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AARON'S ROD,
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TELLING SECRETS,
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You had better leave Harry alone about that girl, said Tom Leveredge to his sisters, who were talking very fast, and sometimes both together, in the heat and excitement of the subject under discussion.
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You only make Harry angry, and you do no good. Take my advice, and say no more to him about her.
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And let him engage himself without one word of remonstrance,
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You don't know that he means to engage himself, argued Tom;
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ejaculated Miss Leveredge, scornfully.
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Leave her alone for that. She'll get him--I know she will, she continued, almost in tears at the thought.
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It's too bad!
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What do you think about it, Tom? inquired Mrs. Castleton, earnestly.
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Do you think with Emma, that it will end in his having her?
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I should not be surprised,
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Then you think he is in love with her?
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There's no telling, replied Tom.
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He's a good deal with her; and if he is thwarted at home, and flattered by her, I think it very possible he may fancy himself so, whether he is or not.
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Oh! exclaimed Mrs. Castleton,
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Don't be in such a hurry, said Tom.
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I don't know that he is not in love with her, or that he is going to be taken in; but I do say, that Emma's course is very injudicious.
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What is that?
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Oh, abusing the girl so--saying she is vulgar, and--
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I am sure I did not say any thing that is not true,
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Perhaps not, replied Tom;
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Where on earth did Harry become acquainted with her?
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That's more than I can tell you, replied Tom.
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He told me that Jewiston introduced him.
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I never could bear that Jewiston, remarked Miss Leveredge;
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I always thought him very under-bred and vulgar. Why will Harry have any thing to do with him?
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Who--Jewiston? He's a clever fellow enough,
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Oh, Tom! how can you say so!
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So he is, persisted the young man.
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He's not very refined or elegant, I grant you--but still a very good fellow.
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And so you think, Tom, continued Mrs. Castleton, still intent on the main theme,
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I don't think it probable, but very possible, replied the young man,
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And it would be very bad.
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Oh, dreadful!
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There's nothing very _dreadful_ about it, remonstrated Tom;
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What kind of a set is she in--and what are the family?
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Very low, vulgar people,
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Now, Emma, there again you are exaggerating, rejoined Tom.
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They are _not_ a low set--vulgar, I admit.
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The same thing,
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It's not the same thing, Emma, said the young man, decidedly.
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They are very far from being _low_ people. Her father is a highly respectable man, and, indeed, so are all the family--not fashionable, I grant you.
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Fashionable!
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But I admit, continued Tom,
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And what is the girl in herself,
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A vulgar, forward, ugly thing,
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Is she?
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Emma will have it that she is,
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Now, Tom, you know she is,
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No, Emma, said Tom,
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You surely don't admire her, too,
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No, said Tom,
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Handsome! repeated Miss Leveredge.
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Do you call her handsome, with all those hanging curls, and that _feronière_, and her hat on the very back of her head; with her short petticoats and big feet--and such bright colors, and quantity of tawdry jewelry as she wears, too.
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You women never can separate a girl from her dress, said Tom, laughing.
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Miss Dawson dresses execrably, I grant you; but give her one half of the advantages of the girls that you see around you in society, and she would be not only pretty, but beautiful.
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Then she may be improved,
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Not much of that, said Tom.
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She is very well satisfied with herself, I imagine.
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Oh, it's evident she's a public belle and beauty in her own set, said Emma.
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She's full of airs and graces.
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It's a bad business, I am afraid,
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No, said Tom, stoutly,
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It's not her dress only, persisted Emma,
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Well, many a flirty girl has settled into a very respectable married woman,
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Where have you seen her, Emma?
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Tom pointed her out to me one night at the theatre; and I have since seen her in the street frequently.
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Then you do not know her at all? continued Mrs. Castleton, with some surprise in her tone.
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How, then, do you know any thing about her manners, Emma?
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It's not necessary to know her to know what her manners are, replied Emma.
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One glance across the theatre is enough for that. She had two or three beaux with her--indeed, I believe she was there only with them--
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Her mother was with her, Emma,
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Well, continued Emma, a little provoked at being set right,
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But how did she behave, Emma?