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had exhausted himself. Finding I still kept silence, he asked —
‘ Well, Ned, what do you say V 4 What can I say, sir ? It seems
to me that lam the person for whom a wife is wanted. I choose
one woman, and you another. I don’t see, sir, how we are to re
concile our differences in taste.’ 4 But, Ned, the woman of whom
you speak is by no means suitable.’ 4 That, sir, seems a question
proper only to myself to determine. The whole question resolves
itself to this. Either lam under a despotism, or lam not. You
would not undertake, sir, to force me to eat cabbage at your table
whether I want it or not. Yet, sir, it would be quite an innocent
tyranny to force me to eat cabbage against my will, compared to
that of compelling me to take a wife against my will!’ 4 L>o you
mean to compare Beatrice Mazyck to a cabbage?’ ‘Heaven for
bid, sir, that I should do any thing so irreverent or ungallant. —
But Ido not take to Beatrice, nor I suspect, she to me.’ 4 But
try her, at least. 4 Why, sir, when I don’t want her, and when,
in all probability, she is as little desirous of me ?’ ‘For my sake,
Ned, do the courteous thing, and we know not but you will come
to relish one another.’ 4 1 will do anything in reason for your
sake, father, but this is not reasonable ; and your intriguing nego
ciations with the mother of the one lady may do equal wrong to
her and to myself, and lead to confusion, if nut misery, all round.’
4 lt’s too late now, Ned; lam commited—think of that! lam
committed! My honour is committed. Your father’s honour.’
4 You have no doubt erred, sir, but your committal is one for
which reason, common sense, human nature, will all furnish you
in a moment, a reasonable apology to any reasoning and intelli
gent mother. But, that you are committed, does not seem to me
to involve any necessity why you should commit me also. This
philosophy is that of the old fox, who went once too often to the
rat-trap, and then discoursed to his brethren of the indecency of
wearing tails. You have never found me a wilful or disobedient
son, my father ; why force me now, by a tyranny which society
no longer tolerates —which has become wholly traditional with
the tales of Blue Beard and other Barons—not of Carolina—to
show that insubordination which I never exhibited before.’ 4 Ty
ranny ! You call me a tyrant, Ned ?’ 4 According to my no
tions, if you urge this matter, you will be. People think differ
ently about tyranny and tyrants. One man, doing a merciless
act, will fancy no cruelty in the performance if he smile upon the
victim, and use the gentlest language, while he goads him to ex
tremity. Your Jack Ketch is a notorious humanitarian—a fellow
of most benevolent stomach, who will beg your forgiveness and
your prayers, while adjusting the knot in 4 gingerly fashion’ un
der your left lug. I’ve no doubt you’d carry me to the altar,
which, unless I am suffered to choose my own wife, I’d as lief
should be the halter—with the most parental tenderness. You’d
try to reconcile me to the rope by giving me a glorious wedding
supper, and the next morning, I should receive deeds conveying
to me your best plantation and a hundred negroes.’ 4 Well, sir V
4 Well, sir, I say, rather than marry the wife of another man’s
choosing, I’d fling deed, and estate, and negroes into the fire, and
plough my own road to fortune in the worst sand lands of the
country. You have not the fortune, sir, even if you gave me all
that you have and could bestow, that can reconcile me to the
bitter physic you require me to take as the condition by which it
is obtained. YVith that I scored the horse, saying as I did so
‘But here we are, sir, at Bonneau Place; I suppose it will be pro-
SUPPLEMENT TO SOUTHERN LITERARY GAZETTE.
per only to say no more, just now, on the subject.’ He p U t pj 8
hand on my arm— 4 My dear Ned, for my sake, do the civil thin!
by Miss Mazyck. Pay her every attention, dance with her, see
her to supper, and—’ 4 Enough, my dear father, enough! I shall
certainly not do anything to forfeit the character of a gentleman
But, be sure, I shall not do any thing which shall lead her to sup
pose that I am ambitious of the attitude of a lover.’ The old
man threw himself back in the buggy in a desponding attitude
muttering something which I did not make out, and in the next
moment we dashed into the court among a dozen other vehicles
CHAPTER X.
HOW WE DANCED, AND SUPPED, AND SO-FORTH.
The Mazyck establishment was on an extensive scale. It was
its ancient baronial features that had insensibly impressed the
imagination of Major Bulmer. The house was a vast one for our
country —a massive mansion of brick, opening upon a grand pas
sage way, or hall in the centre, from which you diverged into
double rooms on either hand. These were of larger size than
usual in our country seats. These also had wings, consisting each
of a single room over the basement, and lower by one story than
the main building. One of these, devoted to the library, was
throw n open on the present occasion. The other was a sort of
state chamber, meant for guests of distinction, special favourites,
or for newly married couples. The floors were magnificently car
peted, and the rooms elegantly furnished. They were already
loginning to till on our arrival; the custom of the country differ
ing from that of the city in requiring the guests to come early,
however late they may be persuaded to stay. Very soon the bus
tle of first arrivals was at an end : onlv now and then, an ocea
sional annunciation betokened some visitor who still held to the
city rule of late arrivals, or who, most probably, w r as ambitious of
an innovation upon country habits. A vulgar self-esteem always
comes late to church or into society, if only w ith the view of mak
ing a sensation. At eight o’clock tea was served, with the usual
accompaniments of cake and cracker. Quite a creditable display
of silver plate was justified by this service, and the green bever
age sent up such savory odours of the Land of Flowers, as would
have stirred even the obtuse olfactories of Sam Johnson. Sup
pose the company all arranged, rather formally around the par
lour, with glimpses of groups of young persons especially in the
library, all busy in the kindred occupations of tea and talk, titty
cups smoking and as many tongues making music, and we nia\
now r look round the circle, and take in its several aspects. Tall,
stately, the form and features of my antique friend, Madame Ag
nes- r i heresa, rise, supreme over all presences, in erect dignity,
starched cap and handkerchief, scant locks of pepper and salt, and
i sharp eyes that suffer no evasion or escape. I approach, 1 kend
before her, I crave to be blessed with her smiles, and she accords
them. But where is pretty Paula ? In the library with the
young people. Ah ! and Ned Bulmer is already hovering about
her, as the moth about the flame. The Major sees him not as
yet, being exceedingly earnest in his attentions to Mrs. Mazy (
The veteran is displaying the graces of manner which constitute
