University of Virginia Library

10. CHAPTER X.

“Come, Bet,” said Balcombe, “we ride in the
morning; so to bed. And you, William, back to
your den. You are rested now,” said he, as we
recrossed the passage; “are you ready for another
long talk? I see that I am serving you as the
devil served the old woman of Berkeley, whom he
came after in the shape of a high trotting horse,
and carried off on his back. But I had compassion
on you. I saw that you were weary, and set
you down to rest. Now your time is out, and you
must up and ride. `Needs must,' you know,
`when the devil drives.”'

I expressed my readiness to hear him, and he
went on:—

“It is your turn to talk now. I wanted to ask
all about my dear little pet Ann, of whom my own
baby so often reminds me; but I saw you colour
at her name, and would not make the inquiry in
my wife's presence. What of her?”

“She lives with my mother since my grandfather's
death. His house, you know, was her
home, from the time she was left an orphan in
infancy.”

“Has she any patrimony?”

“A trifle of pecuniary income, sufficient to complete
her education at some fashionable seminary.
But she has no turn, she says, for the 'ologies, and
prefers to learn the housewifely duties and plain
oldfashioned sense of a Virginia lady, from my
mother.”

“God bless my dear girl!” said Balcombe; “I
would not have her unlearn that preference, for all
the sciences, and all the accomplishments, and airs,
and graces, ever taught at a boarding-school.”

“I suspect,” said I, “her true motive is, that her
little peculium may go to eke out the scanty resources
of the only mother she has ever known.”

“Better and better!” said Balcombe; “wise,
generous, and delicate. I should like her none the
less if there were a deeper motive still.”

I felt my cheek burn; but replied with all the
composure I could master, that I was not aware of
any other.

“I am sorry for it,” said he; “I was in hopes
there was something more, that I, as her friend and

yours, might hear with pleasure. I see you speak
frankly, and therefore conclude that no apology for
my curiosity is necessary.”

“There is certainly no need of any,” said I.
“There is something you shall hear, but not, I
think, with pleasure.”

“No evil of her, I trust?”

“None. She is everything she should be, in
mind, manners, person, and conduct.”

“You grew up together in the same house?”

“We did; and the consequence, on my part at
least, was what might have been expected.”

“And on her's?”

“I hardly know how to answer that question,
without making a long story of the answer.”

“The longer the better. You are refreshed,
and I am never sleepy.”

I began, accordingly, and gave the history of
my early love for my cousin: of her apparent
fondness for me; of the strange alteration in her
feelings, and of the anomalous relation in which
we stood towards each other. But as the reader
does not know this, I may as well again tell the
story to him and Balcombe in the same breath.

“I need not tell you,” said I, “that Ann is beautiful.”

“Of course not. In your eyes she must be so.
But she was a beautiful child; and the character
of her face, her large blue eyes, fair skin, and
flaxen hair, was too marked to leave any doubt as
to her style of beauty. Is she tall or short?”

“Neither; her stature is a medium, her figure
slight, and her movements agile.”

“Then I have her before me. Go on.”

“Bred up with her, it was, as you foresaw, of
course, that I should love her. Whether it was of
course that she should love me, was a matter of
which others could judge better than I. I thought
she did. In one sense, I know she did, and does;
but how can I judge of the true quality of her
affection, but by her professions? And how can
she judge of it? We have been always together.
Our feelings must be different from those of persons
who live apart, yet love each other. No
yearning for each other's society, such as I am
sensible of at this distance, could be expected to
arise. I have no idea when any change in my
feelings took place; yet surely children do not
love as I do now. In short, like Paul and Virginia,
we were wedded by circumstances, united
in all the habitudes of domestic intercourse like
man and wife. I still remember how we both
cried, when first separated at night. We saw no
sense in the measure then, and I doubt if she sees
it yet. It curtailed, indeed, our enjoyment of each
other's society; but still we were together all day,
and the day's length was the measure of our happiness,
and the night of our dreams of each other.
We were soon reconciled to the change. We
missed nothing, and looked forward to nothing.

“This could not last, though, but for other people,

I see no reason why it might not have lasted
for life. It lasted through her sixteenth and my
nineteenth year. Why not always? What can
the heart know of the fierceness of passion that it
may not know then? But sweet illusions, it seems,
can never be permitted to continue. One year
ago, while my father was yet alive, and before the
family were made sensible of his ruin, by the loss
of the comforts or even elegances of life, young
Howard, the heir of that wealthy family, came to
spend a few weeks at his princely estate in our
neighbourhood. He was accompanied by his
mother and sister, and a gay party of young people
of both sexes. He is a handsome man; gentlemanly,
generous, intelligent, and of good principles
and manly character. His sister is a pretty
girl, sprightly and agreeable, and mistress of a
handsome fortune. Visits were, of course, promptly
interchanged, and the two families were much
together at each other's houses, and at parties of
pleasure in the neighbourhood.

“We young folks were all delighted with each
other's company. Ann and I were particularly
pleased with Howard and his sister, and they apparently
so with us. No thought of jealousy entered
my head. A husband, secure in the affections of
a beautiful wife, could not take more pleasure in
seeing her admired, than I did in witnessing the
respectful attention of Howard to my cousin. I
requited it by a similar attention to his sister,

which was well received. At the same time a
cordial intimacy grew up between her and Ann,
and between her brother and me.

“Things went on in this way, until I observed a
sudden change in Ann's manner. She was more
grave and thoughtful, and to me, for the first time
in her life, she showed something of distance and
reserve. This, however, was not so marked as to
call for distinct explanation. At times, indeed, I
could not refrain from some slight expression of
dissatisfaction, and this always called forth such a
display of unaffected tenderness and affection, as
satisfied me for the time that all was right. In her
deportment towards Howard there was a change
of an opposite character. She was sometimes a
little fluttered in his presence, and generally seemed
flattered and obliged by his attentions. I hardly
understood these things then, but am now sure that
I describe them as they really were.

“One day my father called me into his room,
locked the door, and having seated himself, gravely
desired me to do the same. He was silent for
some time, and looked thoughtful and sad.

“`My son,' said he, `you are aware how all my
expectations from your grandfather's estate have
been disappointed. You have been too little acquainted
with my affairs to know how fatal this
disappointment is to the wellbeing of my family.
I thank God that the blow did not come upon me
until your education was so far advanced as to
leave its completion within the compass of my

scanty means. They are now spent, and you are
the only hope of my family. The expense incurred,
in qualifying you to uphold the honour of
my name and the sinking fortunes of my house, has
been well bestowed, and you will rejoice at having
it in your power to requite it.'

“`Certainly, sir,' said I, `anything that I can do
will be done with all cheerfulness and zeal. I have
not yet mastered a profession, but this life of pleasure
is little to my taste. Under such circumstances
it is criminal; and I will betake myself at
once to the study of the law or medicine, as you
think most advisable.'

“`There will be no need, William,' said he; `a
pleasanter path leads directly to the object.'

“`What is that, sir?'

“`Marriage.'

“`Marriage!' replied I. `I really am at a loss
to see, sir, how the burden of a family of my own
would help me to aid you in the support of my
mother and sisters.'

“`That is only because your modesty, my dear
boy, prevents you from seeing what is obvious to
everybody else.'

“`What is that, sir?'

“`The manifest partiality of Miss Howard for
you.'

“I do not think any greater surprise can await
me in life, than I experienced on hearing these
words. The multiplicity of ideas that came
thronging to my mind would have rendered any

answer impossible; but my father saved me the
necessity of answering by going on thus:

“`I consider the visit of young Howard as singularly
fortunate at this time. It throws a gleam
of sunshine on the evening of my days, which
promises that the fortunes of my family will shine
with renewed brightness under your auspices. My
constitution, my dear boy, as well as my estate, is
in ruins. My days are numbered; and sad and
gloomy have been my anticipations for your mother
and sisters. For you personally I had no
fears. I now see that you can not only make
your way good, but secure your mother's comfort,
and afford your sisters opportunities of forming
respectable and desirable connections. In this
you will be sure of the aid of young Howard,
whose attachment to your cousin cannot have
escaped your observation. He has frankly and
honourably spoken of his wishes to me, and she
has received hints which enable her to understand
attentions which are manifestly not disagreeable
to her.'

“You may believe I had no mind to interrupt
this long speech. He might have talked till doomsday.
I continued silent, confused, bewildered,
thinking of everything and nothing, and looking, I
dare say, enough like a fool, to pass for a man
beside himself with unexpected good fortune. I
suppose my father so understood the matter, for he
added, after a short pause:

“`Let me give you one hint about the conduct of

this affair. Your attentions to Miss Howard have
not been so marked as to lead her to expect any
immediate declaration. You should therefore preface
it by a proper course of attention, or she may
perhaps suspect that you speak upon some hint.
The truth is, that one of her young friends has
made herself mistress of her secret, and communicated
it to your sister Jane. Anything abrupt,
therefore, might alarm her pride. And now, my
son, take your horse, and join the young people in
their ride.'

“I did ride out, but without any intention of
joining the party, who had gone out long before.
I purposely took an opposite course from their's,
spurring hard, as if to find, in the excitation of a
brisk gallop, some relief to my feelings. The consequence
was, that, at the distance of several
miles, I met the young people, who, having made
a circuit, were returning by the way I went.
Foremost of the party rode Miss Howard, accompanied
by two young gentlemen; not far behind
was a promiscuous and merry company of both
sexes. Behind all came Ann, attended by Howard.
As a matter of course I turned my horse, and
joined the foremost party. I had little to say, and
was so unmercifully rallied on what my companions
called my dejected looks, that I roused myself,
and rattled away like a madman. The young
men presently drew up, and speaking aloud to
some of those behind, waited for them and joined
them.

“I would gladly have done so too, but the lady
moved on, and I had no choice but to keep by
her side. I was impatient to get to the end of
my ride, but had no mind to increase the interval
between us and the next party. I accordingly
rode slowly; but, ride as I would, they kept behind,
and rather fell back than gained on us. An
occasional turn of the head showed Ann, far in the
rear, hardly advancing, and in close conversation
with Howard. I felt vexed, I scarce knew why
at what, until then, I had always witnessed with
pride; and, rallying my spirits, made myself as
agreeable as I could to Miss Howard. She be
came more animated than I had ever seen her, and
a brisk and lively conversation, during the rest of
the ride, made me half forget my chagrin.

“On reaching home I assisted her to dismount
and handed her into the house. I lingered near
the door, and saw Howard perform the same officer
towards Ann. She entered with a flushed countenance,
and in passing, instead of greeting me as
usual with a smile, turned away her head, and hurried
to her room.”