"Happier she with pliant nature,
Fleeting, fickle as the wind--
She who proving one a traitor,
Turns to meet another kind."
LOVIBOND.
Markham was certainly a man of talent in his profession; but it
does not follow that because he understood law, he was therefore
versed in a knowledge of all the vagaries of the human mind. He was
a straightforward, regular, honest-minded man, knowing what he had
learned, and capable of learning quickly; but there was much in the
world that he knew not, and had never suspected. By this was he
occasionally deceived, but not a second time by the same means. Being a
modest young man, and supposing that the most confident of the softer
sex must be more diffident and retiring than the most diffident of his
own sex, he had not the most distant suspicion that Miss Henderson had
any design on his heart. Many young men, far below Markham in all that
is truly reputable in moral feeling and intellectual discrimination,
have frequently fancied that individuals of the softer sex have
entertained towards them sentiments of love and affection, and have
even made advances. This was a feeling which Markham was much above:
he had indeed heard such language made use of by young men of his
acquaintance, but he gave them credit for a little exaggeration or a
large share of imagination; he never thought it possible that there
could be any literal and actual truth in such language. Now the common
impression on the human mind is, that the thing which is impossible
cannot be; and therefore whenever that which we think to be impossible
does actually occur, we almost doubt our own senses, and believe any
thing rather than that our notions are incorrect. Markham accordingly
could not by any means be brought to believe that Miss Henderson was
forming designs upon him; and therefore when he paid his promised
visit to the popular preacher, he was most completely off his guard as
concerns the designs and intents of Miss Henderson.
He quickly perceived that this young lady was the most important
personage in the family; that Mr. and Mrs. Henderson were not
affectionately fond, but parentally proud of their eldest daughter.
Such is the notion that some persons seem to entertain of the progress
of intellect, that multitudes of parents consider their own children as
wiser and more knowing than themselves. And when a parent has expended
a serious sum of money on the education of a child, it is rather
desirable and happy for him that he can enjoy the imagination that the
money has not been thrown away, but that it has abundantly answered
the purpose. This feeling Mr. and Mrs. Henderson both enjoyed as it
related to their eldest daughter. Mr. Henderson himself was not much of
a reading man; indeed, he had no time for such pursuits. It was enough
for him to write fine sermons, and to visit fine folks, and to give
occasionally some lessons to young ladies or gentlemen on geography
and elocution; for which no mighty extent of reading was required. He
therefore thought his daughter exceedingly well informed. And as the
young lady was by no means selfish or incommunicative of knowledge, her
tongue was in pretty constant activity, especially when and where she
desired to produce an effect, and this desire she felt very strongly
and very frequently.
From the intercourse which had for a while subsisted between Miss
Henderson and Clara Rivolta, the former had acquired many ideas and
opinions, and had treasured many quotations and criticisms from the
latter; and some of these notions, especially the critical, Clara had
derived from Markham. When Markham therefore heard these sentiments
and opinions from Miss Henderson, he was, to say the least, somewhat
pleased. He had not the slightest suspicion of the source from whence
Miss Henderson derived her knowledge, or acquired her taste: and when
people express the same opinions which we ourselves entertain, we
naturally and very justly set down these people as being very sensible
and well-informed. So did Markham think that Miss Henderson was a
very accomplished and well-instructed young woman; and as with young
critics talking is contagious, these two young persons prated away most
intemperately. All the popular writers and all the popular productions
of the day underwent a strict and critical discussion.
From talking of books and literature, the conversation went on to the
abstractions of philosophy and that common-place kind of prate which
knowing young ladies and intellectual dandies can easily manage and
repeat. In their views of human nature the two young persons seemed
also to agree perfectly well, so that they were astonished at their
own and at each other's wisdom. Miss Henderson expressed herself so
delighted with a little rational conversation, and lamented that it
was so seldom that she could enjoy such a treat as this. The flattery
was rather fulsome, but it took. Markham was entirely of her opinion,
that the enjoyment of intellectual discourse was a high and refined
pleasure. He also wished that he could enjoy it more frequently. Miss
Henderson did not directly but indirectly insinuate that nothing could
afford her higher pleasure than conversing with Markham.
Among other topics of discussion there came on of course a
dissertation of theatrical exhibitions. Here again the parties
coincided. The popular actors, singers, and dancers, had their usual
allowance of criticism. It was unanimously agreed that the Opera was
the only place of public amusement worth visiting; but Mrs. Henderson
thought it was too expensive a pleasure: fortunately, however, Markham
had the use of an ivory ticket admitting two persons; and what should
prevent Miss Henderson from availing herself of that very ready way of
gaining access to the Opera? A time was presently fixed for Markham
to have the honor of accompanying Miss Henderson to the Opera. This
was a great point gained by the young lady; and now she thought that
nothing was wanting but to let Mr. Markham understand that there was no
obstacle which need prevent him from having as much of Miss Henderson's
intellectual conversation as he pleased.
It was at this point of her acquaintance with Markham that Miss
Henderson sent in her resignation of Mr. Tippetson: there was not,
therefore, quite so much disinterestedness in the matter as at first
sight there appeared to be. The changing of the objects of affection
is sometimes painful; but Miss Henderson was so much accustomed to it,
that to her it was a trifle. It is a valuable acquisition to learn so
perfectly the art of transferring the heart: for life is short, and
youth is shorter still; and if the affections be very pertinacious, and
the memory obstinately adhesive, a great deal of time is lost after a
disappointment; but Miss Henderson took care never to lose any time in
that way.
Markham, had he been asked his opinion of Miss Henderson, would
probably not have been able to give a very definite answer; for the
truth is, he had not taken the trouble to form an opinion; he had been
entertained with her talk, and also entertained with her capacity for
listening, for he was especially well pleased to hear the sound of
his own voice: therefore, Miss Henderson's company was not unpleasant
or wearisome to him. But he had never thought of her as he had of
Clara Rivolta, nor was it likely that he should, even though she might
have the same opinions on matters of taste and literature as Clara:
for there is a wide and visible difference between the utterance
of thoughts borrowed from others and the expression of the results
of personal and individual reflection; just as there is between
the music of a barrel-organ and that produced by the fingers of a
master. Markham's indifference rendered him a better object for Miss
Henderson's attention. He was not on his guard against her ingenious
mode of progressing into terms of intimacy and acquaintance. Now, if
Mr. Henry Augustus Tippetson had been as generous and liberal towards
Horatio Markham with respect to Miss Henderson, as Miss Henderson was
to Clara Rivolta with respect to Mr. Tippetson, it would have tended
considerably to open the eyes of the young barrister, and to put him
upon his guard. It is very cruel in young ladies to take such advantage
of inexperienced and unsuspicious youths as Miss Henderson took of
Horatio Markham.
The young gentleman found himself most unaccountably often at the
house of Mr. Henderson. He found that he was received with the
greatest cordiality, and that the children, the little brothers and
sisters of Miss Henderson, were quite as familiar with him as if he
were absolutely related to the family. Markham was not treated as a
stranger, but he was described and spoken of as "Only Mr. Markham,"
"Nobody but Mr. Markham." And this continued and proceeded for several
weeks; and all that Mr. Markham thought about the matter was, the
Hendersons were a very sociable family.
The ivory ticket to the Opera was in constant requisition. Markham
offered it to Mr. Henderson that he might accompany his daughter;
but Miss Henderson generally so contrived that something prevented
pa from going, and then there was no alternative but Markham must go
himself. Unfortunately, Miss Henderson was acquainted with the Italian
language, so also was Markham. And notwithstanding the publicity of
the situation, Miss Henderson would never spare Markham's blushes when
any expression of peculiar tenderness or pathos occurred. The young
lady's figure, though not very striking or unusual, was yet so set off
by dress as to be rather particular. Her means did not keep pace with
her appetite for dress; and as she could never spare one single article
of finery, she generally carried her whole stock of decoration about
her person every time she went to the Opera. In a very short time she
was known and remarked for the singularity of being so very fine, and
always appearing with the same finery. Some of Markham's acquaintance
who were by birth and connexion a grade or two above him, but who
respected him for his good-humor and talents, would occasionally join
him, and look very strangely and inquiringly on the young lady who
accompanied him. Sometimes they would banter him on the loss of his
heart; but it was so gently done, that he, unconscious of such loss,
would not understand the allusion.
As Horatio had been first attracted to Mr. Henderson's chapel by the
fame of his eloquence, and had thus been led into an acquaintance
with the family, and as Miss Henderson generally contrived to procure
frequent visits to the house, and as Markham had not much time to
spare, it came to pass that he very seldom went to any other house than
to Mr. Henderson's. As also, Miss Henderson had made up her mind that
nobody but herself could be a proper and fit companion for Markham,
and that nobody but Markham could be a proper and fit companion for
herself; it so happened, that Mr. Markham and Miss Henderson were
much more frequently together than the poor young man was aware of:
thereupon, very naturally, the subject began to be talked of by their
respective friends and acquaintance. Every body said that it would be a
most excellent match for Miss Henderson; and the parents of the young
lady received the congratulations of their friends and neighbours on
the fine prospect that was opening in the projected marriage of their
daughter with a young gentleman of such promising talents, and honored
with such high patronage as Markham.
The young gentleman was much to be pitied that he was thus placed in
imminent danger of being disposed of without his own consent. Being
a man of principle and honor, he could not think of retracting even
from an implied engagement; and being very partial to that species of
homage which he received from Miss Henderson, his assiduous attentions
were so very remarkable that all the observing friends of the parties
took it for granted that an engagement was already formed or soon would
be formed between them: so that although no actual promise had been
given, it was considered by the young lady herself and her particular
friends that a virtual promise had been given, which to such a man as
Markham was as binding as any form of obligation whatever. If any of
our readers be surprised that a man of good understanding should be
thus duped, and led on step by step into such a dilemma as this our
unfortunate friend is here represented to have been, let them consider
that the best understanding in the world cannot see or apprehend any
object to which its attention has not been directed; let them also
consider that Markham was young and of unsuspicious temper, and not
much versed in what are called the ways of the world: all indeed that
he knew of the world was that it was round, and flattened at the
poles, and that it turned round from west to east, so that the sun
appeared to move from east to west; and a few other particulars which
had come to him in the way of geographical instruction, formed the
sum total of his knowledge of the world: let it be again considered
that he was not insensible to approbation, but that his appetite for
praise was somewhat acute, and that he was not by any means averse
from display and exhibition of his own literary acquirements. This
disposition of mind is sometimes laughed at; but notwithstanding all
its apparent littleness and weakness, it often prompts to great and
valuable efforts, whereby the individual mind receives benefit, and
whereby benefit also accrues to society. The existence and operation of
this feeling is recognised by all nations, not excepting those in the
highest state of civilisation. Rome conquered the world by ingeniously
flattering its military heroes; and what are statues and ornamented
marble monuments, but a lesson to the living rather than a reward to
the dead; and powerful indeed must that feeling be which is gratified
even by an anticipation of those honors which may be paid to the
unconscious dust. If then the thought of cold flattering marble can
raise such heroism and inspire to such diligence, surely the flattery
of living lips and the commendation of the fair form of youth and
beauty may be allowed to have an influence over the mind of a young
man, unsuspicious of the selfish and individual object for which those
praises are given.
These considerations may account for Markham's being so situated
with respect to Miss Henderson, as to be her constant attendant. What
else could he have done? They had spoke of the Opera; he had an ivory
ticket, and made the offer of it; but two of Miss Henderson's family
could not contrive to go at once, and there was no alternative but for
Markham to offer his services and accompany the young lady. He could
not but call at the house again; and if Miss Henderson would introduce
the subject of the opera, and if she would talk in language of high
commendation of the opera next to be performed, surely the young
gentleman could not refuse, or omit to invite her to a second, and so
on to a third and fourth opera. And as Miss Henderson was by no means
disagreeable or unpleasant in her manners, but was, on the contrary, of
pleasing address, and had a musical and pleasant intonation of voice,
he not only attended her to the Opera, but was also very attentive to
her there. Almost every body knows that an immense mass of words may be
uttered, manifesting neither great wisdom nor great folly; and if these
words be uttered by a person whom we take to be wise, we think there
is wisdom in them; and if uttered by a person whom we think a fool, we
can then discern folly in them. Now as Markham belonged to a profession
which tells us that every man is presumed to be innocent till he is
proved to be guilty, he perhaps considered that every woman is presumed
to be wise till she has been proved to be a fool; and as Miss Henderson
had not yet proved herself a fool, all her chattering and prating and
second-hand sensibility passed off very well.