CHAPTER XV.

REJECTED.

"Miss Wilmer, if you knew how deeply, how truly, I love you, you could not receive my attentions as coldly as you do. I did not dream that you would be so indifferent."

Mr. Linton raised June's little hand to his lips. He had asked her to walk with him on the lawn, which she, for the sake of courtesy, did not refuse. The clouds of the morning had cleared away and the stars were shining brightly. The light from the street lamps and from the spacious windows of the Wilmer mansion was softened by the shade of evergreen and clusters of shrubbery. The wide lawn, whose soft green carpet sparkled here and there with drops of dew, seemed a fit place to pour forth dreams of youthful love to willing ears, for at least a dozen couples might have been seen promenading the flagstone walks with which the green sod was separated in fair designs. June had thrown a soft blue mantle around her shoulders, for, as she said, Scott had always cautioned her against the damp night air. Scott was as full of notions as any old woman, Rene said, about night air, walking in the dew or sitting in the draught. She saw Rene sparkling in her beauty and promenading the lawn, leaning on the arm of the Colonel, and once as she followed quite near she observed that he was leaning very closely, speaking in low, tender tones, and as Rene lifted her glowing face to his she saw him kiss her lips. A cold fear shot through June's heart. Could it be possible that Rene could be so careless of her own reputation and Scott's happiness? She hoped that Mr. Linton had not noticed the action, and she did not think he had, as he was at that moment speaking to her of his love.

"Where is Scott?" June asked.

"Oh, June, are you here? I thought it was Nellie Blake. I knew you were out on the lawn, but I thought I saw you at the other side," said Irene in a half frightened voice.

"You were mistaken. Is Scott here?" June asked again.

"I should think not. I saw him and Mr. Horton sitting together, apparently discussing something of great importance, when I left the house; but you know, June, he never finds time to act as other men do," Irene said, trying to find some way to throw the blame on another than herself.

June made no reply, but as she requested Mr. Linton to turn in another direction she heard Max saying in a tender way:

"Poor darling! It is so hard to live with an uncongenial nature, isn't it? I am so sorry for you."

June did not hear Irene's reply, but she wondered how she could bear such flattery, or how she could hear her noble husband spoken of in such a slanderous way, and she thought she must speak to some one on the subject, but to whom she did not know.

"Miss Wilmer," Mr. Linton said again, "if you knew how much I loved you you would at least condescend to reply when I tell you so."

"Please pardon my carelessness, Mr. Linton."

"Ah, yes, but truly, my dear, I have waited for some time to speak to you, and this seems just the time for such bliss as will be mine when you tell me that you will be my wife. You are, of all the young ladies I have met, just the one to go with me to England. I shall feel proud to tell my people that I have given you the preference."

"Indeed, Mr. Linton," she said, "I have never thought of marriage. I am too young to think of that."

"Beg pardon, my dear, but my wife must be young."

"I have a great deal to learn before I shall have experience enough to marry any man, and I shall probably not marry until you are settled in life."

"How matter of fact you talk, Miss June. You cannot love as I do, or you would discard all such unromantic thoughts. You would not think of putting time or distance between us."

"I do not wish to hear of love from any man, for it is farther from my thoughts than any other subject at present."

"But you surely intend to marry some time."

"Certainly; every young lady thinks of marriage at some time, but at present I do not. I shall find enough of care if I marry at twenty-five."

"Then pardon me, but I shall wait until you think of it."

"It is quite useless, I assure you."

"Do you really mean it?"

"I do."

"Is it because you do not admire me?"

"I did not say that, but I am decided on one point, and that is that before I marry at all I shall study well the character of the man I marry."

"Where is the use? If you love a man, you will not see his faults, and love will cover all defects."

"I do not agree with you. I think I would see my husband's faults sooner than I would those of a stranger, from the very fact that I should so greatly fear others seeing them, that my love would magnify them; so I shall learn, as near as possible, what his faults are, and if my love will warrant it, I shall make up my mind to bear what I cannot correct."

"But cannot you marry the man and try to correct his faults after marriage?"

"I might, providing they were not too numerous. I am not faultless myself, and have little faith in my own ability, so I would not dare to undertake too great a task, and besides, my subject might prove obstinate, and I would then repent at leisure. I think there are too many matches made merely from a fancy, and that is one cause of so many unhappy marriages and so many divorces. When I marry, it will be to give my love and attention to one man, and I shall expect all his love in return."

"Are you not a little selfish?"

"In that respect, yes; though I should never exact of a man that which he did not freely bestow. I wish the man I marry to fully understand himself, and know whether he is willing to give me all his love or only a portion of it."

"Ah, well, it is according to the ways of society, my dear Miss Wilmer. Now, by way of illustration, there is your brother's wife. Why, really she receives more attention from Mr. Brunswick than she does from your brother--that is, in society, but of course it is only innocent flirtation. She is very much admired by all society men. I am more than half in love with her myself."

"So you see that the woman who marries you will receive less than a moiety," June said quickly.

Mr. Linton had forgotten to whom he was speaking, and his true ideas shot forth before he was aware of it.

"Oh--that is--I admire her very much, and really one cannot blame him for paying her some attention, for she is a beauty."

"But she is my brother's wife, Mr. Linton, and men have no right to be too attentive to married women."

She did not say that Rene should have remembered the great responsibility that was resting on her, although she blamed her fully as much as she did her admirers; but she was Scott's wife, and for his sake she would screen her as much as she could.

"Many men live for the society that surrounds them," said Mr. Linton.

"As for society," said June, speaking with emphasis, "it will not support me or make my happiness, and though I am fond of it, and love to have my friends near me, I think the rules of propriety should be adhered to in all cases."

"You are quite right, and if my wife were to receive marked attention from other gentlemen I should command her not to allow it--but please give me your answer. Remember, it is for life, and what you are rejecting."

"I have considered, and still say I have not the least thought of marriage."

"But I can wait."

"It is useless. You see, our tastes are not congenial."

"I cannot see why."

"I will tell you. First, you were born and reared in England. Your parents, as you have told me, are bitterly opposed to your marrying an American girl, thinking they are all beneath you. I love America and her laws and the very word liberty."

"Your country has too much liberty. You see, you have such a mixture here, and they all have the same rights, rich and poor."

"Yes, and if I had the right to vote I should vote for the man of real worth, whether a prince or a pauper."

"You would not vote, would you?"

"Certainly."

"I am shocked, don't you know? I would never allow my wife to do such a bold act."

"I suppose not; so we should quarrel. You see, we are quarreling now."

"Oh, June, darling, we could never quarrel. I admire your face and form just as much as ever, and I know you do not mean half you say."

"I certainly do mean all I say. You admire my form and face, but not my principles. They are not at all suited to your ideas of propriety, and you see we are not in harmony, and after the romance of marriage had worn off and we became settled in life, there would be jarring and discord, and finally contention. We would be like the keys of an instrument broken and out of tune. Every note struck would fail to harmonize, and the result would be extreme dissatisfaction and general displeasure, and a desire to seek other society, which sooner or later leads to the ruin of one or both."

"But see how many of our nobility are marrying American heiresses."

"And who is getting the best of the bargain? How many of them are truly happy?"

"What a broad view you take of the matter, Miss June."

"If everyone would take a broader view of the subject, and study the character of each, instead of being carried away by a foolish infatuation, there would be far more happiness."

"You are cruel to refuse me."

"I should be far more so were I to accept you."

"I shall never, never give you up."