The Second Macabre MEGAPACK®. Эдит Несбит
Co.”
“Then probably the idea of my marrying him originated with you,” observed his niece, now fast rousing to a suspicion of the truth.
“No! not exactly, child,” replied the merchant, handing her the business letter. “Here read for yourself that item number eight, and say whether you are willing to comply with the terms; for if not, an advertisement will be presently sent to the Reporter, which is issued at 4 o’clock, P. M.”
On reading this epistle, Eliza at first hardly knew whether to be angry or amused by her uncle’s conduct; soon however the sad truth forced itself upon her, that the rich merchant felt towards her none of the pleasant ties of consanguinity; but that hitherto she had been fed and tended like a parrot in a cage, without being of use to any one, and only reserved for some moment when she might be bartered or disposed of like merchandise. Her first thought was to decline the match decidedly, her second to try and restrain the words in which she was about to express her angry feelings; and to reply to her uncle as though the whole was a mere business matter, since although he had never expressed towards her the slightest attachment, she could not forget he was her father’s brother and had bestowed on her a home and education.
“I am sorry, uncle,” she said, “that I cannot enter upon this very respectable connexion; but in case of your consent, I may comply with another offer which I have just received.”
“Indeed!” said Mr. Barlow, bowing. “Is it as advantageous as that of Hoskins & Co?”
“Probably not as lucrative,” replied Eliza. “It is a seaman who has made me the offer.”
“A seaman! And are you not aware that the life of such a man depends greatly upon wind and weather?”
“And is not your merchandise, including myself, in case I should be sent, liable to the same risks?” remarked his niece somewhat bitterly.
“My goods are always insured.”
“And I will have my husband insured.”
“In a towline? A good notion, girl, I did not give you credit for so much thoughtfulness. Where did you get acquainted with this seaman?”
“I can hardly say I am acquainted; I only have cause to suspect that he is the handsome young man who has boarded opposite for several months, and whom I have often seen from my window; his name is Drummond, and here is his letter.”
So saying, she drew the epistle from her pocket, and handed it to her uncle. It was brief, and written in a seafaring style. The writer commenced by saying that he had frequently seen Eliza at a distance, and believed that she had noticed him also. That his business had not allowed him to seek a nearer acquaintance, but that being about to sail, he could not deny himself the pleasure of offering her his hand, fearful as he was that she might be won by some one else before his return. He entreated an early answer, desiring her to send her letter to the firm of Gibbs & Sons, who would be acquainted with his direction, in case her uncle was ignorant of the same. He signed himself “J.W. Drummond.”
“I know him!” said Mr. Barlow, nodding his head. “He is certainly an industrious man, and one who has already amassed something; still I think you would prefer Hoskins & Co., since they do a much safer business.”
“To tell the truth, uncle! I am quite determined against the match. In the first place I cannot go to Jamaica, where I would die of the fever the first summer; in the second place I will not marry a man who, however respectable he may be, is old enough for my father, if not grandfather; and lastly, I should prefer one whom at least I have had the pleasure of seeing.”
“In your first objection there is some sense,” observed Mr. Barlow, taking a pinch from his gold snuff box; “but the other two are hardly worth listening to, yet time presses; the Reporter comes out at 4 o’clock; and the “Fortune” sails tomorrow; as you are not willing to listen to Hoskins & Co., we must hurry over the business with Drummond. If you are willing to marry the man, I have, under certain conditions, no objections to your doing so: although I must tell you that his business, although lucrative, is more or less dangerous.”
“Every girl who marries a seaman must prepare herself for that.”
“At any rate, there must be some arrangements made to ensure your property, in event of his death; since I mean to allow you a certain income, which I have no notion your husband should lose in speculation. Promise me not to write to Jamaica, nor come to any understanding on the matter, until I have had a talk with him.”
“Certainly! I will do as you desire, and thank you much for your kindness;” replied his niece and in a few moments they separated, Mr. Barlow not at all angry at her refusal of his Jamaica friend, since the other offer seemed almost as advantageous; and Eliza hardly knowing how to determine immediately on her acceptance of a man with whom she had never exchanged a word, and whom she only suspected to be her neighbor, from the following circumstances.
About six months previous to the above conversation, Eliza’s attention was attracted by a young naval officer, who boarded opposite Mr. Barlow’s, and whose handsome exterior won the maiden’s admiration, as she sat at the window with her work, while he was constantly busied in writing near his casement. After a while she fancied that the youth seemed reciprocally interested, and with little to employ her thoughts, they turned day and night on the unknown object of her admiration, although she acknowledged that it was weak and foolish so to do. Several months passed away, when one morning the stranger appeared at the window in a travelling dress, and stood for some moments looking towards Mr. Barlow’s house, with a serious and almost sad expression, till when Eliza accidentally appeared, he pressed his hand to his heart, bowed low and presently disappeared.
On the following day a new occupant took possession of the chamber, and on enquiring from the maid, who boarded opposite, the servant replied that the room had been occupied by a handsome naval officer by the name of Drummond, who had however left the day before to take command of a ship. Often did Eliza, from this time, find her thoughts turning to the handsome seaman, she frequently sighed as she looked towards the window where he had been accustomed to set, and was greatly surprised to see a young man, closely resembling him, walking about the neighboring wharf. The only difference in their appearance was, that the one was fair complexioned, and the other darkened to an almost Spanish hue.
One day, while busied with some light needlework, a letter was brought in with Eliza’s direction, and which proved to be the offer of marriage already referred to; its signature was “J. W. Drummond.” ‘It must be he, and no other,’ whispered the voice of her heart, as she read its contents; for although the name was common in England, she believed that her admirer was her former neighbor, since he wrote that although not personally acquainted, he had often had the pleasure of seeing her. On confiding the matter to her maid, the letter almost settled her doubts by bringing in a visiting card, left, as her acquaintance, the porter at the boarding house had told her, by their late lodger, and on which was inscribed “William John Drummond.”
“The matter is settled,” observed Mr. Barlow, as he one morning entered his niece’s chamber, a place with which he was but little acquainted. “I have spoken with Captain Drummond, informed him of your and my acceptance of his suit; and promised him to bestow on you two hundred pounds per annum. He will be here tomorrow week, at 4 o’clock in the afternoon. I chose that time to attend to this little matter, as it would be more convenient than on mail day. The betrothal can then take place in the presence of witnesses, and the necessary papers be executed.”
“Oh! how good you are, dear uncle,” cried Eliza, kissing his hand.
“I also told him that I should not object to his visiting you, and he will be here today.”
“So soon?” exclaimed Eliza, blushing with agitation; “I did not know that he was in the city!”
“Yes! and he sails in a short time for France.”
“For France! A British naval officer! What does he do there?”
“He attends to his business and a little besides. But what is this about