Chapter IV: Taking Time by the Forelock

"AND so you don't approve Mr. Dudley as an acquaintance for Gertrude," began Mr. Wallingford, laughing at Hannah's anxious countenance.

"No, Edward, I'm free to say I don't. I can't explain why it is; but I mistrust him." She was kneading a pan of dough, and knuckled away for a moment in a most decided manner.

"But, Hannah, I've roomed with him for six years. If there was any thing very bad about him I should have found it out before now."

There was no answer until the dough had been pounded and put into pans for a second rising; then turning to the young lawyer the woman said:

"Edward Wallingford, I held Gertrude in my arms before she was an hour old, and loved her as if she were my own. But when your mother, the day before she went to heaven, called me to the bed and made me promise to be a mother to her motherless girl, I called God to witness that I would be so till I died. So far I've kept my vow. Within a year I've had a chance to have a home and a husband; but I said 'no, I've a promise to keep, and God helping me I'll keep it till I'm called away.' Edward, I love that girl with all her faults; and she has faults, better than I could even love any other human being; if any sorrow were to come to her, 'twould go nigh to kill me."

"I don't see how Mr. Dudley's being here for a few weeks can bring sorrow to her."

"None are so blind as those who wont see," murmured the woman with a sigh. "But remember what I tell you. If you don't put some check upon your friend, as your father would do were he alive, you'll regret it when it is too late."

"Do speak plain, Hannah. What is it you fear? Gertrude is only a child; and after this visit will probably never see Paul again."

"God grant it; for I tell you he will never make a kind husband; and I can see, if you can't, that he's doing his best to steal away her heart."

Edward laughed, but not heartily. "You're mistaken, Hannah," he urged. "He has no idea of marrying for years, I have heard him say so a hundred times. He means to be settled and make a fortune first; and then his ideas of a wife, are the very reverse of what Gerty is."

"Well, time will show which of us is right; and I pray earnestly my fears may prove false; but will you answer one question; supposing, I am right and that his hanging round after Gertrude, watching every step she takes, and being quite lost when she is out of sight, means that he wants her for a wife, have you never in all the years you've been together seen any thing you would disapprove in a brother-in-law?"

The young lawyer started at this plain question; but as she gazed searchingly in his eye, he answered:

"I never thought of him in that light. I know him to be a man who will succeed well in business. When he has made a few thousands, and Gertrude has four or five years more over her heads I don't know that I could offer any serious objection. Still men are so different in their intercourse with each other, from what they are with the other sex—I—"

"Yes, that is it," she exclaimed, interrupting him. "I'll venture to say I know more about Mr. Dudley, in some points, than you do, after all your intimacy."

"I've been with him several times to his home," murmured Edward as if speaking to himself.

"Well, how did he act there? Was he a good son and a kind brother? I heard him tell Gerty he had four sisters."

The young man felt his face flush as he recollected certain home scenes, which at the time had roused his indignation. He recalled also remarks Paul had made about his mother; and realized that after all, Hannah's opinion might be more correct than his own.

The woman stood with an anxious face awaiting an answer, when he suddenly laughed aloud:

"Nonsense!" he exclaimed. "Gerty has scarcely commenced her education. Paul is too honorable to engage her affections, till he is sure of my consent. When he asks me the question it will be time enough to refuse."

She walked to the window with a sigh, but turned back suddenly and put her hand on his arm.

"Look," she said, "and see for yourself. Oh, I wish her mother were alive!"

Paul and Gertrude were crossing the lawn together. In her arms she carried a favorite dog, which seemed to have been injured, for she bent over it, pressing her cheek to its silky hair. Her companion was talking earnestly; and just as Edward reached the window, she raised her head and gave one shy, loving glance into his face. That gaze told volumes to the anxious spectators.

Edward started, exclaiming in an angry tone:

"If he has dared,—" when she interrupted him:

"It is as I feared," she groaned, sinking back on a chair. "Now I beg you to be cautious, for the more you thwart her, the more resolute her determination will be. Oh, why did you bring him here!"

"You knew him better than I. He is a rascal; and I shall tell him so."

He caught his hat from the rack in the hall, and was starting for the door in an excited manner, when she again stopped him.

"Edward, I am only an uneducated woman; and you have spent twenty-three years in piling up learning; but listen to me this once. I was right in thinking he was trying to win her. I may be, I think I am right now. Don't say a word to him 'till you are calmer, till you have thought it over for an hour at least. If she thinks he is treated cruelly, she will take his part, poor, innocent thing. If he is a gentleman he will speak to you before long."

"You're right, Hannah;" and turning in the opposite direction, she presently saw him walking with rapid strides up the road back of the farm.

"If his mother were alive, she would go to her closet and tell her trouble to God," murmured Hannah, wiping away a tear; "and I'll do the same, for as sure as the sun will set to-night, there's sorrow before my poor, undisciplined girl, if she gives her heart to that man."

It was indeed as the good woman had apprehended, too late to interfere between the lovers. From the very hour when waking from his sleep, Paul had seen the bright vision before him, he had cast aside honor, fame, future success and every thing else, with the determination to win this beautiful creature in all her sweet fresh girlhood. He easily foresaw, that her present beauty, great as it was, only gave promise of what it would be when more fully developed; and he was certain that unless he secured her now, he would have rivals with whom it might not be easy to compete. He acknowledged that she was backward in many branches; but, then she knew so many things of which girls of her age were usually ignorant. There was not a flower in her garden; and scarcely an herb growing in the vicinity that she could not describe, and explain its uses. Then she was such an ardent lover of nature, and so enthusiastic over a fine view;—she had such wonderful power over animals;—the most stubborn farm-horse on the place, yielding readily to the touch of her slender fingers. As to learning, he reasoned with himself, that it would be a delightful task to open before her expanding intellect the gems in literature. If he had her to himself, he would educate her according to his own favorite theories, and would have no one but himself to blame if she did not make a wife to suit him.

He passed hours when every other inmate of Rose Cottage was asleep in what he called calm reflection. There was only one subject which worried him.

"If I only could ascertain," he said to himself, again and again, "whether she has any property in her own right; enough for instance to set up house keeping. Wallingford was always economical; but never pinched as I often am; and the estate here must be very valuable. I was surprised to find the style of living so far beyond ours at home."

I cannot say that he did not have misgivings: concerning the future;—that there were not moments when he realized that honor would have required him to gain the brother's consent before he confessed his love to Gertrude;—that prudence required him to establish himself in business, and be sure that he could support a family before he undertook the responsibility of one;—that he did not sometimes question himself whether he could trust his own heart with the care of one so young and undisciplined. Occasionally the recollection of his own overbearing temper would cause him to pause, before he subjected a child, he really loved, to its chilling influence; but one glance in her bewitching eyes; one tone of her clear, silvery voice would dissipate all doubt; and his resolution would be stronger than ever to win her if it was in his power.

When Miss Goldby came forth from her closet, having left her cares at the foot of the cross, she found Paul and Gertrude walking slowly back and forth across the piazza; their tones low but earnest; their attention wholly absorbed. As she busied herself in laying the table for supper, an occasional glance showed her how lovingly he bent his tall head toward her girlish form; and her heart went up to God with the petition:

"May his affection for her deepen and grow more fervent from this hour." For, understanding Gertrude as she did, she knew as well as if the young couple were already standing before their minister, that they would be married at no distant day.

Edward did not make his appearance until they were seated at the table; longer delay on his account being inexpedient on account of Gertrude's evening engagement, which as yet had never been postponed. When he did come in, he took his seat gravely; his face pale, but calm. He had been going over his whole acquaintance with Paul; and had come to the conclusion that Hannah was right, in her opinion. Dudley, though an agreeable friend to one of his own sex, was neither fitted by education nor by native refinement of feeling to make a wife happy. He was resolved, therefore, positively to refuse his consent; and if his wishes were set at nought, to appeal to her guardian, an old gentleman in New York city, one of his father's most valued friends.

"We waited for you as long as we could," explained Gertrude, laughing in her brother's serious face. "This is my night to go away; and I always try to be punctual."

"I was the one in fault," he answered without a smile, "and by the way, that reminds me that I must engage a music teacher from the city for you at once. A few quarters of thorough drilling will turn you out quite a brilliant performer."

Gerty glanced uneasily in Paul's face and then meeting her brother's eye, blushed deeply, rising to hide her embarrassment.

"Put on your knit sacque," urged Hannah. "There will be a fog. Hiram will be there for you at nine, as usual."

"I object to that arrangement," protested Paul with rising color. "That must be my privilege, now."

Though turning a shade paler, Hannah took no notice of his remark; but rising, brought the soft scarlet sacque, and assisted Gerty to put it on.

The moment the door was shut, Edward turned to his guest, and with a kindling eye, asked:

"By what right do you assert any care of my sister?"

It was evident to both persons present that he was laboring under intense excitement which he was trying, however, to conceal.

"Give me an hour and I will explain," was the cool reply.

"I am at your service immediately;" and taking their hats, the two young men walked out to the linden grove, where they were soon seated on a rustic bench.