James Fenimore Cooper Precaution, Volume 1

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of some standing, to a nobleman s seat about fifty miles from the hall; and in
order to keep things in their proper places, leave Grace with her friend, who
had expressed a wish to that effect; accordingly, the day succeeding the
departure of her son, she proceeded on her expedition, accompanied by her
willing assistant in her matrimonial speculations.
Grace Chatterton was by nature retiring and delicate; but her feelings were
acute, and on the subject of female propriety, sensitive to a degree, that the
great want of it in a relation she loved as much as her mother, had possibly
in some measure increased; her affections were too single in their objects to
have left her long in doubt, as to their nature with respect to the baronet s
son; and it was one of the most painful orders she had ever received, that
compelled her to accept her cousin s invitation--her mother was peremptory,
and Grace was obliged to comply. Every delicate feeling she possessed revolted
at the step; the visit itself was unwished for on her part; but there did
exist a reason which had reconciled her to it--the wedding of Clara; but now,
to remain after all her family had gone, in the house where resided the man,
who had as yet never solicited those affections she had been unable to
withhold; it was humiliating--it was degrading her in her own esteem, and she
could not endure it.
It is said that women are fertile in inventions to further their schemes of
personal gratification, vanity, or even mischief; it may be--it is true--but
the writer of these pages is a man--one who has seen much of the sex, and he
is happy to have an opportunity of paying a tribute to female purity and
female truth; that there are hearts so disinterested as to lose the
considerations of self, in advancing the happiness of those they love --that
there are minds so pure, as to recoil with disgust from the admission of
deception, indelicacy, or management--he knows, for he has seen it from long
and close examination; he regrets, that the very artlessness of those who are
most pure in the one sex, subjects them to the suspicions of the grosser
materials which compose the other. He believes that innocency, singleness of
heart, ardency of feeling, and unalloyed shrinking delicacy, sometimes exist
in the female bosom, to an extent that but few men are happy enough to
discover, and most men believe incompatible with the frailties of human
nature. Grace Chatterton possessed no little of what may almost be called this
ethereal spirit; and a visit to Bolton parsonage was immediately proposed by
her to Emily. The latter, too innocent herself to suspect the motives of her
cousin, was happy to be allowed to devote to Clara a fortnight, uninterrupted
by the noisy round of visiting and congratulations which had attended her
first week; and Mrs. Wilson and the two girls left the hall, the same day with
the Dowager Lady Chatterton. Francis and Clara were happy to receive them, and
they were immediately domesticated in their new abode. Doctor Ives and his
wife had postponed an annual visit to a relation of the former, on account of
the marriage of their son, and now availed themselves of the visit of Clara s
friends to perform their own engagements. B--appeared in some measure
deserted, and Egerton had the field almost to himself. Summer had arrived, and
the country bloomed in all its luxuriance of vegetation; every thing was
propitious to the indulgence of the softer passions; and Lady Moseley, ever a
strict adherent to forms and decorum, admitted the intercourse between Jane
and her admirer to be carried to as great lengths as those forms would
justify; still the colonel was not explicit, and Jane, whose delicacy dreaded
the exposure of her feelings that was involved in his declaration, gave or
sought no marked opportunities for the avowal of his passion; yet they were
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seldom separate, and both Sir Edward and his wife looked forward to their
future union, as a thing not to be doubted. Lady Moseley had given up her
youngest child so absolutely to the government of her aunt, that she seldom
thought of her future establishment; she had that kind of reposing confidence
in Mrs. Wilson s proceedings, that feeble minds ever bestow on those who are
much superior to them; and she even approved of a system in many respects,
which she could not endeavour to imitate; her affection for Emily was not,
however, to be thought less than what she felt for her other children; she was
in fact her favourite, and had the discipline of Mrs. Wilson admitted of so
weak an interference, might have been injured as such.
John Moseley had been able, by long observation, to find out exactly the hour
they breakfasted at the deanery; the length of time it took Egerton s horses
to go the distance between that house and the hall; and on the sixth morning
after the departure of his aunt, John s bays were in his phaeton, and allowing
ten minutes for the mile and a half to the park gates, John had got happily
off his own territories, before he met the tilbury travelling eastward---I am
not to know which road the colonel may turn, thought John--and after a few
friendly, but rather hasty greetings, the bays were in full trot to Bolton
parsonage.
John, said Emily, holding out her hand affectionately, and smiling a little
archly, as he approached the window where she stood, you should take a lesson
in driving from Frank; you have turned more than one hair, I believe.
How is Clara, cried John, hastily, taking the offered hand, with a kiss,
and aunt Wilson?
Both well, brother, and out walking this fine morning.
How happens it you are not with them, inquired the brother, throwing his
eyes round the room; have they left you alone?
No, Grace has this moment left the room.
Well, Emily, said John, taking his seat very composedly, but keeping his
eyes on the door, I have come to dine with you; I thought I owed Clara a
visit, and have managed nicely to give the colonel the go-by.
Clara will be happy to see you, dear John, said Emily, and so will aunt,
and so am I ---as she drew aside his fine hair with her fingers to cool his
forehead.
And why not Grace, too? asked John, with a look of a little alarm.
And Grace, too, I expect---but here she is, to answer for herself.
Grace said but little on her entrance, but her eyes were brighter than usual,
and she looked so contented and happy, that Emily observed to her, in an
affectionate manner,
I knew the Eau-de-Cologne would do your head good.
Is Miss Chatterton unwell, said Moseley, with a look of interest.
A slight head ache, said Grace, faintly, but I feel better.
Want of air and exercise; my horses are at the door; the phaeton will hold
three easily; run, sister, for your hats, almost pushing Emily out of the
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room as he spoke. In a few minutes the horses might have been suffering for
air, but surely not for exercise.
I wish, cried John, with impatience, when at the distance of a couple of
miles from the parsonage, that gentleman had driven his gig out of the road.
There was a small group on one side of the road, consisting of a man, woman,
and several children. The owner of the gig had alighted for some purpose, and
was in the act of speaking to them, as the phaeton approached at a great rate.
John, cried Emily, in terror, you never can pass---you will upset us.
There is no danger, dear Grace, said the brother, endeavouring to check his
horses; he succeeded in part, but not so as to prevent his passing at a spot
where the road was narrow; his wheel hit violently against a stone, and some
of his works gave way; the gentleman immediately hastened to his [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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