diff options
Diffstat (limited to '881.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 881.txt | 1265 |
1 files changed, 1265 insertions, 0 deletions
@@ -0,0 +1,1265 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Lemorne Versus Huell, by Elizabeth Drew Stoddard + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Lemorne Versus Huell + +Author: Elizabeth Drew Stoddard + +Posting Date: July 27, 2008 [EBook #881] +Release Date: April 1997 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LEMORNE VERSUS HUELL *** + + + + +Produced by John M. Krafft + + + + + +LEMORNE VERSUS HUELL + +Elizabeth Drew Stoddard + +Harper's New Monthly Magazine 26 (1863): 537-43. + + +The two months I spent at Newport with Aunt Eliza Huell, who had been +ordered to the sea-side for the benefit of her health, were the +months that created all that is dramatic in my destiny. My aunt was +troublesome, for she was not only out of health, but in a lawsuit. She +wrote to me, for we lived apart, asking me to accompany her--not because +she was fond of me, or wished to give me pleasure, but because I +was useful in various ways. Mother insisted upon my accepting her +invitation, not because she loved her late husband's sister, but because +she thought it wise to cotton to her in every particular, for Aunt Eliza +was rich, and we--two lone women--were poor. + +I gave my music-pupils a longer and earlier vacation than usual, took a +week to arrange my wardrobe--for I made my own dresses--and then started +for New York, with the five dollars which Aunt Eliza had sent for my +fare thither. I arrived at her house in Bond Street at 7 A.M., and found +her man James in conversation with the milkman. He informed me that +Miss Huell was very bad, and that the housekeeper was still in bed. I +supposed that Aunt Eliza was in bed also, but I had hardly entered the +house when I heard her bell ring as she only could ring it--with an +impatient jerk. + +"She wants hot milk," said James, "and the man has just come." + +I laid my bonnet down, and went to the kitchen. Saluting the cook, who +was an old acquaintance, and who told me that the "divil" had been in +the range that morning, I took a pan, into which I poured some milk, and +held it over the gaslight till it was hot; then I carried it up to Aunt +Eliza. + +"Here is your milk, Aunt Eliza. You have sent for me to help you, and I +begin with the earliest opportunity." + +"I looked for you an hour ago. Ring the bell." + +I rang it. + +"Your mother is well, I suppose. She would have sent you, though, had +she been sick in bed." + +"She has done so. She thinks better of my coming than I do." + +The housekeeper, Mrs. Roll, came in, and Aunt Eliza politely requested +her to have breakfast for her niece as soon as possible. + +"I do not go down of mornings yet," said Aunt Eliza, "but Mrs. Roll +presides. See that the coffee is good, Roll." + +"It is good generally, Miss Huell." + +"You see that Margaret brought me my milk." + +"Ahem!" said Mrs. Roll, marching out. + +At the beginning of each visit to Aunt Eliza I was in the habit of +dwelling on the contrast between her way of living and ours. We lived +from "hand to mouth." Every thing about her wore a hereditary air; for +she lived in my grandfather's house, and it was the same as in his day. +If I was at home when these contrasts occurred to me I should have felt +angry; as it was, I felt them as in a dream--the china, the silver, the +old furniture, and the excellent fare soothed me. + +In the middle of the day Aunt Eliza came down stairs, and after she had +received a visit from her doctor, decided to go to Newport on Saturday. +It was Wednesday; and I could, if I chose, make any addition to my +wardrobe. I had none to make, I informed her. What were my dresses?--had +I a black silk? she asked. I had no black silk, and thought one would be +unnecessary for hot weather. + +"Who ever heard of a girl of twenty-four having no black silk! You have +slimsy muslins, I dare say?" + +"Yes." + +"And you like them?" + +"For present wear." + +That afternoon she sent Mrs. Roll out, who returned with a splendid +heavy silk for me, which Aunt Eliza said should be made before Saturday, +and it was. I went to a fashionable dress-maker of her recommending, and +on Friday it came home, beautifully made and trimmed with real lace. + +"Even the Pushers could find no fault with this," said Aunt Eliza, +turning over the sleeves and smoothing the lace. Somehow she smuggled +into the house a white straw-bonnet, with white roses; also a handsome +mantilla. She held the bonnet before me with a nod, and deposited it +again in the box, which made a part of the luggage for Newport. + +On Sunday morning we arrived in Newport, and went to a quiet hotel in +the town. James was with us, but Mrs. Roll was left in Bond Street, +in charge of the household. Monday was spent in an endeavor to make +an arrangement regarding the hire of a coach and coachman. Several +livery-stable keepers were in attendance, but nothing was settled, till +I suggested that Aunt Eliza should send for her own carriage. James was +sent back the next day, and returned on Thursday with coach, horses, and +William her coachman. That matter being finished, and the trunks being +unpacked, she decided to take her first bath in the sea, expecting me to +support her through the trying ordeal of the surf. As we were returning +from the beach we met a carriage containing a number of persons with a +family resemblance. + +When Aunt Eliza saw them she angrily exclaimed, "Am I to see those +Uxbridges every day?" + +Of the Uxbridges this much I knew--that the two brothers Uxbridge were +the lawyers of her opponents in the lawsuit which had existed three or +four years. I had never felt any interest in it, though I knew that it +was concerning a tract of ground in the city which had belonged to +my grandfather, and which had, since his day, become very valuable. +Litigation was a habit of the Huell family. So the sight of the Uxbridge +family did not agitate me as it did Aunt Eliza. + +"The sly, methodical dogs! but I shall beat Lemorne yet!" + +"How will you amuse yourself then, aunt?" + +"I'll adopt some boys to inherit what I shall save from his clutches." + +The bath fatigued her so she remained in her room for the rest of the +day; but she kept me busy with a hundred trifles. I wrote for her, +computed interest, studied out bills of fare, till four o'clock came, +and with it a fog. Nevertheless I must ride on the Avenue, and the +carriage was ordered. + +"Wear your silk, Margaret; it will just about last your visit +through--the fog will use it up." + +"I am glad of it," I answered. + +"You will ride every day. Wear the bonnet I bought for you also." + +"Certainly; but won't that go quicker in the fog than the dress?" + +"Maybe; but wear it." + +I rode every day afterward, from four to six, in the black silk, the +mantilla, and the white straw. When Aunt Eliza went she was so on the +alert for the Uxbridge family carriage that she could have had little +enjoyment of the ride. Rocks never were a passion with her, she said, +nor promontories, chasms, or sand. She came to Newport to be washed +with salt-water; when she had washed up to the doctor's prescription she +should leave, as ignorant of the peculiar pleasures of Newport as +when she arrived. She had no fancy for its conglomerate societies, its +literary cottages, its parvenue suits of rooms, its saloon habits, and +its bathing herds. + +I considered the rides a part of the contract of what was expected in my +two months' performance. I did not dream that I was enjoying them, any +more than I supposed myself to be enjoying a sea-bath while pulling Aunt +Eliza to and fro in the surf. Nothing in the life around me stirred me, +nothing in nature attracted me. I liked the fog; somehow it seemed to +emanate from me instead of rolling up from the ocean, and to represent +me. Whether I went alone or not, the coachman was ordered to drive a +certain round; after that I could extend the ride in whatever direction +I pleased, but I always said, "Anywhere, William." One afternoon, which +happened to be a bright one, I was riding on the road which led to the +glen, when I heard the screaming of a flock of geese which were waddling +across the path in front of the horses. I started, for I was asleep +probably, and, looking forward, saw the Uxbridge carriage, filled with +ladies and children, coming toward me; and by it rode a gentleman on +horseback. His horse was rearing among the hissing geese, but neither +horse nor geese appeared to engage him; his eyes were fixed upon me. The +horse swerved so near that its long mane almost brushed against me. By +an irresistible impulse I laid my ungloved hand upon it, but did not +look at the rider. Carriage and horseman passed on, and William resumed +his pace. A vague idea took possession of me that I had seen the +horseman before on my various drives. I had a vision of a man galloping +on a black horse out of the fog, and into it again. I was very sure, +however, that I had never seen him on so pleasant a day as this! William +did not bring his horses to time; it was after six when I went into Aunt +Eliza's parlor, and found her impatient for her tea and toast. She was +crosser than the occasion warranted; but I understood it when she gave +me the outlines of a letter she desired me to write to her lawyer in +New York. Something had turned up, he had written her; the Uxbridges +believed that they had ferreted out what would go against her. I told +her that I had met the Uxbridge carriage. + +"One of them is in New York; how else could they be giving me trouble +just now?" + +"There was a gentleman on horseback beside the carriage." + +"Did he look mean and cunning?" + +"He did not wear his legal beaver up, I think; but he rode a fine horse +and sat it well." + +"A lawyer on horseback should, like the beggar of the adage, ride to the +devil." + +"Your business now is the 'Lemorne?'" + +"You know it is." + +"I did not know but that you had found something besides to litigate." + +"It must have been Edward Uxbridge that you saw. He is the brain of the +firm." + +"You expect Mr. Van Horn?" + +"Oh, he must come; I can not be writing letters." + +We had been in Newport two weeks when Mr. Van Horn, Aunt Eliza's lawyer, +came. He said that he would see Mr. Edward Uxbridge. Between them they +might delay a term, which he thought would be best. "Would Miss Huell +ever be ready for a compromise?" he jestingly asked. + +"Are you suspicious?" she inquired. + +"No; but the Uxbridge chaps are clever." + +He dined with us; and at four o'clock Aunt Eliza graciously asked him +to take a seat in the carriage with me, making some excuse for not going +herself. + +"Hullo!" said Mr. Van Horn when we had reached the country road; +"there's Uxbridge now." And he waved his hand to him. + +It was indeed the black horse and the same rider that I had met. He +reined up beside us, and shook hands with Mr. Van Horn. + +"We are required to answer this new complaint?" said Mr. Van Horn. + +Mr. Uxbridge nodded. + +"And after that the judgment?" + +Mr. Uxbridge laughed. + +"I wish that certain gore of land had been sunk instead of being mapped +in 1835." + + +"The surveyor did his business well enough, I am sure." + +They talked together in a low voice for a few minutes, and then Mr. Van +Horn leaned back in his seat again. "Allow me," he said, "to introduce +you, Uxbridge, to Miss Margaret Huell, Miss Huell's niece. Huell _vs._ +Brown, you know," he added, in an explanatory tone; for I was Huell +_vs._ Brown's daughter. "Oh!" said Mr. Uxbridge bowing, and looking at +me gravely. I looked at him also; he was a pale, stern-looking man, and +forty years old certainly. I derived the impression at once that he had +a domineering disposition, perhaps from the way in which he controlled +his horse. + +"Nice beast that," said Mr. Van Horn. + +"Yes," he answered, laying his hand on its mane, so that the action +brought immediately to my mind the recollection that I had done so too. +I would not meet his eye again, however. + +"How long shall you remain, Uxbridge?" + +"I don't know. You are not interested in the lawsuit, Miss Huell?" he +said, putting on his hat. + +"Not in the least; nothing of mine is involved." + +"We'll gain it for your portion yet, Miss Margaret," said Mr. Van Horn, +nodding to Mr. Uxbridge, and bidding William drive on. He returned the +next day, and we settled into the routine of hotel life. A few mornings +after, she sent me to a matinee, which was given by some of the Opera +people, who were in Newport strengthening the larynx with applications +of brine. When the concert was half over, and the audience were making +the usual hum and stir, I saw Mr. Uxbridge against a pillar, with his +hands incased in pearl-colored gloves, and holding a shiny hat. He +turned half away when he caught my eye, and then darted toward me. + +"You have not been much more interested in the music than you are in the +lawsuit," he said, seating himself beside me. + +"The _tutoyer_ of the Italian voice is agreeable, however." + +"It makes one dreamy." + +"A child." + +"Yes, a child; not a man nor a woman." + +"I teach music. I can not dream over 'one, two, three.'" + + +"_You_--a music teacher!" + +"For six years." + +I was aware that he looked at me from head to foot, and I picked at the +lace on my invariable black silk; but what did it matter whether I owned +that I was a genteel pauper, representing my aunt's position for two +months, or not? + +"Where?" + +"In Waterbury." + +"Waterbury differs from Newport." + +"I suppose so." + +"You suppose!" + +A young gentleman sauntered by us, and Mr. Uxbridge called to him to +look up the Misses Uxbridge, his nieces, on the other side of the hall. + +"Paterfamilias Uxbridge has left his brood in my charge," he said. "I +try to do my duty," and he held out a twisted pearl-colored glove, which +he had pulled off while talking. What white nervous fingers he had! I +thought they might pinch like steel. + +"You suppose," he repeated. + +"I do not look at Newport." + +"Have you observed Waterbury?" + +"I observe what is in my sphere." + +"Oh!" + +He was silent then. The second part of the concert began; but I could +not compose myself to appreciation. Either the music or I grew chaotic. +So many tumultuous sounds I heard--of hope, doubt, inquiry, melancholy, +and desire; or did I feel the emotions which these words express? Or was +there magnetism stealing into me from the quiet man beside me? He left +me with a bow before the concert was over, and I saw him making his way +out of the hall when it was finished. + +I had been sent in the carriage, of course; but several carriages were +in advance of it before the walk, and I waited there for William to +drive up. When he did so, I saw by the oscillatory motion of his +head, though his arms and whiphand were perfectly correct, that he was +inebriated. It was his first occasion of meeting fellow-coachmen in full +dress, and the occasion had proved too much for him. My hand, however, +was on the coach door, when I heard Mr. Uxbridge say, at my elbow, + +"It is not safe for you." + +"Oh, Sir, it is in the programme that I ride home from the concert." And +I prepared to step in. + +"I shall sit on the box, then." + +"But your nieces?" + +"They are walking home, squired by a younger knight." + +Aunt Eliza would say, I thought, "Needs must when a lawyer drives"; and +I concluded to allow him to have his way, telling him that he was taking +a great deal of trouble. He thought it would be less if he were allowed +to sit inside; both ways were unsafe. + +Nothing happened. William drove well from habit; but James was obliged +to assist him to dismount. Mr. Uxbridge waited a moment at the door, +and so there was quite a little sensation, which spread its ripples +till Aunt Eliza was reached. She sent for William, whose only excuse was +"dampness." + +"Uxbridge knew my carriage, of course," she said, with a complacent +voice. "He knew me," I replied. + +"You do not look like the Huells." + +"I look precisely like the young woman to whom he was introduced by Mr. +Van Horn." + +"Oh ho!" + +"He thought it unsafe for me to come alone under William's charge." + +"Ah ha!" + +No more was said on the subject of his coming home with me. Aunt Eliza +had several fits of musing in the course of the evening while I read +aloud to her, which had no connection with the subject of the book. As +I put it down she said that it would be well for me to go to church the +next day. I acquiesced, but remarked that my piety would not require the +carriage, and that I preferred to walk. Besides, it would be well for +William and James to attend divine service. She could not spare James, +and thought William had better clean the harness, by way of penance. + +The morning proved to be warm and sunny. I donned a muslin dress of home +manufacture and my own bonnet, and started for church. I had walked but +a few paces when the consciousness of being _free_ and _alone_ struck +me. I halted, looked about me, and concluded that I would not go to +church, but walk into the fields. I had no knowledge of the whereabouts +of the fields; but I walked straight forward, and after a while came +upon some barren fields, cropping with coarse rocks, along which ran a +narrow road. I turned into it, and soon saw beyond the rough coast the +blue ring of the ocean--vast, silent, and splendid in the sunshine. +I found a seat on the ruins of an old stone-wall, among some tangled +bushes and briers. There being no Aunt Eliza to pull through the surf, +and no animated bathers near, I discovered the beauty of the sea, and +that I loved it. + +Presently I heard the steps of a horse, and, to my astonishment, Mr. +Uxbridge rode past. I was glad he did not know me. I watched him as he +rode slowly down the road, deep in thought. He let drop the bridle, and +the horse stopped, as if accustomed to the circumstance, and pawed the +ground gently, or yawed his neck for pastime. Mr. Uxbridge folded his +arms and raised his head to look seaward. It seemed to me as if he were +about to address the jury. I had dropped so entirely from my observance +of the landscape that I jumped when he resumed the bridle and turned +his horse to come back. I slipped from my seat to look among the +bushes, determined that he should not recognize me; but my attempt was a +failure--he did not ride by the second time. + +"Miss Huell!" And he jumped from his saddle, slipping his arm through +the bridle. + +"I am a runaway. What do you think of the Fugitive Slave Bill?" + +"I approve of returning property to its owners." + +"The sea must have been God's temple first, instead of the groves." + +"I believe the Saurians were an Orthodox tribe." + +"Did you stop yonder to ponder the sea?" + +"I was pondering 'Lemorne vs. Huell.'" + +He looked at me earnestly, and then gave a tug at the bridle, for his +steed was inclined to make a crude repast from the bushes. + +"How was it that I did not detect you at once?" he continued. + +"My apparel is Waterbury apparel." + +"Ah!" + +We walked up the road slowly till we came to the end of it; then I +stopped for him to understand that I thought it time for him to leave +me. He sprang into the saddle. + +"Give us good-by!" he said, bringing his horse close to me. + +"We are not on equal terms; I feel too humble afoot to salute you." + +"Put your foot on the stirrup then." + +A leaf stuck in the horse's forelock, and I pulled it off and waved it +in token of farewell. A powerful light shot into his eyes when he saw my +hand close on the leaf. + +"May I come and see you?" he asked, abruptly. "I will." + +"I shall say neither 'No' or 'Yes.'" + +He rode on at a quick pace, and I walked homeward forgetting the sense +of liberty I had started with, and proceeded straightway to Aunt Eliza. + +"I have not been to church, aunt, but to walk beyond the town; it was +not so nominated in the bond, but I went. The taste of freedom was so +pleasant that I warn you there is danger of my 'striking.' When will you +have done with Newport?" + +"I am pleased with Newport now," she answered, with a curious +intonation. "I like it." + +"I do also." + +Her keen eyes sparkled. "Did you ever like anything when you were with +me before?" + +"Never. I will tell you why I like it: because I have met, and shall +probably meet, Mr. Uxbridge. I saw him to-day. He asked permission to +visit me." + +"Let him come." + +"He will come." + +But we did not see him either at the hotel or when we went abroad. +Aunt Eliza rode with me each afternoon, and each morning we went to +the beach. She engaged me every moment when at home, and I +faithfully performed all my tasks. I clapped to the door on +self-investigation--locked it against any analysis or reasoning upon any +circumstance connected with Mr. Uxbridge. The only piece of treachery to +my code that I was guilty of was the putting of the leaf which I brought +home on Sunday between the leaves of that poem whose motto is, + + "Mariana in the moated grange." + +On Saturday morning, nearly a week after I saw him on my walk, Aunt +Eliza proposed that we should go to Turo Street on a shopping excursion; +she wanted a cap, and various articles besides. As we went into a large +shop I saw Mr. Uxbridge at a counter buying gloves; her quick eye caught +sight of him, and she edged away, saying she would look at some goods on +the other side; I might wait where I was. As he turned to go out he saw +me and stopped. + +"I have been in New York since I saw you," he said. "Mr. Lemorne sent +for me." + +"There is my aunt," I said. + +He shrugged his shoulders. + +"I shall not go away soon again," he remarked. "I missed Newport +greatly." + +I made some foolish reply, and kept my eyes on Aunt Eliza, who dawdled +unaccountably. He appeared amused, and after a little talk went away. + +Aunt Eliza's purchase was a rose-colored moire antique, which she said +was to be made for me; for Mrs. Bliss, one of our hotel acquaintances, +had offered to chaperon me to the great ball which would come off in a +few days, and she had accepted the offer for me. + +"There will be no chance for you to take a walk instead," she finished +with. + +"I can not dance, you know." + +"But you will be _there_." + + +I was sent to a dress-maker of Mrs. Bliss's recommending; but I ordered +the dress to be made after my own design, long plain sleeves, and high +plain corsage, and requested that it should not be sent home till the +evening of the ball. Before it came off Mr. Uxbridge called, and was +graciously received by Aunt Eliza, who could be gracious to all except +her relatives. I could not but perceive, however, that they watched each +other in spite of their lively conversation. To me he was deferential, +but went over the ground of our acquaintance as if it had been the most +natural thing in the world. But for my life-long habit of never calling +in question the behavior of those I came in contact with, and of +never expecting any thing different from that I received, I might have +wondered over his visit. Every person's individuality was sacred to +me, from the fact, perhaps, that my own individuality had never been +respected by any person with whom I had any relation--not even by my own +mother. + +After Mr. Uxbridge went, I asked Aunt Eliza if she thought he looked +mean and cunning? She laughed, and replied that she was bound to think +that Mr. Lemorne's lawyer could not look otherwise. + +When, on the night of the ball, I presented myself in the rose-colored +moire antique for her inspection, she raised her eyebrows, but said +nothing about it. + +"I need not be careful of it, I suppose, aunt?" + +"Spill as much wine and ice-cream on it as you like." + +In the dressing-room Mrs. Bliss surveyed me. + +"I think I like this mass of rose-color," she said. "Your hair comes out +in contrast so brilliantly. Why, you have not a single ornament on!" + +"It is so easy to dress without." + +This was all the conversation we had together during the evening, except +when she introduced some acquaintance to fulfill her matronizing duties. +As I was no dancer I was left alone most of the time, and amused myself +by gliding from window to window along the wall, that it might not be +observed that I was a fixed flower. Still I suffered the annoyance of +being stared at by wandering squads of young gentlemen, the "curled +darlings" of the ball-room. I borrowed Mrs. Bliss's fan in one of her +visits for a protection. With that, and the embrasure of a remote window +where I finally stationed myself, I hoped to escape further notice. The +music of the celebrated band which played between the dances recalled +the chorus of spirits which charmed Faust: + + "And the fluttering + Ribbons of drapery + Cover the plains, + Cover the bowers, + Where lovers, + Deep in thought, + Give themselves for life." + +The voice of Mrs. Bliss broke its spell. + +"I bring an old friend, Miss Huell, and he tells me an acquaintance of +yours." + +It was Mr. Uxbridge. + +"I had no thought of meeting you, Miss Huell." + +And he coolly took the seat beside me in the window, leaving to Mrs. +Bliss the alternative of standing or of going away; she chose the +latter. + +"I saw you as soon as I came in," he said, "gliding from window to +window, like a vessel hugging the shore in a storm." + +"With colors at half-mast; I have no dancing partner." + +"How many have observed you?" + +"Several young gentlemen." + +"Moths." + +"Oh no, butterflies." + +"They must keep away now." + +"Are you Rhadamanthus?" + +"And Charon, too. I would have you row in the same boat with me." + +"Now you are fishing." + +"Won't you compliment me. Did I ever look better?" + +His evening costume _was_ becoming, but he looked pale, and weary, and +disturbed. But if we were engaged for a tournament, as his behavior +indicated, I must do my best at telling. So I told him that he +never looked better, and asked him how I looked. He would look at me +presently, he said, and decide. Mrs. Bliss skimmed by us with nods and +smiles; as she vanished our eyes followed her, and we talked vaguely +on various matters, sounding ourselves and each other. When a furious +redowa set in which cut our conversation into rhythm he pushed up the +window and said, "Look out." + +I turned my face to him to do so, and saw the moon at the full, riding +through the strip of sky which our vision commanded. From the moon +our eyes fell on each other. After a moment's silence, during which I +returned his steadfast gaze, for I could not help it, he said: "If we +understand the impression we make upon each other, what must be said?" + +I made no reply, but fanned myself, neither looking at the moon, nor +upon the redowa, nor upon any thing. + +He took the fan from me. + +"Speak of yourself," he said. + +"Speak you." + +"I am what I seem, a man within your sphere. By all the accidents of +position and circumstance suited to it. Have you not learned it?" + +"I am not what I seem. I never wore so splendid a dress as this till +tonight, and shall not again." + +He gave the fan such a twirl that its slender sticks snapped, and it +dropped like the broken wing of a bird. + +"Mr. Uxbridge, that fan belongs to Mrs. Bliss." + +He threw it out of the window. + +"You have courage, fidelity, and patience--this character with a +passionate soul. I am sure that you have such a soul?" + + +"I do not know." + +"I have fallen in love with you. It happened on the very day when I +passed you on the way to the Glen. I never got away from the remembrance +of seeing your hand on the mane of my horse." + +He waited for me to speak, but I could not; the balance of my mind was +gone. Why should this have happened to me--a slave? As it had happened, +why did I not feel exultant in the sense of power which the chance for +freedom with him should give? + +"What is it, Margaret? your face is as sad as death." + +"How do you call me 'Margaret?'" + +"As I would call my wife--Margaret." + +He rose and stood before me to screen my face from observation. I +supposed so, and endeavored to stifle my agitation. + +"You are better," he said, presently. "Come go with me and get some +refreshment." And he beckoned to Mrs. Bliss, who was down the hall with +an unwieldy gentleman. + +"Will you go to supper now?" she asked. "We are only waiting for you," +Mr. Uxbridge answered, offering me his arm. + +When we emerged into the blaze and glitter of the supper-room I sought +refuge in the shadow of Mrs. Bliss's companion, for it seemed to me that +I had lost my own. + +"Drink this Champagne," said Mr. Uxbridge. "Pay no attention to the +Colonel on your left; he won't expect it." + +"Neither must you." + +"Drink." + +The Champagne did not prevent me from reflecting on the fact that he had +not yet asked whether I loved him. + +The spirit chorus again floated through my mind: + + "Where lovers, + Deep in thought, + _Give_ themselves for life." + +I was not allowed to _give_ myself--I was _taken_. + +"No heel-taps," he whispered, "to the bottom quaff." + +"Take me home, will you?" + +"Mrs. Bliss is not ready." + +"Tell her that I must go." + +He went behind her chair and whispered something, and she nodded to me +to go without her. + +When her carriage came up, I think he gave the coachman an order to +drive home in a round-about way, for we were a long time reaching it. +I kept my face to the window, and he made no effort to divert my +attention. When we came to a street whose thick rows of trees shut out +the moonlight my eager soul longed to leap out into the dark and demand +of him his heart, soul, life, for _me_. + +I struck him lightly on the shoulder; he seized my hand. + +"Oh, I know you, Margaret; you are mine!" + +"We are at the hotel." + +He sent the carriage back, and said that he would leave me at my aunt's +door. He wished that he could see her then. Was it magic that made her +open the door before I reached it? + +"Have you come on legal business?" she asked him. + +"You have divined what I come for." + +"Step in, step in; it's very late. I should have been in bed but for +neuralgia. Did Mr. Uxbridge come home with you, Margaret?" + +"Yes, in Mrs. Bliss's carriage; I wished to come before she was ready to +leave." + +"Well, Mr. Uxbridge is old enough for your protector, certainly." + +"I _am_ forty, ma'am." + +"Do you want Margaret?" + +"I do." + +"You know exactly how much is involved in your client's suit?" + +"Exactly." + +"You know also that his claim is an unjust one." + +"Do I?" + +"I shall not be poor if I lose; if I gain, Margaret will be rich." + +"'Margaret will be rich,'" he repeated, absently. + +"What! have you changed your mind respecting the orphans, aunt?" + +"She has, and is--nothing," she went on, not heeding my remark. "Her +father married below his station; when he died his wife fell back to her +place--for he spent his fortune--and there she and Margaret must remain, +unless Lemorne is defeated." + +"Aunt, for your succinct biography of my position many thanks." + +"Sixty thousand dollars," she continued. "Van Horn tells me that, as +yet, the firm of Uxbridge Brothers have only an income--no capital." + +"It is true," he answered, musingly. + +The clock on the mantle struck two. + +"A thousand dollars for every year of my life," she said. "You and I, +Uxbridge, know the value and beauty of money. + +"Yes, there is beauty in money, and"--looking at me--"beauty without +it." + +"The striking of the clock," I soliloquized, "proves that this scene is +not a phantasm." + +"Margaret is fatigued," he said, rising. "May I come to-morrow?" + + +"It is my part only," replied Aunt Eliza, "to see that she is, or is +not, Cinderella." + +"If you have ever thought of me, aunt, as an individual, you must have +seen that I am not averse to ashes." + +He held my hand a moment, and then kissed me with a kiss of +appropriation. + +"He is in love with you," she said, after he had gone. "I think I +know him. He has found beauty ignorant of itself; he will teach you to +develop it." + +The next morning Mr. Uxbridge had an interview with Aunt Eliza before he +saw me. + +When we were alone I asked him how her eccentricities affected him; he +could not but consider her violent, prejudiced, warped, and whimsical. +I told him that I had been taught to accept all that she did on this +basis. Would this explain to him my silence in regard to her? + +"Can you endure to live with her in Bond Street for the present, or +would you rather return to Waterbury?" + +"She desires my company while she is in Newport only. I have never been +with her so long before." + +"I understand her. Law is a game, in her estimation, in which cheating +can as easily be carried on as at cards." + +"Her soul is in this case." + +"Her soul is not too large for it. Will you ride this afternoon?" + +I promised, of course. From that time till he left Newport we saw each +other every day, and though I found little opportunity to express my own +peculiar feelings, he comprehended many of my wishes, and all my +tastes. I grew fond of him hourly. Had I not reason? Never was friend so +considerate, never was lover more devoted. + +When he had been gone a few days, Aunt Eliza declared that she was ready +to depart from Newport. The rose-colored days were ended! In two days we +were on the Sound, coach, horses, servants, and ourselves. + +It was the 1st of September when we arrived in Bond Street. A week from +that date Samuel Uxbridge, the senior partner of Uxbridge Brothers, went +to Europe with his family, and I went to Waterbury, accompanied by Mr. +Uxbridge. He consulted mother in regard to our marriage, and appointed +it in November. In October Aunt Eliza sent for me to come back to Bond +Street and spend a week. She had some fine marking to do, she wrote. +While there I noticed a restlessness in her which I had never before +observed, and conferred with Mrs. Roll on the matter. "She do be awake +nights a deal, and that's the reason," Mrs. Roll said. Her manner was +the same in other respects. She said she would not give me any thing for +my wedding outfit, but she paid my fare from Waterbury and back. + +She could not spare me to go out, she told Mr. Uxbridge, and in +consequence I saw little of him while there. + +In November we were married. Aunt Eliza was not at the wedding, which +was a quiet one. Mr. Uxbridge desired me to remain in Waterbury till +spring. He would not decide about taking a house in New York till then; +by that time his brother might return, and if possible we would go to +Europe for a few months. I acquiesced in all his plans. Indeed I was not +consulted; but I was happy--happy in him, and happy in every thing. + +The winter passed in waiting for him to come to Waterbury every +Saturday; and in the enjoyment of the two days he passed with me. In +March Aunt Eliza wrote me that Lemorne was beaten! Van Horn had taken up +the whole contents of his snuff-box in her house the evening before in +amazement at the turn things had taken. + +That night I dreamed of the scene in the hotel at Newport. I heard Aunt +Eliza saying, "If I gain, Margaret will be rich." And I heard also the +clock strike two. As it struck I said, "_My husband is a scoundrel_," +and woke with a start. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Lemorne Versus Huell, by Elizabeth Drew Stoddard + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LEMORNE VERSUS HUELL *** + +***** This file should be named 881.txt or 881.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/8/881/ + +Produced by John M. Krafft + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |