The Twins | Page 6

in an out-of-the-way
part of India, where there is little communication with Europe, and so
you will excuse my not writing. We hope to find ourselves to-night in
Plymouth roads, where I shall get into a pilot-boat, and so shall see you
to-morrow. You may, therefore, now expect your affectionate husband,
"J.G.J. TRACY, General H.E.I.C.S.
"P.S.1.--Remember me to our boy, or boys--which is it?
"P.S.2.--I bring with me the daughter of a friend in India, who is come

over for a year or two's polish at a first-rate school. Of course you will
be glad to receive her as our guest.
"J.G.J.T."
This loving letter was the most startling event that had ever attempted
to unnerve Mrs. Tracy; and she accordingly managed, for effect and
propriety's sake, to grow very faint upon the spot, whether for joy, or
sorrow, or fear of lost liberty, or hope of a restored lord, doth not
appear; she had so long been satisfied with receiving quarterly pay
from the India agents, that she forgot it was an evidence of her
husband's existence; and, lo! here he was returning a general,
doubtlessly a magnificent moustachioed individual, and she was to be
Mrs. General! so that when she came completely to herself, after that
feint of a faint, she was thinking of nothing but court-plumes, oriental
pearls, and her gallant Tracy's uniform.
The postscripts also had their influence: Charles, naturally affectionate,
and willing to love a hitherto unseen father, felt hurt, as well he might,
at the "boy, or boys;" while Julian, who ridiculed his brother's
sentimentality, was already fancying that the "daughter of a friend"
might be a pleasant addition to the dullness of Burleigh-Singleton.
Preparations vast were made at once for the general's reception; from
attic to kitchen was sounded the tocsin of his coming. Julian was all
bustle and excitement, to his mother's joy and pride; while Charles
merited her wrath by too much of his habitual and paternal quietude,
particularly when he withdrew his forces altogether from the loud
domestic fray, by retreating up-stairs to cogitate and muse, perhaps to
make a calming prayer or two about all these matters of importance. As
for Mrs. Tracy herself, she was even now, within the first hour of that
news, busily engaged in collecting cosmetics, trinkets, blonde lace, and
other female finery, resolved to trick herself out like Jezebel, and win
her lord once more; whilst the pernicious old aunt, who still lived on,
notwithstanding all those twenty years of patience, as vivacious as
before, grumbled and scolded so much at this upsetting of her house,
that there was really some risk of her altering the will at last, and
cutting out Jane Tracy after all.

And the morrow morning came, as if it were no more than an ordinary
Friday, and with it came expectancy; and noon succeeded, and with it
spirits alternately elated and depressed; and evening drew in, with
heart-sickness and chagrin at hopes or prophecies deferred; and night,
and next morning, and still the general came not. So, much weeping at
that vexing disappointment, after so many pains to please, Mrs. Tracy
put aside her numerous aids and appliances, and lay slatternly a-bed, to
nurse a head-ache until noon; and all had well nigh forgotten the
probable arrival, when, to every body's dismay, a dusty chaise and four
suddenly rattled up the terrace, and stopped at our identical number
seven.
Then was there scuffling up, and getting down, and making preparation
in hot haste; and a stout gentleman with a gamboge face descended
from the chaise, exploding wrath like a bomb-shell, that so important
an approach had made such slight appearance of expectancy: it was
disrespectful to his rank, and he took care to prove he was somebody,
by blowing up the very innocent post-boys. This accomplished, he
gallantly handed out after him a pretty-looking miss in her teens. Poor
Mrs. Tracy, en papillotes, looked out at the casement like any one but
Jezebel attired for bewitching, and could have cried for vexation; in
fact, she did, and passed it off for feeling. Aunt Green, whom the
general at first lovingly saluted as his wife (for the poor man had
entirely forgotten the uxorial appearance), was all in a pucker for
deafness, blindness, and evident misapprehension of all things in
general, though clearly pleased, and flattered at her gallant nephew's
salutation. Julian, with what grace of manner he could muster, was
already playing the agreeable to that pretty ward, after having, to the
general's great surprise, introduced himself to him as his son; while
Charles, who had rushed into the room, warm-heartedly to fling himself
into his father's arms, was repelled on the spot for his affection:
General Tracy, with a military air, excused himself from the embrace,
extending a finger to