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would a thousand times rather that the woman he loved should smile on
a weakness of this sort； in a girl of her own age； than that she should
show herself to be prematurely wise； if it was wisdom purchased at the
expense of the light…heartedness and sympathies of her years and sex。
On a diminished scale； I had awakened in his bosom some such uneasy
distrust as the pocket…handkerchief of Desdemona is known to have
aroused in that of the Moor。
｛Shakespeare； 〃Othello〃｝
Nor can I say that Julia Monson enjoyed herself as much as she had
anticipated。 Love she did not Betts Shoreham； for that was a passion
her temperament and training induced her to wait for some pretty
unequivocal demonstrations on the part of the gentleman before she
yielded to it； but she LIKED him vastly； and nothing would have been
easier than to have blown this smouldering preference into a flame。 She
was too young； and； to say the truth； too natural and uncalculating； to be
always remembering that Betts owned a good old…fashioned landed
estate that was said to produce twenty； and which did actually produce
eleven thousand a year； nett； and that his house in the country was
generally said to be one of the very best in the state。 For all this she
cared absolutely nothing； or nothing worth mentioning。 There were
enough young men of as good estates； and there were a vast many of
no estates at all； ready and willing to take their chances in the 〃cutting
up〃 of 〃old Monson；〃 but there were few who were as agreeable； as
well mannered； as handsome； or who had seen as much of the world； as
Betts Shoreham。 Of course； she had never fancied the young man in
love with herself； but； previously to the impression she had quite
recently imbibed of his attachment to her mother's governess； she had
been accustomed to think such a thing MIGHT come to pass； and that
she should not be sorry if it did。
I very well understand this is not the fashionable； or possibly the polite
way of describing those incipient sentiments which form the germ of
love in the virgin affections of young ladies； and that a skillful and refined
poet would use very different language on the occasion； but I began this
history to represent things as they are； and such is the manner in which
〃Love's Young Dream〃 appears to a pocket…handkerchief。
｛〃Love's Young Dream〃 = popular poem by Thomas Moore （1780…
1852）｝
Among other things that were unpleasant； Miss Monson was compelled
to overhear sundry remarks of Betts's devotion to the governess； as she
stood in the dance； some of which reached me； also。
〃Who is the lady to whom Mr。 Shoreham is so devoue this evening？〃
asked Miss N。 of Miss T。 〃'Tis quite a new face； and； if one might be so
presuming； quite a new manner。〃
｛devoue = devoted； attentive｝
〃That is Mademoiselle Henny； the governess of Mrs。 Monson's
children； my dear。 They say she is all accomplishments； and quite a
miracle of propriety。 It is also rumored that she is； some way； a very
distinguished person； reduced by those horrid revolutions of which they
have so many in Europe。〃
〃Noble； I dare say！〃
〃Oh！ that at least。 Some persons affirm that she is semi…ROYAL。 The
country is full of broken…down royalty and nobility。 Do you think she
has an aristocratic air？〃
〃Not in the leasther ears are too small。〃
〃Why； my dear； that is the very symbol of nobility！ When my Aunt
Harding was in Naples； she knew the Duke of Montecarbana；
intimately； and she says he had the smallest ears she ever beheld on a
human being。 The Montecarbanas are a family as old as the ruins of
Paestum； they say。〃
｛Paestum = ancient Roman city outside Naples｝
〃Well； to my notion； nobility and teaching little girls French and Italian；
and their gammes； have very little in common。 I had thought Mr。
Shoreham an admirer of Miss Monson's。〃
｛gammes = musical scales｝
Now； unfortunately； my mistress overheard this remark。 Her feelings
were just in that agitated state to take the alarm； and she determined to
flirt with a young man of the name of Thurston； with a view to awaken
Betts's jealousy； if he had any； and to give vent to her own spleen。 This
Tom Thurston was one of those tall； good…looking young fellows who
come from； nobody knows where； get into society； nobody knows
how； and live on； nobody knows what。 It was pretty generally
understood that he was on the look…out for a rich wife； and
encouragement from Julia Monson was not likely to be disregarded by
such a person。 To own the truth； my mistress carried matters much too
farso far； indeed； as to attract attention from every body but those
most concerned； viz。 her own mother and Betts Shoreham。 Although
elderly ladies play cards very little； just now； in American society； or；
indeed； in any other； they have their inducements for rendering the well…
known office of matron at a ball； a mere sinecure。 Mrs。 Monson； too；
was an indulgent mother； and seldom saw any thing very wrong in her
own children。 Julia； in the main； had sufficient retenue； and a suspicion
of her want of discretion on this point； was one of the last things that
would cross the fond parent's mind at Mrs。 Leamington's ball。 Others；
however； were less confiding。
｛retenue = discretion｝
〃Your daughter is in HIGH SPIRITS to…night；〃 observed a single lady
of a certain age； who was sitting near Mrs。 Monson； 〃I do not
remember to have ever seen her so GAY。〃
〃Yes； dear girl； she IS happy；〃poor Julia was any thing but THAT；
just then〃but youth is the time for happiness； if it is ever to come in this
life。〃
〃Is Miss Monson addicted to such VERY high spirits？〃 continued one；
who was resolute to torment； and vexed that the mother could not be
sufficiently alarmed to look around。
〃Alwayswhen in agreeable company。 I think it a great happiness；
ma'am； to possess good spirits。〃
〃No doubtyet one needn't be always fifteen； as Lady Wortley
Montague said；〃 muttered the other； giving up the point； and changing
her seat； in order that she might speak her mind more freely into the ear
of a congenial spirit。
｛Lady Wortley Montague = Lady Mary Wortley Montague （1689…
1762）； English essayist and letter…writer｝
Half an hour later we were all in the carriages； again； on our way home；
all； but Betts Shoreham； I should say； for having seen the ladies
cloaked； he had taken his leave at Mrs。 Leamington's door； as uncertain
as ever whether or not to impute envy to a being who； in all other
respects； seemed to him to be faultless。 He had to retire to an uneasy
pillow； undetermined whether to pursue his original intention of making
the poor friendless French girl independent； by an offer of his hand； or
whether to decide that her amiable and gentle qualities were all seeming；
and that she was not what she appeared to be。 Betts Shoreham owed
his distrust to national prejudice； and well was he paid for entertaining
so vile a companion。 Had Mademoiselle Hennequin been an American
girl； he would not have thought a second time of the emotion she had
betrayed in regarding my beauties； but he had been taught to believe all
French women managing and hypocritical； a notion that the experience
of a young man in Pari