Elinor Wyllys-1 [91]
such a thing!"
"We can untie them, and make up one ourselves, taking the prettiest flowers from each."
"That won't do, either; for it's only the gardeners that can do up these things decently. I wouldn't, for the world, carry one that looked as if I had made it up myself."
"Well," said Jane, in despair, "I really don't know what else to advise."
"I do believe the young gentlemen have leagued together to provoke me! And this is not all, there are three more in water up-stairs."
"You might take the first that came; perhaps that would be the best plan."
"Would you have me take this ridiculous-looking thing, with only one camellia in it! No, indeed;" and for a moment the two young ladies sat down by the centre-table, looking despondingly at each other and at the flowers.
"If I could only take the one I like best, it would be the easiest thing in the world; but, you know, all the other gentlemen would be offended then."
"Which do you like best?" asked Jane.
"Why this one, with the white camellias; it came from Theodore St. Leger; he told me he would send one with white flowers only." Adeline's colour rose a little as she spoke, and as that was not a common occurrence with her, it looked suspicious.
"Did Mr. St. Leger dance with you last night?"
"Why, no, child, he never dances; I didn't see him dance, all the time we were in Boston."
"I thought you liked him," said Jane, with innocent surprise.
"I like him well enough, after a fashion; as well as one can like a man who never dances, and don't talk much. He is very stupid, sometimes, and dresses very badly too."
"Is he handsome?" asked Jane.
"No, he is as ugly as he can be; I really think he looks just a little like that old Mr. Hopkins, his uncle."
"What in the world makes you like him then?"
"I am sure I don't know. But don't fancy I really care about the man. He is going back to Boston next week, and I don't suppose I shall ever see him again; but I thought I would take his bouquet, to-night, because he was so polite to me; and he will be there. Oh, my dear Jane, talking of Boston, I have hit upon an idea!"
"Well, what is it?"
"I saw a girl at a party there--by-the-bye, it was Theodore St. Leger's sister--who had her dress trimmed with natural flowers; that's just the thing for me!" cried Adeline, clapping her hands. The difficulty thus happily removed, the young ladies ran up stairs, to determine more fully upon trimming a certain white crape with the eight bouquets, divided for the purpose. The white one, the offering of Mr. St. Leger, was reserved for the place of honour, in Adeline's hand.
CHAPTER XX.
"Thy young and innocent heart, How is it beating? Has it no regrets? Discoverest thou no weakness lurking there?" ROGERS.
{Samuel Rogers (English poet, 1763-1855), "Italy: The Nun" lines 71-73}
SISTERS' children, though bearing different names, and classed by the world in different families, are generally much more alike than those of brothers; they are apt to have more habits, tastes, and feelings in common. And the reason is evident; it is usually the mother who controls the internal family policy, who gives the colouring to what may be called the family atmosphere. The father may pass a statute once in a while, but the common-law which regulates the every-day proceedings of the little community flows from the mother; and we all know that the character is moulded rather by daily practice in trifles, than by a few isolated actions of greater importance in themselves. The aims and views which people carry with them through life, generally spring up from seeds received in the nursery, or at the family fire-side. Even with men this is the case. The father may inculcate this or that political creed into his son, he may direct his choice to this or that profession; but the manner in which the youth carries out his political principles, the way in which he fills his profession, will depend on the impulses and motives cultivated in childhood, and early youth; for it is then that the character receives its bias.
"We can untie them, and make up one ourselves, taking the prettiest flowers from each."
"That won't do, either; for it's only the gardeners that can do up these things decently. I wouldn't, for the world, carry one that looked as if I had made it up myself."
"Well," said Jane, in despair, "I really don't know what else to advise."
"I do believe the young gentlemen have leagued together to provoke me! And this is not all, there are three more in water up-stairs."
"You might take the first that came; perhaps that would be the best plan."
"Would you have me take this ridiculous-looking thing, with only one camellia in it! No, indeed;" and for a moment the two young ladies sat down by the centre-table, looking despondingly at each other and at the flowers.
"If I could only take the one I like best, it would be the easiest thing in the world; but, you know, all the other gentlemen would be offended then."
"Which do you like best?" asked Jane.
"Why this one, with the white camellias; it came from Theodore St. Leger; he told me he would send one with white flowers only." Adeline's colour rose a little as she spoke, and as that was not a common occurrence with her, it looked suspicious.
"Did Mr. St. Leger dance with you last night?"
"Why, no, child, he never dances; I didn't see him dance, all the time we were in Boston."
"I thought you liked him," said Jane, with innocent surprise.
"I like him well enough, after a fashion; as well as one can like a man who never dances, and don't talk much. He is very stupid, sometimes, and dresses very badly too."
"Is he handsome?" asked Jane.
"No, he is as ugly as he can be; I really think he looks just a little like that old Mr. Hopkins, his uncle."
"What in the world makes you like him then?"
"I am sure I don't know. But don't fancy I really care about the man. He is going back to Boston next week, and I don't suppose I shall ever see him again; but I thought I would take his bouquet, to-night, because he was so polite to me; and he will be there. Oh, my dear Jane, talking of Boston, I have hit upon an idea!"
"Well, what is it?"
"I saw a girl at a party there--by-the-bye, it was Theodore St. Leger's sister--who had her dress trimmed with natural flowers; that's just the thing for me!" cried Adeline, clapping her hands. The difficulty thus happily removed, the young ladies ran up stairs, to determine more fully upon trimming a certain white crape with the eight bouquets, divided for the purpose. The white one, the offering of Mr. St. Leger, was reserved for the place of honour, in Adeline's hand.
CHAPTER XX.
"Thy young and innocent heart, How is it beating? Has it no regrets? Discoverest thou no weakness lurking there?" ROGERS.
{Samuel Rogers (English poet, 1763-1855), "Italy: The Nun" lines 71-73}
SISTERS' children, though bearing different names, and classed by the world in different families, are generally much more alike than those of brothers; they are apt to have more habits, tastes, and feelings in common. And the reason is evident; it is usually the mother who controls the internal family policy, who gives the colouring to what may be called the family atmosphere. The father may pass a statute once in a while, but the common-law which regulates the every-day proceedings of the little community flows from the mother; and we all know that the character is moulded rather by daily practice in trifles, than by a few isolated actions of greater importance in themselves. The aims and views which people carry with them through life, generally spring up from seeds received in the nursery, or at the family fire-side. Even with men this is the case. The father may inculcate this or that political creed into his son, he may direct his choice to this or that profession; but the manner in which the youth carries out his political principles, the way in which he fills his profession, will depend on the impulses and motives cultivated in childhood, and early youth; for it is then that the character receives its bias.