MR. MINTURN was a rising man; that is, he was gaining money andreputation in his profession. That he felt himself rising, wasclearly apparent to all who observed him attentively. His good lady,Mrs. Minturn, was also conscious of the upward movement, andexperienced a consequent sense of elevation. From the height theyhad gained in a few years, it was but natural for them to cast theireyes below, and to note how far beneath them were certainindividuals with whom they had once been on a level. The observationof this fact as naturally created an emotion of contempt for theseindividuals as inferiors.
Among those ranging below the Minturns,--in their estimation,--was afamily named Allender. Mr. Allender was, or had been, a merchant,and was highly esteemed by all who knew him, as a gentleman and aman of fine intelligence. He and Minturn started together in life;the one as a lawyer, and the other as a merchant. Possessing somecapital, Mr. Allender was able, in commencing business, to assume acomfortable style of living in his family, while Minturn, who hadnothing but his profession to depend upon, and that at the time ofhis marriage a very small dependence, was compelled to adopt, in hisdomestic relations, a very humble scale.
Having been well acquainted, for some years, with Mr. Minturn, Mr.Allender, soon after the marriage of the former, called upon himwith his wife. The visit was promptly returned, and from that timethe two families kept up intimate relations. The Minturns lived in asmall house, in a retired street, for which they paid the annualrent of one hundred and seventy-five dollars. Their house wasfurnished with exceeding plainness, and their only domestic was astout girl of fourteen. The Allenders, on the other hand, lived in afashionable neighbourhood, so called. For their house, which washandsomely furnished, they paid a rent of four hundred dollars; andlived in what the Minturns thought to be great elegance. And so itwas, in contrast with their style of living. Mrs. Minturn felt quiteproud of having such acquaintances, and of being able to visitfamiliarly in such good society as was to be found at the house ofMr. and Mrs. Allender. You could not be in her company for tenminutes, at any time, without hearing some allusion to theAllenders. What they said, was repeated as oracular; and to thosewho had never been in their house, Mrs. Minturn described theelegance of every thing pertaining thereto, in the most graphicmanner.
Well, as time went on, Mr. Minturn, by strict devotion to business,gradually advanced himself in his profession. At the end of four orfive years, he was able to move into a larger house and to getbetter furniture. Still, every thing was yet on an inferior scale tothat enjoyed by Mr. Allender, to whose family his own was indebtedfor an introduction into society, and for an acquaintance with manywho were esteemed as valued friends.
Ten years elapsed, and the Minturns were on a level with theAllenders, as far as external things were concerned. The lawyer'sbusiness had steadily increased, but the merchant had not been verysuccessful in trade, and was not esteemed, in the community, arising man. No change in his style of living had taken place sincehe first became a housekeeper; and his furniture began, inconsequence, to look a little dingy and old-fashioned. This wasparticularly observed by Mrs. Minturn, who had, at every upwardmovement,--and three of these movements had already takenplace,--furnished her house from top to bottom.
Five years more reversed the relations between to families. TheMinturns still went up, and the Allenders commenced going down. Oneday, about this time, Mr. Minturn came home from his office, andsaid to his wife
"I've got bad news to tell you about our friends the Allenders."
"What is that?" inquired Mrs. Minturn, evincing a good deal ofinterest, though not exactly of the right kind.
"He's stopped payment."
"What?"
"He failed to meet his notes in bank yesterday, and to-day, Iunderstand, he has called his creditors together."
"I'm sorry to hear that, really," said Mrs. Minturn. "What is thecause?"
"I believe his affairs have been getting involved for the last fouror five years. He does not seem to possess much business energy."
"I never thought there was a great deal of life about him."
"He's rather a slow man. It requires more activity and energy ofcharacter than he possesses to do business in these times. Men aregetting too wide awake. I'm sorry for Allender. He's a good-heartedman--too good-hearted, in fact, for his own interest. But, it'snothing more than I expected."
"And I am sorry for poor Mrs. Allender," said his wife. "What achange it will be for her! Ah, me! Will they lose every thing?"
"I have no means of knowing at present. But I hope not."
"Still, they will have to come down a great way."
"No doubt of it."
A week passed, after news of Mr. Allender's business disaster hadreached the ears of Mrs. Minturn, and in that time she had notcalled to see her friend in distress. Each of these ladies had adaughter about the same age; and that age was fifteen.
"Where are you going, Emeline?" asked Mrs. Minturn of her daughter,who came down, with her bonnet on, one afternoon about this time.
"I'm going to run around and see Clara Allender," was replied.
"I'd rather you wouldn't go there, just now," said the mother.
"Why not?" asked Emeline.
"I have my reasons for it," returned Mrs. Minturn.
Emeline looked disappointed. She was much attached to Clara, who wasa sweet-tempered girl, and felt a week's absence from her as a realprivation. Observing the disappointment of Emeline, Mrs. Minturnsaid, a little impatiently:
"I think you might live without seeing Clara every day. For sometime past, you have been little more than her shadow. I don't likethese girlish intimacies; they never come to any good."
Tears were in Emeline's eyes as she turned from her mother and wentback to her room.
Mr. Allender, at the age of forty, found himself unable, through theexhaustion of his means, to continue in business. He would haveresigned every thing into the hands of his creditors beforesuffering a protest, had he not failed to receive an expectedpayment on the day of his forced suspension. When he did calltogether the men to whom he was indebted, he rendered them up allhis effects, and in all possible ways aided in the settlement ofevery thing. The result was better than he had anticipated. No onelost a dollar; but he was left penniless. Just then, the presidentof one of the Marine Insurance Companies resigned his office, andMr. Allender was unanimously chosen to fill his place. The salarywas two thousand dollars. This was sufficient to meet the expense atwhich his family had been living. So there was no change in theirdomestic economy. This being the case, the Minturns had no goodreason for cutting the acquaintance of their old friends, much asthey now felt disposed to do so. The family visiting, however, wasfar from being as frequent and as familiar as in former times.
Still, on the part of the Minturns the movement was upward, whilethe Allender's retained their dead level. The lawyer, who was a manof talents and perseverance, and withal not over scrupulous onpoints of abstract morality, gained both money and reputation in hisprofession, and was at length known as one of the most acute andsuccessful men at the bar. At last, he was brought forward by one ofthe political parties as a candidate for a seat in Congress, andelected.
If Mrs. Minturn's ideas of her own elevation and importance in thesocial world had been large, they were now increased threefold. Awinter's residence at the seat of government,--during which time shemingled freely with the little great people who revolve aroundcertain fixed stars that shine with varied light in the politicalmetropolis,--raised still higher the standard of self-estimation.Her daughter Emeline, now a beautiful and accomplished young lady,accompanied her mother wherever she went, and attracted a largeshare of attention. Among those who seemed particularly pleased withEmeline was a young man, a member of Congress from New York, whobelonged to a wealthy and distinguished family, and who was himselfpossessed of brilliant talent, that made him conspicuous on thefloor of Congress, even among men of long-acknowledged abilities.His name was Erskine.
Soon after meeting with the Hon. Mr. Erskine, Mrs. Minturn felt astrong desire to bring him to the feet of her daughter. He presentedjust the kind of alliance she wished for Emeline. In imagination shesoon began to picture to herself the elevated and brilliant positionher child would occupy as the wife of Erskine, and she resolved toleave no means untried for the accomplishment of her wishes.Accordingly, she was particularly attentive to the young manwhenever thrown into his company; and sought, by flattering hisself-love, to make him feel in the best possible humour with himselfwhile in her society. In this way she succeeded in drawing himfrequently to her side, where Emeline was always to be found. Asprightly, well-educated, and finely accomplished girl, Emeline sooninterested the young M. C.; and he showed her, as has been said, agood deal of attention during the winter, and Mrs. Minturn flatteredherself that her daughter had made a conquest.
When the session of Congress closed, the Minturns returned home inthe enjoyment of a much higher opinion of themselves than they hadever before entertained, and quite disposed to be rather more choicethan before in regard to their visiting acquaintance. A few daysafter their reappearance in old circles, a card of invitation tomeet some friends at the house of Mr. and Mrs. Allender wasreceived. It extended to themselves and their eldest daughter,Emeline. Mrs. Minturn handed the card to her husband on his returnfrom his office in the evening.
"What is this?" he asked, on taking it. "Ah, indeed!" he added, inrather an equivocal voice, on perceiving its tenor. "Are you going?"
"I rather think not."
"Just as you say about it," remarked the acquiescing husband.
"The truth is," said Mrs. Minturn, "a regard for our position makesit necessary for us to be more select in our acquaintances. I don'twish Emeline to be on terms of intimacy with Clara Allender anylonger. There is too great a difference in their social relations.As people are judged by the company they keep, they should be alittle choice in their selection. I like Mrs. Allender very well inher place. She is a good, plain, common-sense sort of a woman, butshe occupies a grade below us; and we should remember and act uponthis for the sake of our children, if for nothing else."
"No doubt you are right," replied Mr. Minturn. "Mr. Allender hasneither energy of character nor enterprise; he, therefore, occupiesa dead level in society. At that level he cannot expect every oneelse to remain."
"Not us, at least."
"No."
"Clara called to see Emeline yesterday. I saw her in the parlour,and asked her to excuse Emeline, as she was a little indisposed. Itis true, I had to fib a little. But that was better than a renewalof an acquaintance that ought now to cease. She seemed a littlehurt, but I can't help it."
"Of course not. I am sorry, for their sakes, that we must give upthe acquaintance. No loss can come to us, as we have more friends,now, than are just convenient."
"It would help Clara a good deal," remarked Mrs. Minturn, "to minglein our circle. Her mother feels this, and, therefore, does not wishto give us up. I've not the least doubt but this party is made onour account. It won't do, however; they will have to let us go."
"It will be sufficient to send our regrets," said Mr. Minturn.
"We'd better not even do that," replied his wife. "That willindicate a wish to retain the acquaintance, and we have no suchdesire. Better sever the relation at once and be done with thematter. It is unpleasant at least, and there is no use in prolongingdisagreeable sensations."
"Be it so, then," remarked Mr. Minturn, rising; and so the thing wasdecided.
Mrs. Minturn had lapsed into a small mistake touching the reasonthat induced Mr. and Mrs. Allender to give an entertainment just atthat time. It was not in honour of their return from Washington, anddesigned to unite the families in a firmer union; no, a thought likethis had not entered the mind of the Allenders. The honour wasdesigned for another--even for the Hon. Mr. Erskine, who was the sonof one of Mr. Allender's oldest and most valued friends, whom he hadnot seen for many years, yet with whom he had enjoyed anuninterrupted correspondence. On his return home, Mr. Erskineremained a few days in the city, as much to see Mr. Allender as forany thing else, his father having particularly desired him to do so.He had never met Mr. Allender before, but was charmed with hisgentlemanly character and fine intelligence at the first interview,and still more pleased with him at each subsequent meeting. WithMrs. Allender he was also pleased; but, most of all, with Clara.About the latter there was a charm that won his admiration. She wasbeautiful; but how different her beauty from that of the brilliantbelles who had glittered in the gay circles of fashion he had justleft! It was less the beauty of features than that which comesthrough them, as a transparent medium, from the pure and lovelyspirit within. Erskine had been more than pleased with Miss Minturn;but he thought of her as one in a lower sphere while in the presenceof Clara, who, like a half-hidden violet, seemed all unconscious ofbeauty or fragrance.
Yes, it was for Mr. Erskine that the party was given, and in orderto introduce him to a highly refined and intellectual circle, ofwhich Mr. Allender and his wife notwithstanding external reverses,were still the centre. Not from any particular pleasure that wasexpected to be derived from the company of the Minturns, were theyinvited; for, in going up, they had changed so for the worse, thattheir society had become irksome, if not offensive. But, for thesake of old friendship, they were included. But they did not come;and no one missed them.
On the next day, Mr. Erskine called upon Mrs. Minturn and herdaughter, as he intended leaving the city in the afternoon.
"We looked for you all last evening," said Mrs. Minturn. "Why didyou not call around?"
"I was at a select party last night," replied the young man.
"Were you, indeed?"
"Yes. At Mr. Allender's. Do you know the family?"
"At Allender's!" The tone of surprise, not altogether unmingled withcontempt, with which this was uttered by Mrs. Minturn, put Erskine alittle on his guard.
"Do you know them?" he asked, with some gravity of manner.
"Not very intimately. We had some acquaintance in former years, butwe have broken it off. They sent us cards of invitation, but we didnot notice them."
"What is their standing?"
"Not high. I believe none of our first people visit them."
"Ah!"
"Who was there?" asked Emeline.
The tone in which this was spoken caused Mr. Erskine to turn andlook somewhat closely into the young lady's face, to mark itsexpression. She had never appeared less lovely in his eyes.
"Not a great many," he replied.
"I suppose not," said Mrs. Minturn.
"It was a select party," remarked the young man.
"And select enough, no doubt, you found it."
"You speak truly. I have never been in one more so," repliedErskine.
"You have not answered my question as to who were there," saidEmeline.
"Young ladies, do you mean?"
"Yes, young ladies."
"Do you know Miss B--?"
"I have no particular acquaintance with her. But she was not there!"
"Oh, yes, she was. And so was her father, General B--."
"You astonish me!" said Mrs. Minturn. "Certainly you are in error."
"I believe not. I had a good deal of interesting conversation withGeneral B--, who is well acquainted with my father."
"Who else was there?"
"Senator Y--, and his beautiful niece, who created such a sensation inWashington last winter. She and Miss Allender, who is, it strikes me, acharming girl, seemed delighted with each other, and were side by sidemost of the evening. They sang together many times with exquisiteeffect. Then there were Mr. and Mrs. T--, Mr. and Mrs. R--, MissJulia S--, and Miss G--."
All these belonged to a circle yet above that in which the Minturnshad moved.
"I am astonished," said Mrs. Minturn, but poorly concealing hermortification. "I had no idea that the Allenders kept such company.How did you happen to be invited?"
"Mr. Allender is one of my father's oldest and most valued friends.I called at his desire, and found both him and his family far abovethe 'common run' of people. I do not in the least wonder at theclass of persons I met at their house. I am sorry that you have beenled so far astray in your estimation of their characters. You nevercould have known them well."
"Perhaps not," said Mrs. Minturn, in a subdued voice. "Did you hearus asked for?" she ventured to add. "We were invited, as Imentioned, and would have gone, but didn't expect to find any therewith whom it would be agreeable to associate."
This remark did not in the least improve the matter in the eyes ofMr. Erskine, who now understood the Minturns rather better thanbefore. A feeling of repugnance took the place of his formerfriendly sentiments; and in a briefer time than he had intended, hebrought his visit to a close, and bade them good morning.
What was now to be done? The Minturns had fallen into an error,which must, if possible, be repaired. The Allenders were of far moreconsequence than they had believed, and their estimation of themrose correspondingly. A note of regret at not being able to attendthe party, in consequence of a previous engagement, was written, andthis enclosed in another note, stating that in consequence of theneglect of a servant, it had not been delivered on the day before.Both were despatched within half an hour after Mr. Erskine left thehouse.
On the day after, Mrs. Minturn and her daughter called at Mrs.Allender's, and offered verbal regrets at not having been able toattend the party.
"We wanted to come very much, but both Emeline and I were so muchindisposed, that the doctor said we mustn't think of goingout,"--forgetting at the moment the tenor of the note she hadwritten only the day before. But scarcely were the words out of hermouth, when a glance of uneasy surprise from Emeline brought arecollection of this fact, and caused the blood to mount to herface.
A sudden change in the manner of Mrs. Allender was conclusiveevidence that she, too, was laying side by side the two conflictingstatements.
"But even," added Mrs. Minturn, in a voice that betrayed somedisturbance of mind, "if we had not been indisposed, a previouslymade engagement would have been in the way of a pleasure that weshall always regret having lost. You had a highly select party, Iunderstood."
"Only a few old and much esteemed friends, that we invited to meet agentleman who was passing through the city, whose father and Mr.Allender are old acquaintances."
"The Hon. Mr. Erskine, you mean," said Mrs. Minturn, whose vanityled her to betray herself still more.
Yes. Have you met him?"
"Oh, yes," was replied with animation. "We were very intimate atWashington. He showed Emeline very particular attentions."
"Ah! I was not aware that you knew him."
"Intimately. He called to see us yesterday, on the eve of hisdeparture for New York."
"Oh, mother!" exclaimed Emeline, as soon as they had stepped beyondthe street-door, on leaving the house of Mrs. Allender, "why did yousay any thing at all about Mr. Erskine, and especially afterblundering so in the matter of apology? She'll see through it all,as clear as daylight. And won't we look beautiful in her eyes? I'mmortified to death!"
"I don't know what came over me," returned the mother, with evidentchagrin. "To think that I should have been so beside myself!"
So much mortified were both the mother and daughter, on reflection,that they could not venture to call again upon Mrs. Allender andClara, who did not return the last visit. And the intimacy from thattime was broken off.
The next winter came round, and the Minturns repaired again toWashington. Emeline had hoped to receive a letter from Mr. Erskine,whom she half believed to be in love with her; but no such desiredcommunication came. But she would meet him at the Capitol; and tothat time of meeting she looked forward with feelings of theliveliest interest. On arriving in Washington, at the opening of thesession, she repaired, on the first day, to the Capitol. But much toher disappointment, a certain member from New York was not in hisplace.
"Where is Mr. Erskine," she asked of his colleague, whom she met inthe evening.
"Has not arrived yet," was replied. "Will probably be alongto-morrow. or next day. He stopped in your city as he came along;and I shrewdly suspect that he had in contemplation a very desperateact."
"Indeed! What was that?" returned Emeline, endeavouring to appearunconcerned.
"Taking to himself a wife."
"You surprise me," said the young lady. "Who is the bride?"
"I don't know. He said nothing to me on that subject. Others, whoappear to be in the secret, aver that his detention is occasioned bythe cause I have alleged."
It required a strong effort on the part of Miss Minturn to keep frombetraying the painful shock her feelings had sustained. She changedthe subject as quickly as possible.
On the next day, it was whispered about that Mr. Erskine had arrivedin company with his newly-made bride.
"Who is she?" asked both Mrs. Minturn and her daughter; but no oneto whom they applied happened to know. Those who had seen herpronounced her very beautiful. Two days passed, and then a bridalparty was given, to which Mrs. Minturn and Emeline were invited.They had been sitting in the midst of a large company for about tenminutes, their hearts in a flutter of anticipation, when there was aslight movement at the door, and then Mr. Erskine entered with hisbride upon his arm. One glance sufficed for Mrs. Minturn and herdaughter--it was Clara! While others were pressing forward to greetthe lovely bride, they, overcome with disappointment, and oppressedby mortification, retired from the room, and, ordering theircarriage, left the house unobserved.
Up to this day, they have never sought to renew the acquaintance.
THE END.
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