University of Virginia Library

3. CHAPTER III.
MAX MAKES A CONFIDANTE OF HIS COUSIN, AND CONSULTS
HER ON THE SUBJECT OF HIS COSTUME.

Perhaps it would be as well before proceeding farther,
to convey to the reader a somewhat more distinct impression
of the two personages now left alone together.

Nina was a young girl of seventeen, with a profusion of
golden curls, very red lips and cheeks, arms of dazzling
whiteness, and a figure of undeniable beauty, though a
critical eye might have considered it a little—a very little
—too Dutch in character. Two brilliant orbs full of
mischief and sauciness sparkled under their well defined
brows, and whenever Nina smiled—which was usually
at some unlucky visitor's expense—she displayed a row
of snow-white teeth of admirable beauty.

Maximilian Courtlandt, her cousin, was her elder by a
year or more, and was not unlike Nina; his hair long,
fair, and curling; his features regular, and their expression
laughing and full of joyous pride.

We might dwell at some length on the costume of these
personages of our tale—costume so different from that of
ladies and gentlemen in our own day:—but we refer the
reader rather to those portraits, which are found in almost
every house of the land. The young girl's dress was plain
and elegant, her hair not half as high-raised as was then
the fashion, in fact not more than six inches—the heels
of her shoes scarcely two inches high. Her cousin was
clad, as was usual at the period, in short pantaloons, stockings,
a long waistcoat, and stiff-collared coat.

He took his seat at the table, and patiently waited to
be addressed. He did not wait long.

“Max,” said Nina “you are positively the idlest, most
indolent person I have ever known in my life.”

Max helped himself to a roll.

“Idle!” he exclaimed.

“Yes; you know you are.”

“Nina, you astonish me.”

“An hour after breakfast-time! There is the clock!”

“I can't deny that, Nina,” said Max with his mouth
full, “but you know I was up late last night studying—”

“Studying what?”

“My Romeo.”

“Oh!” exclaimed the girl.

“And you know they expect great things of me, my
darling Nina.”

“Max, I'll thank you not to address me as your `darling,”'
the young girl said, pouting, “keep that for Miss
Josephine!”

“Josephine! Is it possible, Nina dear, they have told
you any nonsense about Josephine?”

“You know you are in love with her!”

Max seemed astonished.

“I in love with her!”

“Yes—do you deny it?”

“Deny it? no, I never deny any thing.”

“Don't `dear' me then, please!” said Nina. “Keep it
for those you care for.”

“I care more for you, Nina,” said Max, “than for any
body in the world—a few people excepted.”

“I don't believe it.”

“And I will prove that to you, Nina,” said the young
man.

“How?”

“By asking a favor of you.”

“A favor?”

“Don't that prove my regard for you?”

“A pretty way! and what is the favor? I warn you
beforehand, I shall not grant it.”

“Oh yes, you will: for you know Nina,” said Max,
coaxingly, “you are always so good to me—every body
is, for that matter.”

“I know how you persuade every body to do what you
want by wheedling them; you're the greatest flatterer in
the world.”

“Flatterer! Have I ever flattered you?”

“A thousand times.”

“Just because I said you were the prettiest girl in
town, and the wittiest—that's not flattery.”

“That is a proof you don't flatter, I suppose,” said
Nina, laughing, in spite of herself.

“Ah, there is the proper expression back again: now
for my favor.”

“I shall refuse it”

“Very well—listen first.”

“Go on.”

“You know they have applied to me to act Romeo and
Juliet at Mrs. —'s school next Thursday—Commencement.”

“I have heard something of it.”

“Heard something of it! Just listen. When all the
town is agog on the subject, and talking—”

“Of Mr. Max Courtlandt and Miss Sally Myers.”

“Well—hum,” said Max, with a conceited air, “suppose
they do talk of us. But we are getting away from
the favor you can do for me. It is necessary I should
have, in order to act Romeo properly—and oh, Nina! I
shall throw such expression, such melancholy, into the
part—”

“Who is `getting away' now?”

“I am, I confess: but you know when uncle took me
to Philadelphia I saw the play, and I think I shall act it

well. But I must have a dress. Now a dress consists
of three things.”

“Does it?”

“I will particularize.”

“Do,” said Nina, laughing.

“First a cap—long black feather—jewel to hold it in
—cap black. For just imagine Romeo in any other color?”

“Well—what next?”

“Next boots and silk stockings, also black.”

“Very well.”

“For you see,” said Max, with a business air, “shoes
and buckles would not be in keeping, as they say.”

“Especially if you borrowed them.”

“No joking, Nina: Romeo and Juliet is a serious matter.”

“I thought all tragedies were.”

“Let me get through,” continued Max. “In the
third place I shall need a fine dark-colored coat, profusely—
Now I know you are going to cry out “Forsooth!”
or something of the sort.”

“Go on; profusely what?”

“Laced—black or dark lace.”

Max had guessed rightly. The young girl uttered
one of those “hums!” which express so much.

“A laced coat!” she exclaimed.

“Indispensable,” groaned Max, shaking his head, sadly.

“And I suppose I am to furnish the whole: or what
part? Your boots, or your coat, or your cap—which?”

“I am really afraid, Nina, you will have to furnish all,”
said Max, piteously.

“Folly!” said Nina.

“Yes, yes, I suppose it is,” said Max, “how could you?
Certainly you have no boots: what possessed me to come
to a young lady for boots? I believe I am cracked—I'm
nearly sure of it!—Or for a coat, or cap—do young ladies
wear coats or caps any more than boots?”

Max let his head fall, mournfully.

“Never mind—don't be so down in the mouth,” said
Nina, “why you have no energy! We'll see yet. There
is time between this and Thursday.”

“Well: you make me hope something will turn up.”

“I can make the cap.”

“Can you! Nina, you are the nicest, most obliging,
dearest—”

“That's enough. It is not so very difficult. Will
black velvet be proper?”

“Proper! Romeo himself, if consulted on the point,
would be in ecstasies.”

“You are recovering your spirits.”

“I believe I am.”

“See about the coat then.”

“But have you velvet for the cap?”

“I have my black velvet body.”

“Your what?”

“You know what I mean—the body of my dress; like
this. Then for the feather, my riding plume—and for
the jewel—I'll sew in this bracelet.”

“Nina, I desire to kiss you,” said Max, “in no other
way can my gratitude—”

“Come a step nearer and I'll burn you with this hot
water.”

Max, who had risen and approached his cousin, drew
back.

“Well—another time,” he said, “and now I am going
to see Aunt Courtlandt. I'll have my hair powdered, and
then—”

“Your hair powdered, indeed!”

“Why, certainly.”

“Who'll do it for you?”

“Let me see: why, Monsieur Pantoufle.”

“Max, you are the most impudent fellow in the world.
Monsieur Pantoufle powder your hair!”

“Will you bet me the cap against—let me see—against
a kiss, say, that he does not?”

“I'll bet you a box on the ears.”

“Very well: in half an hour—no in an hour—I shall
come and tell you which has won.”

“I suppose Monsieur Pantoufle will be engaged that
length of time upon your hyacinthine curls. Conceited!”

“Why, Nina, you read Shakspeare! No, but I am
going to the `Sisters of Mercy' to see Aunt Courtlandt.”

“And who besides?”

“Any one who will submit to being seen.”

“Josephine Emberton, for instance.”

“Nina, I really believe you are jealous. Josephine and
myself like each other: but I assure you nothing serious
has passed between us,” said Max, gravely.

Nina burst out laughing.

“But you! I like you so much better!” said Max, tenderly.

“Aunt Jenny! are you coming?”

“Good,” said the young man taking his hat, “I see
my conversation is getting dull. Well, now for the coat
and boots: fortune favor me!'