MRS. CARTER STANDS BY HER OLD FRIENDS.
Mrs. Carter had that profound respect for her own taste which springs
out of utter ignorance; and her great party would have been something
wonderful in the way of shoddyism, but for the gentle and kindly
interference of her brother Ross. But she looked upon him with something
like adoration, for his opinions were so modestly given, that they
seemed to originate in herself. Thus he had sent the gorgeous pictures
from her boudoir to Battles’ room in the stable, and after them went
many an object of inestimable value to the lady, but which were received
by the aesthetic coachman with a sniff of critical contempt.
Up to this time the contractor’s lady had reveled in the adornment of
her house. She had often heard it said that certain persons of her new
circle, who had shot up like mushrooms in the unhealthy atmosphere of
our civil war, owed all that was elegant in their establishments to the
artists and upholsterers they employed. This was a charge Mrs. Carter
resolved should never be brought against her. So, after six months of
hard worry and interminable shopping, an effect was produced of
promiscuous gorgeousness, that was wonderful to behold. The really
refined persons who began to patronize her, were so completely surprised
by this display, that she mistook their amused astonishment for
admiration. This inspired her with new ambition, and she plunged into
attempts at harmony and contrast, that fairly set the beholder’s teeth
on edge as words of hollow flattery passed through them.
Thus it was that Mr. Ross found his sister and her habitation. Carpets,
gorgeously independent of draperies; florid frescoes, statues in deep
shadow; flaming vases in the light; mirrors in every available space;
and pictures, such pictures! in magnificent frames, surrounded him on
every side. But genius is great, and money all potent. Out of this
confusion, the man of real taste soon produced effects harmonious as a
poem; and no person could enter that mansion with an idea that its
arrangement had been left either to an upholsterer or to an ignorant
woman. Soon Mrs. Carter saw how much more beautiful everything had
become, and gloried in it.
Having surrendered so much to her brother, she was ready to yield to him
in all things connected with her social life. When he suggested the
purchase of Ruth Laurence’s sketches, and asked for an invitation to the
party, for which cards were about to be issued, she consented at once,
and thus fell in with her old crony and friend, Mrs. Smith.
One afternoon, Mrs. Carter came home in a state of unusual excitement.
Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes sparkled, and her style was like that
of a warrior preparing for battle. Without stopping to take off her
things, she mounted to her brother’s studio, which was in the very top
of the building.
“Herman,” she said, sitting down by her brother’s easel, “I’ve got
myself into a scrape, and I want you to help me out. Not that I need
help, if Carter wasn’t so uppish about such things; but he was
determined that I should give up the old set for good and all, when I
came in here—and so I did. The day I went to see that Miss Laurence, who
should come in but my old neighbor, Mrs. Smith, just as good,
whole-hearted a woman as ever lived. Of course, I was glad to see her—my
heart not being a nether millstone, nor yet a junk of ice. Then she was
natural as life, thinking, no doubt, that I should keep her at
arms-length, because of all this silk and lace, and bracelets, and she
only in a calico-dress. I hadn’t the heart to do it, Herman; old
neighbors are old neighbors; and, between you and me, brother, I’m not
certain that them old times were so much worse than these. At an rate,
my heart warmed to Mrs. Smith, and that child of hers, so that I hated
to come home.”
Here Mrs. Carter walked to the window, passed a hand over her eyes once
or twice and came back again.
“Mrs. Smith has got a splendid baby, you know; and holding it in my arms
was such a heart-aching treat, after all that we have lost, Carter and
I. It’s a thing we never mention between us; but the sight of a fine,
wholesome baby is sure to make my breath come quick. After losing three
of them, and none left, and this house built with a nursery, it’s
heart-rending to think of; and I couldn’t help thinking that Mrs. Smith
was richer than I was, after all.
“Well, we took dinner together—ham and eggs—real old times; and cooked
so nice. So, while the old home-feeling took full hold of me, I up and
gave my old friend a card for my party, having one in my pocket at the
time. This was the reason of my doing it, unthinkingly, as one may say,
and long in advance of other people. She was so pleased—tickled almost
to death; and is going to buy a new mory-antique, and—what will please
you, I know—says that she will bring Miss Eva Laurance with
her—carriage-hire being all the same for three as for two.”
Here Ross made an impatient movement, which his sister saw, and half
resented.
“Now don’t you turn against me, Herman. It’s bad enough to have Carter
curling up his nose at old friends, that were always ready to help him,
when he needed help; but my own brother——”
“You misunderstand,” said Ross. “I find no fault with feelings that do
you honor.—Far from it. But as for Miss Laurence, we had arranged about
her coming, and there need be no alteration in that, I should think.”
“But Carter objects even to her. And as for Battle, his sneers about
going into that neighborhood are beyond bearing.”
“Perhaps in some respects, Carter is right. You will find it very
difficult to make classes mingle harmoniously; even in this republican
country. Stronger and more experienced woman than you have tried it, and
failed signally. A land that owns no aristocracy but that of wealth,
will always draw sharp lines between the poor and the rich.”
“But you do not object—you will help me out. I wish now it hadn’t been
done; but one can’t take back an invitation; and Carter is very cruel to
ask it; isn’t he?”
“Of course you cannot take back an invitation. And I dare say your old
friend will manage to appear well enough for the occasion. Society,
since the war, has put up with a great many strange innovations. So, I
have no doubt that your friend will pass.”
“It’s kind of you to say so,” answered Mrs. Carter, with tears in her
eyes. “As for Carter, his heart is like a millstone, since he became so
rich. Oh, Herman! sometimes I wish we had been content as it was.”
“Well, well, throw all these little troubles off your mind. I have
something to tell you—something to propose. Perhaps a great favor to ask
of you and Carter.”
“It’s granted, Herman. I’d lay down my life for you; and so would
Carter. He’s awful proud of having a real gentleman in the family. So am
I—and that gentleman my own brother.”
Ross reached out his hand, and drawing the kind-hearted woman toward
him, kissed her on the cheek.
“Now tell me what it is,” she questioned, cheerfully.
“If it’s money——”
Ross shook his head.
“Not that! Not that!”
“Dear! Dear! What can it be then? Just tell me.”
“Not now. In a day or two.”
“Another invitation for some one? Well, you shall have a whole handful
of blanks, and fill them out yourself. Will that do?”
“For the present, less than that will do, sister.”
“Well, as many as you like, and anything else you like. Now I begin to
feel better, and will go down to Carter, like the mistress of her own
house.”
With this heroic resolve, Mrs. Carter left the studio.