When Clara Manton heard that they were to have two fellow-boarders, and that one of them was a young man, she determined2, as she expressed it to her friend, Louisa Bates, "to set her cap for him."
"Would you marry him?" inquired Louisa, of her friend.
[Pg 108]
"As to that, I can't tell. I haven't seen him yet. He may be very disagreeable for all I know. But even if he is, I am going to flatter him up, and make him fall in love with me. Then, when he offers himself, I can take his case into consideration."
"Perhaps you'll fall in love yourself, Clara," suggested her friend.
"I am not very susceptible3. I wouldn't marry a masculine angel, unless he had some money. I must find out how Mr. Cromwell stands in that way, first."
When James Cromwell first made his appearance at Mrs. Shelby's table, Clara Manton, who sat opposite, fixed4 her black eyes upon his face, and examined him attentively5.
As James Cromwell's personal appearance has previously6 been described, it will readily be believed that Clara was not fascinated with the retreating forehead, ferret-like eyes, mottled complexion7 and insignificant8 features.
"He's horrid9 ugly!" she said to herself. "I don't think I ever saw a homelier man. The boy is much better looking. I wish he were the young man. There'd be some satisfaction in exercising my fascinations10 upon him. However, beauty is[Pg 109] only skin deep, and if Mr. Cromwell has got money, I don't know that I would object to marrying him. What I want is a nice house and an easy life."
It will be seen that Clara Manton was not one of the romantic girls of which heroines are usually made. In truth, she was incapable11 of any love, except self-love, and though she could counterfeit12 sentiment, she had none of the quality. She was very practical and calculating, and did not mean to surrender her freedom, unless she could obtain the substantial advantages which she desired.
In spite, therefore, of James Cromwell's personal deficiencies, she determined to exercise her arts upon him.
On sitting down to the table she was introduced by Mrs. Shelby.
"Pretty well, thank you," said Cromwell, rather awkwardly, for he always felt uncomfortable in the society of ladies, particularly if they were young, or in any way pretty or attractive. It might have been a vague idea of his own personal disadvantages that produced this feeling, but it was partly because he had had very limited [Pg 110]opportunities of becoming acquainted or associating with the opposite sex.
"I am glad you like us well enough to establish yourself here," said the young lady, graciously. "I hear you have gone into business in the village, so that we may hope to have you as a permanent accession to our village society."
"Thank you, Miss Manton," said James Cromwell, trying to think of something more to say, but not succeeding.
"Do you go back to the store in the evening?" asked the young lady, as he rose from the table.
"Yes, I think so. I am expected to keep open in the evening."
"But you have an assistant?"
"Yes."
"Then I advise you not to make yourself a slave to business. We shall hope for the pleasure of your company occasionally in the evening."
James Cromwell felt flattered, and looking full in the young lady's face, he thought to himself, "She is very pretty, and she seems to show me a great deal of politeness."
"Thank you, Miss Manton, for your kind invitation. I will accept it very soon—as soon as I think I can be spared from my business."
[Pg 111]
"You will be quite welcome," said Clara, graciously.
The young man might not have felt quite so well pleased, if he could have read what was passing in Clara's mind.
"He is not only ugly," she said to herself, "but an awkward boor14. I don't believe he ever spoke15 to a lady before. However, he may be worth catching16. At any rate, it will give me a little amusement to angle for him, and I will see if I can't make an impression."
"Where ignorance is bliss17, 'tis folly18 to be wise." So runs an old proverb. This was illustrated19 in the case of James Cromwell, who, ignorant of the real opinion entertained of him by Miss Manton, began, after a while, to conceive the delusive20 thought that she had taken a fancy to him. But we are anticipating.
Three evenings later, when supper was concluded, James Cromwell made no movement to go back to the store. This was quickly observed by Clara, who said, with a smile:
"You are going to remain with us, this evening, are you not, Mr. Cromwell?"
"If it will be agreeable," he said.
"Can you doubt it?" she said, with a look which[Pg 112] quickened the pulsations of Cromwell's heart. "I get so tired passing the evening alone. Papa gets hold of a paper or magazine, and I am left to my own devices for amusement."
"Do you like music, Mr. Cromwell?" she inquired.
"Perhaps you are a musician?"
"Not at all," he said, hastily, and in this statement, at least, he was correct. "Won't you play something, Miss Manton?"
"I haven't anything new, but if you don't mind old pieces, I will play for you."
She played a noisy instrumental piece, to which James Cromwell listened in silence, with very little idea of what was being played. His eyes were fixed rather on the young lady herself.
"How do you like it, Mr. Cromwell?"
"Very much, indeed," said Cromwell, hitching23 his chair a little nearer the instrument, and then coloring, lest the movement should have been observed.
"I think I will sing you something," said Clara.[Pg 113] "I don't sing in public, but before an intimate friend I do not feel so bashful."
The words "intimate friend," slipped out so easily and naturally that she seemed unconscious of them, but they were intentional24, and she glanced out of the corners of her eyes to watch their effect. She saw that Cromwell's eyes brightened, and the color came to his pale cheeks, and then she knew that they had produced the effect which she intended.
"She is certainly very charming," thought Cromwell, "and she is very friendly. I don't think I ever met a young lady so attractive."
"He's getting in love," said Clara to herself. "It'll be fun to see him when he gets quite carried away by the tender passion. I've heard of eloquent25 eyes, but I don't think his are capable of looking like anything except those of a ferret. Well, I'll see the play through."
She accordingly sang the well-known song, "Then I'll Remember Thee," putting into it as much meaning as possible, and occasionally glancing in a languishing26 manner at the young man, who sat uneasily in his chair, and began to feel all the symptoms of love. He sat as if spell-bound when she had finished.
[Pg 114]
"Why don't you compliment me, Mr. Cromwell?" she said, turning round, with a smile. "Do you know you are wanting in your duty, sir? Every young lady expects to be complimented, when she has done a young gentleman the favor to sing to him."
"It was because I was so charmed," said James Cromwell, with more readiness than might have been expected. "I was so charmed that I was incapable of saying a word."
"I am afraid you are like the rest of your sex, a sad flatterer, Mr. Cromwell," said the young lady, shaking her head, with a smile. "You don't expect me to believe that, now, do you?"
"Yes, I do, Miss Manton, for it is perfectly27 true," said James Cromwell, plucking up courage; "you sing like a nightingale."
"Do I? I was so afraid you'd say like an owl28, or something else uncomplimentary. As you have behaved so well, I must sing you something more."
So the evening passed. The young lady paid assiduous attention to her visitor, and when they parted her task was accomplished29. James Cromwell was in love.
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1
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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susceptible
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| adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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6
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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7
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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8
insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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9
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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10
fascinations
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| n.魅力( fascination的名词复数 )；有魅力的东西；迷恋；陶醉 | |
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11
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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12
counterfeit
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| vt.伪造，仿造；adj.伪造的，假冒的 | |
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13
suavity
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| n.温和；殷勤 | |
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14
boor
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| n.举止粗野的人；乡下佬 | |
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15
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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16
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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17
bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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18
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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19
illustrated
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| adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词 | |
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20
delusive
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| adj.欺骗的，妄想的 | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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23
hitching
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| 搭乘； （免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的现在分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上 | |
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intentional
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| adj.故意的，有意（识）的 | |
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25
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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26
languishing
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| a. 衰弱下去的 | |
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27
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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28
owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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29
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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