Rank and Talent; A Novel, Vol. 2 (of 3)

by William Pitt Scargill

It was at this point of her acquaintance with Markham that Miss Henderson sent in her resignation of Mr. Tippetson: there was not, therefore, quite so much disinterestedness in the matter as at first sight there appeared to be. The changing of the objects of affection is sometimes painful; but Miss Henderson was so much accustomed to it, that to her it was a trifle. It is a valuable acquisition to learn so perfectly the art of transferring the heart: for life is short, and youth is shorter still; and if the affections be very pertinacious, and the memory obstinately adhesive, a great deal of time is lost after a disappointment; but Miss Henderson took care never to lose any time in that way.

Markham, had he been asked his opinion of Miss Henderson, would probably not have been able to give a very definite answer; for the truth is, he had not taken the trouble to form an opinion; he had been entertained with her talk, and also entertained with her capacity for listening, for he was especially well pleased to hear the sound of his own voice: therefore, Miss Henderson's company was not unpleasant or wearisome to him. But he had never thought of her as he had of Clara Rivolta, nor was it likely that he should, even though she might have the same opinions on matters of taste and literature as Clara: for there is a wide and visible difference between the utterance of thoughts borrowed from others and the expression of the results of personal and individual reflection; just as there is between the music of a barrel-organ and that produced by the fingers of a master. Markham's indifference rendered him a better object for Miss Henderson's attention. He was not on his guard against her ingenious mode of progressing into terms of intimacy and acquaintance. Now, if Mr. Henry Augustus Tippetson had been as generous and liberal towards Horatio Markham with respect to Miss Henderson, as Miss Henderson was to Clara Rivolta with respect to Mr. Tippetson, it would have tended considerably to open the eyes of the young barrister, and to put him upon his guard. It is very cruel in young ladies to take such advantage of inexperienced and unsuspicious youths as Miss Henderson took of Horatio Markham.

The young gentleman found himself most unaccountably often at the house of Mr. Henderson. He found that he was received with the greatest cordiality, and that the children, the little brothers and sisters of Miss Henderson, were quite as familiar with him as if he were absolutely related to the family. Markham was not treated as a stranger, but he was described and spoken of as "Only Mr. Markham," "Nobody but Mr. Markham." And this continued and proceeded for several weeks; and all that Mr. Markham thought about the matter was, the Hendersons were a very sociable family.

The ivory ticket to the Opera was in constant requisition. Markham offered it to Mr. Henderson that he might accompany his daughter; but Miss Henderson generally so contrived that something prevented pa from going, and then there was no alternative but Markham must go himself. Unfortunately, Miss Henderson was acquainted with the Italian language, so also was Markham. And notwithstanding the publicity of the situation, Miss Henderson would never spare Markham's blushes when any expression of peculiar tenderness or pathos occurred. The young lady's figure, though not very striking or unusual, was yet so set off by dress as to be rather particular. Her means did not keep pace with her appetite for dress; and as she could never spare one single article of finery, she generally carried her whole stock of decoration about her person every time she went to the Opera. In a very short time she was known and remarked for the singularity of being so very fine, and always appearing with the same finery. Some of Markham's acquaintance who were by birth and connexion a grade or two above him, but who respected him for his good-humor and talents, would occasionally join him, and look very strangely and inquiringly on the young lady who accompanied him. Sometimes they would banter him on the loss of his heart; but it was so gently done, that he, unconscious of such loss, would not understand the allusion.

As Horatio had been first attracted to Mr. Henderson's chapel by the fame of his eloquence, and had thus been led into an acquaintance with the family, and as Miss Henderson generally contrived to procure frequent visits to the house, and as Markham had not much time to spare, it came to pass that he very seldom went to any other house than to Mr. Henderson's. As also, Miss Henderson had made up her mind that nobody but herself could be a proper and fit companion for Markham, and that nobody but Markham could be a proper and fit companion for herself; it so happened, that Mr. Markham and Miss Henderson were much more frequently together than the poor young man was aware of: thereupon, very naturally, the subject began to be talked of by their respective friends and acquaintance. Every body said that it would be a most excellent match for Miss Henderson; and the parents of the young lady received the congratulations of their friends and neighbours on the fine prospect that was opening in the projected marriage of their daughter with a young gentleman of such promising talents, and honored with such high patronage as Markham.

The young gentleman was much to be pitied that he was thus placed in imminent danger of being disposed of without his own consent. Being a man of principle and honor, he could not think of retracting even from an implied engagement; and being very partial to that species of homage which he received from Miss Henderson, his assiduous attentions were so very remarkable that all the observing friends of the parties took it for granted that an engagement was already formed or soon would be formed between them: so that although no actual promise had been given, it was considered by the young lady herself and her particular friends that a virtual promise had been given, which to such a man as Markham was as binding as any form of obligation whatever. If any of our readers be surprised that a man of good understanding should be thus duped, and led on step by step into such a dilemma as this our unfortunate friend is here represented to have been, let them consider that the best understanding in the world cannot see or apprehend any object to which its attention has not been directed; let them also consider that Markham was young and of unsuspicious temper, and not much versed in what are called the ways of the world: all indeed that he knew of the world was that it was round, and flattened at the poles, and that it turned round from west to east, so that the sun appeared to move from east to west; and a few other particulars which had come to him in the way of geographical instruction, formed the sum total of his knowledge of the world: let it be again considered that he was not insensible to approbation, but that his appetite for praise was somewhat acute, and that he was not by any means averse from display and exhibition of his own literary acquirements. This disposition of mind is sometimes laughed at; but notwithstanding all its apparent littleness and weakness, it often prompts to great and valuable efforts, whereby the individual mind receives benefit, and whereby benefit also accrues to society. The existence and operation of this feeling is recognised by all nations, not excepting those in the highest state of civilisation. Rome conquered the world by ingeniously flattering its military heroes; and what are statues and ornamented marble monuments, but a lesson to the living rather than a reward to the dead; and powerful indeed must that feeling be which is gratified even by an anticipation of those honors which may be paid to the unconscious dust. If then the thought of cold flattering marble can raise such heroism and inspire to such diligence, surely the flattery of living lips and the commendation of the fair form of youth and beauty may be allowed to have an influence over the mind of a young man, unsuspicious of the selfish and individual object for which those praises are given.

These considerations may account for Markham's being so situated with respect to Miss Henderson, as to be her constant attendant. What else could he have done? They had spoke of the Opera; he had an ivory ticket, and made the offer of it; but two of Miss Henderson's family could not contrive to go at once, and there was no alternative but for Markham to offer his services and accompany the young lady. He could not but call at the house again; and if Miss Henderson would introduce the subject of the opera, and if she would talk in language of high commendation of the opera next to be performed, surely the young gentleman could not refuse, or omit to invite her to a second, and so on to a third and fourth opera. And as Miss Henderson was by no means disagreeable or unpleasant in her manners, but was, on the contrary, of pleasing address, and had a musical and pleasant intonation of voice, he not only attended her to the Opera, but was also very attentive to her there. Almost every body knows that an immense mass of words may be uttered, manifesting neither great wisdom nor great folly; and if these words be uttered by a person whom we take to be wise, we think there is wisdom in them; and if uttered by a person whom we think a fool, we can then discern folly in them. Now as Markham belonged to a profession which tells us that every man is presumed to be innocent till he is proved to be guilty, he perhaps considered that every woman is presumed to be wise till she has been proved to be a fool; and as Miss Henderson had not yet proved herself a fool, all her chattering and prating and second-hand sensibility passed off very well.