Home as Found, James Fenimore Cooper [bookreader txt] 📗

marvels we have seen in company."

 

The eye of Captain Truck glistened, and, as he return ed the shake by

another of twice the energy, and the gentle pressure of Mr. Effingham

by a squeeze like that of a vice, he said in his honest off-hand

manner--

 

"The happiest hour I ever knew was that in which I discharged the

pilot, the first time out, as a ship-master; the next great event of

my life, in the way of happiness, was the moment I found myself on

the deck of the Montauk, after we had given those greasy Arabs a him

that their room was better than their company; and I really think

this very instant must be set down as the third. I never knew, my

dear sir, how much I truly loved you and your daughter, until both

were out of sight."

 

"That is so kind and gallant a speech, that it ought not to be lost

on the person most concerned. Eve, my love, our worthy friend has

just made a declaration which will be a novelty to you, who have not

been much in the way of listening to speeches of this nature."

 

Mr. Effingham then acquainted his daughter with what Captain Truck

had just said.

 

"This is certainly the first declaration of the sort I ever heard,

and with the simplicity of an unpractised young woman, I here avow

that the attachment is reciprocal," said the smiling Eve. "If there

is an indiscretion in this hasty acknowledgement, it must be ascribed

to surprise, and to the suddenness with which I have learned my

power, for your _parvenues_ are not always perfectly regulated."

 

"I hope Mamselle V.A.V. is well," returned the Captain, cordially

shaking the hand the young lady had given him, "and that she enjoys

herself to her liking in this outlandish country?"

 

"Mademoiselle Viefville will return you her thanks in person, at

dinner; and I believe she does not yet regret _la belle France_

unreasonably; as I regret it myself, in many particulars, it would be

unjust not to permit a native of the country some liberty in that

way."

 

"I perceive a strange face in the room--one of the family, my dear

young lady?"

 

"Not a relative, but a very old friend.--Shall I have the pleasure of

introducing you, Captain?"

 

"I hardly dared to ask it, for I know you must have been overworked

in this way, lately, but I confess I _should_ like an introduction; I

have neither introduced, nor been introduced since I left New-York,

with the exception of the case of Captain Ducie, whom I made properly

acquainted with Mrs. Hawker and her party as you may suppose. They

know each other regularly now, and you are saved the trouble of going

through the ceremony yourself."

 

"And how is it with you and the Bloomfields? Did Mrs. Hawker name you

to them properly?"

 

"That is the most extraordinary thing of the sort I ever knew! Not a

word was said in the way of introduction, and yet I slid into an

acquaintance with Mrs. Bloomfield so easily, that I could not tell

how it was done, if my life depended on it. But this very old friend

of yours, my dear young lady----"

 

"Captain Truck, Mr. Howel; Mr. Howel, Captain Truck;" said Eve,

imitating the most approved manner of the introductory spirit of the

day with admirable self-possession and gravity. "I am fortunate in

having it in my power to make two persons whom I so much esteem

acquainted."

 

"Captain Truck is the gentleman who commands the Montauk?" said Mr.

Howel, glancing at Eve, as much as to say, "am I right?"

 

"The very same, and the brave seaman to whom we are all indebted for

the happiness of standing here at this moment."

 

"You are to be envied, Captain Truck; of all the men in your calling,

you are exactly the one I should most wish to supplant. I understand

you actually go to England twice every year!"

 

"Three times, sir, when the winds permit. I have even seen the old

island four times, between January and January."

 

"What a pleasure! It must be the very acme of navigation to sail

between America and England!"

 

"It is not unpleasant, sir, from April to November, but the long

nights, thick weather, and heavy winds knock off a good deal of the

satisfaction for the rest of the year."

 

"But I speak of the country; of old England itself; not of the

passages."

 

"Well, England has what I call a pretty fair coast. It is high, and

great attention is paid to the lights; but of what account is either

coast or lights, if the weather is so thick, you cannot see the end

of your flying-jib-boom!"

 

"Mr. Howel alludes more particularly to the country, inland," said

Eve; "to the towns, the civilization and the other proofs of

cultivation and refinement. To the government, especially."

 

"In my judgment, sir, the government is much too particular about

tobacco, and some other trifling things I could name. Then it

restricts pennants to King's ships, whereas, to my notion, my dear

young lady, a New-York packet is as worthy of wearing a pennant as

any vessel that floats. I mean, of course, ships of the regular

European lines, and not the Southern traders."

 

"But these are merely spots on the sun, my good sir," returned Mr.

Howel; "putting a few such trifles out of the question, I think you

will allow that England is the most delightful country in the world?"

 

"To be frank with you, Mr. Howel, there is a good deal of hang-dog

weather, along in October, November and December. I have known March

any thing but agreeable, and then April is just like a young girl

with one of your melancholy novels, now smiling, and now blubbering."

 

"But the morals of the country, my dear sir; the moral features of

England must be a source of never-dying delight to a true

philanthropist," resumed Mr. Howel, as Eve, who perceived that the

discourse was likely to be long, went to join the ladies. "An

Englishman has most reason to be proud of the moral excellencies of

his country!"

 

"Why, to be frank with you, Mr. Howel, there are some of the moral

features of London, that are any thing but very beautiful. If you

could pass twenty-four hours in the neighbourhood of St. Catharine's,

would see sights that would throw Templeton into fits. The English

are a handsome people, I allow; but their morality is none of the

best-featured."

 

"Let us be seated, sir; I am afraid we are not exactly agreed on our

terms, and, in order that we may continue this subject, I beg you

will let me take a seat next you, at table."

 

To this Captain Truck very cheerfully assented, and then the two took

chairs, continuing the discourse very much in the blind and ambiguous

manner in which it had been commenced; the one party insisting on

seeing every thing through the medium of an imagination that had got

to be diseased on such subjects, or with a species of monomania;

while the other seemed obstinately determined to consider the entire

country as things had been presented to his limited and peculiar

experience, in the vicinity of the docks.

 

"We have had a very unexpected, and a very agreeable attendant in

Captain Truck," said Mrs Hawker, when Eve had placed herself by her

side, and respectfully taken one of her hands. "I really think if I

were to suffer shipwreck, or to run the hazard of captivity, I should

choose to have both occur in his good company."

 

"Mrs. Hawker makes so many conquests," observed Mrs. Bloomfield,

"that we are to think nothing of her success with this mer-man; but

what will you say, Miss Effingham, when you learn that I am also in

favour, in the same high quarter. I shall think the better of

masters, and boatswains, and Trinculos and Stephanos, as long as I

live, for this specimen of their craft."

 

"Not Trinculos and Stephanos, dear Mrs. Bloom field; for, _a l'

exception pres de_ Saturday-nights, and sweethearts and wives, a more

exemplary person in the way of libations does not exist than our

excellent Captain Truck. He is much too religious and moral for so

vulgar an excess as drinking."

 

"Religious!" exclaimed Mrs, Bloomfield, in sur prise. "This is a

merit to which I did not know he possessed the smallest claims. One

might imagine a little superstition, and some short-lived repentances

in gales of wind; but scarcely any thing as much like a trade wind,

as religion!"

 

"Then you do not know him; for a more sincerely devout man, though I

acknowledge it is after a fashion that is perhaps peculiar to the

ocean, is not often met with. At any rate, you found him attentive to

our sex?"

 

"The pink of politeness, and, not to embellish, there is a manly

deference about him, that is singularly agreeable to our frail

vanity. This comes of his packet-training, I suppose, and we may

thank you for some portion of his merit, His tongue never tires in

your praises, and did I not feel persuaded that your mind is made up

never to be the wife of any republican American, I should fear this

visit exceedingly. Notwithstanding the remark I made concerning my

being in favour, the affair lies between Mrs. Hawker and yourself. I

know it is not your habit to trifle even on that very popular subject

with young ladies, matrimony; but this case forms so complete an

exception to the vulgar passion, that I trust you will overlook the

indiscretion. Our _golden_ captain, for _copper_ he is not, protests

that Mrs. Hawker is the most delightful old lady he ever knew, and

that Miss Eve Effingham is the most delightful young lady he ever

knew. Here, then, each may see the ground she occupies, and play her

cards accordingly. I hope to be forgiven for touching on a subject so

delicate."

 

"In the first place," said Eve, smiling, "I should wish to hear Mrs.

Hawker's reply."

 

"I have no more to say, than to express my perfect gratitude,"

answered that lady, "to announce a determination not to change my

condition, on account of extreme youth, and a disposition to abandon

the field to my younger, if not fairer, rival."

 

"Well, then," resumed Eve, anxious to change the subject, for she saw

that Paul was approaching their group, "I believe it will be wisest

in me to suspend a decision, circumstances leaving so much at my

disposal. Time must show what that decision will be."

 

"Nay," said Mrs. Bloomfield, who saw no feeling involved in the

trifling, "this is unjustifiable coquetry, and I feel bound to

ascertain how the land lies. You will remember I am the Captain's

confidant, and you know the fearful responsibility of a friend in an

affair of this sort; that of a friend in the duello being

insignificant in comparison. That I may have testimony at need, Mr.

Powis shall be made acquainted with the leading facts. Captain Truck

is a devout admirer of this young lady, sir, and I am endeavouring to

discover whether he ought to hang himself on her father's lawn, this

evening, as soon as the moon rises, or live another week. In order to

do this, I shall pursue the categorical and inquisitorial method--and

so defend yourself Miss Effingham. Do you object to the country of

your admirer?"

 

Eve, though inwardly vexed at the turn this pleasantry had taken,

maintained a perfectly composed manner, for she knew that Mrs.

Bloomfield had too much feminine propriety to say any thing improper,

or any thing that might seriously embarrass her.

 

"It would, indeed, be extraordinary, should I object to a country

which is not only my own, but which has so long been that of my

ancestors," she answered steadily. "On this score, my knight has

nothing to fear."

 

"I rejoice to hear this," returned Mrs. Bloomfield, glancing her

eyes, unconsciously to herself, however, towards Sir George

Templemore, "and, Mr. Powis, you, who I believe are a European, will

learn humility in the avowal. Do you object to your swain that he is

a seaman?"

 

Eve blushed, notwithstanding a strong effort to appear composed, and,

for the first time since their acquaintance, she felt provoked with

Mrs. Bloomfield. She hesitated before she answered in the negative,

and this too in a way to give more meaning to her reply, although

nothing could be farther from her intentions.

 

"The happy man _may_ then be an American and a seaman! Here is great

encouragement. Do you object to sixty?"

 

"In any other man I should certainly consider it a blemish, as my own

dear father is but fifty."

 

Mrs. Bloomfield was struck with the tremor in the voice, and with the

air of embarrassment, in one who usually was so easy and collected;

and with feminine sensitiveness she adroitly abandoned the subject,

though she often recurred to this stifled emotion in the course of

the day, and from that moment she became a silent observer of Eve's

deportment with all her father's guests.

 

"This