Kitty laughed, for she saw that the young men heard her, and were much amused, and replied without hesitation, "O mine, Miss Patty, mine, both of "em!" Miss Patty now looked around the room, and, missing Mr. Graham, advanced to his wife, saying, "And where, madam, is the bridegroom?"
Mrs. Graham, a little confused, replied that her husband would be in presently, and invited Miss Pace to be seated.
"No, mistress, I am obliged to you; I have an inquiring mind, and, with your leave, will take a survey of the apartment. I love to see everything that is modern." She then examined the pictures upon the walls, but had not proceeded far before she turned to Gertrude and asked, loud enough to be heard, "Gertrude, my dear, what have they done with the second wife?" Gertrude looked surprised, and Miss Pace corrected her remark, saying, "Oh, it is the counterfeit that I have reference to; the original, I am aware, departed long since; but where is the counterfeit of the second Mrs. Graham? It always hung here, if my memory serves me."
Gertrude whispered a reply to this question, and Miss Pace then uttered the following soliloquy: "The garret! well, "tis the course of nature; what is new obliterates _the recollection, even_, of the old."
She now linked her arm in Gertrude"s, and made her the companion of her survey. When they had completed the circuit of the room, she stopped in front of the group of young people, all of whom were eyeing her with great amus.e.m.e.nt, and claimed the acquaintance of Mr. Bruce, and asked to be introduced to that member of the war department, as she styled Lieutenant Osborne. Kitty introduced her with great formality, and at the same time presented the lieutenant to Gertrude. A chair was now brought, Miss Patty joined their circle and entertained them until dinner time. Gertrude again sought Emily"s room.
At the table, Gertrude sat next to Emily, whose wants she always made her care, and with Miss Patty on the other side, had no time or attention to bestow on anyone else; much to the chagrin of Mr. Bruce, who was anxious she should observe his a.s.siduous devotion to Kitty, whose hair was adorned with the moss-rose buds, and her face with smiles.
Belle was also made happy by the marked admiration of the young officer.
Occasionally, some remark made by Miss Pace irresistibly attracted the attention of every one at the table, and extorted either the laughter it was intended to excite, or a mirth which, though perhaps ill-timed, it was impossible to repress.
Mr. Graham treated Miss Patty with politeness and attention, and Mrs.
Graham spared no pains to bring out the old lady"s conversational powers. She found that Miss Patty was acquainted with everybody, and made most amusing comments upon almost every person who became the topic of conversation. Mr. Graham at last led her to speak of herself and her lonely mode of life; and f.a.n.n.y Bruce, who sat next, asked her bluntly, why she never got married.
"Ah, my young miss," said she, "we all wait our time, and I may take a companion yet."
"You should," said Mr. Graham. "Now you have property, Miss Pace, and ought to share it with some nice thrifty man."
"I have but an insignificant trifle of worldly wealth," said Miss Pace, "and am not as youthful as I have been; but I may suit myself with a companion, notwithstanding. I approve of matrimony, and have my eye upon a young man."
"_A young man!_" exclaimed f.a.n.n.y Bruce, laughing.
"O yes, Miss Frances," said Miss Patty; "I am an admirer of youth, and of everything that is modern. Yes, I cling to life--I cling to life."
"Certainly," remarked Mrs. Graham. "Miss Pace must marry somebody younger than herself; someone to whom she can leave all her property, if he should happen to outlive her."
"Yes," said Mr. Graham; "at present you would not know how to make a will, unless you left all your money to Gertrude, here; I rather think she would make good use of it."
"That would certainly be a consideration to me," said Miss Pace; "I should dread the thought of having my little savings squandered. Now, I know there"s more than a sufficiency of pauper population; and plenty that would be glad of legacies; but I have no intention of bestowing on such. Why, sir, nine-tenths of them will _always_ be poor. No, no! I shouldn"t give to such! No, no! I have other intentions."
"Miss Pace," asked Mr. Graham, "what has become of General Pace"s family?"
"_All dead!_" replied Miss Patty, promptly, "_all dead!_ I made a pilgrimage to the grave of that branch of the family. It was a touching scene," said she in a pathetic tone. "There was a piece of gra.s.sy ground, belted about with an iron railing, and in the centre a beautiful white marble monument, in which they were all buried; it was pure as alabaster, and on it was inscribed these lines:
"Pace.""
"What were the lines?" inquired Mrs. Graham.
"Pace, ma"am, Pace; nothing else."
Solemn as was the subject, a universal t.i.tter pervaded the circle: and Mrs. Graham, perceiving that Kitty and f.a.n.n.y would soon burst into uncontrollable fits of laughter, made the move for the company to quit the table.
The gentlemen did not care to linger, and followed the ladies into the wide entry, the coolness of which invited every one to loiter there during the heat of the day. Miss Patty and f.a.n.n.y Bruce compelled the unwilling Gertrude to join the group there a.s.sembled; and Mrs. Graham, who could not forego her afternoon nap, was the only one who absented herself.
So universal was the interest Miss Patty excited, that all private dialogue was suspended, and close attention given to whatever topic the old lady was discussing.
Belle maintained a slightly scornful expression of countenance, and tried with partial success to divert Lieutenant Osborne"s thoughts into another channel; but Kitty was so delighted with Miss Pace"s originality, that she made no attempt at any exclusive conversation, and, with Mr. Bruce sitting beside her and joining in her amus.e.m.e.nt, looked more than contented.
Dress and fashion, two favourite themes with Miss Patty, were now introduced, and, after discoursing upon her love of the beautiful, as witnessed in the mantua-making and millinery arts, she deliberately left her seat, and going towards Belle (who wished to avoid her), began to examine the material of her dress, and requested her to rise and permit her to further inspect the mode in which it was made, declaring the description of so modern a master-piece of art would be a feast to the ears of some of her junior acquaintances.
Belle indignantly refused to comply, and shook off the hand of the old lady as if there had been contamination in her touch.
"Do stand up, Belle," said Kitty, in an undertone; "don"t be so cross."
"Why don"t you stand up yourself," said Belle, "and show off your own dress, for the benefit of her low a.s.sociates?"
"She didn"t ask me," replied Kitty, "but I will, with pleasure, if she will condescend to look at it. Miss Pace," continued she gaily, placing herself in front of the inquisitive Miss Patty, "do admire my gown at your leisure, and take a pattern of it, if you like, I should be proud of the honour."
For a wonder, Kitty"s dress was pretty and well worthy of observation.
Miss Patty made many comments, and her curiosity being satisfied, commenced retreating towards the place she had left, first glancing behind her to see if it was still vacant, and then moving towards it with a backward motion, consisting of a series of curtseys.
f.a.n.n.y Bruce, who stood near, observing that she had made an exact calculation how many steps would be required to reach her seat, placed her hand on the back of the chair, as if to draw it away; and encouraged by a look and smile from Isabel, moved it, slightly, but still enough to endanger the old lady"s safety.
On attempting to regain it, Miss Pace stumbled, and would have fallen, but Gertrude--who had been watching f.a.n.n.y"s proceedings--sprang forward in time to fling an arm around her, and place her safely in the chair, casting at the same time a reproachful look at f.a.n.n.y, who, much confused, turned to avoid Gertrude"s gaze, and in doing so accidentally trod on Mr. Graham"s gouty toes, which drew from him an exclamation of pain.
"Fan," said Mr. Bruce, who had observed the latter accident only, "I wish you could learn politeness."
"Whom am I to learn it from?" asked f.a.n.n.y, pertly,--"you?"
Ben looked provoked, but forbore to reply; while Miss Pace, who had recovered her composure, said--"Politeness! Ah, a lovely but rare virtue; perceptibly developed, however, in the manners of my friend Gertrude, which I hesitate not to affirm would well become a princess."
Belle curled her lip, and smiled disdainfully. "Lieutenant Osborne,"
said she, "don"t you think Miss Devereux has beautiful manners?"
"Very fine," replied the lieutenant; "the style in which she receives company, on her reception-day, is elegance itself."
"Who are you speaking of?" inquired Kitty; "Mrs. Harry n.o.ble?"
"Miss Devereux, we were remarking upon," said Belle; "but Mrs. n.o.ble is also very stylish."
"I think she is," said Mr. Bruce; "do you hear, f.a.n.n.y?--we have found a model for you,--you must imitate Mrs. n.o.ble."
"I don"t know anything about Mrs. n.o.ble," retorted f.a.n.n.y; "I"d rather imitate Miss Flint. Miss Gertrude," said she, "how _shall_ I learn politeness?"
"Do you remember," asked Gertrude, speaking low, "what your music-master told you about learning to _play_ with expression? I should give you the same rule for improvement in politeness."
f.a.n.n.y blushed deeply. "What is that?" said Mr. Graham; "f.a.n.n.y, what is Gertrude"s rule for politeness."
"She only said," answered f.a.n.n.y, "that it was the same my music-master gave me last winter."
"And what did _he_ say?" inquired her brother.
"I asked Mr. Hermann," said f.a.n.n.y, "how I should learn to play with expression, and he said, "You must cultivate your _heart_, Miss Bruce, you must cultivate your _heart_.""
This new direction for the attainment of a great accomplishment was received with countenances that indicated as great a variety of sentiments as there was difference of character among f.a.n.n.y"s audience.
Mr. Graham bit his lip, and walked away; for _his_ politeness was founded on no such rule, and he knew that Gertrude"s _was_. Belle looked glorious disdain; Mr. Bruce and Kitty, puzzled and half amused; while Lieutenant Osborne proved himself not quite callous to a n.o.ble truth, by turning upon Gertrude a glance of admiration. Emily"s face evidenced how fully she coincided in the opinion thus unintentionally made public, and Miss Patty expressed her approbation.