The Chainbearer; Or, The Littlepage Manuscripts Read online

  CHAPTER III.

  "He tells her something, That makes her blood look out; good sooth, she is The queen of curds and cream."--_Winter's Tale._

  Happy, happy Lilacsbush! Never can I forget the delight with which Iroamed over its heights and glens, and how I rioted in the pleasure offeeling I was again a sort of master in those scenes which had been thehaunts of my boyhood! It was in the spring of 1784 before I was foldedto the arms of my mother; and this, too, after a separation of near twoyears. Kate laughed, and wept, and hugged me, just as she would havedone five years earlier, though she was now a lovely young woman, turnedof nineteen. As for aunt Mary, she shook hands, gave me a kind kiss ortwo, and smiled on me affectionately, in her own quiet, gentle manner.The house was in a tumult, for Jaap returned with me, his wool wellsprinkled with gray, and there were lots of little Satanstoes (for suchwas his family name, notwithstanding Mrs. Jaap called herself MissLilacsbush), children and grandchildren, to welcome him. To say thetruth, the house was not decently tranquil for the first twenty-fourhours.

  At the end of that time I ordered my horse, to ride across the countryto Satanstoe, in order to visit my widowed grandmother, who had resistedall attempts to persuade her to give up the cares of housekeeping, andto come and live at Lilacsbush. The general, for so everybody now calledmy father, did not accompany me, having been at Satanstoe a day or twobefore; but my sister did. As the roads had been much neglected in thewar, we went in the saddle, Kate being one of the most spiritedhorsewomen of my acquaintance. By this time, Jaap had got to beprivileged, doing just such work as suited his fancy; or, it might bebetter to say, was not of much use except in the desultory employmentsthat had so long been his principal pursuits; and he was sent off anhour or two before we started ourselves, to let Mrs. Littlepage, or his"ole--ole missus," as the fellow always called my grandmother, know whomshe was to expect to dinner.

  I have heard it said that there are portions of the world in whichpeople get to be so sophisticated, that the nearest of kin cannot takesuch a liberty as this. The son will not presume to take a plate at thetable of the father without observing the ceremony of asking, or ofbeing asked! Heaven be praised! we have not yet reached this pass inAmerica. What parent, or grandparent, to the remotest living generation,would receive a descendant with anything but a smile, or a welcome, lethim come when and how he will? If there be not room, or preparation, thedeficiencies must be made up in welcomes; or, when absoluteimpossibilities interpose, if they are not overcome by means of a quickinvention, as most such "impossibilities" are, the truth is franklytold, and the pleasure is deferred to a more fortunate moment. It is notmy intention to throw a vulgar and ignorant gibe into the face of anadvanced civilization, as is too apt to be the propensity of ignoranceand provincial habits; for I well know that most of the usages of thosehighly improved conditions of society are founded in reason, and havetheir justification in a cultivated common sense; but, after all, mothernature has her rights, and they are not to be invaded too boldly,without bringing with the acts themselves their merited punishments.

  It was just nine, on a fine May morning, when Kate

  Littlepage and myself rode through the outer gate of Lilacsbush, andissued upon the old, well-known Kingsbridge road. _Kings_bridge! Thatname still remains, as do those of the counties of Kings, and Queens,and Duchess, to say nothing of quantities of Princes this and that inother States; and I hope they always may remain, as so many landmarks inour history. These names are all that now remain among us of themonarchy; and yet have I heard my father say a hundred times, that whena young man, his reverence for the British throne was second only to hisreverence for the Church. In how short a time has this feeling beenchanged throughout an entire nation; or, if not absolutely changed, forsome still continue to reverence monarchy, how widely and irremediablyhas it been impaired! Such are the things of the world, perishable andtemporary in their very natures; and they would do well to remember thetruth, who have much at stake in such changes.

  We stopped at the door of the inn at Kingsbridge to say good morning toold Mrs. Light, the landlady who had now kept the house half a century,and who had known us, and our parents before us, from childhood. Thisloquacious housewife had her good and bad points, but habit had givenher a sort of claim on our attentions, and I could not pass her doorwithout drawing the rein, if it were only for a moment. This was nosooner done, than the landlady in person was on her threshold to greetus.

  "Ay, I dreamt this, Mr. Mordaunt," the old woman exclaimed, the instantshe saw me--"I dreamt this no later than last week! It is nonsense todeny it; dreams _do_ often come true!"

  "And what has been your dream this time, Mrs. Light?" I asked, wellknowing it was to come, and the sooner we got it the better.

  "I dreamt the general had come home last fall, and he _had_ come home!Now the only idee I had to help out that dream was a report that he_was_ to be home that day; but you know, Mr. Mordaunt, or MajorLittlepage, they tell me I ought now to call you--but you know, Mr.Mordaunt, how often reports turn out to be nothing. I count a report asno great help to a dream. So, last week, I dreamed you would certainlybe home this week; and here you are, sure enough!"

  "And all without any lying report to help you, my good landlady?"

  "Why, no great matter; a few flying rumors, perhaps; but as I neverbelieve _them_ when awake, it's onreasonable to suppose a body wouldbelieve 'em when asleep. Yes, Jaaf stopped a minute to water his horsethis morning, and I foresaw from that moment my dream would come to betrue, though I never exchanged a word with the nigger."

  "That is a little remarkable, Mrs. Light, as I supposed you alwaysexchanged a few words with your guests."

  "Not with the blacks, major; it's apt to make 'em sassy. Sassiness in anigger is a thing I can't abide, and therefore I keep 'em all at adistance. Well, the times that I have seen, major, since you went off tothe wars! and the changes we have had! Our clergyman don't pray anylonger for the king and queen--no more than if there wasn't sich peopleliving."

  "Not directly, perhaps, but as a part of the Church of God, I trust. Weall pray for Congress now."

  "Well, I hope good will come out of it! I must say, major, that HisMajesty's officers spent more freely, and paid in better money, than thecontinental gentlemen. I've had 'em both here by rijjiments, and that'sthe character I _must_ give 'em, in honesty."

  "You will remember they were richer, and had more money than our people.It is easy for the rich to appear liberal."

  "Yes, I know that, sir, and you ought, and _do_ know it, too. TheLittlepages are rich, and always have been, and they are liberal too.Lord bless your smiling, pretty faces! I knowed your family long aforeyou knowed it yourselves. I know'd old Captain Hugh Roger, yourgreat-grand'ther, and the _old_ general, your grand'ther, and now I knowthe _young_ general, and you! Well, this will not be the last of you, Idares to say, and there'll be light hearts and happy ones among theBayards, I'll answer for it, now the wars are over, and young MajorLittlepage has got back!"

  This terminated the discourse; for by this time I had enough of it; andmaking my bow, Kate and I rode on. Still, I could not but be struck withthe last speech of the old woman, and most of all with the manner inwhich it was uttered. The name of Bayard was well known among us,belonging to a family of which there were several branches spreadthrough the Middle States, as far south as Delaware; but I did nothappen to know a single individual of them all. What, then, could myreturn have to do with the smiles or frowns of any of the name ofBayard? It was natural enough, after ruminating a minute or two on thesubject, that I should utter some of my ideas, on such a subject, to mycompanion.

  "What could the old woman mean, Kate," I abruptly commenced, "by sayingthere would now be light hearts and happy ones among the Bayards?"

  "Poor Mrs. Light is a great gossip, Mordaunt, and it may be questionedif she know her own meaning half the time. All the Bayards we know arethe family at the Hickories; and with them, you have doubtless heard, mymother
has long been intimate."

  "I have heard nothing about it, child. All I know is, that there is aplace called the Hickories, up the river a few miles, and that itbelongs to some of the Bayards; but I never heard of any intimacy. Onthe contrary, I remember to have heard that there was a lawsuit once,between my grandfather Mordaunt and some old Bayard or other; and Ithought we were a sort of hereditary strangers."

  "That is quite forgotten, and my mother says it all arose from amistake. We are decided friends now."

  "I'm sure I am very glad to hear it; for, since it is peace, let us havepeace; though old enemies are not apt to make very decided friends."

  "But we never were--that is, my grandfather never was an enemy ofanybody; and the whole matter was amicably settled just before he wentto Europe, on his unfortunate visit to Sir Harry Bulstrode. No--no--mymother will tell you, Mordaunt, that the Littlepages and the Bayards nowregard each other as very decided friends."

  Kate spoke with so much earnestness that I was disposed to take a lookat her. The face of the girl was flushed, and I fancy she had a secretconsciousness of the fact; for she turned it from me as if gazing atsome object in the opposite direction, thereby preventing me from seeingmuch of it.

  "I am very glad to learn all this," I answered, a little dryly. "As I ama Littlepage, it would have been awkward not to have known it, had Iaccidentally met with one of these Bayards. Does the peace include allof the name, or only those of the Hickories?"

  Kate laughed; then she was pleased to tell me that I was to considermyself the friend of all of the name.

  "And most especially of those of the name who dwell at the Hickories?"

  "How many may there be of this especially peaceful breed? six, a dozen,or twenty?"

  "Only four; so your task will make no very heavy demand on youraffections. Your heart has room, I trust, for four more friends?"

  "For a thousand, if I can find them, my dear. I can accept as manyfriends as you please, but have places for none else. All the otherniches are occupied."

  "Occupied!--I hope that is not true, Mordaunt. _One_ place, at least, isvacant."

  "True; I had forgotten a place must be reserved for the brother _you_will one day give me. Well, name him, as soon as you please; I shall beready to love _him_, child."

  "I may never make so heavy a draft on your affections. Anneke has givenyou a brother already, and a very excellent one he is, and that ought tosatisfy a reasonable man."

  "Ay, so all you young women say between fifteen and twenty, but youusually change your mind in the end. The sooner you tell me who theyouth is, therefore, the sooner I shall begin to like him--is _he_ oneof the Bayards?--_un chevalier sans peur et sans reproche?_"

  Kate had a brilliant complexion, in common; but, as I now turned my eyestoward her inquiringly, more in mischief, however, than with theexpectation of learning anything new, I saw the roses of her cheeksexpand until they covered her temples. The little beaver she wore, andwhich became her amazingly, did not suffice to conceal these blushes,and I now really began to suspect I had hit on a vein that wassensitive. But my sister was a girl of spirit, and though it was nodifficult thing to make her change color, it was by no means easy tolook her down.

  "I trust your new brother, Mordaunt, should there ever be such a person,will be a respectable man, if not absolutely without reproach," sheanswered. "But, if there be a Tom Bayard, there is also a Pris Bayard,his sister."

  "So--so--this is all news to me, indeed! As to Mr. Thomas Bayard, Ishall ask no questions, my interest in _him_, if there is to be any,being altogether _ex officio_, as one may say, and coming as a matter ofcourse; but you will excuse me if I am a little curious on the subjectof Miss Priscilla Bayard, a lady, you will remember, I never saw."

  My eye was on Kate the whole time, and I fancied she looked gratified,though she still looked confused.

  "Ask what you will, brother--Priscilla Bayard can bear a very closeexamination."

  "In the first place, then, did that old gossip allude to Miss Priscilla,by saying there would be light hearts and happy ones among the Bayards?"

  "Nay, I cannot answer for poor Mrs. Light's conceits. Put your questionsin some other form."

  "Is there much intimacy between the people of the 'Bush and those of theHickories?"

  "Great--_we_ like them exceedingly; and I think they like _us_."

  "Does this intimacy extend to the young folk, or is it confined to theold?"

  "That is somewhat personal," said Kate, laughing, "as I happen to be theonly 'young folk' at the 'Bush, to maintain the said intimacy. As thereis nothing to be ashamed of, however, but, on the contrary, much ofwhich one may be proud, I shall answer that it includes 'all ages andboth sexes;' everybody but yourself, in a word."

  "And _you_ like old Mr. Bayard?"

  "Amazingly."

  "And old Mrs. Bayard?"

  "She is a very agreeable person, and an excellent wife and mother."

  "And you love Pris Bayard?"

  "As the apple of mine eye," the girl answered with emphasis.

  "And you like Tom Bayard, her brother?"

  "As much as is decent and proper for one young woman to like the brotherof another young woman, whom she admits that she loves as the apple ofher eye."

  Although it was not easy, at least not easy for _me_, to cause KateLittlepage to hold her tongue, it was not easy for her to cause thetell-tale blood always to remain stationary. She was surprisinglybeautiful in her blushes, and as much like what I had often fancied mydear mother might have been in her best days as possible, at the verymoment she was making these replies as steadily as if they gave her notrouble.

  "How is all this then, connected with rejoicings among the people of theHickories, at _my_ return? Are you the betrothed of Tom Bayard, and haveyou been waiting for my return to give him your hand?"

  "I am _not_ the betrothed of Tom Bayard, and have not been waiting foryour return to give him my hand," answered Kate, steadily. "As for Mrs.Light's gossipings, you cannot expect _me_ to explain _them_. She getsher reports from servants, and others of that class, and you know whatsuch reports are usually worth. But, as for my waiting for your_return_, brother, in order to announce such an event, you little knowhow much I love you, if you suppose I would do any such thing."

  Kate said this with feeling, and I thanked her with my eyes, but couldnot have spoken, and did not speak, until we had ridden some distance.After this pause, I renewed the discourse with some of its originalspirit.

  "On that subject, Katrinke, dear," I said, "I trust we understand eachother. Single or married, you will ever be very dear to me; and I own Ishould be hurt to be one of the last to learn your engagement, wheneverthat may happen. And now for this Priscilla Bayard--do you expect me tolike her?"

  "Do I! It would be one of the happiest moments of my life, Mordaunt,when I could hear you acknowledge that you _love_ her!"

  This was uttered with great animation, and in a way to show that mysister was very much in earnest. I felt some surprise when I put thisfeeling in connection with the landlady's remarks, and began to suspectthere might be something behind the curtain worthy of my knowledge. Inorder to make discoveries, however, it was necessary to pursue thediscourse.

  "Of what age is Miss Bayard?" I demanded.

  "She is two months my senior--very suitable, is it not?"

  "I do not object to the difference, which will do very well. Is sheaccomplished?"

  "Not very. You know few of us girls who have been educated during therevolution, can boast of much in that way; though Priscilla is betterthan common."

  "Than of her class, you mean, of course?"

  "Certainly--better than most young ladies of our best families."

  "Is she amiable?"

  "As Anneke, herself!"

  This was saying a great deal, our eldest sister, as often happens infamilies, being its paragon in the way of all the virtues, and Anneke'stemper being really serenity itself.

  "You give her a high char
acter, and one few girls could sustain. Is shesensible and well-informed?"

  "Enough so as often to make me feel ashamed of myself. She has anexcellent mother, Mordaunt; and I have heard you say, often, that themother would have great influence with you in choosing a wife."

  "That must have been when I was very young, child, before I went to thearmy, where we look more at the young than at the old women. But, why awife? Is it all settled between the old people, that I am to propose tothis Priscilla Bayard, and are you a party to the scheme?"

  Kate laughed with all her heart, but I fancied she looked conscious.

  "You make no answer, young lady, and you must permit me to remind youthat there is an express compact between you and me to treat each otherfrankly on all occasions. This is one on which I especially desire tosee the conditions of the treaty rigidly enforced. Does any such projectexist?"

  "Not as a project, discussed and planned--no--certainly not. No, athousand times, no. But I shall run the risk of frustrating one of mymost cherished hopes, by saying, honestly, that you could not gratify mydear mother, aunt Mary, and myself, more than by falling in love withPris Bayard. We all love her ourselves, and we wish you to be of theparty, knowing that _your_ love would probably lead to a connection weshould all like, more than I can express. There; you cannot complain ofa want of frankness, for I have heard it said, again and again, that thewishes of friends, indiscreetly expressed, are very apt to set young menagainst the very person it is desired to make them admire."

  "Quite likely to be true as a rule, though in my case no effect, good orbad, will be produced. But how do the Bayards feel in this matter?"

  "How should I know! Of course, no allusion has ever been made to any ofthe family on the subject; and, as none of them know you, it is im--thatis, no allusion--I mean--certainly not to more than _one_ of them. Ibelieve some vague remarks may have been ventured to one--but----"

  "By yourself, and to your friend Pris?"

  "_Never_"--said Kate, with emphasis. "Such a subject could never bementioned between us."

  "Then it must have been between the old ladies--the two mothers,probably?"

  "I should think not. Mrs. Bayard is a woman of reserve, and mamma has anextreme sense of propriety, as you know yourself, that would not belikely to permit such a thing."

  "Would the general think of contracting me, when my back was turned?"

  "Not he--papa troubles himself very little about such things. Ever sincehis return home, he has been courting mamma over again, he tells us."

  "Surely, aunt Mary has not found words for such an allusion!"

  "She, indeed! Poor, dear aunt Mary; it is little she meddles with anyone's concerns but her own. Do you know, Mordaunt, that mamma has toldme the whole of her story lately, and the reason why she has refused somany excellent offers. I dare say, if you ask her, she will tell _you_."

  "I know the whole story already, from the general, child. But, if thismatter has been alluded to, to one of the Bayards, and neither myfather, mother, nor aunt Mary, has made the allusion on our side, andneither Mr. Bayard, his wife, nor daughter, has been the party to whomthe allusion has been made on the other, there remain only yourself andTom to hold the discourse. I beg you to explain this point with yourcustomary frankness."

  Kate Littlepage's face was scarlet. She was fairly caught, though Idistrusted the truth from the moment she so stammered and hesitated incorrecting her first statement. I will own I enjoyed the girl'sconfusion, it made her appear so supremely lovely; and I was almost asproud of her, as I tenderly loved her. Dear, dear Kate; from mychildhood I had my own amusement with her, though I do not rememberanything like a harsh expression, or an unkind feeling, that has everpassed, or indeed existed, between us. A finer study than the face of mysister offered for the next minute, was never presented to the eye ofman; and I enjoyed it so much the more, from a strong conviction that,while so deeply confused, she was not unhappy. Native ingenuousness,maiden modesty, her habit of frank dealing with me, and a wish tocontinue so to deal, were all struggling together in her finecountenance, forming altogether one of the most winning pictures ofwomanly feelings I had ever witnessed. At length, the love offair-dealing, and love of me, prevailed over a factitious shame; thecolor settled back to those cheeks whence it had appeared to flash, asit might be, remaining just enough heightened to be remarked, and Katelooked toward me in a way that denoted all the sisterly confidence andregard that she actually felt.

  "I did not intend to be the one to communicate to you a fact, Mordaunt,in which I know you will feel a deep interest, for I had supposed mymother would save me the confusion of telling it to you; but, now, thereis no choice between resorting to equivocations that I do not like, andusing our old long-established frankness."

  "The long and short of which, my dear sister, is to say that you areengaged to Mr. Bayard?"

  "No; not as strong as that, brother. Mr. Bayard has offered, and myanswer is deferred until you have met him. I would not engage myself,Mordaunt, until you approved of my choice."

  "I feel the compliment, Katrinke, and will be certain to repay it, inkind. Depend on it, _you_ shall know, in proper season, when it is mywish to marry, and shall be heard."

  "There is a difference between the claims of an elder and an onlybrother, and of a mere girl, who ought to place much dependence on theadvice of friends, in making her own selection."

  "You will not be a 'mere girl' when that time comes, but a married womanyourself, and competent to give good counsel from your own experience.To return to Tom, however; he is the member of his family to whom theallusion was made?"

  "He was, Mordaunt," answered Kate, in a low voice.

  "And you were the person who made it?"

  "Very true--we were talking of you, one day; and I expressed a stronghope that you would see Priscilla with the eyes with which, I can assureyou, all the rest of your family see her. That was all."

  "And that was quite enough, child, to cause Tom Bayard to hang himself,if he were a lover of the true temper."

  "Hang himself, brother! I am sure I do not understand why?"

  "Oh! merely at the palpable discouragement such a wish would naturallyconvey to the brother of the young lady, since he must have seen youwere willing to connect the two families by means other than giving himyour own hand."

  Kate laughed; but as she did not look much confused, or at all alarmed,I was induced to believe that more important encouragement than could beafforded by means of her wish of marrying _me_ to her suitor's sisterhad been given Master Tom, and that my disapproval of the gentlemanwould cause her more concern than she chose to avow. We rode on,however, some little distance, without either's offering to renew thediscourse. At length, as became my sex, I spoke.

  "When am I to see this paragon young man and paragon young woman, Kate,since see both I must?"

  "Not paragon young man, brother; I am certain I have called him by nosuch name; Tom Bayard is a _good fellow_; but I do not know that he isby any means a paragon."

  "He is a good-_looking_ fellow in the bargain, I take it for granted?"

  "Not so much so as you are yourself, if that will gratify your vanity."

  "It ought to, coming from such a quarter; my question is stillunanswered, notwithstanding."

  "To own the truth to you, Mordaunt, I expect we shall find Tom Bayardand Pris at Satanstoe, to dine with my grandmother. She wrote me word, aday or two since, that both are asked, and that she hoped both wouldaccept."

  "The old lady is then in the plot, and intends to marry me, will ye,nill ye? I had thought this visit altogether a scheme of my own."

  Kate again laughed, and told me I might make my own observations on thatpoint, and judge for myself. As for the visit, I had only accidentallyfavored a project of others. The conversation now changed, and forseveral miles we rode along, conversing of the scenes of the war,without adverting to the Bayards or to marriages.

  We were within half a mile of the gate of the Neck, and within a mile
ofthe house, when we met Jaap returning to Lilacsbush, and carrying somefruit to my mother, after having discharged his commission of an_avant-courier_. From Kate's remark I had discovered we had been invitedby letter to take this excursion, though the ceremony of sending thenegro across with his message had been observed for reasons that werenot very natural under the circumstances. I made no remark, however,determining to see and judge for myself.

  As a matter of course, we drew our reins, and stopped to exchange a fewwords with the black.

  "Well, Jaap, how did the Neck look, after so long an absence?" Iinquired.

  "It look, sah, no means as well as ole Missus, who do look capital, forsuch a lady! Dey do won'ers with 'e Neck, sah, if you just believe allyoung nigger say. But what you t'ink, Masser Mordy, I hear at 'e tavern,where I jist stop, sah, to water ole Dick?"

  "And to get a sup of cider for old Jaap"--hereupon the negro laughedheartily, though he had the impudence neither to own nor to deny theimputation, his weakness in favor of "wring-jaw" being awell-established failing--"Well, what did you hear, while taking downthe usual mug?"

  "I on'y get _half_ a mug, dis time, sah; ole, ole Missus nebberforgettin' to give me jist as much as I want. Well, sah, while old Dickdrink, 'e new landlady, who come from Connetick, you know, sah, she sayto me, 'Where you go, ole color' gentleum?' Dat war' civil, anyhow."

  "To which you answered----"

  "I answer her, sah, and say I go to Satanstoe, whar' I come from, longtime 'go."

  "Whereupon she made some observation or other--well, what was it?--Youkeep Miss Littlepage waiting."

  "Lor' bless her, sah--it my business to wait on Miss Katrinke, not herbusiness to wait on _me_--why you speak so droll, now, Masser Mordy?"

  "Never mind all that, Jaap, what did the new Connecticut lady say, whenyou told her you were going to Satanstoe, the place where you had comefrom, a long time ago?"

  "What she say, Masser Mordy, sah!--she say great foolishness, and makeme mad. 'What you call by dat awful name?' she say, making face like asif she see a spook. 'You must mean Dibbleton,' she say--'dat 'e way all'e people as is genteel call 'e Neck?' Did you ebber hear 'e like, sah?"

  "Oh! yes; I heard the like of it, as soon as I was born; the attempt tochange the name of our old place having existed now, these thirty years.Why, some people call Hellgate, Hurlgate; after that, one may expectanything. Do you not know, Jaap, a Yankee is never satisfied, unless heis effecting changes? One half his time he is altering the pronunciationof his own names, and the other half he is altering ours. Let him callthe place what he will, you and I will stick to Satanstoe."

  "Dat we _will_, sah--gib 'e debbil his due, sah; dat an ole sayin'. I'msure anybody as has eyes, can see where his toe hab turn up 'e sile, andshape it he own way--no dibble dere, sah."

  Thus saying, Jaap rode on, my sister and myself doing the same, pursuingthe discourse that had thus accidentally arisen among us.

  "Is it not odd, brother, that strangers should have this itching toalter the name of my grandmother's place?" said Kate, after we hadparted from the black. "It is a homely name, certainly; but it has beenused, now, a good deal more than a century, and time, at least, shouldentitle it to be let alone."

  "Ay, my dear; but you are not yet aware of the desires, and longings,and efforts, and ambition of a 'little learning.' I have seen enough, inmy short career, to know there is a spirit up among us, that callsitself by the pretending title of the 'spirit of improvement,' which islikely to overturn more important things than the name of our poor Neck.It is a spirit that assumes the respectable character of a love ofliberty; and under that mask, it gives play to malice, envy,covetousness, rapacity, and all the lowest passions of our nature. Amongother things, it takes the provincial pretence of a mock-refinement, andflatters an elegance of thought that is easiest attained by those whohave no perceptions of anything truly elevated, by substitutingsqeamishness and affectations for the simplicity of nature, and a goodtone of manners."