Mr. Winthrop

“ There has been a family conference, too, between the elders of the households of Abbot and Winthrop, and the engagement is at an end. Coming in suddenly from his club, Mr. Winthrop entered the parlor immediately after the receipt of the telegram, and he is overwhelmed with consternation at the condition of affairs. He has insisted on a full statement from Viva's lips, and to her mother the story has been told. She withholds no point that is at all material, for her pride has been humbled to the dust in the revelation that has come to her. ”

“ Winthrop pleased that you are so thoughtful of the poor, and so generous in your impulses?"
"Really, Mrs. Le Grande, you would make an excellent lawyer. I do not think I have had so many personal questions since I came to America. School girls forget themselves sometimes, when they are of a very inquisitive disposition."
She looked me fully in the eyes as she said: "You have been wonderfully patient and very circumspect. I am sure in his heart Mr. Winthrop respects you even if he is at times a trifle cavalier in his behavior." ”

“ O beauty! beware, or do not beware, just as you deem best, but know that there is peril! For love can improvise out of the steam of a teapot a romance as big and sudden and irrepressible as the Afreet that swelled from the casket by the sea-shore in the Arabian story.
We sat down upon the grass for our picnic. I should not invite the late Mr. Watteau, or even the extant Mr. Diaz, to paint us. The late Mr. Watteau’s heroes and heroines were silk and satin Arcadians; they had valets de chambre and filles de chambre, and therefore could be not fully heroes and heroines, if proverbs be true. ”

“ It is not necessary for Mr. Winthrop to know how his ward spends her spare time and pocket money."
"But he would as soon think of exchanging civilities with his own dumb animals as with those folk on the Mill Road; and, yet, right under his nose these little arrangements getting manufactured! It is carrying the war into the enemy's camp with a vengeance."
"Is that a specimen of your college conversation, Hubert? If so, you might better remain at Oaklands."
"Surely, mother; you don't expect us to talk like a sewing society or select gathering of maiden ladies," Hubert said with some disgust. ”

“ Beside he is a very clever man—a musical critic and good writer; in fact, one of Mr. Winthrop's most intimate friends."
"That, I presume, speaks volumes in his favor," I said, perhaps with a touch of sarcasm in my voice.
"Yes; Mr. Winthrop is an unerring judge of character; that is, of late years."
"Well, I would nearly as soon think of marrying Daniel Blake as this Mr. Bovyer. I have never been in love, but I have an idea what it is," I said, following Mrs. Flaxman to her room. ”

“ He spoke, to be sure, with a burr, and trod as if the floor were undulating gayly beneath him; but why may not haste and eagerness make tongue and feet trip?
“Hooray, Ike!” cries he; “I’ve made all right outside. Plato’s just bringing out your horse, Miss. Thank you for looking after the Sergeant, Miss,” continued Jierck, blundering down on his knees beside Mr. Brothertoft. “How do you find yourself, Sergeant? O, you’ll do. Only a little love-tap the ball gave you. A drop of rum, — capital thing rum, always, — a drop on a bit of brown paper, stuck on the scratch, and you’re all right. ”

“ Winthrop to a few false notes now and then. The composer has more power to give me pain than the performers, I believe."
"I should say, then, that your comprehension of music was more subtle than his."
"I do not pretend to compare myself with Mr. Winthrop in any way. It would be like the minnow claiming fellowship with the leviathan."
Mr. Winthrop suggested very politely:—
"Humility is becoming until it grows abject."
"Your guardian is an incorrigible bachelor. Ladies do not get the slightest mercy from him," Mr. Bovyer remarked. ”

“ Jane Billop marched up to the portrait, and turned it with its face toward the wall.
“He needn’t look at me, and tell me I am courting Mr. Edwin Brothertoft,” she said to herself. “I know I am, and I mean to have him. He is lovely; but I almost hate him. He makes me feel ignorant and coarse and mean. I don’t want to be the kind of woman he has been talking to with that deferential address. But I suppose this elegant manner is all put on, and he is really just like other people. He seems to be pretty confident of carrying the world before him. We shall be the great people of the Province. ”

“ She held out her hand to me.
“Dear lady,” said I, taking her aside a moment while Brent spoke to Mr. Clitheroe, “we are acquaintances of to-day; but campaigners must despise ceremony. Your father has told me much of your history. I infer your feelings. Consider me as a brother. Nothing can be done to aid you?”
“Your kindness and your friend’s kindness touch me greatly. Nothing can be done.” ”

“ I dare say many who do not choose to live for their religion would die for it if it came in their way to do so."
"Yourself among the number, I believe, Mr. Winthrop," the minister said, with a penetrating look, that Mr. Winthrop returned in kind.
"I would take it as a favor if you would dine with us some day soon, and give me an evening of your society. We might have some topics in common to discuss," Mr. Winthrop said, to the surprise of each of us, Mr. Lathrop included. "Possibly you do not make such engagements on the Sabbath. ”

“ The Works, the machinery, the furnaces, the stuff, all had their voice to add to the verdict.
Magnificent music! and our Anglo-Saxon is the only race in the world civilized enough to join in singing it. We are the only hurrahing people, — the only brood hatched in a “Hurrah’s nest.”
Silence restored, the Chairman, prompted by Perry, said, “Gentlemen, Mr. Wade has the floor for a few remarks.”
Of course Wade had to speak, and did. He would not have been an American in America else. But his heart was too full to say more than a few hearty and earnest words of good feeling. ”

“ Suppose these fugitives have taken refuge with Padiham, — it may be to escape pursuit. Poor Mr. Clitheroe! Who knows what poverty may have permitted him to do? Better to hide in Lamely Court than to be stared at in a prison!
“My facts are slender basis for conclusion,” — so I avowed to myself on this review.
“But I would rather have a hope than no hope. The filmiest clew is kinder than no clew.
“I will finish my letter to old Short, dear boy, inventor of a well-omened Cut-off”; I will sleep like a top, with no mysterious disappearances to disturb me; I will be with the Dwarf by seven. ”

“ I could think of no suitable reply; so merely said, "yes."
"It's a tradition among their acquaintances that the Winthrops believe in getting the very best possible good out of everything."
"Have they succeeded?"
"Better than the generality of folks; but they have come pretty near extinction, at least on this side the water. Mr. Winthrop is the last of his race."
"Has he no children?"
"He is a bachelor."
"But he may have children and a wife some day."
"You will probably be his heir, if he does not marry, I believe he is your heir by your father's will, in case you die without heirs." ”

“ Winthrop. I don’t deny, sir, that shortly after the war I felt resentment, but that sentiment has long since disappeared. I am honored with the [107] friendship of several very estimable Northern gentlemen, sir. Nor must you think the sentiment hereabouts prejudicial to your people, Mr. Winthrop. Corunna is off the track of the tourist, to be sure; we have no special attractions here; no big hotels, sir, to cater to him; but once in a while a Northerner wanders to our town and we have grown to appreciate his many very excellent qualities, sir. ”

“ Herder."
"I am sure," said his friend looking kindly at him. "You are working too much."
"I can't do that, sir."
"Come wiz me to Mr. Haye to-night!"
"No sir, thank you."
"What for do you say that?"
"Because it is kind in you to ask me," said Winthrop smiling.
"You will not let nobody be of no use to you," said the naturalist.
Winthrop replied by a question about a new specimen; and the whole world of animate nature was presently buried in the bowels of the earth, or in the depths of philosophy, which comes to about the same thing. ”

“ Who is that with you?”
“Miss Winthrop, and my best friend, Carrie Stanley.”
“Miss Winthrop,” said the stranger, with a most bewitching smile, “will you not allow me to take my little cousin and her friend out for a short drive?”
Miss Winthrop hesitated.
“Oh, I’ll make it all right with Mr. Worcester. I know him very well. Tell him, if you please, that Miss Montague will be responsible for the safe return of his pupils. Jump in, girls. It is not so very long since Miss Winthrop and I have been school-girls ourselves; and we know what a treat a drive is.” ”

“ He examined them with a pleased, childish interest, and glanced about the room, observing the objects, while he sipped his restorative with feeble lips.
“Evidently not a bad man by nature,” I thought. “Only an impressible one, — one who should cry daily and hourly, ‘Lord, deliver me from temptation!’ If his superior being and chosen guide had been a hero, and not a devil like Densdeth, he might never have become the poor dastard he is.”
“You have a pretty place here, Mr. Byng,” said Towner, revived by his brandy, and assuming the air of a welcome guest and patronizing critic. ”

“ I am only a plain little woman, with no special mission except to make those around me happy."
"That is a very beautiful mission, and I am sure you meet with success, which is not the fate of every one with a career."
"Ah, if you begin praising me I must leave; but first let me tell you dinner will be served at six. Mr. Winthrop is a great student, and is already, for so young a man, a very successful author; and he likes dinner late so as to have all the longer time for hard work. The evenings he takes for light reading and rest."
I must confess I was beginning to get afraid of my guardian. ”

“ Winthrop, sir,” he said, “I came [215] mighty near not getting out of your room again, sir. I saw that picture on your bureau and fell down and worshipped. Gad, sir, I don’t know when I’ve seen a more beautiful woman, outside of the present array! Yes, sir, I came mighty near staying right there and feasting my eyes instead of my body, sir. And a fine-looking boy, too, Mr. Winthrop. Your family, I reckon, sir?” ”

“ As Miss Leslie rose, Winthrope bent over and began to drink.
“Oh, Mr. Winthrope!” she exclaimed; “please don’t! In your weak condition, I’m so afraid–”
“Do not alarm yourself. I am perfectly well, and I am quite as competent to judge what is good for me as your–ah–countryman.”
“Mr. Winthrope, I am thinking only of your own good.”
Winthrope took another deep draught, rinsed his fingers fastidiously, and arose.
“My dear Miss Genevieve,” he observed, “a woman looks at these matters in such a different light from a man. But you should know that there are some things a gentleman cannot tolerate.” ”

“ Potatoes and flapjacks!—Yes, and molasses!” Biddulph again exclaimed. “Jewel of a Ruby! This is the Ossa on Pelion of gourmandise. How underdone and overdone all the banquets of civilization seem! I charge thee, Ruby, when the potatoes and the flapjacks and molasses are ready, that thou peal a jubilee upon the bell. Now, Mr. Wade, let me see this wounded friend, and hear and tell.”
The two gentlemen met with cordiality. Brent, I believe, had never identified Miss Clitheroe with the lady Biddulph fled from, and I had never mentioned my suspicions. ”

“ He was a good Puritan, and seems to have been much esteemed by Winthrop. One letter accompanying a coat runs: “Good Mr. Winthrop, I have, by Mr. Downing’s direction sent you a coat, a sad foulding colour without lace. For the fittness I am a little vncerteyne, but if it be too bigg or too little it is esie to amend, vnder the arme to take in or let out the lyning; the outside may be let out in the gathering or taken in also without any prejudice.” ”

“ Perry prompted, the Chair banged with his bolt and cried, “Order!”
“Well, now, boys,” Tarbox went on, “what has come of having one of the right sort to be boss? Why, this. The Works go ahead, stiddy as the North River. We work full time and full-handed. We turn out stuff that no shop needs to be ashamed of. Wages is on the nail. We have a good time generally. How is that, boys, — Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen?”
“That’s so!” from everybody.
“And there’s something better yet,” Bill resumed. “Dunderbunk used to be full of crying women. They’ve stopped crying now.” ”

“ They are the heaviest expense."
"Yes," I said, impulsively, "and flannels for the children. It will be so much better than crape."
"Crape!" she ejaculated. "I don't need crape for my husband. I have too much mourning in my heart to put any on outside."
I meant some day, when I felt pretty courageous, to repeat her words to Mr. Winthrop. Once outside, I found the glorious expansion of sky and horizon very grateful after the narrow limits of the little cottage. At luncheon Mr. Winthrop asked if I had paid my visit yet to Mill Road. ”

“ Teach others that you may teach yourself, eh?" said Mr. Landholm, with a breath that was drawn very much like a sigh; and he was silent and looked grave.
"I am afraid you wouldn't like it, Winthrop," said his mother seriously. ”

“ The Winthrops of New England are a branch of the same family. Winthrop Praed was a delicate and precocious child. His mother died a year after his birth, and his earliest education was superintended by an elder sister, to whom he was tenderly attached; she died in 1830. He gave up pressing occupations in order to attend her in her last illness. In 1810 he was placed at Langley Broom school, near Colnbrook, under a Mr. Atkins. He read Plutarch and Shakespeare, and became a good chess-player. He wrote dramas and sent poems home, which were carefully criticised by his father. ”