The Path Of Duty | Page 5

but feel there was something in her composition that would keep her
from vulgar aberrations. Her husband was such a feeble type that she
must have felt doubly she had been put upon her honor. To deceive
such a man as that was to make him more ridiculous than he was
already, and from such a result a woman bearing his name may very
well have shrunk. Perhaps it would have been worse for Lord
Vandeleur, who had every pretension of his order and none of its
amiability, if he had been a better, or at least, a cleverer man. When a
woman behaves so well she is not obliged to be careful, and there is no
need of consulting appearances when one is one's self an appearance.
Lady Vandeleur accepted Ambrose Tester's attentions, and Heaven
knows they were frequent; but she had such an air of perfect
equilibrium that one could n't see her, in imagination, bend responsive.
Incense was incense, but one saw her sitting quite serene among the
fumes. That honor of her acquaintance of which I just now spoke it had
been given me to enjoy; that is to say, I met her a dozen times in the
season in a hot crowd, and we smiled sweetly and murmured a vague
question or two, without hearing, or even trying to hear, each other's
answer. If I knew that Ambrose Tester was perpetually in and out of
her house and always arranging with her that they should go to the
same places, I doubt whether she, on her side, knew how often he came
to see me. I don't think he would have let her know, and am conscious,
in saying this, that it indicated an advanced state of intimacy (with her,
I mean).
I also doubt very much whether he asked her to look about, on his
behalf, for a future Lady Tester. This request he was so good as to
make of me; but I told him I would have nothing to do with the matter.
If Joscelind is unhappy, I am thankful to say the responsibility is not
mine. I have found English husbands for two or three American girls,
but providing English wives is a different affair. I know the sort of men
that will suit women, but one would have to be very clever to know the
sort of women that will suit men. I told Ambrose Tester that he must
look out for himself, but, in spite of his promise, I had very little belief
that he would do anything of the sort. I thought it probable that the old
baronet would pass away without seeing a new generation come in;
though when I intimated as much to Mr. Tester, he made answer in

substance (it was not quite so crudely said) that his father, old as he
was, would hold on till his bidding was done, and if it should not be
done, he would hold on out of spite. "Oh, he will tire me out;" that I
remember Ambrose Tester did say. I had done him injustice, for six
months later he told me he was engaged. It had all come about very
suddenly. From one day to the other the right young woman had been
found. I forget who had found her; some aunt or cousin, I think; it had
not been the young man himself. But when she was found, he rose to
the occasion; he took her up seriously, he approved of her thoroughly,
and I am not sure that he didn't fall a little in love with her, ridiculous
(excuse my London tone) as this accident may appear. He told me that
his father was delighted, and I knew afterwards that he had good reason
to be. It was not till some weeks later that I saw the girl; but meanwhile
I had received the pleasantest impression of her, and this impression
came--must have come--mainly from what her intended told me. That
proves that he spoke with some positiveness, spoke as if he really
believed he was doing a good thing. I had it on my tongue's end to ask
him how Lady Vandeleur liked her, but I fortunately checked this
vulgar inquiry. He liked her evidently, as I say; every one liked her, and
when I knew her I liked her better even than the others. I like her to-day
more than ever; it is fair you should know that, in reading this account
of her situation. It doubtless colors my picture, gives a point to my
sense of the strangeness of my little story.
Joscelind Bernardstone came of a military race, and had been brought
up in camps,--by which I don't mean she was one of those
objectionable young women who are known as