Calvert of Strathore | Page 3

of his
progress, was pleased to say many complimentary things of several
excursions into verse which he has made. He especially commended his
lines on 'A View of Princeton College,' written something after the
manner of Mr. Gray's 'Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College.'"
"What!" said Mr. Morris, "an ode on 'A View of Princeton College'!
My dear Mr. Calvert, couldn't a young man of your years find a more
inspiring theme than a college building to write upon? Instead of an
alma mater, you should have chosen some filia pulchra to make verses
to," and he gave Mr. Jefferson a quizzical look.
"I agree with you again, Mr. Morris," said that gentleman, laughing
heartily, "and I think that you and I would have made no such mistake
at Ned's age," and he sighed a little as he thought of the gay pleasures
of his own youth, the dances and walks and talks with "Belinda," and
his poetic effusions to her and many another.
"Nor even at our own," objected Mr. Morris. "I assure you I feel myself
quite capable of composing verses to fair ones yet, Mr. Jefferson." And
indeed he was, and rhymed his way gayly to the heart of many a lady in
the days to come.
As for Calvert, he only smiled at the light banter at his expense,
scarcely understanding it, indeed, for as yet he carried a singularly
untouched heart about in his healthy young body.

Mr. Morris arose: "I must be going," he said. "I have sent my things on
to the Hotel de Richelieu--" but Mr. Jefferson pressed him back into his
seat.
"You are my guest for the day," he declared, interrupting him, "and
must take your first breakfast with Ned and myself here at the Legation.
I will send you around to the rue de Richelieu in my carriage later on. I
have a thousand questions to ask you. I must have all the news from
America--how fares General Washington, and my friend, James
Madison, and pretty Miss Molly Crenshawe?--there's a lovely woman
for you, Ned, in the bud, 'tis true, but likely to blossom into a perfect
rose. There is but one beauty in all Paris to compare with her, I think.
And that is the sister of your old friend d'Azay. And what does Patrick
Henry and Pendleton these days? I hear that Hamilton holds strange
views about the finances and has spoken of them freely in Congress.
What are they? My letters give me no details as yet." And more and
more questions during the abundant breakfast which had been spread
for them in the morning-room adjoining Mr. Jefferson's library. Now it
was a broadside of inquiries aimed at Mr. Gouverneur Morris
concerning the newly adopted Constitution which he had helped
fashion for the infant union of States and the chances of electing
General Washington as first president of that union; now it was
question after question regarding Dr. Franklin's reception in America
on his return from France and release from his arduous duties and the
vexatious persecutions to which he had been subjected by his former
colleagues--the most outrageous and unprovoked that ever man
suffered--and there were endless inquiries about personal, friends,
about the currency in America, and about the feeling of security and
tranquillity of the States.
The breakfast, generous as it was, was over long before Mr. Jefferson
had tired of his questioning, and they were still sitting around the table
talking when a visitor was announced. It was Monsieur le Vicomte de
Beaufort, Lafayette's young kinsman and officer in the American war,
who came in directly, bowing to Mr. Morris, whom he had known well
in America, and embracing Calvert with a friendly fervor that almost
five years of separation had not diminished. He had known of his

coming through Mr. Jefferson, and, happening to pass the hotel, had
stopped to inquire at the porter's lodge whether the travellers had
arrived.
"'Tis a thousand pities d'Azay is not here to welcome you, too, my dear
Calvert," he said, regretfully, "but he will be back to-morrow with his
aunt, the old Duchess, and his sister. He is gone down to Azay-le-Roi,
his château near Tours, to fetch them. But come! I am all impatience to
show you a little of my Paris. We won't wait for d'Azay's return to
begin, and I am sure Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Morris will excuse you for a
few hours. Is it not so, gentlemen?" He looked around at the two older
men. "Calvert has shown me Virginia. I long to return the compliment
and show him this little piece of France!"
"But first," objected Mr. Jefferson, "I should like to show him the
Embassy. Come, gentlemen, we will make a rapid tour of the
apartments before you