Part 31 (2/2)
Dr. Drayton shrugged his shoulders. ”Impossible, madame!”
”And why, I should like to know? You certainly are not bad-looking; your name is quite surrounded by a fast-increasing halo of fame,--something which is always attractive to the young ladies, you know,--and, what would be above all to many, you have money.”
”Exactly,” replied Dr. Drayton, with considerable energy. ”When I first settled down in Berlin, through some very influential friends the very first society of the place was open to me, and I found myself the recipient of marked attention from the heads of several families. I was delighted with them. Such cordiality! such hospitality! I really felt proud of myself for calling it forth, for then I was young, and the little halo which you speak of had not shed its benign influence over me; of course it was to my personal attractions, and nothing else, I owed my popularity. I happened to speak to a young American friend of mine, of the attentions I was constantly receiving,--invitations to this, that, and the other house, and wondered why it was he was not equally fortunate. 'My dear fellow,' said he, 'don't you know I haven't got any money?' His answer was certainly a damper to my feelings; but it was a good thing for me. I gave less time to b.a.l.l.s and parties, and more to my profession; gradually, as I showed myself less and less in society, I received fewer invitations, and those from gentlemen all having marriageable daughters. No, Mrs. Berkley, don't ask me to get married; at least not at present. I don't know anything about American girls; but I suppose they are all very much the same as other young ladies, and not until I can find one who will love me for myself, and not my money, will there ever be a Mrs. Drayton at the head of my table.”
”That is certainly a good resolution,” replied Mrs. Berkley, laughing; ”but I am afraid I could find you a wife much easier than a house-keeper, such as you want. Of course you will want to put your house in order, and furnish it; meanwhile we are delighted to keep Rachel with us.”
”You are very kind, very kind indeed, and I certainly shall benefit myself by your offer, for I don't like the idea of taking her to a hotel. But you haven't asked me where my house is.”
”Sure enough,” replied Mrs. Berkley; ”but my mind has been too full of your house-keeper to think of your house. Where is it?”
”That house on the corner of Beacon Street and the street just below here, I can't recall the name.”
”The free-stone house we noticed for sale the other day?” inquired Mrs.
Berkley.
”Yes, that is the one. It is larger than I really need; but the arrangement of the ground-floor suits me admirably, for I must have an office.”
”Then you intend to practise?”
”Certainly, I should be ashamed of myself if I gave up my profession; but I do not intend to do anything out of office-hours, so it will not confine me at all. I intend to take the entire charge of Rachel's property until she is of age; meanwhile I want to give her a clear idea of the value of money, so that she may be able to make a good use of her immense fortune.”
”I will look about me,” said Mrs. Berkley, ”and if I hear of any lady that I think will suit you in every way, I will let you know; but here come the girls; they have been out to see Florence Stevenson.”
Rachel was delighted with the house her uncle had bought, for it was only a few moments' walk from Mr. Berkley's, and she would be able to be with Marion every day. The two girls commenced making plans for the winter, Rachel deciding that the first thing she would do, when they got into their new house, would be to have Florence in for a long visit.
A few days after the conversation between Mrs. Berkley and Dr. Drayton, Mr. Berkley received a letter from a distant cousin of his, a lonely widow, who having lost her property, had written to him to see if he could get her a situation as house-keeper in some refined family. Upon showing this letter to his wife, she at once exclaimed that the lady was the very person for Dr. Drayton.
The necessary arrangements were soon made; the house was put in perfect order, and elegantly furnished; and Dr. Drayton took his niece to as delightful a home as one could wish to have, for Mrs. Marston proved to be all that he desired. Cultivated and agreeable, she soon won his heartfelt esteem, and Rachel loved her from their very first meeting.
After the new household had got fairly settled, Dr. Drayton proposed to Rachel that she should continue her German and French under his direction. He spoke both languages as fluently as he did English, and suggested that the lessons should consist entirely of conversation, and reading aloud from some of the best French and German authors. Rachel was very much pleased at his proposition, and asked if Marion might not join with them.
”Yes, if she likes,” replied Dr. Drayton, in answer to her request; ”but I'm afraid her head will be too full of b.a.l.l.s and parties, for her to ever keep up a regular course of studies.”
”Why, Uncle Robert!” indignantly cried Rachel; ”you don't know Marion at all, or you would not say that!”
”I don't pretend to,” quietly replied the doctor; ”but I suppose she is very much like all other young ladies.”
”Indeed she is not,” replied Rachel, energetically. ”I don't know of a girl that has as much strength of character as Marion.”
”Not even excepting Miss Florence?”
”No, not even excepting her. I love Florence dearly; she is a lovely girl, but there is something about Marion which _she_ has not got.”
”I should say so, decidedly,” replied Dr. Drayton, with provoking coolness.
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