Mrs. Darlington, the widow we have just introduced to the reader, had five
children. Edith, the oldest daughter, was twenty-two years of age at the
time of her father's death; and Henry, the oldest son, just twenty. Next to
Henry was Miriam, eighteen years old. The ages of the two youngest
children, Ellen and Edward, were ten and eight.
Mr. Darlington, while living, was a lawyer of distinguished ability, and
his talents and reputation at the Philadelphia bar enabled him to
accumulate a handsome fortune. Upon this he had lived for some years in a
style of great elegance. About a year before his death, he had been induced
to enter into some speculation that promised great results. But he found,
when too late to retreat, that he had been greatly deceived. Heavy losses
soon followed. In a struggle to recover himself, he became still further
involved; and, ere the expiration of a twelve-month, saw everything falling
from under him. The trouble brought on by this was the real cause of his
death, which was sudden, and resulted from inflammation and congestion of
the brain.
Henry Darlington, the oldest son, was a young man of promising talents. He
remained at college until a few months before his father's death, when he
returned home, and commenced the study of law, in which he felt ambitious
to distinguish himself.
Edith, the oldest daughter, possessed a fine mind, which had been well
educated. She had some false views of life, natural to her position; but,
apart from this, was a girl of sound sense and great force of character.
Thus far in life, she had not encountered circumstances of a nature
calculated to develop what was in her. The time for that, however, was
approaching. Miriam, her sifter, was a quiet, gentle, retiring, almost
timid girl. She went into company with reluctance, and then always shrunk
as far from observation as it was possible to get. But, like most quiet,
retiring persons, there were deep places in her mind and heart. She thought
and felt more than was supposed. All who knew Miriam, loved her. Of the
younger children we need not here speak.
Mrs. Darlington knew comparatively nothing of the world beyond her own
social circle. She was, perhaps, as little calculated for doing what she
proposed to do as a woman could well be. She had no habits of economy, and
had never, in her life, been called upon to make calculations of expense in
household matters. There was a tendency to generosity rather than
selfishness in her character; and she rarely thought evil of any one. But
all that she was need not here be set forth, for it will appear as our
narrative progresses.
Mr. Hiram Ellis, the brother of Mrs. Darlington, to whom brief allusion has
been made, was not a great favorite in the family--although Mr. Darlington
understood his good qualities, and very highly respected him--because he
had not much that was prepossessing in his external appearance, and was
thought to be a little eccentric. Moreover, he was not rich--merely holding
the place of book-keeper in an insurance office, at a moderate salary. But,
as he had never married, and had only himself to support, his income
supplied amply all his wants, and left him a small annual surplus.
After the death of Mr. Darlington, he visited his sister much more
frequently than before. Of the exact condition of her affairs, he was much
better acquainted than she supposed. The anxiety which she felt, some
months after her husband's death, when the result of the settlement of his
estate became known, led her to be rather more communicative. After
determining to open a boarding-house, she said to him, on the occasion of
his visiting her one evening--
"As it is necessary for me to do something, Hiram, I have concluded to move
to a better location, and take a few boarders."
"Don't do any such thing, Margaret," her brother made answer. "Taking
boarders! It's the last thing of which a woman should think."
"Why do you say that, Hiram?" asked Mrs. Darlington, evincing no little
surprise at this unexpected reply.
"Because I think that a woman who has a living to make can hardly try a
more doubtful experiment. Not one in ten ever succeeds in doing anything."
"But why, Hiram? Why? I'm sure a great many ladies get a living in that
way."
"What you will never do, Margaret, mark my words for it. It takes a woman
of shrewdness, caution, and knowledge of the world, and one thoroughly
versed in household economy, to get along in this pursuit. Even if you
possessed all these prerequisites to success, you have just the family that
ought not to come in contact with anybody and everybody that find their way
into boarding-houses."
"I must do something, Hiram," said Mrs. Darlington, evincing impatience at
the opposition of her brother.
"I perfectly agree with you in that, Margaret," replied Mr. Ellis. "The
only doubt is as to your choice of occupation. You think that your best
plan will be to take boarders; while I think you could not fail upon a
worse expedient."
[Illustration]
"Why do you think so?"
"Have I not just said?"
"What?"
"Why, that, in the first place, it takes a woman of great shrewdness,
caution, and knowledge of the world, and one thoroughly versed in household
economy, to succeed in the business."
"I'm not a fool, Hiram!" exclaimed Mrs. Darlington, losing her
self-command.
"Perhaps you may alter your opinion on that head some time within the next
twelve months," coolly returned Mr. Ellis, rising and beginning to button
up his coat.
"Such language to me, at this time, is cruel!" said Mrs. Darlington,
putting her handkerchief to her eyes.
"No," calmly replied her brother, "not cruel, but kind. I wish to save you
from trouble."
"What else can I do?" asked the widow, removing the handkerchief from her
face.
"Many things, I was going to say," returned Mr. Ellis. "But, in truth, the
choice of employment is not very great. Still, something with a fairer
promise than taking boarders may be found."
"If you can point me to some better way, brother," said Mrs. Darlington, "I
shall feel greatly indebted to you."
"Almost anything is better. Suppose you and Edith were to open a school.
Both of you are well--"
"Open a school!" exclaimed Mrs. Darlington, interrupting her brother, and
exhibiting most profound astonishment. "_I_ open a school! I didn't think
_you_ would take advantage of my grief and misfortune to offer me an
insult."
Mr. Ellis buttoned the top button of his coat nervously, as his sister said
this, and, partly turning himself towards the door, said--
"Teaching school is a far more useful, and, if you will, more respectable
employment, than keeping a boarding-house. This you ought to see at a
glance. As a teacher, you would be a minister of truth to the mind, and
have it in your power to bend from evil and lead to good the young
immortals committed to your care; while, as a boarding-house keeper, you
would merely furnish food for the natural body--a use below what you are
capable of rendering to society."
But Mrs. Darlington was in no state of mind to feel the force of such an
argument. From the thought of a school she shrunk as from something
degrading, and turned from it with displeasure.
"Don't mention such a thing to me," said she fretfully, "I will not listen
to the proposition."
"Oh, well, Margaret, as you please," replied her brother, now moving
towards the door. "When you ask my advice, I will give it according to my
best judgment, and with a sincere desire for your good. If, however, it
conflicts with your views, reject it; but, in simple justice to me, do so
in a better spirit than you manifest on the present occasion. Good
evening!"
Mrs. Darlington was too much disturbed in mind to make a reply, and Mr.
Hiram Ellis left the room without any attempt on the part of his sister to
detain him. On both sides, there had been the indulgence of rather more
impatience and intolerance than was commendable.
* * * *