In 1803, a nun and a nunnery would be almost as great curiosities, in America, as a rhinoceros, though the country has since undergone some changes in this respect.
"Grandmother," exclaimed Kitty, "who _can_ that lady be--it isn"t _Lady_ Washington, is it?"
"It looks more like a clergyman"s wife, Kitty," answered the worthy Mrs.
Wetmore, not a little "_non-plushed,_" herself, as she afterwards admitted. "I should think Madam Washington went more gaily dressed, and looked happier like. I"m sure if any woman could be happy, it was she!"
"Ay," answered her son, "there is truth in that remark. This woman, here, is what is called a nun in the Roman Catholic quarters of the world."
"A nun!" repeated little Kitty. "Isn"t that the sort of woman that shuts herself up in a house, and promises never to get married, uncle?"
"You"re quite right, my dear, and it"s matter of surprise to me how you should pick up so many useful idees, in an out-of-the-way place, like Willow Cove."
"It was not out of _your_ way, uncle," said Kitty, a little reproachfully, "or you never would have found us."
"In that partic"lar it was well enough, my dear. Yes, a nun is a sort of she-hermit, a breed that I detest altogether."
"I suppose, Kitty," I inquired, "you think it wicked in man or woman to take a vow never to get married."
The poor girl blushed, and she turned away from the nun without making any reply. No one can say what turn the conversation might have taken, had not the grandmother"s eye fell on an indifferent copy of Leonardo"s celebrated picture of the Last Supper, receiving at the same time a printed explanation, one got up by some local antiquary, who had ventured to affix names to the different personages of the group, at his own suggestion. I pointed out the princ.i.p.al figure of the painting, which is sufficiently conspicuous by the way, and then referred the good woman to the catalogue for the rest of the names.
"Bless me, bless me!" exclaimed the worthy mother, "that I should live ever to see paintings of such people! Kitty, my dear, this bald-headed old man is St. Peter. Did you ever think that St. Peter was bald! And there is St. John, with black eyes.--Wonderful, wonderful, that I should ever live to see likenesses of such blessed men!"
Kitty was as much astonished as her grandmother, and even the son was a little mystified. The latter remarked that "the world was making great head-way in all such things, and, for his part, he did not see how the painters and authors found out all they drew and recorded."
The reader may easily imagine that half a day spent in such company was not entirely thrown away. Still, half a day sufficed; and I went to the Old Coffee-house at one, to eat a sandwich and drink a gla.s.s of porter; that being the inn then most frequented for such purposes, especially by the merchants. I was in my box, with the curtain drawn, when a party of three entered that which adjoined it, ordering as many gla.s.ses of punch; which in that day was a beverage much in request of a morning, and which it was permitted even to a gentleman to drink before dining. It was the sherry-cobbler of the age; although I believe every thing is now p.r.o.nounced to be out of fashion before dinner.
As the boxes were separated merely by curtains, it was impossible to avoid hearing any conversation that pa.s.sed in the one adjoining my own, especially when the parties took no pains to speak low, as happened to be the case with my three neighbours. Consequently, I recognised the voices of Andrew Drewett and Rupert Hardinge in an instant;--that of the third person being unknown to me.
"Well, Norton," said Rupert, a little affectedly as to manner, "you have got Drewett and myself down here among you traders, and I hope you will do the honours of the place, in a way to confer on the latter some credit. A merchant is nothing without credit, you know."
"Have no apprehensions for your gentility, Hardinge," returned the person addressed. "Many of the first persons in town frequent this house, at this hour, and its punch is renowned. By-the-way, I saw in a paper, the other day, Rupert, that one of your relatives is dead--Miss Grace Wallingford, your sister"s old a.s.sociate."
A short pause followed, during which I scarcely breathed.
"No, not a relation," Rupert at length answered. "Only my father"s ward.
You know how it is in the country: the clergyman being expected to take care of all the sick, and all the orphans."
"But these Wallingfords are people altogether above standing in need of favours," Drewett hastily observed. "I have been at their place, and really it is a respectable spot. As for Miss Wallingford, she was a most charming girl, and her death will prove a severe blow to your sister, Hardinge."
This was said with so much feeling, that I could almost forgive the speaker for loving Lucy; though I question if I could ever truly forgive him for being beloved by her.
"Why, yes," rejoined Rupert, affecting an indifference that I could detect he was far from feeling, "Grace _was_ a good creature; though, living so much with her in childhood, she had less interest in my eyes, perhaps, than she might have had in those of one less accustomed to see her.
Notwithstanding, I had a certain sort of regard for Grace, I will confess."
"Respect and esteem her!--I should think all who knew her must," added Drewett, as if determined to win my heart; "and, in my opinion, she was both beautiful and lovely."
"This from a man who is confessedly an admirer--nay, engaged to your own sister, as the world says, Hardinge, must be taken as warm praise," said the third. "But, I suppose, Drewett sees the dear departed with the eyes of her friend--for Miss Hardinge was very intimate with her, I believe."
"As intimate as sisters, and loving each other as sisters," returned Drewett, with feeling. "No intimate of Miss Hardinge"s can be anything but meritorious?"
"Grace Wallingford had merit beyond a question," added Rupert, "as has her brother, who is a good, honest fellow enough. When a boy, _I_ was rather intimate with _him_."
"The certain proof of his excellencies and virtues;" put in the stranger, laughing. "But, if a ward, there must be a fortune. I think I have heard these Wallingfords were richish."
"Yes, that is just it--_richish_" said Drewett. "Some forty or fifty thousand dollars between them, all of which the brother must now inherit; and glad am I it falls to so good a fellow."
"This is generous praise from _you_, Drewett; for I have heard this brother might prove your rival."
"I had some such fears myself, once, I will confess," returned the other; "but they are all vanished. I no longer fear _him_, and can see and acknowledge his merits. Besides, I am indebted to him for my life."
"No _longer_ fear _him_."--This was plain enough, and was proof of the understanding that existed between the lovers. And why should I be feared?--I, who had never dared to say a word to the object nearest my heart, that might induce her to draw the ordinary distinction between pa.s.sion and esteem--love, and a brotherly regard?
"Ay, Drewett is pretty safe, I fancy," Rupert remarked, laughing; "though it will hardly do for me to tell tales out of school."
"This is a forbidden subject," rejoined the lover, "and we will talk of Wallingford. He must inherit his sister"s fortune."
"Poor Grace!--it was little she had to leave, I fancy," Rupert quietly observed.
"Ay, little in your eyes, Hardinge," added the third person, "but a good deal in those of her brother, the ship-master, one might think. Ever since you have fallen heir to Mrs. Bradfort"s estate, a few thousands count for nothing."
"Were it a million, that brother would think it dearly purchased by the loss of his sister!" exclaimed Drewett.
"It"s plain enough there is no rivalry between Andrew and Miles," added the laughing Rupert. "Certainly money is not quite of so much account with me now, as it used to be when I had nothing but a clergyman"s salary to glean from. As for Mrs. Bradfort"s fortune, it came from a common ancestor, and I do not see who has a better right to it, than those who now enjoy it."
"Unless it might be your father," said the third man, "who stood before you, according to the laws of primogeniture. I dare say Rupert made love to his venerable cousin, if the truth were known, and induced her to overlook a generation, with his oily tongue."
"Rupert did nothing of the sort; it is his glory to love Emily Merton, and Emily Merton only. As my worthy cousin could not take her fortune with her, she left it among her natural heirs. How do you know I have got any of it. I give you my honour, my account in bank is under $20,000."
"A pretty fair account, that, by Jove!" exclaimed the other. "It must be a rapping income that will permit a fellow like you to keep up such a balance."
"Why, some persons say my sister has the whole fortune. I dare say that Drewett can satisfy you on this head. The affair concerns him quite as much, as it does any other person of my acquaintance."
"I can a.s.sure you I know nothing about it;" answered Drewett, honestly.
"Nor do I desire to know. I would marry Miss Hardinge to-morrow, though she had not a cent."
"It"s just this disinterestedness, Andrew, that makes me like you,"
observed Rupert, magnificently. "Depend on it, you"ll fare none the worse, in the long run, for this admirable trait in your character. Lucy knows it, and appreciates it as she should."
I wished to hear no more, but left the box and the house, taking care not to be seen. From that moment, I was all impatience to get to sea. I forgot even the intention of visiting my sister"s grave; nor did I feel that I could sustain another interview with Lucy herself. That afternoon I told Marble the ship must be ready to sail the succeeding morning.
Chapter XI.
"Go tenderness of years; take this key. Give enlargement to the swain--bring him festinately hither. I must employ him in a letter to my love."
Love"s Labour Lost.