ACCIDENTAL AND CONFIDENTIAL1.
1815.
Mr. Wrenford, the bookkeeper, whose tutoring days were now over, sat at his desk in the office, reading letters which had come by morning post addressed to the firm.
Among the letters which he opened and read was one for Mrs. P. Wright, in care of P. Wright, jr., for Phil had chosen Sarah for his bride, and Bearie was preparing a home for Nancy. It was from Abbie, and lay bare to her bosom2 friend and sister-in-law the deep secrets of her heart.
She had been disappointed, and had resolved at length to give up fretting3 for one whom she had loved and lost. Could he ever have loved her? Why, if alive and able to communicate with her, had he remained as dead? Could it be that he had laid down his life in defence of the colony with gallant4 Brock at Queenston? or at Stony5 Creek6? but that would not account for his silence before the invasion. Ever since she had parted with him at Quebec his image had been enshrined in her heart, and now two others were seeking her hand in marriage. One, though unloved and distrusted by every member of the family, her father only excepted, had once again renewed his suit, and her heart turned to him because of his resemblance to his friend, her first love. The other was her brother's most intimate friend, who had assisted in releasing her from her perilous7 position the night of the sugar party. To say which she loved most was a problem. At times one seemed uppermost in her heart's affection, at times the other.
The letter closed with the following pathetic words: "Would that an angel from heaven could fly down and whisper the name of the one most worthy8 of my deepest confidence and love. Oft have I wondered, with swelling9 heart, if the Omniscient10 thought me unworthy to enter the sacred sphere of wedded11 life. Now, at last, there seems a ray of hope. Let it be fully12 understood, dear Sarah, that this is entré nous. Do not whisper it even to Phil."
Wrenford read and re-read the precious missive, and hastily jotting13 down one or two sentences in his pocket-book, re-folded, re-sealed it and handed it to Phil, who came in shortly afterwards.
The Chief discovered by mere14 chance that evening that, for some unaccountable reason, his bookkeeper had debited15 the men with the amount of their wages, and credited them with the amount of their store account, and charged a man with an order for two shillings instead of two pounds, for which he reproved him severely16.
Wrenford looked dazed and bewildered, and replied with a deep sigh, after meditating17 for some time and shifting his attitude uneasily:
"Ah, well, sir, you see, I am not altogether responsible for my actions, for, as a matter of fact, sir, I fear that my affections have run off with my wits, and I feel impelled18 to lay before you a very important request. For many months I have been exceedingly desirous of approaching your second daughter with a view to marriage, but hesitated to do so without consulting you, sir. I think the time has come when your daughter would consider the matter favorably, and with your consent I shall lose no time in laying the matter before her."
The Chief tilted19 back his chair, thrust both hands into his pockets, and with a characteristic droop20 of his right eyelid21 said slowly:
"You have my full, free and hearty22 consent, and if you are successful I shall take you into the firm of P. Wright & Sons as a partner."
Wrenford went to the wicket in answer to a call from one of the employees, and the Chief left his seat and stood leaning against the high desk with its set of books, surveying his clerk from head to foot. The fastidiousness of his dress, the arrogance23 of his manner, his cultured mind, his shrewd business capacity, gave additional effect to his claim. He seemed a man worthy in every way of the favor he sought.
The Chief's face was expressive24 of satisfaction in the highest degree, and could hardly have deceived the young Englishman with reference to what was passing in his thoughts. They left the office together at twilight25 and strolled beyond the village by a pleasant walk to the White House. It was a clear, calm evening, with hardly a sound to break the stillness but a cow-bell tinkling26 in the distance, the hum of insects and the rushing water. As they entered a grove27 of stately trees they beheld28 an unexpected vision. It was Abbie. Her proud dark eyes were fixed29 upon the ground as though some passion or struggle were raging within. By her side was Thomas Brigham, who stood looking intently into her face, holding her hand meanwhile.
Matters were evidently on the verge30 of coming to a climax31 when they heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Abbie looked up suddenly, her face crimsoning32 to the roots of her hair as she observed the cold steel-gray eyes of Mr. Wrenford looking defiantly33 at Thomas.
"I fear we are intruding," said the Chief, coldly.
"Not at all," replied Abbie. "Mr. Brigham has just given me a conundrum34 to solve, and I was trying to think of an answer."
Whereupon Mr. Wrenford said:
"By the way, Miss Wright, I have been seeking an opportunity all day of seeing you with reference to the new spinnet that your mother wished us to order from Montreal. We had a letter from the firm this morning, and I was going up to see you about it."
Almost unconsciously Abbie was led to walk with Mr. Wrenford the remainder of the way, while Thomas, biting his lips with rage, followed in solemn silence with the Chief.
It was rather late, and the Chief, following the example of the other members of the family, retired35, leaving the rival suitors and Abbie in the sitting-room36.
A look of triumph came into the face of Harold as she addressed her remarks mostly to him, and seemed oblivious37 of the presence of Thomas. This, however, faded away when she passed a small basket of maple38 sugar to his rival. Clouds and sunshine alternated in the faces of the jealous suitors, each of whom had made a solemn resolve to remain until after the other should withdraw. The embarrassment39 of the situation was relieved only when the great old-fashioned clock struck one, and Abbie, with extended hand, advanced to Mr. Brigham and said:
"May I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you sometime to-morrow? and you, too, Mr. Wrenford," she added, as the two bowed themselves out of the door.
The progress of the suits of the rival claimants for Abbie's affections had been watched with deep interest by the villagers; in fact, it was an open secret that betting had taken place among them on the chances of Harold Wrenford and Thomas Brigham.
Abbie, who in every other matter held such decided40 opinions, was unable to come to a decision in this. At times, after long nights of reflection, she was disposed to accept Harold; and then, again, after other wakeful nights, she felt her inclinations41 turning towards Thomas.
But now things had come to a crisis. All night she tossed restlessly on her pillow, indecision and suspense42 depriving her of rest and peace, but as the first rays of dawn began to gild43 the eastern sky Abbie had resolved that she would accept the one who would come first.
At an early hour Mr. Wrenford called, and after a prolonged interview, Abbie declared to the family circle her engagement to the young Englishman. The announcement was received in silence. Tears trickled44 slowly down the mother's face, while the father's was radiant with satisfaction.
It was subsequently decided to postpone45 the marriage indefinitely, out of deference46 to the wishes of the mother and brothers.
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1
confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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2
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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3
fretting
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| n. 微振磨损 adj. 烦躁的, 焦虑的 | |
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4
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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5
stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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6
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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7
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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8
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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9
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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10
omniscient
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| adj.无所不知的；博识的 | |
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11
wedded
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| adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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13
jotting
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| n.简短的笔记，略记v.匆忙记下( jot的现在分词 )；草草记下，匆匆记下 | |
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14
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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15
debited
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| v.记入（账户）的借方( debit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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17
meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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18
impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19
tilted
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| v. 倾斜的 | |
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20
droop
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| v.低垂，下垂；凋萎，萎靡 | |
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21
eyelid
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| n.眼睑，眼皮 | |
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22
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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23
arrogance
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| n.傲慢，自大 | |
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24
expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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25
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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26
tinkling
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| n.丁当作响声 | |
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27
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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28
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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29
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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30
verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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31
climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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32
crimsoning
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| 变为深红色（crimson的现在分词形式） | |
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33
defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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34
conundrum
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| n.谜语；难题 | |
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35
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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36
sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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37
oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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38
maple
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| n.槭树，枫树，槭木 | |
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39
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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40
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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41
inclinations
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| 倾向( inclination的名词复数 )； 倾斜； 爱好； 斜坡 | |
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42
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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43
gild
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| vt.给…镀金，把…漆成金色，使呈金色 | |
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44
trickled
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| v.滴( trickle的过去式和过去分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
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45
postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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46
deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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