you style! I'd make Philadelphians open their eyes."
Anna laughed outright.
"You may laugh. But I'd do it! Mr. Riston has been speaking to me for the last three weeks about getting into a house of our own. I'm half inclined to say yes."
"Why don't you?"
"I think I will; but on one condition — that I have full liberty to choose a house and furnish it just as I please."
"Will Mr. Riston agree to that??
"It's the only condition I'll give him a chance of agreeing to. If he makes a slave of me — then I am determined to have a palace for my prison."
"Whether your husband can afford a palace or not?"
"Afford!" Mrs. Riston's lip curled. "I hate to hear a woman utter that word! Afford, indeed! I'll make him afford it."
The manner in which this was said sent a chill through Mrs. Hartley. She shrunk back, involuntarily, a pace or two from her visitor.
"But come," resumed Mrs. Riston, "let me see your other rooms. There is nothing very wonderful here."
Anna led the way upstairs. Not a single article in the rooms met the lady's approval.
"Cheap — cheap — cheap!" she said, glancing around. "Ah me! when will women get sense? Everything as plain as a pikestaff. Have you no taste, Mrs. Hartley? No love for thebeautiful? Has elegance no charm for your eyes?"
"No one can love external beautiful forms more truly than I do," Anna replied, seriously. "But at the same time, I love moral beauties. When there is a just relation between the elegancies of life and the ability to possess these elegancies — then the external beautiful forms are but the correspondents of moral beauties. But, if this correspondence does not exist, there can be no real enjoyment, no matter how beautiful the objects may be with which we are surrounded."
"All Greek to me, my dear! Give me the external beauties, and you may content yourself with the moralities, or whatever else you may choose to call them."
Anna made no further attempt to correct Mrs. Riston's false notions. She saw that it was useless. She permitted her to find fault with, and scold about everything in the house, and when she finally took her departure, bade her a smiling good day.
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