University of Virginia Library

6. CHAPTER VI.

We now return to pursue the career of our chief hero, Edward Austin.
He had arrived in New York about three weeks after Ralph; and as he had
come for the purpose of looking round for the most advantageous mode of
investing the few thousand dollars he brought with him, he put up at the
Howard House as being more likely there to fall in with men of business,
and so become acquainted with the best avenues for commercial adventure.
Anne Laurens was in town at her father's when he arrived, and his first
visit after taking possession of his room and carefully making his toilet was
directed, of course, to the residence of Mr. Laurens in Carrol Place,
Bleecker Street.

It is unnecessary to give the particulars of the kind and flattering reception
extended to him by Anne and her father. The latter, who now began
to feel an interest in him that was paternal, soon after proceeded to enter
upon a conversation with him touching his prospects; to which Miss Laurens
was by no means an uninterested listener, her eyes all the while being
scarcely removed from the face of him she loved. Edward, happy in her
reciprocal affection and in the approbation of her father, conscious too of
his moral worth and integrity of character, felt her bosom glow with grateful
joy and calm peace as he sat together with them, the father on his right
the daughter on his left; for Anne, laughing, had said she would take the
place nighest his heart!

`You have six thousand and eight hundred dollars, Edward!' said Mr.
Laurens. `Well that is a fair beginning for a young man in a city like
New York. In two years you ought to double it. What kind of business
are you inclined to?'

`I have no particular penchant that I am aware of! I will let Anne choose,'
he answered laughing and glancing at the blooming girl by his side.

`I should choose some business that would'nt keep you much away from
me,' she said blushing at her own frankness in thus anticipating when she
should become his wife, and as such covet his society.

`I don't know of any, girl,' answered her father with a smile in the corner
of his eye,' unless he opens a man millinery in Broadway, you keep in
the back shop and Edward in the front!'

`Father, how can you?' cried the maiden rapping his cheek lightly with
her fan. `I shan't say any thing more, but let you and Edward settle it
together!'

`We will allow you a casting vote, Anne,' said Edward with a playful
look. `The truth is, Mr. Laurens, I have a notion I should like the business
of a French importing house! But I fear my little capital would not
go far in such a business!'

`It is a good business, my boy; a good business; though, as you say, it
requires a large capital. You speak French. This will be of great advantage,
as you can then visit France and select your own goods. I have no
doubt that you could find a good Importing House that would take you as a
junior partner with what money you have, and give you that part of the business
which lies in Paris!'

`I should like this but for one reason,' he said hesitatating and looking at
Miss Laurens.

`What is this?' demanded the old gentleman half guessing what it was
from his looks.

`The deprivation of the society in which I now find myself so happy!'

`Oh, I see! You don't want to be separated from Anne! Well, perhaps,
we could fix that! The girl might like to see Paris, too! Hey, Anne, you
rogue!'

`It is just as you say, dear father,' she answered demurely, her depressed
eyes tracing out the figures upon the carpet.'

`Just as I please. It would'nt have been just as I pleased, if I did'nt want
you to marry Edward! It would then have been just as you pleased! well,
I am glad it is just as we all please, Anne, my dear! You shall go to Paris if
Ned goes! Come, now don't look so like a full blown peony. Kiss me and
tell me you have got the most indulgent and loving father in the world!—
Don't make a mistake before you get past Edward and kiss him instead!'

`Father! father!' she cried pressing her small hand over his lips and silencing
him; `you must think—'

`What do I think. I think you are the handsomest girl in the Empire
state and Edward, the young dog, ought to be as proud of you as, as—
don't smother me with kisses! there, that will do, I won't plague you, child.'

`I am proud of her, my dear sir,' answered Edward with an enthusiasm
that filled her young bosom with pride and joy; `I know not how to be
properly grateful to you, sir, for your indulgence and favor. It shall be my
endeavor to make myself worthy of your confidence and to render her life
happy.'

`A very pretty speech, my boy. I know you will make her happy. Plato!'
he called to a servant with a jet black skin and a grey head, who was passing
out of the room which he had entered to replace some articles in the
side-board.

`Sir!'

`Put out that decanter of Paulding's Pale I opened for judge Williston
when he dined with me yesterday.'

`Yes sir,' answered the African with a polite bow.

I will see two or three friends I have in the line of French Importations
to-morrow, my boy, and I think in a few days I shall find you a House that
will please you. In the meanwhile you can look round for yourself, and
you can refer to me if you choose!'

`Sir, you are very kind,' answered Edward.

`Poh, poh! don't thank me for what any body would willingly do for you.
You are a young man of pure character, upright morals, sterling integrity.
I know it to be true, so don't blush as Anne here does sometimes. Ah, girl,
your eyes dance like diamonds! so you like to hear him praised!'

`The wine ready, sir,' answered the negro, placing upon a small Chinese
tripod, a chased silver salver containing a glittering decanter filled with the
most delicate amber-colored Sherry, and three wine-glasses of the most
delicate form.

`Come, Edward, said the retired merchant, taking up the crystal decanter
and laying the massive stopper upon the salver,' let us take a glass of
wine to Anne's visit to Paris as your wife; and to your success as a Merchant!
Ah, this is a delicate flavor,' he added, pausing to inhale it with that
exquisite sense of enjoyment which characterizes the connoisseur; `this
importation of Paulding's is superior to any wine that has crossed the seas
for many a year; not since that of the great earthquake vintage!'

`I have heard of such a vintage, also of Comet wines, sir!' said Edward,
`is it true that such circumstances really effect the grape from which the
wines are made?'

`Yes; at least such is the impression; but to be frank, I have little faith
in the influence of comets and earthquakes upon wines! It has chanced

that in such years, the wines have proved unusually good; and that is as
likely to be owing to accident as to physical phenomena. Come, Edward
take your wine!' added Mr. Laurens, who while he was talking had been
filling the three glasses before him. Anne, my dear, here is yours!'

`I will take but a sip, father,' she answered, receiving it in her hand.

`You dont take yours, Edward! We are waiting for you!' said Mr. Laurens
raising the sparkling wine-glass, and reaching it towards him.

`Thank you, sir, but really I have never drank wine in my life,' answered
Edward blushing and stammering.

`I know your mother has brought you up with very temperate habits.—
But a glass of this pure wine will do you no harm! I wish you to taste it,
for if you have never drank any wine, I desire that the first you taste should
be pure and delicately flavored. Try this, and as you are so temperate, I
will not tempt you again! You see Anne is not afraid to drink it!'

`I should rather be excused, sir;' hesitatingly answered Edward who, to
keep Mr. Laurens from holding out his hand, had taken the wine-glass from
him, and now held it with an uncertain grasp between his fore finger and
thumb, while the image of Ralph Waldron rising painfully to his mind nerved
him to a firm refusal.

`Anne will have to challenge you, I see, said Mr. Laurens laughing.—
`Come, girl, pledge him to his success as a merchant! I will pledge him to
drink to you as his bride!'

`Edward will you accept my challenge?' asked Miss Laurens with a
smile.

`What I could refuse to your father I have not the firmness to refuse to
you,' he said reflecting her smile in his eyes as he gazed upon her with
mingled love and tenderness. `I will drink to you Anne with pleasure, but
to tell the truth my mother has instilled into my mind from earliest youth
such a horror of intemperance, that I have hitherto looked upon a wine-glass,
as if I saw labelled upon it, `Poison' like vials in an apothecaries
shop. But I will this once accept your pledge. It is my first and my last
glass of wine.'

`That is a good resolution, Edward,' said Mr. Laurens. `If you have such
feelings, I am the last person that should encourage you to depart from
them. But I do not fear you. You are too well grounded with your principles
to be in any danger from the wine cup. Here, my boy is to your
success as a merchant, and to your happiness, my dear Anne, as his bride!'

Mr. Laurens emptied his glass slowly and with that lingering relish of the
wine which is the peculiar habit of amateurs. Anne slightly tasted her glass
and replaced it upon the salver. Edward also lifted his to his lips, but to
taste; but had no sooner let the rich, insinuating flavor of this exquisitely
soft beverage of the grape come in contact with his palate than, taken by
surprise at the unexpected delicacy of its taste he suffered it to flow and
dissolve over his palate, indulging, with irresistible delight the new sensation.

Startled suddenly at the consciousness of yielding to the dangerous gratification
of the sense of taste, and alarmed at the thought how easily he
might come to love wine, he abruptly put down his glass and with such vehemence
that the slender stem snapped off, and the wine, for he had but
half emptied the glass, and the fragments of shivered crystal were mingled
upon the shining salver.

`I am exceedingly awkward,' he said confused, yet feeling a great relief,
as if from a temptation, on seeing the glass fall.

`Oh, it is of no consequence,' said Mr. Laurens. `What a charming odor
this wine throws out as it evaporates! I will fill for you again! You hardly
have had taste of its flavor!'

Plato on seeing the glass break, flew to the side board and immediately
replaced it with another, which Mr. Laurens now filled.

`The wine seems to me very good,' answered Edward `but I will take no
more! I am of course no judge of wines!'

`If it pleases your palate, you are as good a judge as any body! It is not
so difficult to say whether good wine is good, but to decide upon wines, the
credit of which is not yet established!'

`You are very fond of wines, sir!

`Yes; though I do not drink much. I am only a table-drinker! do not recollect
that I ever drank a glass of wine, and certainly I have drank nothing
besides wine, except at dinner, or in the evening socially as we are taking it
now, in my life. I have been in the custom of taking a glass or two of sherry
after dinner ever since I kept house. If by any chance I do not have it, I
suffer with indigestion. But, my boy, though I do not think there is any
harm in a glass of wine at table, I would not recommend you to follow the
custom; for it is a habit and all habits sooner or later, get to be so a part of
ourselves, that they become quite vexatious to one. Now, in travelling,
when by any chance I dined without being able to have a glass of wine after,
I have been out of sorts all the rest of the day, and to tell you the truth, in
down-right ill humor! If I was not an old man I would try and break it off;
but I can recommend you not to let any thing become a habit with you except
prayer, going to church and reading your bible! Good habits will become
a part of your character and in a young man of right principles just as
easy as bad ones. So, my dear boy, you have my opinion, and now take
your glass and drink to your good habits!'

If Edward smiled at the abrupt transition of Mr. Laurens in his address,
in recommending to him the habit of prayer and church going, he felt quite
as much surprized and amazed at the conclusion of his discourse. Anne
saw at once the impression upon his mind and catching his eye smiled and
said:

`I see, Edward, that you think father has a very odd way, after giving his
advice, of enforcing it! Father does not consider there is the least harm in a
glass of wine, he has so long been accustomed to it; and he regards it as
an old fashioned custom that ought to be held in esteem. I hope you will
not think he holds lightly your strict temperance. I assure you, that although
I have never held a glass of wine taken with my father, at all wrong, I
should be the last person to wish you to break a resolution!'

`I have never made a resolution not to drink! I have never made a resolution
not to lie nor have I that I will not swear nor steal! I have been educated
and grown up with precisely the same moral feeling with reference
to intemperance that I have in regard to these vices. Against neither the
one nor the other have I formed resolutions; for there is a higher sentiment
within which I feel will protect me from ever indulging them! In tasting
this wine, Anne, I have broken no resolution; otherwise I should not have
lifted the glass to my lips. In tasting it with you, I have not felt, nor do I
feel guilty of intemperance. I cannot by any means, associate that vice
with this social scene.'

`You have said well, my boy! I admire your sentiments. You are in no
danger of ever being a wine drinker, I see plainly. I am glad of it. There
are great temptations in this city to young men, and especially to young
merchants who must often dine and wine their heavy customers. Empty
your glass. You quite lost the other. I want the opinion of a fresh palate
upon this wine!'

Edward smiled, and partly because he would again enjoy the novel and
exquisite flavor which still lingered upon his taste, partly to gratify Mr. Laurens,
and partly to show him that he was not afraid of becoming a winedrinker
he raised the sparkling glass, and brought it gently to his lips.

`It is indeed a most winning beverage, sir. Is all wine so palatable?'

`No, by no means! This is a rare `seal.' I am glad you are pleased with
it. I have but a few bottles of it. This one I opened and decanted yesterday
for Judge Williston! The Judge is a great connoiseur! well, touching
your business affair! I will not fail to have it all arranged for you. There
are my friends, Mordent, Godine & Co. in Pearl St. I think they are the
very House! Drop in and dine with me to-morrow and I will tell you what
I have done for you!'

The conversation now passed from subject to subject, and as Mr. Laurens,
at pauses in it would raise his wine-glass to his lips and sip, so Edward,
who held his, dallying with it in his fingers, from time to time insensibly
found himself imitating him; till, at length, after the lapse of a quarter of
an hour, Mr. Laurens seeing it nearly empty, pushed the decanter towards
him, saying, laughing,

`I see you like my wine in spite of yourself, my dear boy! Try another
glass. It will not hurt you!'

`I was unconscious that I had emptied my glass,” said Edward colouring,
and looking at Anne, he added, `I tear, Miss Laurens, you will not give me
credit for consistency; but really, in the excitement of conversation, I was
not aware that I was stealing the wine so insinuatingly from my glass!'

Edward had well said `the excitement' of conversation; for he had talked
with unusual enthusiasm for him. The deceitful influence of the hightoned
wine had insensibly quickened his blood and elevated his spirits, and
lessened the rigid and habitual guard which he kept over himself. He
did not utter one word out of the way, or betray any undue levity; the effect
of the glass and half he had drank was only visible in a certain energy
in his expressions and a sparkling gaiety in his eyes. Mr. Laurens only
thought him clever and more entertaining than he had supposed him to be
and Anne, without once suspecting the true cause, thought he looked and
conversed much more interestingly than usual.

The evening passed away, and Edward, fairly refusing to replenish his
glass, took his leave and returned to the Hotel. He did not return to bed
without an unpleasant sensation of regret that he should for the first time in
his life, yield, though moderately, and in the presence of his betrothed bride
and her father, to an indulgence, for which he had reproved and despised
Ralph Waldron.

`But then,' he said in self acquital as he laid his head upon the pillow;
`it was brandy that Ralph drank from his hunting flask!'

The ensuing day Edward went early to his appointment with Mr. Laurens
that he might have an hour with Anne in the drawing-room before
dinner. It was an hour of pure and unmixed happiness. There was no
allusion made to the events of the previous evening; for to Anne's mind
they had not again recurred, she not not having regarded his light indulgence
as worth a moment's after thought. Edward also had ceased to let
it trouble him. They talked of his future prospects—of the probability of
a voyage to Europe, of the fascinations and pleasures of the gay metropolis
of France; and above all and with all of their marriage, which both hoped
would be soon. Both were perfectly happy; both virtuous, honorable
and good; and there seemed to the eye of hope nothing visible in the bright
vista of the future to cast a cloud over the silvery horizon of their loves!

At dinner Mr. Laurens informed Edward that he had seen and spoken
with the French Importers, Mordent, Godine & Co. `I represented your
wishes and views to them; and they expressed themselves gratified at the
opportunity of availing themselves of your proposition to join them in business.
They said that their present junior partner, who had been in Paris some
years was about returning to America for his health; when he would withdraw
from the firm, and that as he was looked for in four or five weeks, if you

would wait until then, they would be happy to have you supply his place
both in the firm and at Paris. In the meanwhile, they added, that you had
best call and see them, and remain as much time in their store each day as
you saw fit, to become acquainted with the style of goods imported, and the
other duties which would be required of you! so, my dear boy, you are fixed
without any trouble. This is one of the heaviest houses in the city, and the
Firm is composed of two of the best men I know of. Let me congratulate
you on your good luck.'

Edward expressed, in very warm terms his grateful sense of what Mr.
Laurens had achieved in his behalf; and Anne was not backward in thanking
her father and in manifesting her happiness; for this favorable turn of
affairs would sooner bring about their union, as it was a settled matter that
if Edward went to France he should be married and take Anne with him.

Mr. Laurens could not let this happy adjustment of so important an affair
pass by without celebrating it by a bumper and so filled their wine-glasses:

`But half a drop, my dear father!' said Anne with eyes sparkling with joy.

`And less than that for me, sir!' said Edward; but ere he checked the
decanter, his glass was already running over.

`Nay, you must not be too rigid, my boy on such an occasion! Here is
health and happiness to you both my children! God bless you, and never
let the sunny morning of your lives be clouded by a single sorrow!' As he
spoke thus feelingly, he reverently, while a tear glistened in his eye, placed
the wine-glass to his lips. Anne and Edward instinctively followed his example,
and in silence they drank to this touching parental benison! Not to
have done so, Edward felt would have been like refusing his assent to the
blessing invoked upon him and Anne; and thus the act became, as it were,
invested with a sacred sentiment in his eyes!

Daily for some weeks, Edward was a visiter at the mansion of Mr. Laurens;
and often he found himself a guest at the dinner-table, sometimes alone,
but oftener with company—two or three friends of the merchant. The
few glasses of rich wine he had imbibed had given him a relish for its peculiar
flavor; in a word, he had not dined a third time with Mr. Laurens before
he found himself filling his own glass from the decanter and pledging Anne
to drink with him. Less than three weeks it certainly was not, before Mr.
Laurens had only to push the decanter across the polished board to him with
a nod to refill! and ere a month elapsed, Anne, as one day she left the table,
had to give him a gentle warning look of caution in indulging, to which he
returned a gay laugh, and replied, while he blushed,

`Never fear, dear Anne, it is only your father's wine I love!'