Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. XXVII, August 1852, Vol. VVarious
History
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. XXVII, August 1852, Vol. V
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
The father opened the room door for us, and bowed us out, in a
manner, I must acknowledge, worthy of his shining original. In the
same style he presently passed us on the other side of the street,
on his way to the aristocratic part of the town, where he was going
to show himself among the few other gentlemen left. For some
moments, I was so lost in reconsidering what I had heard and seen in
Newman Street, that I was quite unable to talk to Caddy, or even to
fix my attention on what she said to me; especially, when I began to
inquire in my mind whether there were, or ever had been, any other
gentlemen, not in the dancing profession, who lived and founded a
reputation entirely on their Deportment. This became so bewildering,
and suggested the possibility of so many Mr. Turveydrops, that I
said, "Esther, you must make up your mind to abandon this subject
altogether, and attend to Caddy." I accordingly did so, and we
chatted all the rest of the way to Lincoln's Inn.
Caddy told me that her lover's education had been so neglected, that
it was not always easy to read his notes. She said, if he were not
so anxious about his spelling, and took less pains to make it clear,
he would do better; but he put so many unnecessary letters into
short words, that they sometimes quite lost their English
appearance. "He does it with the best intentions," observed Caddy,
"but it hasn't the effect he means, poor fellow!" Caddy then went on
to reason, how could he be expected to be a scholar, when he had
passed his whole life in the dancing-school, and had done nothing
but teach and fag, fag and teach, morning, noon, and night! And what
did it matter? She could write letters enough for both, as she knew
to her cost, and it was far better for him to be amiable than
learned. "Besides, it's not as if I was an accomplished girl who had
any right to give herself airs," said Caddy. "I know little enough,
I am sure, thanks to Ma!"
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