Volume I Part 33 (2/2)
”Of course, it is impossible not to admire her; but I am afraid of her,” said Mr. Stryker, shrugging his shoulders. ”I am horribly afraid of all pretty widows.”
”Mr. Hazlehurst does not seem afraid of her.”
”Not a bit--he is there half his time; but then he is young and venturesome. We old campaigners are more wary.”
”He is an old friend of her brother's, I believe; is Mr.
Ellsworth here?”
”Yes, there he is, talking to Miss Wyllys. Perhaps he may interfere with your prediction about her and my friend Hazlehurst.”
”Possibly; but a-propos of weddings; why don't you marry, yourself, Mr. Stryker? You have been a delightful beau now, for how many years?” asked the lady, mischievously.
”Oh, these five l.u.s.tres, I suppose; for I began early,” replied Mr. Stryker, who had too much worldly wisdom, not to make a merit of frankness, where he could not help it.
{”l.u.s.tre” = a period of five years}
”Six, you mean,” said Mrs. de Vaux, laughing.
”No, five, honestly counted. I don't know exactly how old I may be; but the other day I heard a fellow say, 'Stryker can't be more than five-and-forty;' and I dare say be was right.”
”Well, allowing you are only five-and-forty, don't you mean to marry, one of these days?”
”Certainly.”
”Don't you think it time to look about you?”
”High time; but who will have me?” continued Mr. Stryker, with great complacency of manner.
”Oh, half the young ladies in the room, I dare say; excepting, of course, those who have refused you already,” said Mrs. de Vaux, mischievously; for it was suspected that Mr. Stryker had met with several rebuffs. This lady and gentleman in spite of their smiling countenances and friendly manners, owed each other a grudge, of old standing. Who does not know that where the spirit of littleness and vanity is all-powerful, these petty trials and triumphs are too often the chief spring of action; as was the case with Mr. Stryker and Mrs. de Vaux. Happy they, who have good principle and good feeling enough, to cast off folly on so small a scale!
”Tell me what is your taste, and I will look out for you,”
continued Mrs. de Vaux.
”How kind you are!--you don't include Miss de Vaux, of course; for she can't endure me. Like all modest men, I require only nine hundred and ninety-nine perfections in my wife. But then I insist chiefly on two essentials: she must have money, and she must not have brothers and sisters; I have an invincible antipathy to collaterals, whether of blood or connexion.”
”Miss Wyllys is the very person for you. Quite a fortune now, they say; and an orphan, without brother or sister; all you require. Then, you like her appearance, you say; though she is plain, she is clever, too, and amiable.”
”Of course; all young ladies are amiable, are they not?”
”I only know of one objection--she is too good for you.”
”Goodness is not to be despised in a wife. I shall require it from the future Mrs. Stryker; though not very particular about the rest of the world. I am much obliged to you, Mrs. de Vaux, for the suggestion; I'll think of it,” said Mr. Stryker, deliberately crossing one leg over the other, to make himself comfortable.
”You, who know everybody, Mr. Stryker,” said the lady, ”pray, tell me, who is that bright-faced young man, or rather, boy, standing near Mr. Wyllys and Mrs. Stanley?”
”You wish to mortify me--I never saw the lad before.”
”I can answer your question, Mrs. de Vaux,” observed Harry, who had just approached, and made his bow; ”that is my friend, Charlie Hubbard, the artist. Don't you remember the fine view of Lake Ontario, that was so much admired at the Exhibition, this spring?”
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