"I scarcely know where to begin," she then said; "for here I am, come to consult you on a subject which you may think beneath your notice; you are superior to such trifling matters," she said, smiling--and then added: "But seriously, I have too much confidence in your judgment and good sense, to wish to act without your approbation."
"What is the point upon which I am to decide?--for you have not yet told me anything."
"It is a subject upon which I have been thinking for some time--several months. What should you say to my marrying again?"
asked Mrs. Wyllys stoutly.
Miss Agnes was amazed. She had known her sister-in-law, when some years younger, refuse more than one good offer; and had never for a moment doubted her intention to remain a widow for life.
"You surprise me, Harriet," she said; "I had no idea you thought of marrying again."
"Certainly, I never thought of taking such a step until quite lately."
"And who is the gentleman?" asked Miss Agnes, in some anxiety.
"I know you will at least agree with me, in thinking that I have made a prudent choice. The welfare of my children is indeed my chief consideration. I find, Agnes, that they require a stronger hand than mine to manage them. Long before Evert went to sea, he was completely his own master; there were only two persons who had any influence over him, one is his grandfather, the other, a gentleman who will, I suppose, before long, become nearly connected with him. I frankly acknowledge that I have no control over him myself; it is a mortifying fact to confess, but my system of education, though an excellent one in theory, has not succeeded in practice."
"Because," thought Miss Agnes, "there is too much theory, my good sister." "But you have not yet named the gentleman," she added, aloud.
"Oh, I have no doubt of your approving my choice! He is a most worthy, excellent man--of course, at my time of life, I shall not make a love-match. Can"t you guess the individual--one of my Longbridge neighbours?"
"From Longbridge," said Miss Wyllys, not a little surprised.
"Edward Tibbs, perhaps," she added, smiling. He was an unmarried man, and one of the Longbridge beaux.
"Oh, no; how can you think me so silly, Agnes! I am ashamed of you! It is a very different person; the family are great favourites of your"s."
"One of the Van Hornes?" Mrs. Wyllys shook her head.
"One of the Hubbards?--Is it John Hubbard, the princ.i.p.al of the new Academy?" inquired Miss Agnes, faintly.
"Do you suppose I would marry a man of two-or-three-and-twenty!"
exclaimed Mrs. Wyllys with indignation. "It is his uncle; a man against whom there can be no possible objection--Mr. James Hubbard."
"Uncle Dozie, of all men!" thought Miss Agnes. "Silent, sober, sleepy Uncle Dozie. Well, we must be thankful that it is no worse."
"Mr. Hubbard is certainly a respectable man, a man of principles," she observed aloud. "But everybody looked upon him as a confirmed old bachelor; I did not suspect either of you of having any thoughts of marrying," continued Miss Agnes, smiling.
"I am sometimes surprised that we should have come to that conclusion, myself. But it is chiefly for the sake of my children that I marry; you must know me well enough, Agnes, to be convinced that I sacrifice myself for them!"
"I wish, indeed, that it may be for their good, Harriet!"
"Thank you; I have no doubt of it. I feel perfect confidence in Mr. Hubbard; he is a man so much older than myself, and so much more experienced, that I shall be entirely guided in future by his counsel and advice."
Miss Agnes had some difficulty in repressing a smile and a sigh.
"Of course, I am well aware that many people will think I am taking a foolish step," continued Mrs. Wyllys. Hubbard"s connexions, are generally not thought agreeable, perhaps; he has very little property, and no profession. I am not blinded, you see; but I am very indifferent as to the opinion of the world in general; I am very independent of all but my immediate friends, as you well know, Agnes."
Miss Wyllys was silent.
"In fact, my attention was first fixed upon Mr. Hubbard, by finding how little he was appreciated and understood by others; I regretted that I had at first allowed myself to be guided by general opinion. Now I think it very possible that, although Mr.
Hubbard has been your neighbour for years, even you, Agnes, may have a very mistaken opinion of him; you may have underrated his talents, his strong affections, and energetic character. I was surprised myself to find, what a very agreeable companion he is!"
"I have always believed Mr. James Hubbard a man of kind feelings, as you observe, and a man of good principles; two important points, certainly."
"I am glad you do him justice. But you are not aware perhaps, what a very pleasant companion he is, where he feels at his ease, and knows that he is understood."
"That is to say, where he can doze, while another person thinks and talks for him," thought Miss Agnes.
"The time is fixed I suppose for the wedding, Harriet?" she inquired aloud, with a smile.
"Nearly so, I believe. I told Mr. Hubbard that I should be just as ready to marry him next week, as next year; we agreed that when two persons of our ages had come to an understanding, they might as well settle the matter at once. We shall be married, I fancy, in the morning, in church, with only two or three friends present. I hope, Agnes, that your father and yourself will be with me. You know that I should never have taken this step, if you had not agreed with me in thinking it for the good of my children."
"Thank you, Harriet; of course we shall be present, if you wish it."
"Certainly I wish it. I shall always look upon you as my best friends and advisers."
"Next to Mr. Hubbard, in future," replied Miss Agnes, smiling.
"When you know him better, you will confess that he deserves a high place in my confidence. You have no idea how much his brother and nieces think of him; but that is no wonder, for they know his good sense, and his companionable qualities. He is really a very agreeable companion, Agnes, for a rational woman; quite a cultivated mind, too."
Visions of cabbages and turnips rose in Miss Agnes"s mind, as the only cultivation ever connected, till now, with Uncle Dozie"s name.
"We pa.s.sed last evening charmingly; I read the Lay of the Last Minstrel aloud to him, and he seemed to enjoy it very much,"
continued Mrs. Wyllys.
{"Lay of the Last Minstrel" = long narrative poem (1805) by Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832)}
"He took a nap, I suppose," thought Miss Agnes. "He ought to be well pleased to have a fair lady read aloud to him," she replied, smiling.
"The better I know him, the more satisfied I am with my choice. I have: found a man upon whom I can depend for support and advice--and one who is at the same time a very pleasant companion. Do you know, he sometimes reminds me of our excellent father,"
This was really going too far, in Miss Agnes"s opinion; she quite resented a comparison between Uncle Dozie and Mr. Wyllys. The widow, however, was too much occupied with her own affairs, to notice Miss Agnes"s expression.
"I find, indeed, that the whole family are more agreeable than I had supposed; but you rather gave me a prejudice against them.
The young ladies improve on acquaintance, they are pretty, amiable young women; I have seen them quite often since we have been near neighbours. Well, I must leave you, for Mr. Hubbard dines with me to-day. In the mean time, Agnes, I commit my affairs to your hands. Since I did not find your father at home, I shall write to him this evening."
The ladies parted; and as Mrs. Wyllys pa.s.sed out of the room, she met Elinor.
"Good morning, Elinor," she said; "your aunt has news for you, which I would tell you myself if I had time:" then nodding, she left the house, and had soon driven off. "My dear Aunt, what is this news?" asked Elinor.
Miss Agnes looked a little annoyed, a little mortified, and a little amused.
When the mystery was explained, Elinor"s amazement was great.
"It is incredible!" she exclaimed. "My Aunt Wyllys actually going to marry that prosing, napping Mr. Hubbard; Uncle Dozie!"
"When I remember her husband," said Miss Agnes, with feeling, "it does seem incredible; my dear, warm-hearted, handsome, animated brother George!"
"How extraordinary!" said Elinor, who could do nothing but exclaim.