PREJUDICES REMOVED.
THE mother of Doctor Baldwin was connected with a family of some note
in the State, upon which fact she built up a pretty high estimate of
her own consequence. For everything low and vulgar she had a most
decided contempt, and would almost as soon be guilty of a crime as a
breach of etiquette. Her son had good reason to fear that there would
be some difficulty in the way of reconciling her to his marriage with
a poor music teacher, when she had more than once expressed, in his
hearing, the hope that he would not forget the advantages which his
professional standing, as well as his family connexions, gave him in a
matter of this kind. It was, in fact, the mother's wish that her son,
in marriage, should, above all things, seek to better his fortune. He
had himself entertained that idea; but, in a conversation he one day
held with Doctor Hudson, was led to see that a man could not commit a
greater folly than to make any consideration predominate over personal
qualities in marriage.
How best to break the matter to Mrs. Baldwin was a subject of a good
deal of reflection. At last, as time was pressing, Doctor Baldwin
ventured upon the bold and above-board measure of telling his mother
the whole story of his acquaintanceship with Miss Hudson, and of the
engagement of marriage that had followed. The mother was overcome with
astonishment and indignation. The noble independence and affectionate
self-denial which Ella had practised, though portrayed by Baldwin in
the warmest colors, made no favorable impression upon the proud woman's
feelings, while the fact that she was the daughter of a poor mechanic,
and obliged to teach music for a living, was magnified almost into a
crime. Nothing that her son could urge in the least reconciled her.
"Don't talk to me about her, Edward!" she exclaimed passionately. "The
low-born creature shall never darken my door!" This was more than
Baldwin could bear; and to keep from making some retort that he would
afterwards regret having uttered, he turned quickly away and left her
presence. When they next met, both were cold and silent. Clara remained
altogether neutral for the present, deeming it best to keep silence
while her mother's mind continued in a state of over excitement.
On the next day, invitations were received by the family to attend
a party that was to be given by a physician who was much esteemed
in the community for his character, standing, and high professional
attainments. Doctor Baldwin, who happened to be one of his intimate
personal friends, immediately called upon him, and asked if he had
included Doctor Hudson and his lady in the number of his guests.
"I have not," he said. "Our families have never met under any
circumstances. But I highly esteem the doctor, and shall be happy to
send him and his lady an invitation. Do you know his lady?"
"Very well. She is a beautiful and accomplished woman."
Doctor Baldwin then gave this physician a full history of Dr. Hudson's
family, and of the fact of his having been so charmed with Ella as to
fall in love with her and make her an offer of his hand.
"I hardly think your mother will approve of that," said the physician.
"No," replied Baldwin. "So far from approving, she is incensed beyond
measure, calls her a low-born creature, and says she shall never cross
her door."
"Then I should say that you are in rather an unpleasant dilemma."
"I am. And I want you to help me out of it, if possible."
"A thing that I shall be very ready to do, if you will point out the
way. I have seen this Miss Hudson several times in families where I
visit professionally, and have heard her spoken of as a girl of no
ordinary character. You wish her invited, of course?"
"Yes, that is what I was coming to. I want her not only invited, but I
want you to show her particular, even marked attentions."
"Very well. I understand what you are after. All shall be done as you
wish. I think we shall make your mother change her opinion a shade or
two."
And the physician smiled.
Before evening Doctor Hudson received a note requesting the pleasure of
Doctor and Mrs. Hudson's and Miss Ella Hudson's company at the house
of Doctor B—. The compliments of Doctor and Mrs. B— were expressed,
of course. Though a little surprised, all the parties invited made
preparations to go to the party.
When the evening came, Dr. Baldwin went with his mother and sisters.
Since the first mention of the subject that had caused such an
expression of indignation by Mrs. Baldwin not a word of reference had
been made to it. There was, of course, coldness and reserve between the
mother and the son.
The party proved to be a large one; and at least one half of those
present were strangers to Mrs. Baldwin.
"Who is that on Dr. B—'s arm?" she asked of her daughter, about an hour
after her arrival at the scene of pleasure. The doctor was conducting
to the piano a plain, but tastefully attired young lady, in whose sweet
young face there was something that to Mrs. Baldwin seemed particularly
attractive.
Clara turned her eyes towards the lady, but instead of answering her
mother's question, said—
"She's a stranger to most persons here, I rather think."
"Some relative of the doctor's, perhaps," remarked the mother.
By this time the young lady was at the piano, around which a small
circle immediately gathered. She touched the keys delicately, yet with
ease and confidence, and after running her fingers over them for a few
moments, struck the air of a popular and favorite song, which she sang
with fine effect.
"Beautiful! beautiful!" said Mrs. Baldwin, speaking to Clara. "I think
I never heard a sweeter voice. I wonder who she can be? Do you know?"
and she turned to a lady at her side.
"I do not, madam," replied the lady. "I don't remember ever to have
seen her before."
The young lady sang one or two more songs, and then rose from the
piano, and was received upon the arm of Doctor B—, who treated her with
marked politeness. After conducting her to a seat, he introduced two or
three gentlemen who came forward, and leaving them to entertain her,
went to look after other guests who required his attentions.
"She sings exquisitely, doctor," remarked a gentleman who encountered
Doctor B— as he was moving away from the lady.
"Delightfully," was replied.
"But, doctor, my daughter tells me that she is her music teacher."
"That's one side of the case," returned Doctor B—. "The other is, that
she is the sister of Doctor Hudson, who is destined to be one of the
most eminent surgeons in the country; and is, so far as herself is
concerned, a lady in every sense of the word, and one that I feel proud
to number among my guests. The world would be better, my friend, if
there were more in it like Miss Hudson."
"Is she a woman of education?"
"She is highly educated, I am told by Doctor Baldwin, to whom she is
engaged in marriage—"
"Engaged to Doctor Baldwin!" exclaimed the friend.
"Yes; I have it from his own lips. She has given up her music
teaching—a calling that she followed more from her love of independence
and usefulness, than from any necessity to do so—in view of her
marriage with the doctor."
"Well, I'm astonished! I must own, however, that he is a man of taste
and good sense."
"In which I perfectly agree with you."
The two men separated, and Doctor B— passed on to another part of the
room. When cotillions were formed, Doctor B— led out Ella, and danced
the first set with her.
"How gracefully she moves," remarked Mrs. Baldwin to Clara, who had
declined dancing, she having her own reasons for wishing to keep beside
her mother. "I wonder who she is? Nobody that I have asked knows her."
"What makes you notice her so particularly, mother?" asked Clara.
"There are many other young ladies in the room whom you have never seen
before. And some quite as beautiful as she is."
"But none with just such a face. It is so youthful and innocent,
yet so womanlike in its tone. Several times I have found her eyes
fixed intently upon me, with an expression that I felt, but could
not understand. There are others as handsome, and few who do not
make a more brilliant appearance; but none who have such a natural,
unconscious grace."
"Really, mother," said Clara, smiling, "you have grown an enthusiast.
If you were a young man, I think this would be a case of love at first
sight."
"If I were a young man, and about to fall in love at first sight with
any one in this room, it would be with her," said the mother, smiling
in return.
"I saw Edward sitting by her side a little while ago, and looking into
her face as if he had forgotten that there was anybody else in the
room."
"Edward! Is it possible? Does he know her?"
"He was conversing with her. It would be no matter of wonder, if he
feels as you do, if he were to fall in love with her."
"Pray Heaven he may!" said the mother warmly.
Just then the cotillion dissolved, and Mrs. Baldwin saw her son receive
the young lady from Dr. B—, conduct her to a seat, and take his place
beside her. She looked into his face with a familiar expression, and he
seemed to be perfectly at home with her. At the same moment, Doctor B—
came up to Mrs. Baldwin and her daughter, and the former said to him—
"What charming young lady is that you were dancing with just now? She
is an entire stranger to me."
"She is a charming girl, sure enough," returned the doctor. "Shall I
introduce her to you?"
"If you please, doctor. I will take it as a favor."
Doctor B— went over to where Ella was sitting, and said to her that
Mrs. Baldwin would be happy to make her acquaintance. Ella arose and
took the doctor's arm, while her lover, with some few tremors about his
heart moved to another part of the room from which he could carefully
observe them.
"Let me introduce to you my excellent young friend, Miss Hudson," said
Doctor B—, presenting Ella. He purposely spoke the name so indistinctly
that Mrs. Baldwin did not clearly make it out, and she was too
well-bred to ask to have it repeated. Clara and Ella exchanged a look
of intelligence that the mother did not observe.
"My daughter," she said, as the doctor, after seating Ella by her side,
turned away. The young ladies bowed to each other, and smiled cordially.
For half an hour Mrs. Baldwin conversed with her future daughter-in-law
on many subjects, and found her quite as interesting in reality as she
was in appearance; and when some one claimed her hand for the dance,
she let her go with reluctance. By this time there were a good many
in the room who knew that Ella was engaged to be married to Doctor
Baldwin, for the information volunteered by Doctor B— had spread with
considerable rapidity.
"I really must congratulate you on your future daughter-in-law," said
a gentleman to Mrs. Baldwin, whose standing in society was altogether
as high as her own. "She is decidedly the most charming girl in the
room. Edward has shown uncommon good taste and good sense. There are
not a few who would have been fools enough to pass her by because she
had once taught music, but Edward's independence has stamped him, in my
estimation, as a man. May both be as happy as they deserve to be."
Some one touched the speaker on the arm, and he turned away without
observing the blank look of astonishment that settled upon the face of
her he addressed.
"What does he mean, Clara?" asked the mother, in a low, earnest
whisper, turning to her daughter with a bewildered air.
"He means," replied the daughter, calmly, "that this lovely young girl,
with whom every one is so charmed, is none other than Ella Hudson, and
the betrothed of Edward."
"It cannot be!" returned the mother.
"It can be, and is, mother. And as the fact seems to be well-known in
the room—it has just been alluded to as a matter of course—I think
it will be much the wiser course if you show no surprise and no
disapprobation at the discovery you have made, but rather resolve to
receive this sweet, accomplished, lovely-minded young girl into your
affections, as you would receive your own child. That she is worthy
thus to be received, even you cannot now for an instant doubt."
"No, Ella, I cannot doubt it," returned the mother, after a pause
of some moments for hurried reflection. "I did not dream that the
humble music teacher and daughter of a poor watchmaker could be so
love-inspiring a creature as this. That Edward was attracted by her is
no longer a matter of surprise. I forgive him from my heart."
Not many minutes passed before Clara had found out her brother, and
communicated the entire success of his plan for breaking down their
mother's prejudice. He was the happiest man in the room.