“How can you insinuate such a thing?” And Perkins laughed in a low, meaning chuckle.
“Ah, I perceive. Well, how much is she worth?”
“About a hundred thousand.”
“Are you sure of her?”
“Certainly! The thing’s all settled.”
“You’re a lucky dog, Perkins! But see here, what did you mean by the premium you talked of for bringing about a match between me and Miss Riston?”
“Oh, as to that, I was only jesting. But you haven’t told me how you like the young lady yet.”
“Oh, she’ll do, I reckon,” said Smith, tossing his head half contemptuously.
“Do you think you can secure her?”
“Easily enough. But then I must get her away as often as possible from that old Cerberus of an aunt. I didn’t like her looks at all.”
“She’s suspicious.”
“That’s clear. Well, she must be wide awake if I commence playing against her in real earnest. I can win any girl’s affections that I choose.”
“You have a pretty fair conceit of yourself, I see.”
“I wouldn’t give a cent for a man that hadn’t. The fact is, Perkins, these girls have but one end in view, and that is to get married. They know that they have to wait to be asked, and, trembling in fear lest they shall not get another offer, they are always ready to jump eagerly at the first.”
“Pretty true, I believe. But, Smith, don’t you think Margaretta quite a fair specimen of a girl?”
“Oh, yes. And I have no doubt that I shall love her well enough, if she don’t attempt to put on airs, and throw up to me that she was rich, and I poor. I’ll never stand that.”
“She’ll not be so foolish, I presume.”
“She’d better not, I can tell her, if she doesn’t wish to get into hot water.” And the young man laughed at his own half-in-earnest jesting.
“He’s a very agreeable young man, isn’t he, aunt?” said Margaretta, after the two young men had gone away.
“Who? Mr. Smith, as Mr. Perkins called him?”
“Yes.”
“He has a smooth enough tongue, if that is any recommendation; but I do not like him. Indeed, he is far more disagreeable to me than his very particular friend, Mr. Perkins.”
“Oh, aunt, how can you talk so! I’m sure he was very agreeable. At least, I thought so.”
“That was because he flattered you so cleverly.”
“How
“Some men understand how to flatter very ingeniously; and, to me, Mr. Smith seemed peculiarly adept in the art. He managed it so adroitly as to give it all the effect, without its being apparent to the subject of his experiments.”
“Indeed, aunt, you are mistaken. I despise a flatterer as much as you do. But I am sure that I saw nothing like flattery about Mr. Smith.”
“I am sorry that you did not, Margaretta. But take my advice, and be on your guard. That man’s motives in coming to see you, believe me, are not the purest in the world.”
“You are far too suspicious, aunt; I am sure you are.”
“Perhaps I have had cause. At any rate, Margaretta, I have lived longer in, and seen much more of the world than you have, and I ought to have a clearer perception of character. For your own sake, then, try and confide in my judgment.”
“I ought to confide in your judgment, aunt, I know; but I cannot see as you do in this particular instance.”
“Then you ought rather to suspect the correctness of your own observation, when it leads to conclusions so utterly opposed to mine.”
To this Margaretta did not reply. It seemed too much like giving up her own rationality to assent to it, and she did not wish to pain her aunt by objections.
On the next evening, a quiet, intelligent, and modest-looking young man called in, and spent an hour or two with Margaretta and her aunt. He did not present so imposing and showy an exterior as did Mr. Smith, but his conversation had in it far more substance and real common sense. After he had retired, Margaretta said—
“Well, it is no use; I cannot take any pleasure in the society of Thomas Fielding.”
“Why not, my dear?” asked the aunt.
“Oh, I don’t know; but he is so dull and prosy.”
“I am sure he don’t seem dull to me, Margaretta. He doesn’t talk a great deal, it is true; but, then, what he does say is characterized by good sense, and evinces a discriminating mind.”
“But don’t you think, aunt, that my money has some influence in bringing him here?” And Margaretta looked up
