THE DAWN OF THE GROVE OF THE INCAS
A man may have command of all the money necessary, and he may have
plenty of knowledge and experience in regard to the various qualities of
sea-going vessels, but even with these great advantages he may find it a
very difficult thing to buy, ready to his hand, a suitable steam yacht.
The truth of this statement was acknowledged by Mr. Burke after he had
spent nearly a month in Boston, New York, and various points between
these cities, and, after advertising, inquiring, and investigating the
subject in all possible ways, found nothing which he could recommend
Mrs. Cliff to purchase.
He wrote to her a great many letters during this period, all of which
were interesting, although there were portions of many of them which she
did not quite understand, being expressed in a somewhat technical
fashion. Burke liked to write letters. It was a novel experience for him
to have time to write and something to write about. He had been better
educated than the ordinary sailor, and his intelligence and habits of
observation enabled him to supplement to a considerable extent what he
had learned at school. His spelling and grammar were sometimes at fault,
but his handwriting was extremely plain and distinct, and Willy Croup,
who always read his letters, declared that it was much better to write
plainly than to be always correct in other respects, for what was the
good of proper spelling and grammar if people could not make out what
was written?
Mrs. Cliff was not at all disturbed by the delay in the purchase of a
yacht; for, according to her idea, it would be a long time yet before it
was pleasant to sail upon the sea, and if it was interesting to Mr.
Burke to go from place to place and have interviews with ship-owners and
sea-faring people, she was glad that she was able to give him an
opportunity to do so.
As for herself, she was in a pleasant state of feminine satisfaction.
Without any sort of presumption or even effort on her part she had
attained a high and unquestioned position among her fellow-citizens, and
her mind was not set upon maintaining that position by worthy and
unoffensive methods of using her riches.
She now had a definite purpose in life. If she could make herself happy
and a great many other people happy, and only a few people envious or
jealous, and, at the same time, feel that she was living and doing
things as a person of good common sense and great wealth ought to live
and do things, what more could be expected of her in this life?
Thus backed up by her conscience and her check-book, she sat, morning
after morning, before a cheerful fire of hickory logs and outlined her
career. This was in the parlor of her old house, which she now
determined to use as an office or business-room. She could afford the
warmest fire of the best seasoned wood; her chimney was in perfect
order, and she was but fifty-five years old and in excellent
health;--why should she not enjoy the exhilarating blaze, and plan for
years of exhilarating occupation.
Soon after Mr. Burke left Plainton Mrs. Cliff began work upon the new
park. This she could do without his assistance, and it was work the mere
contemplation of which delighted her. She had legal assistance in regard
to the purchase of the grounds and buildings of the opposite block, and
while this was in the hands of her lawyers, she was in daily
consultation with an eminent landscape-constructor who had come to
Plainton for the purpose. He lodged at the hotel, and drew most
beautiful plans of the proposed park.
In the happy morning hours during which Mrs. Cliff's mind wandered over
the beautiful drives, or stood upon the rustic bridges which crossed the
stream dashing among its rocks and spreading itself out into placid
pools; or when, mentally, she sat in the shade of the great trees and
looked out upon the wide stretches of verdant lawn, relieved by the
brilliant colors of the flower-beds, she often felt it was almost the
same thing as if it were actually summer, and that she really saw the
beautiful grass and flowers, heard the babbling of the stream, and felt
the refreshing breezes which rustled the great limbs of the trees.
She did not selfishly keep these pleasures to herself, but often on the
stormy evenings, she and Willy and the Misses Thorpedyke would go over
the brilliantly colored plans of the Incas' Grove, admire what had been
proposed, and suggest things which they thought would be desirable. Miss
Thorpedyke, who had a vivid recollection of the gardens of Luxemburg,
spoke of many of their beautiful and classic features which she would
recommend for the new park if it were not that they would cost so much
money. All these were noted down with great care by Mrs. Cliff, and
mentioned to the landscape-constructor the next day.
Thus at home, in church circles, in the society of the town, and in the
mental contemplation of the charming landscape which in consequence of
her own will and command would soon spread itself out before her
windows, Mrs. Cliff was very happy. But among all her sources of
enjoyment there was nothing, perhaps, which pleased her better than to
think on a cold winter's night, when the piercing winds were roaring
about the house, that poor old Nancy Shott was lying warm and
comfortable under two of the finest blankets which ever came from
Californian looms.
The great object of Willy Croup's thoughts at this time was not the
park,--for she could not properly appreciate trees and grass in this
shivery weather,--but the entertainment, the grand lunch, or the very
high tea which was to be given to Mrs. Buskirk and daughters on the
hill. This important event had been postponed because the sleighing had
become rather bad and the Buskirks had gone to the city.
But as soon as they returned, Willy hoped with all her heart that Mrs.
Cliff would be able to show them what may be done in the line of
hospitable entertainment by people who had not only money but something
more. There had been a time when Willy thought that when people wished
to entertain there was nothing needed but money, but then she had not
lived in the house with the Misses Thorpedyke, and had not heard them
and Mrs. Cliff discuss such matters.
The peace of mind of Mrs. Cliff was disturbed one day by the receipt of
a letter from Mr. Burke, who wrote from New York and informed her that
he had found a yacht which he believed would suit her, and he wished
very much that she would come and look at it before he completed the
purchase.
Mrs. Cliff did not wish to go to New York and look at yachts. She had
then under consideration the plan of a semicircular marble terrace which
was to overlook one end of a shaded lakelet, which Mr. Humphreys, her
professional adviser, assured her she could have just as well as not, by
means of a dam, and she did not wish to interrupt this most interesting
occupation. Mr. Humphreys had procured photographs of some of the
romantic spots of the Luxemburg, and Mrs. Cliff felt within herself the
gladdening impulses of a good magician as she planned the imitation of
all this classic beauty.
Besides, it was the middle of March, and cold, and not at all the season
in which she would be able to properly appreciate the merits of a yacht.
Still, as Mr. Burke had found the vessel and wanted her to see it, and
as there was a possibility, he had written, that delay might cause her
to lose the opportunity of getting what she wanted, and as she was very
desirous of pleasing him, she decided that she and Willy would go to New
York and look at the vessel.
It would not take long, because, of course, Mr. Burke had already found
out everything that was necessary in regard to its sea-going qualities,
and a great many other things of which she would not be a judge. In
fact, it was not necessary for her to go at all; but as she was to pay
for it, Mr. Burke would be better satisfied if first she saw it.
It was very pleasant to think that she could go away whenever she
pleased and leave her house in the care of two such ladies as Miss
Eleanor Thorpedyke and her sister.