“Open-handed, you mean, I suppose, Timms?”
“In that partic’lar, ’Squire Dunscomb, she is just what the profession likes—liberal, and pays down. Of course, I am so much the more anxious to do all I can in her case; but she will not let me serve her.”
“There must be some strong reason for all this reserve, Timms—Have you questioned the Swiss maid, that my niece sent to her. We know her, and it would seem that she knows Mary Monson. Here is so obvious a way of coming at the past, I trust you have spoken to her?”
“She will not let me say a word to the maid. There they live together, chatter with one another from morning to night, in French, that nobody understands; but will see no one but me, and me only in public, as it might be.”
“In public!—You have not asked for private interviews, eh! Timms? Remember your views upon the county, and the great danger there is of the electors’ finding you out.”
“I well know, ’Squire Dunscomb, that your opinion of me is not very flattering in some partic’lars; while in others I think you place me pretty well up the ladder. As for old Duke’s, I believe I stand as well in that county as any man in it, now the Revolutionary patriots are nearly gone. So long as any of them lasted, we modern fellows had no chance; and the way in which relics were brought to light was wonderful! If Washington only had an army one-tenth as strong as these patriots make it out to be, he would have driven the British from the country years sooner than it was actually done. Luckily, my grandfather did serve a short tour of duty in that war; and my own father was a captain of militia in 1814, lying out on Harlem Heights and Harlem Common, most of the fall; when and where he caught the rheumatism. This was no bad capital to start upon; and, though you treat it lightly, ’Squire, I’m a favourite in the county—I am!”
“Nobody doubts it, Timms; or can doubt it, if he knew the history of these matters. Let me see—I believe I first heard of you as a Temperance Lecturer?”
“Excuse me; I began with the Common Schools, on which I lectured with some success, one whole season. Then came the Temperance cause, out of which, I will own, not a little capital was made.”
“And do you stop there, Timms; or do you ride some other hobby into power?”
“It’s my way, Mr. Dunscomb, to try all sorts of med’cines. Some folks that wunt touch rhubarb will swallow salts; and all palates must be satisfied. Free Sile and Emancipation Doctrines are coming greatly into favour; but they are ticklish things, that cut like a two-edged sword, and I do not fancy meddling with them. There are about as many opposed to meddling with slavery in the free States, as there are in favour of it. I wish I knew your sentiments, ’Squire Dunscomb, on this subject. I’ve always found your doctrines touching the Constitution to be sound, and such as would stand examination.”[examination.”]