Gouverneur Morris； on the right of deposit at New Orleans； and which
he had spoken at college； and was near getting into a part of the subject
that might not have been so apposite； but retreated in time。 By way of
climax； the lover laid his hand on me； and raised me to his eyes in an
abstracted manner； as if unconscious of what he was doing； and wanted
to brush away a tear。
｛Gouverneur Morris = American Federalist leader and diplomat （1752…
1816）a 1795 American treaty with Spain granted the United States
the right of navigation on the Mississippi River and to deposit goods at
New Orleans without paying customs duties｝
〃What a confounded rich old fellow the father must be；〃 thought Tom；
〃to give her such pocket…handkerchiefs！〃
I felt like a wren that escapes from the hawk when the rogue laid me
down。
Alas！ Poor Julia was the dupe of all this acting。 Totally unpracticed
herself； abandoned by the usages of the society in which she had been
educated very much to the artifices of any fortune…hunter； and vexed
with Betts Shoreham； she was in the worst possible frame of mind to
resist such eloquence and love。 She had seen Tom at all the balls in the
best houses； found no fault with his exterior and manners； both of which
were fashionable and showy； and now discovered that he had a most
sympathetic heart； over which； unknown to herself； she had obtained a
very unlimited control。
〃You do not answer me； Miss Monson；〃 continued Tom peeping out at
one side of me； for I was still at his eyes〃you do not answer me； cruel；
inexorable girl！〃
〃What WOULD you have me say； Mr。 Thurston？〃
〃Say YES； dearest； loveliest； most perfect being of the whole human
family。〃
〃YES； then； if that will relieve your mind； it is a relief very easily
bestowed。〃
Now； Tom Thurston was as skilled in a fortune…hunter's wiles as
Napoleon was in military strategy。 He saw he had obtained an immense
advantage for the future； and he forbore to press the matter any further
at the moment。 The 〃yes〃 had been uttered more in pleasantry than with
any other feeling； but； by holding it in reserve； presuming on it gradually；
and using it in a crisis； it might be worth〃let me see；〃 calculated Tom；
as he went whistling down Broadway； 〃that 'yes' may be made to yield
at least a cool 100；000。 There are John； this girl； and two little ones。
Old Monson is worth every dollar of 700；000none of your
skyrockets； but a known； old fortune； in substantial houses and lands
let us suppose the old woman outlive him； and that she gets her full
thirds； THAT will leave 466；660。 Perhaps John may get a couple of
hundred thousand； and even THEN each of the girls will have 88；888。
If one of the little things should happen to die； and there's lots of scarlet
fever about； why that would fetch it up at once to a round hundred
thousand。 I don't think the old woman would be likely to marry again at
her time of life。 One mustn't calculate too confidently on THAT；
however； as I would have her myself for half of SUCH thirds。〃
｛full thirds = Old Monson's widow would under American common law
receive a life interest in one…third of his real property； called a dower
right； which would revert to his children if she died without remarrying。｝
CHAPTER XVI。
For a week nothing material transpired。 All that time I lay in the drawer；
gaining a knowledge of what passed； in the best manner I could。 Betts
Shoreham was a constant visitor at the house； and Tom Thurston made
his appearance with a degree of punctuality that began to attract notice；
among the inmates of the house on the opposite side of the street。 All
this time； however； Tom treated Julia with the greatest respect； and
even distance； turning more of his attention toward Mrs。 Monson。 He
acted in this manner； because he thought he had secured a sufficient lien
on the young lady； by means of her 〃yes；〃 and knew how important it
was for one who could show none of the usual inducements for consent；
to the parents； to obtain the good…will of the 〃old lady。〃
At the end of the week； Mrs。 Monson opened her house to receive the
world。 As a matter of course； I was brought out on this occasion。 Now；
Betts Shoreham and Mademoiselle Hennequin had made great progress
toward an understanding in the course of this week； though the lady
becoming more and more conscious of the interest she had created in
the heart of the gentleman； her own conduct got to be cautious and
reserved。 At length； Betts actually carried matters so far as to write a
letter； that was as much to the point as a man could very well come。 In
a word； he offered his hand to the excellent young French woman；
assuring her； in very passionate and suitable terms； that she had been
mistress of his affections ever since the first month of their acquaintance。
In this letter； he implored her not to be so cruel as to deny him an
interview； and there were a few exceedingly pretty reproaches； touching
her recent coy and reserved deportment。
Mademoiselle Hennequin was obliged to read this letter in Julia's room；
and she took such a position to do it； as exposed every line to my
impertinent gaze； as I lay on the bed； among the other finery that was
got out for the evening。 Mrs。 Monson was present； and she had
summoned the governess； in order to consult her on the subject of some
of the ornaments of the supper table。 Fortunately； both Julia and her
mother were too much engaged to perceive the tears that rolled down
the cheeks of the poor stranger； as she read the honest declaration of a
fervid and manly love； nor did either detect the manner in which the
letter was pressed to Mademoiselle Hennequin's heart； when she had
done reading it the second time。
Just at this instant a servant came to announce Mr。 Shoreham's
presence in the 〃breakfast…room。〃 This was a retired and little
frequented part of the house at that hour； Betts having been shown into
it； in consequence of the preparations that were going on in the proper
reception…rooms。
〃Julia； my dear； you will have to go belowalthough it is at a most
inconvenient moment。〃
〃No； motherlet Mr。 Betts Shoreham time his visits betterGeorge；
say that the ladies are ENGAGED。〃
〃That will not do；〃 interrupted the mother； in some concern〃we are
too intimate for such an excusewould YOU； Mademoiselle
Hennequin； have the goodness to see Mr。 Shoreham for a few minutes…
…you must come into our American customs sooner or later； and this
may be a favorable moment to commence。〃
Mrs。 Monson laughed pleasantly as she made this request； and her
kindness and delicacy to the governess were too marked and
unremitted to permit the latter to think of hesitating。 She had laid her
own handkerchief down at my side； to read the letter； but feeling the
necessity of drying her eyes； she caught me up by mistake； smiled her
assent； and left the apartment。
Mademoiselle Hennequin did not venture below； until she had gone into
her own room。 Here she wept freely for a minute or two； and then she
bathed her eyes in cold water； and used the napkin in drying them。
Owing to this circumstance； I was fortunately a witness of all that
passed in her interview with her lover。
The instant Betts Shoreham saw that he was to have an interview with
the charming French girl； instead of with Julia Monson； his countenance
brightened； and； as if supposing the circumstance proof of his success；
he seized the governess' hand； and carried it to his lips in a very
carnivorous fashion。 The lady； however； succeeded in retaining her
hand； if she did not positively preserve it from being devoured。
〃A thousand； thousand thanks； dearest Mademoiselle Hennequin；〃 said
Betts； in an incoherent； half…sane manner； 〃you have read my letter； and
I may interpret this interview favorably。 I meant to have told all to Mrs。
Monson； had SHE come down； and asked her kind interferencebut it
is much； much better as it is。〃
〃You will do well； monsieur； not to speak to Madame Monson on the
subject at all；〃 answered Mademoiselle Hennequin； with an expression
of countenance that I found quite inexplicable； since it was not happy；
nor was it altogether the reverse。 〃This must be our last meeting； and it
were better that no one knew any thing of its nature。〃
〃Then my vanitymy hopes have misled me； and I have no interest in
your feelings！〃
〃I do not say THAT； monsieur； oh！ nonnonI am far from saying as
much as THAT〃poor girl； her face declared a hundred times more
than her tongue； that she was sincere〃I do notCANNOT say I have
no interest in one； who so generously overlooks my poverty； my utter
destitution of all worldly greatness； and offers to share with me his
fortune and his honorable position〃
〃This is not what I askwhat I had hoped to earngratitude is not
love。〃
〃Gratitude easily becomes love in a woman's heart〃answered the dear
creature； with a smile and a look that Betts would have been a mere
dolt not to have comprehended〃and it is my duty to take care that
MY gratitude does not entertain this weakness。〃
〃Mademoiselle Hennequin； for mercy's sake； be as frank and simple as
I know your nature promptsDO you； CAN you love me？〃
Of course such a direct question； put in a very categorical way； caused
the questioned to blush； if it did not induce her to smile。 The first she did
in a very pretty and engaging manner； though I thought she hesitated
about indulging in the last。
〃Why should I say 'yes；' when it can lead to no good result？〃
〃Then destroy all hope at once； and say NO。〃
〃That would be to give youto give us both unnecessary pain。 Besides；
it might not be strictly trueI COULD loveOh！ No one can tell how
my heart COULD love where it was right and proper。〃
After this； I suppose it is unnecessary for me to say； that Betts soon
brought the category of possibilities into one of certainty。 To own the
truth； he carried every thing by his impetuosity； reducing the governess
to own that what she admitted she COULD do so well； she had already
done in a very complete and thorough manner。 I enjoyed this scene
excessively； nor was it over in a minute。 Mademoiselle Hennequin used
me several times to wipe away tears； and it is strong proof how much
both pa