University of Virginia Library

8. CHAPTER VIII.
THE BRAKES.

About four miles below Swallow Barn, on the
same bank of the river, is a tract of land known by
the name of The Brakes. The principal feature in
this region is an extensive range of lowlands, reaching
back from the river, and bounded by distant forest,
from the heart of which tower, above the mass
of foliage, a number of naked branches of decayed
trees, that are distinctly visible in this remote perspective.
These lowlands are checkered by numberless
gullies or minute water-courses, whose direction
is marked out to the eye by thickets of briars
and brambles. From this characteristic the estate
has derived its name.

A high hill swells upwards from this level ground
in a regular cone, on the top of which stands a large
plain building, with wings built in exact uniformity,
and connected with the centre by low but lengthened
covered ways. The whole structure is of dark
brick, with little architectural embellishment. It
was obviously erected when the ornamental arts
were not much attended to, although there is an evident
aim at something of this kind in the fancy of
the chimneys which spring up from the sharp gable

ends of the building, and also in the conceited pyramids
into which the roofs of the low square wings
have been reared. The artist, however, has certainly
failed in producing effect, if his ambition soared
above the idea of a sober, capacious and gentlemanlike
mansion.

Seen from the river, the buildings stand partly in
the shade of a range of immense lombardy poplars,
which retreat down the hill in the opposite direction
until the line diminishes from the view. Negro huts
are scattered about over the landscape in that profusion
which belongs to a Virginia plantation.

This establishment constitutes the family residence
of the proprietor of the estate, Mr. Isaac Tracy,
known generally with his territorial addition,—of
The Brakes.

Mr. Tracy is now upwards of seventy years of
age. He has been for many years past a widower,
and seems to stand like an old landmark in the
stream of time, which is destined to have every thing
gliding past it, itself unchanged. The old gentleman
was a stark royalist in the days of the Revolution,
and only contrived to escape the confiscation of his
estate by preserving a strict and cautious neutrality
during the war. He still adheres to the ancient costume,
and is now observed taking his rides in the
morning, in a long-waisted coat, of a snuff colour,
and having three large figured gilt buttons set upon
the cuffs, which are slashed after an antiquated fashion.
He wears, besides, ruffles over his hands,
and has a certain trig and quaint appearance given by

his tight, dark-coloured small-clothes, and long boots
with tops of brown leather, so disposed as to show a
little of his white stockings near the knee. His person
is tall and emaciated, with a withered and rather
severe exterior. A formality, correspondent with
his appearance, is conspicuous in his manners, which
are remarkable for their scrupulous and sprightly politeness;
and his household is conducted with a degree
of precision that throws a certain air of stateliness
over the whole family.

He has two daughters, of whom the youngest has
already counted perhaps her twenty-third year, and
an only son somewhat younger. Catharine, the eldest
of this family, has the reputation of being particularly
well educated; but her acquirement is probably
enhanced, in the common estimation, by a
thoughtful and rather formal cast of character,—a
certain soberness in the discharge of the ordinary
duties of life,—and a grave turn of conversation, such
as belongs to women who, from temperament, are
not wont to enjoy with any great relish, nor perceive
with observant eyes, the pleasant things of existence.

Bel, the younger sister, is of a warmer complexion.
Nature has given her an exuberant flow of
spirits, which, in spite of a stiff and rigid education
imposed upon her by her father, frequently breaks
through the trammels of discipline, and shows itself
in the various forms which a volatile temper assumes
in the actions of an airy and healthful girl.
Still, however, her sentiments are what nurture has
made them, notwithstanding her physical elements.

She has been accustomed to the cautious and authoritative
admonitions of her father, which have inculcated
a severe and exaggerated sense of personal
respect, and a rather too rigorous estimate of the
proprieties and privileges of her sex. These girls
early lost their mother; and their father, at that period
advanced in years, had already parted with his
fondness and his fitness for society. The consequence
was that The Brakes, during the minority of
the children, was a secluded spot, cut off from much
of that sort of commerce with the world which is
almost essential to enliven and mature the sympathies
of young persons.

Both Catharine and Bel are pretty, but after different
models. The eldest is a placid, circumspect,
inaccessible kind of beauty. Bel, on the other hand,
is headlong and thoughtless, with quick impulses,
that give her the charm of agreeable expression,
although her features are irregular, and would not
stand a critical examination. Her skin is not altogether
clear; her mouth is large, and her eyes of a
dark grey hue.

Ralph, the brother, is a tall, ill made, awkward man,
with black eyes, and black hair curled in extravagant
profusion over his head. He contracted slovenly habits
of dress at college, and has not since abandoned
them; has a dislike to the company of women,
fills up his conversation with oaths, and chews immense
quantities of tobacco. He has an unmusical
voice, and a swaggering walk, and generally wears
his hat set upon one side of his head. He professes

to be a sportsman, and lives a good deal out of doors,
not being fond, as he says, of being stuck up in the
parlour to hear the women talk. Ralph, however,
is said to be a good fellow at bottom, which means
that he does not show his best qualities in front.
He is famous for his horsemanship, and avows a
strong partiality for Bel on account of her skill in the
same art, which, Ralph says, comes altogether from
his teaching.

This family has always been on terms of intimacy
at Swallow Barn, and of late years their intercourse
has been much increased by the companionship
which has been cultivated between the ladies of the
two houses. Frank Meriwether holds the character
of Mr. Tracy in great respect, and always speaks of
him in a tone of affection, although the old gentleman,
Ned says, is a bad listener and a painful talker,
two qualities which sort but ill with the prevailing
characteristics of Meriwether.

There are some points of family history, affecting
the relations of these two gentlemen, which I shall
find occasion hereafter to disclose.