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Page 13
That very first Sunday, after evening meeting, he induced Fanny Miller,
at whose father's house he boarded, to introduce him to Madeline, and
afterward walked home with her, making himself very agreeable, and
crowning his audacity by asking permission to call. Fanny, who went along
with them, tattled of this, and it produced a considerable sensation
among the girls, for it was the wont of Newville wooers to make very
gradual approaches. Laura warmly expressed to Madeline her indignation at
the impudence of the proceeding, but that young lady was sure she did not
see any harm in it; whereupon Laura lost her temper a little, and hinted
that it might be more to her credit if she did. Madeline replied
pointedly, and the result was a little spat, from which Laura issued
second best, as people generally did who provoked a verbal strife with
Madeline. Meanwhile it was rumoured that Cordis had availed himself of
the permission that he had asked, and that he had, moreover, been seen
talking with her in the post-office several times.
The drug-store being next door to the post-office, it was easy for him,
under pretence of calling for the mail, to waylay there any one he might
wish to meet. The last of the week Fanny Miller gave a little tea-party,
to make Cordis more generally acquainted. On that occasion he singled out
Madeline with his attentions in such a pronounced manner that the other
girls were somewhat piqued. Laura, having her brother's interest at
heart, had much more serious reasons for being uneasy at the look of
things. They all remarked how queerly Madeline acted that evening. She
was so subdued and quiet, not a bit like herself. When the party broke
up, Cordis walked home with Madeline and Laura, whose paths lay together.
"I'm extremely fortunate," said he, as he was walking on with Laura, after
leaving Madeline at her house, "to have a chance to escort the two belles
of Newville at once."
"I'm not so foolish as I look, Mr. Cordis," said she, rather sharply. She
was not going to let him think he could turn the head of every Newville
girl as he had Madeline's with his city airs and compliments.
"You might be, and not mind owning it," he replied, making an excuse of
her words to scrutinise her face with a frank admiration that sent the
colour to her cheeks, though she was more vexed than pleased.
"I mean that I don't like flattery."
"Are you sure?" he asked, with apparent surprise.
"Of course I am. What a question!"
"Excuse me; I only asked because I never met any one before who didn't."
"Never met anybody who didn't like to be told things about themselves
which they knew weren't true, and were just said because somebody thought
they were foolish enough to believe 'em?"
"I don't expect you to believe 'em yourself," he replied; "only vain
people believe the good things people say about them; but I wouldn't give
a cent for friends who didn't think better of me than I think of myself,
and tell me so occasionally, too."
They stood a moment at Laura's gate, and just then Henry, coming home
from the gun-shop of which he was foreman, passed them, and entered the
house. "Is that your brother?" asked Cordis.
"Yes."
"It does one's eyes good to see such a powerful looking young man. Is
your brother married, may I ask?"
"He is not."
"In coming into a new circle as I have done, you understand, Miss Burr, I
often feel a certain awkwardness on account of not knowing the relations
between the persons I meet," he said, apologizing for his questions.
Laura saw her opportunity, and promptly improved it.
"My brother has been attentive to Miss Brand for a long time. They are
about as good as engaged. Good-evening, Mr. Cordis."
It so happened that several days after this conversation, as Madeline was
walking home one afternoon, she glanced back at a crossing of the street,
and saw Harrison Cordis coming behind her on his way to tea. At the rate
she was walking she would reach home before he overtook her, but, if she
walked a very little slower, he would overtake her. Her pace slackened.
She blushed at her conduct, but she did not hurry.
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