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we went last to Paris； under an apprehension that the guillotine might
follow the revolution of July； as it had followed that of '89。 This name
she enjoined it on me to keep； and I have never thought it prudent to
change it。 I am of the family of de la Rocheaimard。〃
The exclamation which burst from the lips of Betts Shoreham；
betokened both surprise and delight。 He made Adrienne repeat her
declarations； and even desired her to explain her precise parentage。 The
reader will remember； that there had been an American marriage in
Adrienne's family； and that every relative the poor girl had on earth； was
among these distant connections on this side of the Atlantic。 One of
these relatives； though it was no nearer than a third cousin； was Betts
Shoreham； whose great…grandmother had been a bona fide de la
Rocheaimard； and who was enabled； at once； to point out to the poor
deserted orphan some forty or fifty persons； who stood in the same
degree of affinity to her。 It is needless to say that this conversation was
of absorbing interest to both； so much so； indeed； that Betts
momentarily forgot his love； and by the time it had ended； Adrienne was
disposed to overlook most of her over scrupulous objections to
rewarding that very passion。 But the hour admonished them of the
necessity of separating。
〃And now； my beloved cousin；〃 said Betts Shoreham； as he rose to quit
the room； seizing Adrienne's unresisting hand〃now； my own Adrienne；
you will no longer urge your sublimated notions of propriety against my
suit。 I am your nearest male relative； and have a right to your
obedienceand I command that you be the second de la Rocheaimard
who became the wife of a Shoreham。〃
〃Tell me； mon cher cousin；〃 said Adrienne； smiling through her tears
〃were your grand…parents； my good uncle and aunt； were they happy？
Was their union blessed？〃
｛mon cher cousin = my dear cousin｝
〃They were miracles of domestic felicity； and their happiness has passed
down in tradition； among all their descendants。 Even religion could not
furnish them with a cause for misunderstanding。 That example which
they set to the last century； we will endeavor to set to this。〃
Adrienne smiled； kissed her hand to Betts； and ran out of the room；
leaving me forgotten on the sofa。 Betts Shoreham seized his hat； and left
the house； a happy man； for； though he had no direct promise as yet； he
felt as reasonably secure of success； as circumstances required。
CHAPTER XVII。
Five minutes later； Tom Thurston entered； and Julia Monson came
down to receive HIM； her pique not interfering； and it being rather
stylish to be disengaged on the morning of the day when the household
was in all the confusion of a premeditated rout。
｛premeditated rout = planned party｝
〃This is SO good of you； Miss Monson；〃 said Tom； as he made his
bowI heard it all； being still on the sofa〃This is SO good of you；
when your time must have so many demands on it。〃
〃Not in the least； Mr。 Thurstonmamma and the housekeeper have
settled every thing； and I am really pleased to see you； as you can give
me the history of the new play〃
〃Ah！ Miss Monson； my heartmy facultiesmy ideas〃 Tom was
getting bothered； and he made a desperate effort to extricate himself
〃In short； my JUDGMENT is so confused and monopolized； that I have
no powers left to think or speak of plays。 In a word； I was not there。〃
〃That explains it； thenand what has thus confused your mind； Mr。
Thurston？〃
〃The approach of this awful night。 You will be surrounded by a host of
admirers； pouring into your ears their admiration and love； and then
what shall I have to support me； but that 'yes；' with which you once
raised me from the depths of despair to an elevation of happiness that
was high as the highest pinnacle of the caverns of Kentucky； raising me
from the depths of Chimborazo。〃
｛caverns of Kentucky = Mammoth Cave； Chimborazo = a 20；500 foot
volcano in Ecuador｝
Tom meant to reverse this image； but love is proverbially desperate in
its figures of speech； and any thing was better than appearing to
hesitate。 Nevertheless； Miss Monson was too well instructed； and had
too much real taste； not to feel surprise at all this extravagance of diction
and poetry。
〃I am not certain； Mr。 Thurston； that I rightly understand you；〃 she said。
〃Chimborazo is not particularly low； nor are the caverns of Kentucky so
strikingly elevated。〃
〃Ascribe it all to that fatal； heart…thrilling； hope…inspiring 'yes；' loveliest of
human females；〃 continued Tom； kneeling with some caution； lest the
straps of his pantaloons should give way〃Impute all to your own lucid
ambiguity； and to the torments of hope that I experience。 Repeat that
'yes；' lovely； consolatory； imaginative being； and raise me from the thrill
of depression； to the liveliest pulsations of all human acmes。〃
〃Hang it；〃 thought Tom； 〃if she stand THAT； I shall presently be ashore。
Genius； itself； can invent nothing finer。〃
But Julia did stand it。 She admired Tom for his exterior； but the
admiration of no moderately sensible woman could overlook
rodomontade so exceedingly desperate。 It was trespassing too boldly
on the proprieties to utter such nonsense to a gentlewoman； and Tom；
who had got his practice in a very low school； was doomed to discover
that he had overreached himself。
〃I am not certain I quite understand you； Mr。 Thurston； answered the
half…irritated； half…amused young lady； 〃your language is so very
extraordinaryyour images so unusual〃
〃Say； rather； that it is your own image； loveliest incorporation of
perceptible incarnations；〃 interrupted Tom； determined to go for the
whole； and recalling some rare specimens of magazine eloquence
〃Talk not of images； obdurate maid； when you are nothing but an image
yourself。〃
〃I！ Mr。 Thurstonand of what is it your pleasure to accuse me of being
the image？〃
〃O！ unutterable woyes； inexorable girl； your vacillating 'yes' has
rendered me the impersonation of that oppressive sentiment； of which
your beauty and excellence have become the mocking reality。 Alas；
alas！ that bearded men；〃Tom's face was covered with hair〃Alas；
alas！ that bearded men should be brought to weep over the contrarieties
of womanly caprice。〃
Here Tom bowed his head； and after a grunting sob or two； he raised
his handkerchief in a very pathetic manner to his face； and THOUGHT
to himself〃Well； if she stand THAT； the Lord only knows what I shall
say next。〃
As for Julia； she was amused； though at first she had been a little
frightened。 The girl had a good deal of spirit； and she had tant soit peu
of mother Eve's love of mischief in her。 She determined to 〃make
capital〃 out of the affair； as the Americans say； in shop…keeping slang。
｛tant soit peu = an ever so tiny amount｝
〃What is the 'yes；' of which you speak；〃 she inquired； 〃and； on which
you seem to lay so much stress？〃
〃That 'yes' has been my bane and antidote；〃 answered Tom； rallying for
a new and still more desperate charge。 〃When first pronounced by your
rubicund lips； it thrilled on my amazed senses like a beacon of light〃
〃Mr。 ThurstonMr。 Thurstonwhat DO you mean？〃
〃Ah； d…n it；〃 thought Tom； 〃I