telling methere was ever so much more that I suppose was all plain
enough； but I don't remember it allonly I know my boarder was a
good deal worried at first at the thought of taking money that other
people thought was theirs； and the Register he had to talk to her；
and he brought a lawyer and he talked to her； and her friends they
talked to her； and the upshot of it all was that the company agreed
to settle the business by paying her； well； I don't know just how
much； but enough to make her one of the rich folks again。
I may as well add here that； as I have since learned； this is one of
the most important cases of releasing right of reentry for condition
broken which has been settled by arbitration for a considerable
period。 If I am not mistaken the Register of Deeds will get
something more than a new coat out of this business； for the Lady
very justly attributes her change of fortunes to his sagacity and his
activity in following up the hint he had come across by mere
accident。
So my supernumerary fellow…boarder； whom I would have dispensed with
as a cumberer of the table； has proved a ministering angel to one of
the personages whom I most cared for。
One would have thought that the most scrupulous person need not have
hesitated in asserting an unquestioned legal and equitable claim
simply because it had lain a certain number of years in abeyance。
But before the Lady could make up her mind to accept her good fortune
she had been kept awake many nights in doubt and inward debate
whether she should avail herself of her rights。 If it had been
private property； so that another person must be made poor that she
should become rich； she would have lived and died in want rather than
claim her own。 I do not think any of us would like to turn out the
possessor of a fine estate enjoyed for two or three generations on
the faith of unquestioned ownership by making use of some old
forgotten instrument； which accident had thrown in our way。
But it was all nonsense to indulge in any sentiment in a case like
this； where it was not only a right； but a duty which she owed
herself and others in relation with her； to accept what Providence；
as it appeared； had thrust upon her； and when no suffering would be
occasioned to anybody。 Common sense told her not to refuse it。 So
did several of her rich friends； who remembered about this time that
they had not called upon her for a good while； and among them Mrs。
Midas Goldenrod。
Never had that lady's carriage stood before the door of our boarding…
house so long； never had it stopped so often； as since the revelation
which had come from the Registry of Deeds。 Mrs。 Midas Goldenrod was
not a bad woman； but she loved and hated in too exclusive and
fastidious a way to allow us to consider her as representing the
highest ideal of womanhood。 She hated narrow ill…ventilated courts；
where there was nothing to see if one looked out of the window but
old men in dressing…gowns and old women in caps； she hated little
dark rooms with air…tight stoves in them； she hated rusty bombazine
gowns and last year's bonnets； she hated gloves that were not as
fresh as new…laid eggs； and shoes that had grown bulgy and wrinkled
in service； she hated common crockeryware and teaspoons of slight
constitution； she hated second appearances on the dinner…table； she ~
hated coarse napkins and table…cloths； she hated to ride in the
horsecars； she hated to walk except for short distances； when she was
tired of sitting in her carriage。 She loved with sincere and
undisguised affection a spacious city mansion and a charming country
villa； with a seaside cottage for a couple of months or so； she loved
a perfectly appointed household； a cook who was up to all kinds of
salmis and vol…au…vents； a French maid； and a stylish…looking
coachman； and the rest of the people necessary to help one live in a
decent manner； she loved pictures that other people said were first…
rate； and which had at least cost first…rate prices； she loved books
with handsome backs； in showy cases； she loved heavy and richly
wought plate； fine linen and plenty of it； dresses from Paris
frequently； and as many as could be got in without troubling the
customhouse； Russia sables and Venetian point…lace； diamonds； and
good big ones； and； speaking generally； she loved dear things in
distinction from cheap ones； the real article and not the economical
substitute。
For the life of me I cannot see anything Satanic in all this。 Tell
me； Beloved； only between ourselves； if some of these things are not
desirable enough in their way； and if you and I could not make up our
minds to put up with some of the least objectionable of them without
any great inward struggle？ Even in the matter of ornaments there is
something to be said。 Why should we be told that the New Jerusalem
is paved with gold； and that its twelve gates are each of them a
pearl； and that its foundations are garnished with sapphires and
emeralds and all manner of precious stones； if these are not among
the most desirable of objects？ And is there anything very strange in
the fact that many a daughter of earth finds it a sweet foretaste of
heaven to wear about her frail earthly tabernacle these glittering
reminders of the celestial city？
Mrs。 Midas Goldenrod was not so entirely peculiar and anomalous in
her likes and dislikes； the only trouble was that she mixed up these
accidents of life too much with life itself； which is so often
serenely or actively noble and happy without reference to them。 She
valued persons chiefly according to their external conditions； and of
course the very moment her relative； the Lady of our breakfast…table；
began to find herself in a streak of sunshine she came forward with a
lighted candle to show her which way her path lay before her。
The Lady saw all this； how plainly； how painfully！ yet she exercised
a true charity for the weakness of her relative。 Sensible people
have as much consideration for the frailties of the rich as for those
of the poor。 There is a good deal of excuse for them。 Even you and
I； philosophers and philanthropists as we may think ourselves； have a
dislike for the enforced economies； proper and honorable though they
certainly are； of those who are two or three degrees below us in the
scale of agreeable living。
These are very worthy persons you have been living with； my dear；
said Mrs。 Midas＇the 〃My dear 〃 was an expression which had flowered
out more luxuriantly than ever before in the new streak of sunshine＇
eminently respectable parties； I have no question； but then we
shall want you to move as soon as possible to our quarter of the
town； where we can see more of you than we have been able to in this
queer place。
It was not very pleasant to listen to this kind of talk； but the Lady
remembered her annual bouquet； and her occasional visits from the
rich lady； and restrained the inclination to remind her of the humble
sphere from which she herself； the rich and patronizing personage；
had worked her way up （if it was up） into that world which she seemed
to think was the only one where a human being could find life worth
having。 Her cheek flushed a little； however； as she said to Mrs。
Midas that she felt attached to the place where she had been living
so long。 She doubted； she was pleased to say； whether she should
find better company in any circle she was like to move in than she
left behind her at our boarding…house。 I give the old Master the
credit of this compliment。 If one does not agree with half of what
he says； at any rate he always has something to say； and entertains
and lets out opinions and whims and notions of one kind and another
that one can quarrel with if he is out of humor； or carry away to
think about if he happens to be in the receptive mood。
But the Lady expressed still more strongly the regret she should feel
at leaving her young friend； our Scheherezade。 I cannot wonder at
this。 The Young Girl has lost what little playfulness she had in the
earlier months of my acquaintance with her。 I often read her stories
partly from my interest in her； and partly because I find merit
enough in them to deserve something； better than the rough handling
they got from her coarse…fibred critic； whoever he was。 I see
evidence that her thoughts are wandering from her task； that she has
fits of melancholy； and bursts of tremulous excitement； and that she
has as much as she can do to keep herself at all to her stated；
inevitable； and sometimes almost despairing literary labor。 I have
had some acquaintance with vital phenomena of this kind； and know
something of the nervous nature of young women and its 〃magnetic
storms；〃 if I may borrow an expression from the physicists； to
indicate the perturbations to which they are liable。 She is more in
need of friendship and counsel now than ever before； it seems to me；
and I cannot bear to think that the Lady； who has become like a
mother to her； is to leave her to her own guidance。
It is plain enough what is at the bottom of this disturbance。 The
astronomical lessons she has been taking have become interesting
enough to absorb too much of her thoughts； and she finds them
wandering to the stars or elsewhere； when they should be working
quietly in the editor's harness。
The Landlady has her own views on this matter which she communicated
to me something as follows：
I don't quite like to tell folks what a lucky place my boarding…
house is； for fear I should have all sorts of people crowding in to
be my boarders for the sake of their chances。 Folks come here poor
and they go away rich。 Young women come here without a friend in the
world； and the next thing that happens is a gentleman steps up to 'em
and says； 〃If you'll take me for your pardner for life； I'll give you
a good home and love you ever so much besides〃； and off goes my young
lady…boarder into a fine three…story house； as grand as the
governor's wife； with everything to make her comfortable； and a
husband to care for her into the bargain。 That's the way it is with
the young ladies that comes to board with me； ever since the
gentleman that wrote the first book that advertised my est