The Child Wife
The meal called “tea-supper” being over, and the stranger, having nothing better to do, was leaning out of the window of his sleeping room, on the fourth storey – tranquilly smoking a cigar.
A conversation that occurred between himself and his servant – exhibiting on the one side condescension, on the other a strange familiarity – need not be repeated. It had ended; and the servant had thrown himself, sans façon, on a sofa; while the master, with arms resting on the window-sill, continued to inspire the perfume of the nicotian weed, along with the iodised air that came up from the algae of the ocean.
The tranquil scene was favourable to reflection, and thus Mr Swinton reflected:
“Deuced nice place! Devilish pretty girls! Hope I’ll find one of them who’s got money, and command of it as well. Sure to be some old hag here with a well-filled stocking, though it may take time to discover it. Let me get a glance at her cornucopia, and if I don’t turn the small end upward, then – then I shall believe what I have heard of these Yankee dames: that they hold their purse-strings tighter than do their simple cousins of England. Several heiresses about, I’ve heard. One or two with something like a million a piece – dollars, of course. Five dollars to the pound. Let me see! A million of dollars makes two hundred thousand pounds. Well! that would do, or even the half of it. I wonder if that good-looking girl, with the maternal parent attached to her, has got any blunt? A little love mixed with the play would make my game all the more agreeable. Ah! What’s below? The shadows of women from an open window, the occupants of the apartment underneath. Talking they are. If they would only come out on the balcony, there would be some chance of my hearing them. I’m just in the humour for listening to a little scandal; and if they’re anything like their sex on the other side of the Atlantic, that’s sure to be the theme. By Jove! they’re coming out! Just to oblige me.”
It was just at this moment that Cornelia retired to her room, and Mrs Girdwood, following her daughter, took stand upon the balcony to continue the conversation which had been carried on inside.
Favoured by the calm night, and the natural law of acoustics, Mr Swinton heard every word that was said – even to the softest whisper.
In order to secure himself against being seen, he had withdrawn behind the Venetian shutter of his own window, and stood with his ear against the open lath-work, listening with all the intentness of a spy.
When the dialogue came to an end, he craned out, and saw that the young lady had gone inside, but that the mother still remained standing in the balcony.
Once more quietly drawing back, and summoning the valet to his side, he talked for some minutes in a low, hurried tone – as if giving the servant some instructions of an important nature.
Then putting on his hat, and throwing a light surtout over his shoulders, he hastened out of the room.
The servant followed; but not until an interval had elapsed.
In a few seconds after, the Englishman might have been seen sauntering out upon the balcony with a careless air, and taking his stand within a few feet of where the rich widow stood leaning over the rail.
He made no attempt to address her. Without introduction, there would have been a certain rudeness in it. Nor was his face toward her, but to the sea, as if he had stopped to contemplate the light upon the Cormorant Rock, gleaming all the more brilliantly from the contrasted darkness of the night.
At that moment a figure of short stature appeared behind him, giving a slight cough, as if to attract his attention. It was the servant.
“My lord,” said the latter, speaking in a low tone – though loud enough to be heard by Mrs Girdwood.
“Aw – Fwank – what is it?”
“What dress will your lordship wear at the ball?”
“Aw – aw – plain bwack, of cawse. A white chawker.”
“What gloves, your lordship? White or straw?”
“Stwaw – stwaw.”
The servant, touching his hat, retired.
“His lordship,” as Mr Swinton appeared to be, returned to his tranquil contemplation of the light upon Cormorant Rock.
There was no longer tranquillity for the relict of the retail storekeeper. Those magic words, “my lord,” had set her soul in a flutter. A live lord within six feet of her. Gracious me!
It is the lady’s privilege to speak first, as also to break through the boundaries of reserve. And of this Mrs Girdwood was not slow to avail herself.
“You are a stranger, sir, I presume – to our country, as well as to Newport?”
“Aw – yes, madam – indeed, yes. I came to yaw beautiful country by the last steemaw. I arrived at Noopawt this morning, by bawt from Nooyawk.”
“I hope your lordship will like Newport. It is our most fashionable watering-place.”
“Aw; sawtingly I shall – sawtingly. But, madam, you adwess me as yaw ludship. May I ask why I have the honaw to be so entitled?”
“Oh, sir; how could I avoid giving you the title, after hearing your servant so address you?”
“Aw, Fwank, stoopid fellaw! doose take him! Pawdon me, madam, faw seeming woodness. I vewy much wegwet the occurrence. I am twavelling incognito. You, madam, will understand what a baw it is – especially in yaw fwee land of libawty, to have one’s self pawpetwally pointed out? A howed baw, I assure yaw?”
“No doubt it is. I can easily understand that, my lord.”
“Thanks, madam! I am vewy much indebted to yaw intelligence. But I must ask a still greater fayvaw at your hands. By the stoopidity of my fellaw, I am completely in yaw power. I pwesume I am talking to a lady. In fact I am shaw of it.”
“I hope so, my lord.”
“Then, madam, the fayvaw I would ask is, that yaw keep this little secwet abawt ma title. Pway am I asking too much?”
“Not at all, sir; not at all.”
“Yaw pwomise me?”
“I promise you, my lord.”
“How vewy kind! A hundwed thousand thanks, madam! I shall be fawever gwateful. P’waps yaw are going to the bawl to-night?”
“I intend so, my lord. I go with my daughter and niece.”
“Aw – aw. I hope I shall have the plesyaw of seeing yaw. As I am a stwanger here, of cawse I know naw one. I go out of meaw quyuosity, or rather I should say, to observe yaw national cawactewistics.”
“Oh, sir; you need be no stranger. If you wish to dance, and will accept as partners my niece and daughter, I can promise that both will be most happy.”
“Madam, yaw ovawwhelm me with yaw genewosity.”
The dialogue here came to an end. It was time to dress for the ball; and, with a low bow on the part of the lord, and an obsequious courtesy on the side of the lady, they separated – expecting to come together again under the sheen of the chandeliers.
Chapter Nine.
Avant le Bal
Terpsichore, at a fashionable watering-place in the New World, affects pretty much the same airs as in the Old.
In a ball-room, where all are not supposed to be best people, the solitary gentlemen-stranger finds but little opportunity of taking exercise – especially in the “square-dances.” As the coteries make the sets, and monopolise the choicest portions of the floor, when the room is crowded and everybody determined to dance, the unlucky wight, without acquaintances, finds himself sadly overlooked. The stewards are usually too much occupied with themselves, to remember those honorary duties represented by rosette or ribbon in the buttonhole.
When it comes to the “round,” the stranger stands a better chance. It is only a matter of mutual consent between two individuals; and he must be a very insignificant personage, indeed, who cannot then find some neglected wallflower willing to accommodate him.
Something of this frigidity might have been felt in the atmosphere of a Newport ball-room; even in those days, ante bellum, when shoddy was a thing unheard-of, and “ile” lay “unstruck” in the dark underground.
Something of it was felt by the young officer lately returned from Mexico, and who was in fact a greater stranger to the “society” of the country for which he had been fighting, than to that against which he had fought!
In both he was but a traveller – half-wandering waif, half-adventurer – guided in his peregrinations less by interest than inclination.
To go dancing among unknown people is about the dullest occupation to which a traveller can betake himself; unless the dance be one of the free kind, where introductions are easy – morris, masque, or fandango.
Maynard knew, or conjectured, this to be true of Newport, as elsewhere. But for all that, he had determined on going to the ball.
It was partly out of curiosity; partly to kill time; and perhaps not a little for the chance of again meeting the two girls with whom he had been so romantically made acquainted.
He had seen them several times since – at the dinner-table, and elsewhere; but only at a distance, and without claiming the privilege of his outré introduction.
He was too proud to throw himself in their way. Besides, it was for them to make the advance, and say whether the acquaintance was to be kept up.
They did not! Two days had passed, and they did not – either by speech, epistle, bow, or courtesy!
“What am I to make of these people?” soliloquised he.
“They must be the veriest – ” He was going to say “snobs,” when checked by the thought that they were ladies.
Besides, such an epithet to Julia Girdwood! (He had taken pains to make himself acquainted with her name.) Not more inappropriate than if applied to a countess or a queen!
With all his gallantry he could not help some spasms of chagrin; the keener, that, go where he would, Julia Girdwood seemed to go along with him. Her splendid face and figure appeared ever before him.
To what was he to attribute this indifference – it might be called ingratitude on her part?
Could it be explained by the promise exacted from him upon the cliff?
This might make it in some way excusable. He had since seen the girls only with their maternal guardian – a dame of severe aspect. Had the secret to be kept from her! And was this the reason why they were preserving distance?
It was probable. He had some pleasure in thinking so; but more, when once or twice, he detected Julia’s dark eyes strangely gazing upon him, and instantly withdrawn, as his became turned upon her.
“The play’s the thing, wherewith to touch the conscience of the king,” Hamlet declared.
The ball! It promised a clearing up of this little mystery, with perhaps some others. He would be sure to meet them there – mother, daughter, niece – all three! It would be strange if he could not introduce himself; but if not, he must trust to the stewards.
And to the ball he went; dressed with as much taste as the laws of fashion would allow – in those days liberal enough to permit of a white waistcoat.
With only an occasional interval – transient as the scintillation of a meteor – it has been black ever since!
The ball-room was declared open.
Carriages were setting down by the piazza of the Ocean House, and silks rustling along the corridors of that most select of caravanserais.
From the grand dining-saloon, cleared for the occasion (and when cleared, making a dancing-room worthy of Terpsichore herself), came those not very harmonious sounds that tell of the tuning of fiddles, and clearing out the throats of trombones.
The Girdwood party entered with considerable éclat– the mother dressed like a grand-duchess, though without her diamonds. These blazed upon the brow of Julia, and sparkled on her snow white bosom – for the set comprised a necklace with pendants.
She was otherwise splendidly attired; and, in truth, looked superb. The cousin of more modest grace and means, though pretty, seemed as nothing beside her.
Mrs Girdwood had made a mistake – in coming in too early. It is true there were fashionable people already in the room. But these were the “organisers” of the entertainment; who, backed by a sort of semi-official authority, had gathered in little groups over the floor, scanning across fans, or through eye-glasses, the dancers as they came in.
Through these the Girdwoods had to run the gauntlet – as they made their way to the upper end of the room.
They did so with success, though not without being aware of some supercilious glances, accompanied by whispered words that, if heard, might have somewhat disconcerted them.
It was the second Newport ball – “hops” count for nothing – at which Mrs Girdwood and her girls had shown themselves.
The first had not given great satisfaction – more especially to Julia.
But there was a better prospect now. Mrs Girdwood had entered, with a confidence based on the conversation she had just held with the distinguished incognito, Mr Swinton.
She had seen this gentleman during the day: for, as already known, he had not shut himself up in his room. She was sufficiently discerning to see that he was possessed of a fine face and figure. His hair, too – of the most aristocratic kind! How could it be otherwise? She alone knew the reason – she and her daughter; to whom she had, of course, communicated the secret of her discovery. A bit of broken promise that need not be severely criticised.
She knew of my lord’s late arrival – from Canada he had told her – though he had paid a flying visit to New York.
She hoped no one in the ball-room would recognise him – at least not till after she had paraded him with her own party, and could assume the seeming of his introducer.
She had still stronger reason for this. Storekeeper’s widow, as she was, she possessed the true tact of the match-making mother. It belongs to no clime exclusively; no country. It can be as well acquired in New York as in London, Vienna, or Paris. She was a believer in first impressions – with the “compromises” that often spring from them; and in this theory – with the view of putting it into practice – she had instructed her dear Julia while dressing her for the ball.
The daughter had promised compliance. Who wouldn’t, with the prospect of earning twenty thousand dollars’ worth of diamonds?
Chapter Ten.
A Previous Engagement
In all the gradations of the thermal line, is there any atmosphere more unbearable than that of a ball-room before the dancing commences?
It is the very essence of discomfort.
What a relief when the baton of the conductor is seen elevated over his acolytes, and those strains, proverbially soothing to the savage, resound through the glittering saloon!
It was a relief to Mrs Girdwood and her girls. They had begun to fancy themselves too much observed. At least Julia had, half suspecting herself of being the subject of a cynical criticism, which she did not think of attributing to her diamonds.
She was burning with an ill-repressed spleen, by no means diminished as the sets commenced forming, and no one came forward to claim either herself or her cousin.
At that moment appeared a man whose presence changed the current of her thoughts. It was Maynard.
In spite of her mother’s precautionary counsels, Miss Girdwood could not look upon this gentleman with indifference. To say nothing of what had passed between them, a glance satisfied her that there was no handsomer man in the room, or likely to come into it.
He was approaching from the entrance, apparently making his way toward the Girdwood group.
Julia wondered whether he was going to join them. She hoped that he would.
“I suppose I may dance with him, mother – that is, if he asks me?”
“Not yet, my dear, not yet. Wait a little longer. His lordship – Mr Swinton – may come in at any moment. You must have the first with him. I wonder why he’s not here,” pursued the impatient parent, for the tenth time raising her eye-glass and taking a survey of the saloon. “I suppose it’s not fashionable for men of rank to come in early. No matter, Julia; you must reserve yourself till the last moment.”
But the last moment had now arrived. The introductory piece had been played and was succeeded by the hum of half-whispered voices, and the rustling of silk dresses – by that movement which precedes the taking of places – gentlemen gliding in short stages across the slippery floor, formally bending in front of expanded skirts, and mincing out the well-known speech, “May I have the pleasure?” Then a momentary show of irresolution on the part of the lady, perhaps the consulting of a slip of cardboard, an inclination of the head so slight as to be scarce observable, a rising to the feet, with the greatest apparent reluctance, and lastly the acceptance of the offered arm, as if conferring the supremest of favours!
Neither of the young ladies under Mrs Girdwood’s care had been yet called upon to take part in this pantomime. Certainly the stewards were not doing their duty. There were no finer-looking girls in the room, and there were scores of gentlemen who would have been delighted to dance with them. Their standing neglected could be only an accidental oversight.
The storekeeper’s widow began to find it disagreeable. She felt inclined to be less exacting about the description of partners. As there was no lord in sight, the ex-officer would not be much longer objected to.
“Does he intend coming at all?” she reflected, thinking of Swinton.
“Does he intend coming to us?” was the reflection of Julia, her thoughts dwelling upon Maynard.
Her eyes, too, were on him. He was still approaching, though slowly. He was hindered by the hurrying couples as they took position on the floor. But she could see that he was looking toward them – herself and cousin – where they stood.
He evidently approached with an air of indecision, his glance appearing to interrogate them.
It must have been met by one of encouragement, for his demeanour became suddenly changed and stepping up to the two young ladies, he saluted them with a bow.
By both the salutation was returned, perhaps more cordially than he had been expecting.
Both appeared to be still unengaged. To which ought he to offer himself? He knew which he would have chosen, but there was a question of etiquette.
As it turned out, there was no question of choice.
“Julia, my dear,” said Mrs Girdwood, presenting a very stylishly-dressed individual, who had just been given in charge to her by one of the stewards. “I hope you have not engaged yourself for the quadrille? I’ve promised you to this gentleman. Mr Smithson – my daughter.”
Julia glanced at Smithson, and then looked as if she wished him far enough.
But she had not engaged herself, and was therefore compelled to accept.
Lest a second Mr Smithson should be trotted up, Maynard hastened to secure Cornelia, and led her off to form “opposite couple.”
Seemingly satisfied with the disposal thus made, Mrs Girdwood retired to a seat.
Her contentment was of short continuance. She had scarce touched the cushion, when she saw coming towards her a gentleman of distinguished appearance, in straw kids. It was his lordship incog.
She started back to her feet, and glanced across the room toward the square that contained her girls. She looked interrogatively, then despairingly. It was too late. The quadrille had commenced. Mr Smithson was doing “right and left” with her daughter. Confound Mr Smithson!
“Aw, madam! How’d do, again? Ball begun, I pawceive; and I’m cut out of the kadwille.”
“It is true, Mr Swinton; you’ve come in a little late, sir.”
“What a baw! I pwesume yaw young ladies are disposed of?”
“Yes; they are dancing over yonder.”
Mrs Girdwood pointed them out. Adjusting his eye-glass, Mr Swinton looked across the room. His eye wandered in search of Mrs Girdwood’s daughter. He did not think of the niece. And his inquiry was directed more to Julia’s partner than herself.
A single look seemed to satisfy him. Mr Smithson was not the man to make him uneasy.
“I hope, madam,” he said, turning to the mother, “I hope Miss Girdwood has not filled up her cawd for the evening?”
“Oh, certainly not, sir!”
“Pewaps for the next – I pawceive by the pawgwam a valz – pwaps I might have the honour of valzing with her? May I bespeak yaw influence in my behalf; that is, if there be no pwevious engagement?”
“I know there is none. I can promise you that, sir; my daughter will no doubt be most happy to waltz with you.”
“Thanks, madam! A thousand thanks?”
And, this point settled, the amiable nobleman continued to talk to the relict of the retail storekeeper with as much amiability as if she had been his equal in rank.
Mrs Girdwood was delighted with him. How much superior this sprig of true British nobility to the upstart bloods of New York or Boston! Neither the Old Dominion, nor South Carolina itself, could produce such a charming creature! What a rare stroke of good fortune to have chanced so timeously across him! Blessings upon the head of that “Stoopid fellaw, Fwank!” as his lordship had styled the little valet.
Frank was entitled to a present, which some day Mrs Girdwood had mentally determined upon giving him.
Julia engaged for the next! Certainly not! Nor the next, nor the next. She should dance with him all night long if he desired it. And if it were to be so, how she would like to be released from that promise, and let all Newport know that Mr Swinton was – a lord!
So ran Mrs Girdwood’s thoughts – kept, of course, to herself.
In a quadrille, the opportunities of the vis-à-vis are only inferior to those of the partner. Maynard had improved his by engaging Julia Girdwood for the waltz! With this understanding they had separated upon the floor.
In less than ten minutes after a group might have, been observed on one side of the ball-room, consisting of two ladies and two gentlemen, who seemed to have some crooked question between them – a scene.
The ladies were Mrs Girdwood and her daughter; the gentlemen, Messrs Maynard and Swinton.
All four had just come together; the two last without exchanging speech or bow, but exhibiting in the exchanged glances sufficient sign of mutual recognition – sign, too, of some old antipathy.
In the confusion of the moment, Mrs Girdwood did not observe this. Her daughter did.
What was the trouble among them?
The conversation will explain it.
“Julia, my dear” – it was Mrs Girdwood who spoke – “I’ve engaged you for the first waltz – to Mr Swinton here. Mr Swinton – my daughter.”
The introduction had just ended as Maynard, coming forward to claim his promised partner, formed the fourth corner in the quartette. The music was commencing.
The hostile “stare” exchanged between the two gentlemen lasted only a second, when the young officer, recomposing his countenance, turned toward Miss Girdwood, at the same time offering his arm.
Yielding obedience to an authoritative look from her mother the lady appeared to hesitate about accepting it.
“You will excuse my daughter, sir,” said Mrs Girdwood, “she is already engaged.”
“Indeed!” exclaimed the ex-captain, looking grandly astonished at the mother, and turning to the daughter for an explanation.
“I think not, mamma?” answered Julia, with an air of indecision.
“But you have, my child! You know I had promised you to Mr Swinton here, before the ball began. It is very awkward! I hope, sir, you will excuse her?”
The last speech was addressed to Maynard.
He glanced once more toward Julia. She seemed still undecided. But her look might be translated, “Excuse me.”
So interpreting it, he said:
“If it be Miss Girdwood’s wish, I release her.”
Again he fixed his eyes upon her face, watching for the movement of her lips.
There was none!
Silence appeared to give consent. Forcibly the old adage came before Maynard’s mind – so forcibly, that with a bow, which comprehended the trio, he turned upon his heel, and disappeared among the dancers.
In six seconds after, Julia Girdwood was whirling around the room, her flushed cheek resting upon the shoulder of a man known to nobody, but whose dancing everybody admired.
“Who is the distinguished stranger?” was the inquiry on every lip. It was even put – lispingly of course – by the J.’s and the L.’s and the B.’s.
Mrs Girdwood would have given a thousand dollars to have satisfied their curiosity – to have spited them with the knowledge that her daughter was dancing with a lord!