University of Virginia Library

8. CHAPTER VIII.

Winter's Tale.

Mrs. Stanley had joined the Wyllyses at Saratoga, a few
days after they arrived, and the meeting between Hazlehurst
and herself had been very cordial. She had always felt a
warm interest in Harry, looking upon him as her husband's
chosen representative, and all but an adopted son; the intercourse
between them had invariably been of the most friendly
and intimate nature.

Mr. Stanley's will had placed the entire control of his
large estate in the hands of his widow, and his old friend,

Mr. Wyllys. Mrs. Stanley, herself, was to retain one half
of the property, for life; at her death it was to be divided in
different legacies, to relatives of her own, and to charitable
institutions, according to her own discretion. The other half
was also to be kept in the hands of the executors until his
own son returned, and had reached the age of five-and-twenty;
or, in case the report of William Stanley's death, which had
just reached his family, were to be confirmed, then Harry
Hazlehurst was to take his place, and receive his son's portion,
on condition that his, Hazlehurst's, second son should
take the name of Stanley. Hazlehurst was a nephew by
marriage; that is to say, his father, after the death of a first
wife, Harry's mother, had married Mr. Stanley's only sister:
this lady died before her brother, leaving no children. At
the time this will was made, Mr. Stanley had given up all,
but the faintest, hope of his son's being alive; still, he left
letters for him, containing his last blessing, and forgiveness, in
case the young man were to return. He also expressed a wish
that an easy allowance, according to Mrs. Stanley's discretion,
should be given, after the age of one-and-twenty, to his
son, or to Harry, whichever were to prove his heir; on condition
that the recipient should pursue some regular profession
or occupation, of a respectable character. Hazlehurst
was to receive a legacy of thirty thousand dollars, in case of
William Stanley's return.

Such was Mr. Stanley's will; and circumstances having
soon showed that the report of his son's death was scarcely
to be doubted, Hazlehurst had been for years considered as
his heir. As Harry grew up, and his character became
formed, his principles proving, in every respect, such as his
friends could wish, Mrs. Stanley had made very ample provision
for him. The allowance he had received for his education
was very liberal, and during his visit to Europe it had
been increased. At different times considerable sums had
been advanced, to enable him to make desirable purchases:
upon one occasion, a portion of the property upon which his

ancestors had first settled, as colonists, was offered for sale
by a distant relative, and Harry wished to obtain possession
of it; twenty thousand dollars were advanced for this purpose.
Then, Hazlehurst was very desirous of collecting
a respectable library, and, as different opportunities offered,
he had been enabled, while in Europe, to make valuable
acquisitions of this kind, thanks to Mrs. Stanley's liberality.
As every collector has a favourite branch of his own, Harry's
tastes had led him to look for botanical works, in which he
was particularly interested; and he had often paid large
sums for rare or expensive volumes connected with this
science. Since he had reached the age of five-and-twenty,
or, during the last two years, he had been in full possession
of one entire half of Mr. Stanley's property, amounting, it
was generally supposed, to some ten thousand a year. According
to a codicil of the will, Hazlehurst was also to take
possession of Greatwood, at his marriage: this was a pleasant
country-house, surrounded by a place in fine order; but
Mrs. Stanley, who preferred living in town, had already
given him possession.

“I wish, Harry, we could keep you at home, now,” said
Mrs. Stanley to her young friend, one morning, as he was
sitting with herself, Mary Van Alstyne, and Elinor, in her
rooms at Congress Hall. “I think Mr. Henley could spare
you better than we can. Is it quite decided that you go to
Russia?”

“You are very kind to express so much interest in my
movements. But you must permit me to remind you of a
piece of advice I have often received, as a youngster, from
your own lips, dear Mrs. Stanley; and that is, never to abandon
merely from caprice, the path of life I might choose.”

“Certainly; but I think you might find very good reasons
for staying at home, now; your affairs would go on all the
better for some personal attention; I should be sorry to have
you a rover all your life, Harry.”

“I have no intention, Ma'am, I assure you, of being a

vagrant all my days. And if there is nothing else to keep
me at home, it is highly probable that I shall be thrown on
the shelf before long, by Uncle Sam. When a man has
served his apprenticeship, and is fully qualified to fill his
office creditably, he may prepare to be turned out; and,
very possibly, some raw backwoodsman, who knows nothing
of the world in general, or of diplomacy in particular, will
be put in his place. That is often the way things are managed
among us, you know.”

“For that very reason, I would not have anything to do
with public life, if I were a young man!” exclaimed Mrs.
Stanley, earnestly. “So many men who are ill-qualified for
either public or private confidence, get into office, that I
should think no man of high principles and honourable
views, would care to belong to the body of public servants.”

“There is all the more need, then, that every honest man,
who has an opportunity of serving his country, should do
so,” observed Harry. “I do not believe, however, that as
regards principles, the public men among us are any worse
than the public men elsewhere,” he added.

“Where all are chosen, they ought to be better,” said
Mary Van Alstyne.

“That I grant,” said Hazlehurst; “the choice by election,
or by appointment, might often be more creditable; whenever
it is bad, it is disgraceful to the community.”

“Look at A—, B—, and C—, whom you and I
happen to know!” exclaimed Mrs. Stanley.

“No doubt they are little fit for the offices they hold,”
replied Harry.

“The worst of it is this, Harry: that the very qualities
which ought to recommend you, will probably keep you
back in the career you have chosen,” said Mrs. Stanley.
“Your principles are too firm for public life.”

“I shall try the experiment, at least,” said Harry. “Mr.
Henley urges me to persevere, and with his example before
me, I ought not to be discouraged; he is a proof that a

public man is not necessarily required to be a sycophant, and
a time-server; that he is not always neglected because he is
an upright man, and a gentleman. I shall follow his example;
and I am convinced the experiment would succeed
much oftener, provided it were fairly tried.”

Mrs. Stanley shook her head. She was a woman of rather
a peculiar character, though very warm in her feelings, and
firm in her principles. She had become disgusted with the
world, from seeing much that was evil and disgraceful going
on about her; forgetting to observe the good as well as the
bad. Of late years, she had withdrawn entirely within a
narrow circle of old friends, among whom the Wyllyses and
Hazlehursts held a conspicuous place. She was disposed to
mistrust republican institutions, merely because she attributed
every evil of the society about her, to this one cause: her
opinions on this subject were, however, of no value whatever;
for she knew nothing of other countries, their evils and
abuses. If warmly attached to her friends, she was certainly
too indifferent to the community in which she lived. She
was very decided in all her actions and opinions: thus, for
instance, she would never allow a newspaper, of any character
whatever, to appear in her house—she held every sheet
alike, to be loose in principles, and vulgar in tone; because,
unfortunately, there are many to be found which answer
such a description. An office-holder, and a speculator, she
would never trust, and avoided every individual of either
class as much as possible. Her friends would have wished
her more discriminating in her opinions, but she never
obtruded these upon others. Personally, no woman could be
more respected by her intimates; there was nothing low or
trivial in her character and turn of mind—no shadow of
vacillation in her principles or her feelings. Mrs. Stanley
and her young friend Hazlehurst, much as they esteemed
and respected each other, disagreed on many subjects. Harry
made a point of looking at both sides of a question; he was
loyal to his country, and willing to serve it to the best of his

ability—not at all inclined to be an idler, and play the drone
in the bee-hive, whether social or political. Mrs. Stanley
had much regretted his being in any way connected with
public life, but she seldom attempted to influence him.

“What do you say, young ladies?” asked Harry, at length,
turning towards Elinor and Mary Van Alstyne, who had
hitherto thought the conversation of too personal a nature,
to speak much themselves. “Do you think I had better stay
at home, and look after the stock at Greatwood, or go to St.
Petersburg, and set up my droschky?”

“I should never have the least fancy for going to Russia,”
replied Mary; “and, therefore, I am not much disposed to
admire your constancy in adhering to Mr. Henley.”

“Oh, go, by all means,” said Elinor; “you will see so
much! And be sure you go to the Crimea before you come
home.”

“The Crimea is certainly a temptation,” observed Harry.
“I beg, ladies, you will honour me with your commands for
St. Petersburg, some time during the next three months. I
refer you to Mrs. Creighton for a certificate of good taste;
her saya y manto is perfect in its way, I am told.”

“Perhaps I ought to have engaged Mrs. Creighton on my
side, before I tried to coax you into staying at home,” said
Mrs. Stanley, smiling.

We are obliged to confess that Harry coloured at this
remark, in spite of a determination not to do so; and a great
misdemeanour it was in a diplomatist, to be guilty of blushing;
it clearly proved that Hazlehurst was still in his noviciate.
Happily, however, if the Department of State, at Washington,
be sometimes more particular in investigating the party politics
of its agents in foreign countries, than other qualifications,
it is also certain, on the other hand, that they do not require
by any means, as much bronze of countenance as most
European cabinets.

“Oh, Mrs. Creighton strongly recommends me to persevere
in diplomacy,” said Harry.

Just at that moment, a note was brought in from this very
lady.

“With Mrs. Creighton's compliments,” said the man who
brought it.

Harry's colour rose again, and for a second he looked a
litle embarrassed. Mrs. Stanley smiled, and so did the young
ladies, just a little.

“I will look for the book immediately,” was Harry's reply;
and turning to the ladies, he communicated the fact, that Mrs.
Creighton had asked for the volume of engravings which he
had shown to Mr. Wyllys, two or three evenings before.
The book was in Miss Wyllys's room, and Elinor went for it.

“Will you dine with us to-day, Harry, or at the other
house?” asked Mrs. Stanley.

Thank you, ma'am; I am engaged to dine with Mr.
Henley, who is only here for the day, and wishes to have a
little business-talk with me. We are to eat a bachelor's
dinner together, in his room.”

Elinor returned with the book, and Harry made his bow.

As he left the room, Mary Van Alstyne observed that Mr.
Hazlehurst seemed quite attentive to his friend's sister. “He
admires the pretty widow, I fancy,” she said.

“No wonder,” said Elinor; “Mrs. Creighton is so very
pretty, and very charming.”

“Yes; she is very pretty, with those spirited brown eyes,
and beautiful teeth. She is an adept in the art of dressing,
too, and makes the most of every advantage. But though
she is so pretty, and so clever, and so agreeable, yet I do not
like her.”

“People seem to love sometimes, men especially, where
they do not like,” said Mrs. Stanley. “I should not be surprised,
at any time, to hear that Harry and Mrs. Creighton
are engaged. I wish he may marry soon.”

“The lady is, at least, well-disposed for conquest, I think,
said Mary Van Alstyne.

“She will probably succeed,” replied Elinor, in a quiet,
natural voice.

Miss Agnes, who had just entered the room, heard the
remark, and was gratified by the easy tone in which Elinor
had spoken. Since Hazlehurst's return, Elinor's manner
towards him had been just what her aunt thought proper
under the circumstances; it was quite unembarrassed and
natural, though, of course, there was more reserve than
during the years they had lived so much together, almost as
brother and sister. We are obliged to leave the ladies for
the present, and follow Hazlehurst to his tête-à-tête dinner
with Mr. Henley.

We pass over the meal itself, which was very good in its
way; nor shall we dare to raise the curtain, and reveal
certain communications relating to affairs of state, political
and diplomatic, which were discussed by the minister and
his secretary. Harry heard some Rio Janeiro news too,
which seemed to amuse him, but would scarcely have any
interest for the reader. At length, as Mr. Henley and Harry
were picking their nuts, the minister happened to enquire
the day of the month.

“It is the twentieth, I believe, sir; and by the same token,
to-morrow will be my birth-day.”

“Your birth-day, will it?—How old may you be?”

“Twenty-seven, if I remember right.”

“I had thought you two or three years younger. Well,
I wish you a long life and a happy!”

“Thank you, sir; I am much obliged to you for the interest
you have always shown me.”

“No need of thanks, Harry; it is only what your father's
son had a right to expect from me.”

A silence of a moment ensued, when Mr. Henley again
spoke.

“You are seven-and-twenty, you say, Hazlehurst?—let
me give you a piece of advice—don't let the next ten years
pass without marrying.”

“I was just about making up my mind, at Rio, to be a gay
bachelor, my dear sir,” said Harry.

“Yes; I remember to have heard you say something of
the kind; but take my advice, and marry, unless you have
some very good reason for not doing so.”

Hazlehurst made no answer, but helped himself to another
supply of nuts. “More easily said than done, perhaps,” he
observed.

“Nonsense! — There are many amiable young women
who would suit you; and it would be strange if you could
not meet with one that would have you. Some pretty, lady-like
girl. I dare say you know twenty such, in Philadelphia,
or even here, at Saratoga.”

“Five hundred, no doubt,” replied Harry; “but suppose
the very woman I should fancy, would not fancy me.”
Whether he was thinking of his past experience with Jane,
or not, we cannot say.

“I don't see that a woman can find any reasonable fault
with you—you do well enough, my good fellow, as the
world goes; and I am sure there are, as you say, five hundred
young women to choose from. In that point a man has
the best of it; young girls of a certain class, if not angels,
are at least generally unexceptionable; but there are many
men, unhappily, whose moral reputations are, and should be
obstacles in a woman's eyes.”

`A regular old bachelor's notion, a mere marriage of convenience,'
thought Harry, who rather resented the idea of
the five hundred congenial spirits, in the shape of suitable
young ladies.

“You are surprised, perhaps, to hear this from me,” continued
Mr. Henley.

“No, sir: for I once before heard you express much the
same opinion.”

“Did you?—I don't often think or speak on such matters;
but I remember to have heard you talk about a single life
occasionally, at Rio; and I always intended to give this

piece of advice to my nephews, and to you, Harry. If I
were to live my life over again, I should marry myself; for
of late years I have felt the want of a home, and one can't
have a pleasant home without the women.”

“There I agree with you, sir, entirely.”

“That is more than some gay, rattling young fellows
would admit. Since you think so,” continued Mr. Henley,
smiling, “perhaps you have also fixed upon some amiable
young girl, who would be a pleasant companion for you.”

Hazlehurst was silent.

“I dare say you have, and I might have spared you the
advice. If that is the case, you must make the most of the
next three months; persuade her to marry you, and we can
take her to Russia, to do the honours for us.”

“Things have not gone quite so far as that, yet,” said
Harry, just a little embarrassed.

“Well, my good fellow, settle the matter your own way;
I have at least satisfied my conscience, by telling you not to
follow my own bad example,” said the minister, as he rose
from table.

It seemed that Mr. Henley, like most old bachelors,
regretted not having married; though he thought that his
habits had all become too confirmed, to make it worth while
to attempt a change. As a general rule, it will be found that
your decidedly old maid is contented with her lot, while your
very old bachelor is dissatisfied with his. The peculiar evils
of a single life—for every life must have its own—are most
felt by women early in the day; by men, in old age. The
world begins very soon to laugh at the old maid, and continues
to laugh, until shamed out of the habit by her good-nature,
and her respectable life. The bachelor, on the contrary,
for a long time finds an ally in the world; he goes on
enjoying the pleasures it offers, until old age makes him
weary of them—and then, as his head grows grey, when he
finds himself going out of favour, he begins to feel the want
of something better—a home to retreat to. He looks about

him, and he finds that his female contemporary has outlived
her peculiar annoyances; “the world forgetting, by the world
forgot;” she has long since found some collateral home;
or, in her right as a woman, has made a home for herself,
where she lives as pleasantly as her neighbours. Perhaps
he sets about imitating her example; but, poor fellow, he
finds it an awkward task; he can never succeed in making
his household gods smile with a good will, on a home
where no female voice is heard at the fire-side.

So thought Mr. Henley, and he had been intending to
recommend to Harry to look out for a wife, for some time
past. The minister's ideas on the subject of love and matrimony
were, to be sure, rather matter of fact, and statesmanlike;
he would have been quite satisfied if Hazlehurst had
married the first young girl, of a respectable family, that he
met with; the hundredth part of Mrs. Creighton's attractions
he would have thought sufficient. Harry forgave him, however,
for the sake of the kindness intended by the advice he
had given; and the minister had the satisfaction of seeing
his secretary, that evening, at a concert, quite gallant and
attentive to a party of ladies, several of whom were young
and pretty, although one was young and ugly.

“Who is that?” he asked of a friend; “that lady to whom
Hazlehurst is talking? Half the young people here have
grown up, since I was last at home.”

“That is Mrs. Creighton.”

“No; not Mrs. Creighton; I know her — a charming
woman; the lady on the right.”

“That is Miss Van Alstyne. Mrs. St. Leger is next to
her; the young girl before her is Miss Emma Taylor.'

“A pretty girl—but noisy, it seems.”

“On the next bench, with Ellsworth, are Mrs. Tallman
Taylor, the great beauty, and Miss Wyllys, the heiress.”

“Yes, I know the family very well; but I never saw Mr.
Wyllys's granddaughter before.”

“She is quite plain,” observed one gentleman.

“Very plain,” replied the other, turning away.

The evening proved very sultry, and after accompanying
the ladies home from the concert, Mr. Ellsworth proposed to
Harry a stroll in the open air. The friends set out together,
taking the direction of the spring; and, being alone, their
conversation gradually became of a confidential nature.
They touched upon politics, Mr. Henley's character and
views, and various other topics, concluding with their own
personal affairs. At length, when they had been out some
little time, Mr. Ellsworth, after a moment's silence, turned to
Harry and said:

“Hazlehurst, I have a confession to make; but I dare say
you will not give me much credit for frankness — you have
very probably guessed already what I have to tell.”

“I certainly have had some suspicions of my own for the
last few days; but I may be mistaken; I am not very good
at guessing.”

“I can have no motive,” continued Mr. Ellsworth, “in
concealing from you my regard for Miss Wyllys, and I hope
you will wish me success.”

“Certainly,” replied Harry; who was evidently somewhat
prepared for the disclosure.

“It is now some time since I have been attached to her,
but it is only lately that I have been able to urge my suit as
I could wish. The better I know Elinor Wyllys, the more
anxious I am for success. I never met with a woman of a
more lovely character.”

“You only do her justice.”

“There is something about her that is peculiar; different
from the common-place set of young ladies one meets with
every day; and yet she is perfectly feminine and womanly.”

And Mr. Ellsworth here ran over various good qualities
of Elinor's. It is impossible to say, whether Harry smiled
or not, at this lover-like warmth: if he did, it was too dark
for his friend to observe it.

“In a situation like mine, with a daughter to educate, the

choice of a wife is particularly important. Of course I feel
much anxiety as to the decision of a woman like Miss
Wyllys, one whose good opinion is worth the wooing: and
yet, if I do not deceive myself, her manner is not discouraging.”

“Is she aware of your feelings?” asked Harry.

“Yes; I have only proposed in form quite lately, however,
a day or two after you arrived. Miss Wyllys scarcely
seemed prepared for my declaration, although I thought I
had spoken sufficiently distinctly to be understood, some time
since. She wishes for time to consider: I was willing to
wait as long as she pleased, with the hope of eventually
succeeding. Her friends are quite well disposed towards
me, I think. Mr. Wyllys's manner to me has always been
gratifying, and I hope her aunt is in my favour. To speak
frankly, there have been times when I have felt much encouraged
as regards Miss Wyllys herself. You will not
think me a coxcomb, Hazlehurst, for opening my heart to
you in this way.”

“Certainly not; you honour me by your confidence.”

“I should like to have your honest opinion as to my future
prospects; for, of course, one can never feel sure until everything
is settled. Josephine is hardly a fair judge—she is
very sanguine; but like myself she is interested in the
affair.”

“Mrs. Creighton has so much discernment, that I should
think she could not be easily deceived. If my kinswoman
knows your views, I should say that you have reason to be
encouraged by her manner. There is nothing like coquetry
about her: I am convinced she thinks highly of you.”

“Thank you; it gives me great pleasure to hear you say
so. The question must now be decided before long. I was
only prevented from explaining myself earlier, by the fear
of speaking too soon. For though I have known Miss
Wyllys some time, yet we have seldom met. I dare say
you are surprised that I did not declare myself sooner; I am

inclined to think you would have managed an affair of the
kind more expeditiously; for you are more rapid in most of
vour movements than myself. But although I might imagine
love at first sight, I never could fancy a declaration worth
hearing, the first day.”

“Do you insinuate that such is the practice of your humble
servant?” asked Hazlehurst, smiling.

“Oh, no; but I was afraid you might disapprove of my
deliberation. My chief hope rests upon Miss Wyllys's
good sense and the wishes of her friends, who, I think, are
evidently favourable to me. She has no silly, high-flown
notions; she is now of an age—three or four-and-twenty I
think—to take a reasonable view of the world; and I hope
she will find the sincere affection of a respectable man, whose
habits and position resemble her own, sufficient for her.”

“You wish, I suppose, to hear me repeat, that such will
undoubtedly be the result,” said Harry, smiling again.

“Perhaps I do,” replied Mr. Ellsworth, in the same tone.
“I suppose you are discerning enough to be aware that I
have a rival in Mr. Stryker.”

“Stryker attentive to Elinor? It has not struck me; I
had fancied him rather an admirer of Mrs. Creighton's.”

“Of Josephine? Oh, no; she can't endure him, they
are quarrelling half the time when together. No, it is very
evident that Stryker is courting Miss Wyllys's favour. But
I confess I feel encouraged by her conduct towards him;
there is a quiet civility in it, which speaks anything but very
decided approbation.”

“I know Elinor too well, not to feel assured she must
despise a man of Stryker's character,” said Harry, with some
indignation. “He can't appreciate her; it can be nothing
more, on his part, than downright fortune-hunting.”

“No doubt; there you mention another motive I have, for
not being too hasty in my declaration to Miss Wyllys. I
could wish to convince her that my attachment is sincere.'

“Certainly. I forget twenty times a day that she is now

a fortune, until I see some fellow, like William Hunter, or
Stryker, paying their court to her. I have never been accustomed
to consider her in that light, of old. In fact I had
no idea of her reputation as an heiress, until I found it so
well established when I arrived here. But Saratoga is just
the place to make such discoveries. I was quite behind the
age in every respect, it seems; for although it did not require
much penetration to find out your secret, Ellsworth, yet I was
taken entirely by surprise. You never made any allusion
to anything of the kind, in your letters to me.”

“It was so seldom that I met Miss Wyllys, that for a time
my mind was undecided. But, of course, I should have
written you word, if anything had been finally settled; even
if you had not come to look after me in propria personâ.”

Having reached their hotel, the gentlemen parted. Mr.
Ellsworth would, in all probability, have been less communicative
with his friend Hazlehurst, on the subject of their
recent conversation, had he been aware of the state of things
which formerly existed between Elinor and himself. He
had only heard some vague stories of an engagement between
them, but had always supposed it mere gossip, from
having seen Harry's attention to Jane, when they were all
in Paris together; while he knew, on the other hand, that
Hazlehurst had always been on the most intimate terms
with the Wyllyses, as a family connexion. He was aware
that Harry had been very much in love with Miss Graham,
for he had remarked it himself; and he supposed that if there
had ever been any foundation for the report of an engagement
with Elinor, it had probably been a mere childish
caprice, soon broken, and which had left no lasting impression
on either party.