Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

1

a very good joint for Mr. Joseph, and he wondered his brother could not see it. He withdrew, astonished at Mr. Kemp's coolness and decision.

Michael thought he would send Joe home again for a short season, that he might forget the lady, and that she might recover her liberty, and bestow her hand more suitably. But the mother was not to be so baffled; she called on Mr. Michael, and said, "She was quite sorry to find Mr. Joseph was not likely to go into business, and that it was an old attachment, that she thought it would go hard with her daughter, and that she feared her good man would never consent that her Louisa should marry a working man." Michael Kemp surprised Mrs. Jennings by the following reply, "I think, Ma'am, Mr. Jennings is perfectly in the right, my brother Joseph is a working boy, his father is a weekly labourer at a nursery garden. I consider myself as Mrs. Finch's steward; if I succeed in business, I may perhaps have the great consolation of assisting my parents, when they can no longer provide for themselves; I have several brothers and sisters who have quite as just claims on me as Joseph; but even of these I shall not think, till by industry and frugality I may be able to provide for

my father and mother." "Well, Mr. Kemp, I must needs say you are losing a good chance; I can't tell if you know my Louisa, she has had the best of educations, and would have made your brother as genteel a wife, as any man would desire to look upon. And she is so religious too, I think within the last twelvemonth she have giv'd away more money than ever I did in all my life, and yet you see she is quite elegant." Michael said, “he had not the honour of knowing Miss Jennings." "What, Mr. Kemp, did you never see my Louisa at church!!" "I have no doubt, Madam, that I may have seen Miss Jennings, but I believe you have more daughters than one." "Oh yes, certainly, there's my Amelia Jane, and Eleanora Frances, and there's Antoinette, as we christened after the Queen of France; I often say I hope the poor girl will never be guillotined." Michael gravely replied, “he hoped not." Talking of that guillotine, Sir, I have heard it as a remarkable quick death, do you know whether that's true, Sir?" 'No, really Madam, but I should suppose the report is likely to be so." Mrs. Jennings was delighted at drawing Mr. Kemp into conversation even on the guillotine; and so she continued facetiously, "By what I could see on't, for a

66

66

[ocr errors]

man once came to our house with a pattern, and says I to my husband, my little Tiny shall see, (for that's what we call Antoinette,) my little Tiny shall see how her namesake had her head cut off. So I

puts my hand in my pocket, and I gives the man twopence, and I called all my children about me, and my Harry, you know him, Sir, (Michael bowed,) he's as 'cute a lad as ye shall see in a summer's day: why, says he, mother, why its just for all the world like a mouse trap! and when I came to look on it again, why, says I, boy, so it is! and his father said, let our Harry alone, he will do in the world."

66

Poor Michael's patience was almost exhausted, Mrs. Jennings began to perceive it, but she was not willing to end the matter quite so quickly, so she said, I hope your mother is quite well, Sir." "I hope she is, Madam; I have not heard for some time past"A very handsome woman, Mrs. Kemp, I said to my husband, when I saw her at church, says I, John, that Mrs. Kemp must have been a beauty in her young days! but as I was saying, Mr. Kemp, perhaps if you was to call now and then at our house and take a friendly cup of tea, and smoke a pipe with my husband, and Mr. Joseph was to come in you know, my husband

ing

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

may get used to him; now that's a mighty particular thing in him, I forgot to tell you that he takes a strange fancy to a thing when he's used to it, so as I was a sayMichael now determined to cut short this harangue, "I should think myself, Madam, unworthy the confidence of any person, if I were capable of endeavouring, by artifice, to persuade them to that, which, in my own judgment, I thought unsuitable; my brother, Madam, has no right to expect any woman for his wife above the rank of an honest, decent maid servant "Oh dear, Mr. Kemp, you are so humble!" Michael shook his head: "I hope, Madam, your daughters will be better provided for, and that I shall never forfeit my title to that honesty which gained me the good opinion of my late master. There are so many persons in this parish who remember me a poor stable boy, that I am sure it would be thought a sad disgrace for your daughter, Mrs. Jennings, to throw away her fine education on my brother Well, I'm sorry for the young folks, however," said this persevering mother. At this moment in came Joseph, and when he saw Mrs. J. he looked more silly than usual, hoped she was well, and all the family was well. Quite well, and she thanked him.

[ocr errors]

66

"And

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

won't you have nothing to take?" said Joseph. "Why, I shouldn't mind if I did have a little fresh beer, or a drop of ginger wine." "I can offer you a little elder wine," said Michael, "but we have no ginger." "Ah, that's what I often say, there's none in this country as knows how to make ginger wine but me, and you know its very good, Mr. Joseph. "I never tasted any thing pleasanter; I should think, brother, as Betty Smith could make some.' "I should be quite happy to show Betty how to make it, Mr. Kemp, and my Louisa shall write out the receipt, Mr. Joseph." Mr. Joseph smiled, but Michael was so absolutely disgusted with this incorrect mother, that he remained obstinately silent, until impenetrable as she was, she began to feel her departure as the most proper step. Joseph, making an excuse from the steepness of the road, insisted on giving her his arm down the hill. Michael coldly bade her good morning, and when Joseph returned, said, "I fear you have acted imprudently."

In thus repelling the hopes of Mrs. Jennings, Michael had only put back, what he would never have encouraged under any circumstances. To see Joseph settled in the midst of a weak and worldly family, would, he knew, be certain ruin. To give him a genteel wife, whose head was already full of ideas far beyond

« AnteriorContinuar »