Pride and Prudence CHAPTER 13.
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On the day that Jane had called upon her aunt with the request from her mother that she wished to see her, William Este came home with the intelligence that he had seen a very pretty house, not more than half the distance from his place of business, than was the one in which they now resided, that could be rented for one hundred and fifty dollars. It had been vacated on that very morning.
"But isn't one hundred and fifty dollars, William, too much rent for us to pay?" his mother said.
"I think we can very well afford it, and not be compelled to draw a single dollar from the money you have just received. You know that a hundred dollars has been added to my salary, and the increase of rent will only be about fifty or sixty dollars."
"But, is it right to increase our expenses, simply because our income is a little augmented?"
"It might not be," William said, "if we had nothing to look forward to beyond our limited income; but, when there are reserved the means upon which to commence business, so soon as myself, and the other children come of age, I think we ought to try and live comfortably, even if it consumed every dollar of what is now earned. This house, besides being very small and inconvenient, is too far away from business. Often when we are much pressed, I am compelled to go without my dinner, or get it in an eating house. To do the latter, requires an extra expenditure, which in a year, if often called upon to do it, would take from me, no inconsiderable sum of money. I have thought about this pretty seriously, and am well satisfied that we ought to take this house."
William's opinion had weight with his mother. He was now about twenty years of age, his rational mind well developed. He had learned, from his mother, to take rational views of things — to be governed by reason, and not by impulse, or preference. Gradually Mrs. Este was beginning to lean upon him, as it were; to consult him, and to let his views have influence with her. They had their effect in this case. After some further conversation with him, she felt satisfied that it was right for them to live in a larger and better house. The one he had pointed out, was accordingly taken and moved into.
"I don't think aunt Ashton will like this very much," William said, after they had moved, and were all gathered in one of their neat little parlors, feeling thankful and happy for the good things of life they were permitted to enjoy.
"Why not?" asked Mrs. Este.
"Because it will make her jealous. She will not be able to bear our prosperity, I am sure."
"Don't permit yourself to think in that way, my son. Rather look for good, than evil in others."
"But it's impossible for me to help seeing what is before my eyes."
"Then, it is sometimes better that you should shut them, or try and direct them to some new point of vision."
"Perhaps so," said William, and then changed the subject by remarking —
"I saw George today, and told him that we had moved."
"Did you? I am glad of that. They would not have known where to look for us."
"He seemed pleased, when I described our pleasant house, and expressed regret that his mother had been so unwilling to join us in renting the large house you spoke to them about."
"I wish she had been not only in a state of mind to consent to that arrangement, but to warrant our taking a house in connection with her. But she is not," said Mrs. Este abstractedly.
"You haven't been there for several days?" William remarked after a pause.
"No. It is more than a week since I called to see them."
"I hope you will not go there again, until aunt comes to see us. I can't see anything fair in you going to her all the time. Let her visit you."
"I had partly made up my mind to the same thing before we moved. But now I feel somewhat concerned, lest the false impression should be made, that, getting into better external circumstances, we are growing indifferent to them. I do not wish this to appear.
"Nor do I, mother. I like George and Jane very much, and wish to see them often. Suppose, as aunt has sent for you, we go there this evening, but for the last time, as far as you are concerned, until she reciprocates the visits. As for the rest of us, we can see each other backwards and forwards, as often as we please."
This met, fully, both the views and feelings of the mother. After tea, she went with William to the house of her sister.
"O, aunt, I am so glad to see you again," Jane said, seizing the hand of Mrs. Este, as she entered.
"And I am glad to see you Jane," was returned in a tone of affection. Then turning to her sister, who had not risen on her entrance, she extended her hand.
"Well Mary," was said with repulsive coldness of voice, and an offended countenance.
The quick eye of William saw the nature of his mother's reception, and his young blood rose to fever heat. But he controlled himself, and, entering into conversation with his cousins, seemed not to notice the rude manner of his aunt. The fellowship between the young people was pleasant and affectionate. But stiff, cold, and formal between the sisters. So repulsive did the manner of Mrs. Ashton continue, that the mother of William rose to leave in half an hour after her entrance. Not one word, had been asked her about her removal, nor the slightest remark made when she spoke of her having done so. And when she made a movement to go, her sister did not ask her to remain longer, or to come again. Very different was the parting of the cousins. It was with the warmest expressions of regard, and the promise to see each other very frequently.
"Oh, mother! How could you treat aunt Este as you did?" Jane said, as soon as they were alone, tears filling her eyes as she spoke.
"Because I think her conduct unpardonable," was the indignant reply. "Didn't she propose to rent a house with us, and then go off and rent one for herself alone? It's a downrightinsult and outrage that I'll never forgive!"
"Don't — don't talk so mother," George interposed, with a look of pain and regret upon his face. "I can't see that we have any cause to blame her. She asked us to join her in renting a certain house, and we declined — "
"That old run-down house! Yes, I declined. What honorable person would put their head into such a place? Not I! It was an insult, in the first instance, to propose such a thing."
"Aunt Este was sincere in her proposal. She would have been willing to go there."
"She might go there, or into a mud hole — for all that I care. But I'm not going to."
"O, mother! mother!" cried Jane, the tears now glittering on her cheeks, "I cannot bear to hear you talk so, after all our kind, good aunt has done for us. We owe her a debt of gratitude which I, for one, would gladly repay at any sacrifice."'
"Hush, will you!" the mother exclaimed angrily.
Jane shrank away, weeping, and left the room. George felt a good deal agitated and displeased at what his mother had said, but more so at the ugly spirit which she manifested. It was so unkind — so ungenerous, and had in it so little that was noble. He would have said something condemnatory of his mother's manifested feelings, but knowing that it would be utterly useless, he restrained himself, and kept silence. But both himself and his sister felt very unhappy. How could it be otherwise. To children who love, and desire to respect their parents in all things, the trial is a severe one, when those parents do not act with justice and judgement — when they show neither discretion, nor generous feelings in their acts towards others. Few situations can be more severely trying.
So much did Mrs. Ashton allow herself to come under improper influences, that she at first made the effort to prevent George and Jane from visiting their cousins. But, in this, she was made sensible by them that she was going too far. They felt that it would neither be good for her nor them, to yield to so wrong a spirit. Reluctantly she waived the interdiction which she at first angrily laid upon them.
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