CHAPTER XIII.
LOVERS AND LOVERS.
Jaqueline found herself very much engrossed.
There was another young lady to attract visitors, and Patricia soonbecame a favorite. She was vivacious and ready to take her part in anyamusement, could dance like a fairy, and sing like a bird.
"You'll have to look to your laurels, Miss Jaqueline," said old Mr.Manners, their next neighbor. "Patty will carry off all the lovers inno time. I hope you have made sure of yours."
Jaqueline blushed and tossed her head.
"He would marry me to-morrow," she returned. "I'm in no haste to bemarried."
At the next wedding she had another attendant, the brother of thebride. Roger was too busy to come for the mere pleasure. When thebirthday ball was at the Lees' Mr. Monroe had sent him to Philadelphiaon some important business. So Lieutenant Ralston was cavalier for bothgirls; and certainly Patty was one of the belles of the evening, andcould have danced with two partners every time.
After that came Patty's birthday, and a grand affair it was. Mrs.Jettson ran down to look on and help a little, as she said, but notto take an active part. Ralston begged that Dr. Collaston might beinvited. He had graduated from the Philadelphia school, but was aMarylander by birth; and, having a private fortune, had decided tospend the winter in Washington. A bright, fine-looking young fellow whoplayed the flute delightfully and sang all the songs of the day, and,what was of still more importance to social life, could dance with zestand elegance.
Jaqueline was in some degree the hostess, and distributed her favorsimpartially, so Roger had very little of her. Varina and Annis felt asif they were in fairyland, and were entranced with delight.
Mrs. Jettson insisted that after Christmas she should have her turnwith the girls.
"There are to be some famous visitors, I hear, and Washington isgetting to be quite a notable place. Not quite St. James; but Mrs.Madison is our queen, and it is like a little court, as Philadelphiaused to be in Mrs. Washington's time. The debates will be worthhearing, or rather seeing, for the famous speakers who will take part.Dolly writes about Mr. Calhoun, and there is a Mr. Henry Clay, who isvery eloquent. I can't give regular parties, but you girls can go out,and Patty must attend a levee and be presented to Mrs. Madison."
Patricia was very much elated.
"Why, it will be something like the English stories,"--there were a fewnovels even then that girls were allowed to read,--"going up to Londonor to Bath with a trunk full of finery. I don't suppose you ever willtake us to London, papa?"
"I'm getting too old. You will have to get a husband to take you toLondon."
"'Where the streets were so wide and the lanes were so narrow?'" sangPatty. "But I won't have a wheelbarrow. I'll have a coach, or nothing."
"I wish you were not going away," Annis sighed. "It's so bright andmerry when you are here, and so many ladies come in their prettyfrocks, and they laugh and talk. I can hear you upstairs when I am inmy bed. And the fiddles sound so gay, and then I know you are dancing.Oh, I wish Christmas and birthdays could come oftener!"
"The birthdays might do for little people who are anxious to grow oldfast," said Jaqueline, patting the child's shoulder. "But the restof us wouldn't want two or three in a year. And it won't be very longbefore you'll be going to Washington to see the queen, pussy cat."
"But I want you, not the queen. It will be so lonesome when you aregone!"
"You are a little sweet!" Jaqueline bent over and kissed her. "I hopeyou'll stay just sweet, nothing else. Everybody will love you."
"I'm afraid I don't want quite everybody," she returned in a hesitatingtone.
"Yes, one can even have too much of love," laughed the elder sister.She thought she sometimes had too much of it. She was proud of RogerCarrington, and she was quite sure she did not care for anyone elsein the way of wishing that some other person stood in his place. Why,then, was she not ready to step into his life and make it glad with asupreme touch of happiness?
Annis glanced up wistfully to the beautiful face bent over her, whichwas more engrossed with its own perplexities than considering herlittle sister. Then suddenly she laughed, a low musical sound with muchamusement in it, and Annis smiled too.
"You are having love troubles early, Annis dear," she said gayly.Charles' _penchant_ increased rather than diminished, and Annis foundit somewhat exacting and troublesome. When there were other youngvisitors Varina appropriated them, much to Charles' satisfaction, andhe invariably turned the cold shoulder to other little girls.
"But Charles is going to school presently, and he will get interestedin boys and plans for the future, so you may stand a chance of beingforgotten; how will you like that?"
"Why, I shall have mamma always. Jaqueline," hesitatingly, "does anyonelove you too much? Is it Mr. Ralston? And doesn't he love Marian anymore?"
"My dear, when Marian was engaged Mr. Ralston gave her up, which wasright and honorable. Little girls can't understand all about suchmatters."
"I like Mr. Ralston very much," Annis remarked gravely. "Varina thinksPatty will marry him."
"What nonsense! Varina is quite too ready with her tongue. Come, don'tyou want a little ride with me before I go to town?"
The child was delighted, and ran off for her hat and coat.
Her father had suggested a little caution in regard to Mr. Ralston.They were simply friends. He had never uttered a word that could bewrongly construed. She had a kind of safe feeling with him. Was thereany real danger? But he was Roger's friend as well?
There were already some invitations awaiting the two girls whenthey arrived at Mrs. Jettson's. Patricia was much elated with herfirst levee. Certainly there was a group of distinguished womenentertaining--Mrs. Cutts and Mrs. Lucy Washington, now a charming youngwidow; Mrs Gallatin, and the still handsome Mrs. Monroe, who had beenan acknowledged New York beauty; and among the men the very agreeableyoung Washington Irving, who was to leave a lasting mark on Americanliterature.
"But you feel almost afraid of the wisdom and genius and power," saidPatricia to Dr. Collaston. "Now, there is Mr. Clay, with his sharpeyes under the overhanging eyebrows that look as if they might dartout at you and somehow set you in a blaze. I am to go hear one ofhis speeches, my brother insists. And my cousin Dolly is wild aboutMr. Calhoun. Don't you think they might both have been made handsomerwithout any great detriment to the world? And Mrs. Calhoun is charming.She knew some of the Floyds and heard about Dolly's marriage."
"Patrick Henry wasn't a handsome man, if accounts are reliable. Geniusand good looks do not always go together," and Collaston smiled.
"There is Mr. Irving. He talks delightfully. And it is a pleasure tolook at him."
"Call no man happy until he is dead. I mean it is not safe to predicthow much fame one will win until----"
"Until he has won it. But it is a kind of cruel thing to wait untilyou are dead, when you can't know anything about it. I mean to take mydelight as I go along. But, then, women are not expected to be addictedto longing for fame."
"Still they may be famous for beauty. I think there have been a numberof famous women. Queen Elizabeth----"
"Don't instance the Empress Catherine nor Catherine de Medicis. If youdo, I shall never forgive you. Nor Joan of Arc--I can't remember anymore."
"Nor the Pilgrim mothers! They deserved a good deal of credit to setup housekeeping on bleak Plymouth Rock. Why doesn't someone talk aboutthem! Housekeeping is a womanly grace or virtue or acquirement--whichdo you call it?"
"I suppose it is an acquirement when you work hard to obtain it, agrace when it comes natural. Do you imagine they kindled the fire onthe rocks and boiled the kettle as we do when we go off in the woodsfor a day's pleasure?"
"They wouldn't let you do it now. Plymouth Rock has become----"
"The palladium of liberty! Isn't that rather choice and fit andelegant? It is a pity that I can't take the credit of inventing it.And what a shame we haven't a few rocks about here! I have a dreadfulfeeling that the
Capital may sink down in the slough some day anddisappear. Every street ends in a marsh."
"You see, this is rightly called the New World--it is not finished yet."
"Dr. Collaston, we can't allow you to monopolize the beauties ofthe evening. Here are some guests anxious to meet Miss Mason," andthereupon Patricia was turned slightly around to face a group of youngpeople.
But it was not all gayety or compliments, though men were gallantenough then, and ready with florid encomiums. There was the dreadedtopic of war, which was touched upon with bated breath; there weremuttered anathemas concerning the impressment of sailors; there werefears of France and a misgiving that we were not strong enough to copewith England while our resources were still slender. And already therewere undercurrents forming for the Presidential election more than sixmonths hence.
But the younger people chatted nonsense, laughed at trifles, and madeengagements for pleasure as well as for life; or the more coquettishones teased their lovers with vain pretenses. Mrs. Van Ness entertainedwith ease and brilliance, and was as fond of gathering the youngerpeople about her as those more serious companies where the responsibleparty men met and in a veiled way touched upon the graver questions.At Mrs. Gallatin's one met the more intellectual or scientific people.There was a feeling in the air that the country ought to consider anadvancement in literature. Boston was already pluming herself upon acertain intellectual standing. There were Harvard and a Law Club, anda kind of literary center that had issued a magazine, and there wereseveral papers. New York had some poets, and there had been a fewnovels written. But what could anyone say about such a new country?There were no famous ruins, though there were battlefields that were tobe historic ground when men could look at them from a distance. Many abrave story lurked in the fastnesses of Virginia, and old James Riverheld a romance in almost every curve of its banks.
But people were busy about the currency and the debts, and the lawsthe young nation must have for her safety, and the respect she mustdemand from other nations. For this is one of the things nations givegrudgingly; perhaps individuals do it, as well. Even now Mr. Adams'administration was criticised, and Mr. Benjamin Franklin was accusedof spending his time flirting with French women, who were greatflatterers, all the world knew. And some people were still berating theJefferson policy, and sneered at little Jemmy Madison. Washington hadnot really taken hold of the hearts of the people. Gouverneur Morrishad said wittily that "it only lacked cellars and houses and decentlypaved streets and a steady population, and that it was a fine city forfuture residences."
Georgetown was more settled and prosperous, and there was much goingback and forth, if coaches did now and then get stuck in the mud; andyoung gentlemen not infrequently adopted the Philadelphia custom ofdrawing on long leggings when they went on horseback to keep theirhandsome stockings and their velvet smallclothes from being injured.
The South was well represented in these early days. Newspaper lettersfound their way to other cities, with enthusiastic descriptions of theprincipal beauties, their charms and fascinations. Mrs. Madison and hertwo sisters perhaps set the pace for delightful hospitality, and thatstill more engaging and agreeable quality of giving guests a pleasanttime and a lasting remembrance to take away with them.
But it was not all pleasure. There were housewifely duties; and morethan one visitor saw the first lady of the land in her morning gown ofgray stuff and a big white apron, for servants were not always equalto the state dinners. There were some charities too, when the youngerpeople met to sew, and gossip about new fashions and new admirers.And the first real work of benevolence was undertaken about that timeby some of the more notable women. This was the City Orphan Asylum,for already there were homeless waifs at the Capital. They met once aweek to cut out clothing, or cut over garments sent in. Mrs. Van Nesskept up her interest in it through a long life, after Mrs. Madisonretired to her Virginian home to nurse her husband's invalid mother,and finally devote herself to the years of dependence that befellthe husband of her love. Certainly the record of her later life readslike a charming romance. But the young people were not interested inpolicies, and could not believe in war, except Indian skirmishes andamong the European nations hungering for power.
Patricia was eager for fun and delight, and dearly loved a dance. And,like more modern girls, she had a desire to be settled in life, tohave a home of her own. To her that seemed the chief business to beundertaken through these early years. She liked Ralph Carrington verymuch. "But perhaps one in a family ought to suffice," she remarked toJane. "Then he is so grave and bookish, and his wife will be expectedto come home. I dare say Jack and I would always dispute abouthusbands. Ralph has the best temper. Roger is dreadfully jealous. Ican't see how Jack dares to go on so."
"She'll go too far some day," and Jane gave her head a slow, ominousshake. "And she'll be very foolish! You mark my words, Roger Carringtonwill be sent abroad before he dies of old age. It's a great honor, Isuppose, but I'd rather go on living here."
"I really don't think I'll take Ralph," after some consideration. "Doyou suppose this gold-thread embroidery will look like that importedstuff?" holding up her work, as if that was more important.
"Well, it's pretty enough for a queen. There's that New York judge,Patty----"
"I'd rather have someone first-hand. I can't take another woman'schildren to my palpitating bosom and have it palpitate as sweetly asMarian's did. But, la! there's a talk that Mrs. Washington smiles onJudge Todd, who is her shadow! But he's in the Supreme Court."
"And ever so much older."
"Well, so was Mr. Madison."
"I like young men best."
"Peyton Lee is over here half his time."
"But, then, I've known him always. And he is too easy. Why, I couldrun right over him! Because a man cares for a girl he shouldn't bewishy-washy," and Patty tossed her dainty head.
Jane laughed. "And the doctor?"
"Oh, I dare say he will want to go back to Philadelphia and turnQuaker. I couldn't wear those hideous straight gowns and horrid scoophats without a bow!"
"He has been investing in Washington property. He talks of buildingseveral houses to rent for the winter. It would be quite a scheme,if they were furnished. Senator Macy would have brought his familyif he could have found a comfortable place for them to live. Thereought to be some decent hotels and boarding-houses. Men can manage tosqueeze in, but it gives permanency to a city to have homes and wivesand children. And Washington is kind of shifty. Look how prosperousGeorgetown is!"
Patty nodded. The doctor had discussed this property scheme with her.She was seriously considering him in her own mind. He had not quiteasked her to marry him, but he was keeping a very watchful eye overher.
They went up to Arlington for a three-days' visit and a dance. Therewas a week at Bladensburg and a sleigh-ride, a rather infrequentoccurrence, which made no end of fun and frolic. By this time thedoctor had laid his case before Mr. Mason. He had decided to cast inhis lot with the new city, to set up a home, and desired permission toaddress charming Miss Patricia on the subject. He presented his worldlyprospects to the elder gentleman in a very frank manner, and referredhim to some well-known residents of the Quaker City.
Patty had been engrossed a good deal with her own affairs, although shehad laughed and danced with the gayest. Jane had been much interestedin watching the outcome of the adventure. She had an elder-sisterlyfeeling for these girls, who had been so much nearer since Marian'sdefection. She should be rather proud of their both doing so well underher supervision.
So Jaqueline had been going her own gait pretty well, and developedan inordinate fondness for pleasure and flattery. She was too wise tobelieve all the pretty speeches, all the earnest speeches even. Butthey had a rosy fragrance, and perhaps the good thing about some ofthem was that they faded. She was not an inborn coquette, hungry forlasting power over men's hearts, but the present moment satisfied her.The variety fascinated her.
Roger Carrington, watching this, was at first
rather amused, then alittle hurt, and finally, when he began to ask himself seriously howmuch true regard Jaqueline had for him, grew passionately jealous. Ifshe had said, "I have made a sad mistake; I find that I have a deeperregard for Lieutenant Ralston than I imagined; will you give me backmy freedom?" he would have been manly to the heart's core, and releasedher, though it had wrenched away the beautiful dream of his life.
But she affected to treat this merely as a friendship. Could she notsee?
When other attentions became troublesome she sheltered herself behindRalston. He was engrossed in the affairs of the country. He had afeeling at times that he was only playing a part in life, that insteadof being merely an ornamental soldier he should go out on the frontierand take an active part in the struggles. He was not meant for astatesman, though he listened, fascinated, to Marshall and Randolph andClay and Calhoun, and envied them their power of moving the multitude.Then, it did not seem very heroic to be getting the level of a streetand calculating the filling in, to consider Tiber Creek and DarbyMarsh, to superintend rows of trees and dikes and blind ditches. Butwhen he confessed his dissatisfactions to Jaqueline, she said witha wise, earnest, sisterly air: "Oh, do not go away! There will bean election in the coming autumn, and how do you know but we may beplunged into war and need you for our own defense? Arthur thinks somuch of your advice and counsel."
That was very true. The thing was to build up Washington. Other citieshad grown by slow accretion, and been a hundred and more years aboutit. Congress had ordered a city on a slender purse. There had beenmagnificent plans and a half-finished Capitol, a Presidential residencethat Mrs. Adams had not inaptly termed a "great castle"; there werescattered beautiful houses, and though more than a dozen years hadpassed it was not yet a city of homes; but there was a new _amourpropre_ awakening. The poverty of those days can scarcely be understoodin these times of lavishness.
So energetic young men like Arthur Jettson and Dr. Collaston foundscope for all their energies, and were warmly welcomed.
The latter had hardly decided where to make his home until he metPatricia Mason. And now he adopted his nation's Capital at once.
His answer was favorable, and he hurried to his sweetheart with allimpatience, though he had been cool enough before. And she acceptedhim, as any sensible girl with a strong liking for a young man everyway worthy of her regard was likely to do. Jane was called in presentlyto rejoice with them.
"Oh, Patty!" she exclaimed afterward, kissing her enthusiastically,"it's just a splendid marriage! I'm so glad to keep you in Washington!You and Jaqueline and I will have such good times--we think alike on somany subjects. I am happy for you, my dear. And I do wonder if you'llwant to spin out your engagement----"
"He won't," returned Patty, her pretty face red as a rose, and hereyes suffused with a kind of prideful love. "Why, he spoke of it andthought a month would do! The idea! And all the wedding clothes to getand make! And he never once suggested that we should go to New York, asPreston Floyd did!"
Patty drew her face in comical lines, as if indicating disappointment;but the laugh spoiled it all, and the waves of joy dancing in the lineswere fascinating.
"I do wonder what grandmamma will give me? The pearls and therubies are bespoke, and she has a diamond cross that has been in thefamily--how long?"
"And the diamond ring father Mason gave her. You know Aunt Catharineclaims that. I ought to have the cross, being the oldest girl, thoughit did come from the Verney side."
"Jaqueline is to have our own mother's pearls. There's a beautifulstring of them, and eardrops. But I think the doctor has some diamondsbelonging to his mother. Oh, I wish there were some brothers andsisters! I shall not gain any new relations! Father wrote him adelightful letter; I wish I had kept it to show you. And he saysJaqueline and I must come home soon. Perhaps he will be up next week."
So they chatted, and when Mr. Jettson came in to dinner it was all goneover again. If girls did not exactly "thank Heaven fasting" for a goodhusband, they were glad and proud of their great success. They werenot ashamed of loving and being loved; there was a kind of sacrednessto most women about this best gift of life. For in those days it wasfor life. If it did not begin with the maddening fervor of some laterloves, it kept gathering sweetness as the years went on.
Patty was still at her needlework when Mr. Carrington came in.
"Mother has just sent a servant over to say that I am to bring youand Jaqueline to tea and to spend the night. Some Baltimore relativeshave come, and she is anxious you shall meet. They go to Alexandriato-morrow, and then to Stafford, which accounts for the short notice."
"Oh, Jaqueline went over to the Bradfords' this morning. They're goingto have a little play, and want her to take part. She can do that sosplendidly, you know. Lieutenant Ralston came for her, and said she wasto stay to dinner."
Carrington frowned and bit his lip.
"I think I'll send over to the Bradfords'. I can't go myself," as if hewere considering.
"I'm sorry, Roger, but perhaps _I_ ought not go. And I hate todisappoint your mother when she has been so kind to us. But Dr.Collaston is coming in this evening----"
There was a flood of scarlet leaping to her face as she gave ahalf-embarrassed laugh.
"Oh, Patty! you don't mean--I mistrusted he was in love with you, butit doesn't always follow that a girl is in love. Shall I give you mybest, my most heartfelt wishes? For I know your father will approve. Heis a fine fellow, and a fortune is no detriment."
He took her hand in a tender clasp and then pressed it to his lips.
"Yes, the approval was sought beforehand. He heard from papa thismorning, and came at once. And I'm not good at secrets," with a joyouslaugh.
"And you are very happy? I need not ask it of such eyes as those."Their great gladness gave him a pang.
"It was so sudden. You see, I wasn't quite sure," the color flutteringup and down her sweet face. "I kept saying to myself, 'There are plentyof others,' and now I know there was just one, and I could never be soglad about any other. I am a silly girl, am I not, but you are almosta brother----"
"I wish I were quite, in the way that marriage gives you a brother. Ishall shake hands most cordially with the doctor. Perhaps we might goas a party--would you mind?"
"Oh, no! If you could find Jaqueline."
"I'll see at once, and send you word. And get word to the doctor also."
"Oh, thank you!"
Roger Carrington dispatched a messenger to the Bradfords. The party hadjust gone to Mount Pleasant on horseback. It was doubtful if they wouldbe home before supper. They were not sure, and there was a beautifulfull moon.
Then Carrington was angry. She thought nothing of going off withRalston, and she might at least have consulted him about the play. Thatshe had not known of it last evening did not at that moment occur tohim. All the grievances and irritations of the past few weeks suddenlyaccumulated, accentuated by the joyous face he had left behind. DidJaqueline really love him? Had she not put off the marriage on onepretext and another? She had taken admiration very freely, quite asif she were not an engaged girl. It had annoyed him, but he did notwant to play the tyrant, and she had so many pretty excuses. How sweetand coaxing the tones of her voice were! Her smiling eyes had everpersuaded him; and when tears gathered in them they were irresistibleand swept away judgment. He had been too easy. After all, a man was tobe the head.
He did not find the doctor either, but sent word to Patricia that hewas most sorry to take such a disappointment to his mother. They wouldall go some other time. And he went home rather out of temper inwardly,but courteous to his mother's guests outwardly.
They were quite disappointed at not seeing Roger's betrothed.
All the next day and evening he was so closely engaged that he couldnot even run down to the Jettsons' until after nine; and then theywere all out. That did not improve the white heat of his indignation,and convinced him that Jaqueline cared more for her own pleasure thanfor him. Then when he called the day followin
g she was over at theBradfords' practicing.
"It's too bad!" cried Patricia. "They never came home from their rideuntil after ten. Jaqueline looked for you yesterday. The play is tobe on Monday night, and father is coming up on Wednesday, though nowJaqueline is in it she will have to stay. It is to be quite an event.And a dance afterward."
Occasionally a theatrical company strayed into Washington, but privateplays were a treat to the actors as well as to the invited guests.The Bradfords' house was commodious, and the tickets were to be soldfor the benefit of the orphan asylum, so there was no difficulty indisposing of them.
A Little Girl in Old Washington Page 13