Part 15 (1/2)

”Well,” said Miss Tewksbury placidly, ”we are about to ignore the most impressive fact, after all.”

”What is that, Aunt Harriet?”

”Why, child, these people are from Azalia, and for us Azalia is the centre of the universe.”

”Ah, don't pretend that you are not charmed, dear aunt. We shall have the pleasure of meeting the handsome Miss Hornsby, and probably Mr.

Goolsby himself--and certainly the distinguished general.”

”I only hope Ephraim Buxton has a clear conscience to-day,” remarked Miss Tewksbury with unction.

”Did you observe the att.i.tude of the general toward Mr. Goolsby, and that of Mr. Goolsby toward the general?” asked Helen, ignoring the allusion to Dr. Buxton. ”The line that the general drew was visible to the naked eye. But Mr. Goolsby drew no line. He is friendly and familiar on principle. I was reminded of the 'Brookline Reporter,' which alluded the other day to the London 'Times' as its esteemed contemporary. The affable general is Mr. Goolsby's esteemed contemporary.”

”My dear child,” said Miss Tewksbury, somewhat anxiously, ”I hope your queer conceits are not the result of your illness.”

”No, they are the result of my surroundings. I have been trying to pretend to myself, ever since we left Was.h.i.+ngton, that we are traveling through a strange country; but it is a mere pretense. I have been trying to verify some previous impressions of barbarism and s.h.i.+ftlessness.”

”Well, upon my word, my dear,” exclaimed Miss Tewksbury, ”I should think you had had ample opportunity.”

”I have been trying to take the newspaper view,” Helen went on with some degree of earnestness, ”but it is impossible. We must correct the newspapers, Aunt Harriet, and make ourselves famous. Everything I have seen that is not to be traced to the result of the war belongs to a state of arrested development.”

Miss Tewksbury was uncertain whether her niece was giving a new turn to her drollery, so she merely stared at her; but the young lady seemed to be serious enough.

”Don't interrupt me, Aunt Harriet. Give me the opportunity you would give to Dr. Barlow Blade, the trance medium. Everything I see in this country belongs to a state of arrested development, and it has been arrested at a most interesting point. It is picturesque. It is colonial.

I am amazed that this fact has not been dwelt on by people who write about the South.”

”The conservatism that prevents progress, or stands in the way of it, is a crime,” said Miss Tewksbury, pressing her thin lips together firmly.

She had once been on the platform in some of the little country towns of New England, and had made quite a reputation for pith and fluency.

”Ah, dear aunt, that sounds like an extract from a lecture. We can have progress in some things, but not in others. We have progressed in the matter of conveniences, comforts, and luxuries, but in what other directions? Are we any better than the people who lived in the days of Was.h.i.+ngton, Jefferson, and Madison? Is the standard of morality any higher now than it was in the days of the apostles?”

”Don't talk nonsense, Helen,” said Miss Tewksbury. ”We have a higher civilization than the apostles witnessed. Morality is progressive.”

”Well,” said Helen, with a sigh, ”it is a pity these people have discarded shoe-buckles and knee-breeches.”

”Your queer notions make me thirsty, child,” said Miss Tewksbury, producing a silver cup from her satchel. ”I must get a drink of water.”

”Permit me, madam,” said a sonorous voice behind them; and a tall gentleman seized the cup, and bore it away.

”It is the distinguished general!” exclaimed Helen in a tragic whisper, ”and he must have heard our speeches.”

”I hope he took them down,” said Miss Tewksbury snappishly. ”He will esteem you as a sympathizer.”

”Did I say anything ridiculous, Aunt Harriet?”

”Dear me! you must ask your distinguished general,” replied Miss Tewksbury triumphantly.

General Garwood returned with the water, and insisted on fetching more.

Helen observed that he held his hat in his hand, and that his att.i.tude was one of unstudied deference.

”The conductor tells me, madam,” he said, addressing himself to Miss Tewksbury, ”that you have tickets for Azalia. I am going in that direction myself, and I should be glad to be of any service to you.