These young girls that live in boarding-houses can do pretty much as they
will. The female _gendarmes_ are off guard occasionally. The sitting-room
has its solitary moments, when any two boarders who wish to meet may
come together accidentally (_accidentally_, I said, Madam, and I had not
the slightest intention of italicizing the word) and discuss the social
or political questions of the day, or any other subject that may prove
interesting. Many charming conversations take place at the foot of the
stairs, or while one of the parties is holding the latch of a door,——in
the shadow of porticos, and especially on those outside balconies which
some of our Southern neighbors call “stoops,” the most charming places in
the world when the moon is just right and the roses and honeysuckles are
in full blow,——as we used to think in eighteen hundred and never mention
it.
On such a balcony or “stoop,” one evening, I walked with Iris. We were
on pretty good terms now, and I had coaxed her arm under mine,——my left
arm, of course. That leaves one’s right arm free to defend the lovely
creature, if the rival——odious wretch!——attempt to ravish her from your
side. Likewise if one’s heart should happen to beat a little, its mute
language will not be without its meaning, as you will perceive when the
arm you hold begins to tremble,——a circumstance like to occur, if you
happen to be a good-looking young fellow, and you two have the “stoop” to
yourselves.
We had it to ourselves that evening. The Koh-i-noor, as we called him,
was in a corner with our landlady’s daughter. The young fellow John
was smoking out in the yard. The _gendarme_ was afraid of the evening
air, and kept inside. The young Marylander came to the door, looked out
and saw us walking together, gave his hat a pull over his forehead and
stalked off. I felt a slight spasm, as it were, in the arm I held, and
saw the girl’s head turn over her shoulder for a second. What a kind
creature this is! She has no special interest in this youth, but she does
not like to see a young fellow going off because he feels as if he were
not wanted.
She had her locked drawing-book under her arm.——Let me take it,——I said.
She gave it to me to carry.
This is full of caricatures of all of us, I am sure,——said I.
She laughed, and said,——No,——not all of you.