The evening was pronounced delightful by Miss Lawrence; but all the guests were not of the same opinion.
{"BLUE" = literary or learned, from "blue-stocking"}
"What an absurd custom it is, to have these young people parties," said Harry Hazlehurst, who was on one of his frequent visits to New York at the time, and was sitting in Mrs. Graham's drawing-room, with that lady, Jane, and Mrs. Stanley.
"I agree with you; it is a bad plan," observed Mrs. Stanley.
"The first of the kind that I went to, after we came home, made me feel ashamed of myself; though Dr. Van Horne, I suppose, would accuse me of high-treason for saying so."
"But most young people seem to enjoy them," said Mrs. Graham.
"It is paying us but a poor compliment to say so. One would think the young people were afraid to laugh and talk before their fathers and mothers. I really felt the other night as if we were a party of children turned into the nursery to play, and eat sugar-plums together, and make as much noise as we pleased, without disturbing our elders. It is a custom that appears to me as unnatural as it is puerile. I hope you don't like it," he added, turning to Jane.
"I care very little about it."
"I am glad, at least, you do not defend it."
"There are a few families you know, Harry, who never give those kind of parties," observed Mrs. Stanley.
Hazlehurst's conscience felt a twinge, for he knew she was thinking of Elinor, whom Miss Wyllys had never allowed to give these UNMARRIED parties; though she went to other houses, when asked.
"Miss Taylor had collected a tribe of Europeans of all sorts, last night; half-a-dozen Englishmen, and a vulgar Frenchman," observed Harry, by way of changing the conversation. "I was surprised when my friend Townsend told me he was invited; he did not know the Taylors, and only arrived a week since."
"Adeline invited him on purpose; Miss Lawrence is very fond of foreigners, and you know Mr. Taylor calls on all the strangers who arrive," said Jane.
Harry's lip curled a little.
"How disagreeable that Captain Kockney is," continued Jane.
"More than disagreeable," replied Harry. "I should not have used so soft a word. I was not a little amused, by-the-bye, to see how the fellow cooled off when Townsend and Ellery came in. Your low set of English have such a thorough awe of those a few degrees above them."
"That Mr. Kockney is so very forward and vulgar," said Mrs. Graham, "that I wonder anybody can endure him. I was disgusted with his manner on board the steamboat from Longbridge, the other day."
"He is beneath notice," said Harry.
"I am not sure, either, that I like your friend, Mr. Ellery, Harry."
"Ellery is no friend of mine; but, pray, don't name him in the same breath with that Kockney."
"Oh, no, Mr. Ellery is a gentleman, evidently; but I don't like his manners, there is something affected about him."
"Certainly, he knows how to play the coxcomb, and condescends to do so quite too often. But I hope you like Townsend; he is really a fine fellow."
"Mr. Townsend has very different manners."
"Yes, he has the best English manner; quite natural, and not afraid to be civil. It is only the best of the English who are quite free from nonsense. Ellery aims at effect, half the time; Townsend has too much sense to do so."
"Well, I really wonder," said Jane, "how Mrs. Hilson can endure that Captain Kockney."
"The silly little soul knows no better."
"To be sure, she is quite as ridiculous as he is."
"She is really very silly," said Mrs. Stanley. "It is a pity that good, worthy Mr. Hubbard should have daughters so little like himself, and so much like their mother."
"She is very pretty, though, and dresses very well," said Jane.
"Would you believe it, mamma, the other day, when she called at Adeline's she wore a collar precisely like the prettiest of those I brought from Paris."
"Does she visit a great deal at Mrs. Taylor's?" inquired her mother.
"Oh, no; Adeline can't endure her. But she cannot get rid of her entirely, because they meet in the country. Adeline would like to drop the acquaintance altogether, but she says Mrs. Hilson won't let her, because Mrs. Taylor's is the only fashionable house where she visits."
"These Taylors have really done wonders in the last few years," said Mrs. Stanley, smiling.
"They have been quite as persevering, I dare say, as Mrs. Hilson can be. They are a very vulgar, pushing family," observed Mrs. Graham.
Jane coloured, and Harry feared she would shed a tear or two. She was quite agitated. "Dear Jane," he thought," what an affectionate heart she has!" By way of consoling her, probably, and at the same time obtaining a better view of her downcast face, he took a seat beside her. He even refrained from making an observation which he had in petto, upon the volatile character and manners of Miss Taylor, reserving it for the future; determining that when they were man and wife, Jane should have the full benefit of his opinion of her friend.
{"in petto" = in mind}
