CHAPTER XI. THE INVITATION
Mr. Eliphalet Hopper, in his Sunday-best broadcloth was a marvel ofpropriety. It seemed to Stephen that his face wore a graver expressionon Sunday when he met him standing on Miss Crane's doorstep, pickingthe lint from his coat. Stephen's intention was not to speak. But heremembered what the Judge had said to his mother, and nodded. Why,indeed, should he put on airs with this man who had come to St. Louisunknown and unrecommended and poor, who by sheer industry had madehimself of importance in the large business of Carvel &, Company? Asfor Stephen Brice, he was not yet earning his salt, but existing by thecharity of Judge Silas Whipple.
"Howdy, Mr. Brice," said Mr. Hopper, his glance caught by theindefinable in Stephen's costume. This would have puzzled Mr. Hopper'stailor more.
"Very well, thanks."
"A fine day after the rain."
Stephen nodded, and Mr. Hopper entered the hours after him.
"Be you asked to Virginia Carvel's party?" he asked abruptly.
"I do not know Miss Carvel," said Stephen, wondering how well the otherdid. And if the truth be told, he was a little annoyed at Mr. Hopper'sfree use of her name.
"That shouldn't make no difference," said Eliphalet with just a shadeof bitterness in his tone. "They keep open house, like all Southerners,"Mr. Hopper hesitated,--"for such as come well recommended. I 'mostforgot," said he. "I callate you're not any too well recommended. I'most forgot that little transaction down to the Court House. They dosay that she wanted that gal almighty bad,--she was most awful cut upnot to get her. Served her right, though. I'm glad you did. Show her shecan't have everything her own way. And say," he added, with laughter,"how you did fix that there stuckup Colfax boy! He'll never forgiveyou no more than she. But," said Mr. Hopper, meditatively, "it was adurned-fool trick."
I think Stephen's critics will admit that he had a good right to beangry, and that they will admire him just a little bit because he kepthis temper. But Mr. Hopper evidently thought he had gone too far.
"She ain't got no use for me, neither," he said.
"She shows poor judgment," answered Stephen.
"She's not long sighted, that's sure," replied Eliphalet, with emphasis.
At dinner Stephen was tried still further. And it was then he made thedetermination to write for the newspapers in order to pay the rent onMr. Brinsmade's house. Miss Carvel's coming-out party was the chieftopic.
"They do say the Colonel is to spend a sight of money on that ball,"said Mrs. Abner Reed. "I guess it won't bankrupt him." And she lookedhard at Mr. Hopper.
"I callate he ain't pushed for money," that gentleman vouchsafed.
"He's a good man, and done well by you, Mr. Hopper."
"So--so," answered Eliphalet. "But I will say that I done something forthe Colonel. I've saved him a hundred times my pay since I showed oldHood the leaks. And I got a thousand dollar order from Wright & Companythis week for him."
"I dare say you'd keep a tight hand enough on expenses," said MissCrane, half in sarcasm, half in approval.
"If Colonel Carvel was doin' business in New England," said Eliphalet,"he'd been bankrupt long ago."
"That young Clarence Colfax," Mrs. Abner Reed broke in, "he'll get aright smart mint o' money when he marries Virginia. They do say hermother left her independent. How now, Mr. Hopper?"
Eliphalet looked mysterious and knowing. He did not reply.
"And young Colfax ain't precisely a pauper," said Miss Crane.
"I'll risk a good deal that she don't marry Colfax," said Mr. Hopper.
"What on earth do you mean?" cried Mrs. Abner. "It ain't broke off?"
"No," he answered, "it ain't broke off. But I callate she won't have himwhen the time comes. She's got too much sense."
Heavy at heart, Stephen climbed the stairs, thanking heaven that hehad not been drawn into the controversy. A partial comprehension ofMr. Hopper was dawning upon him. He suspected that gentleman of anaggressive determination to achieve wealth, and the power which comeswith it, for the purpose of using that power upon those beneathhim. Nay, when he thought over his conversation, he suspected him ofmore,--of the intention to marry Virginia Carvel.
It will be seen whether Stephen was right or wrong.
He took a walk that afternoon, as far out as a place called Lindell'sGrove, which afterward became historic. And when he returned to thehouse, his mother handed him a little white envelope.
"It came while you were out," she said.
He turned it over, and stared at his name written across the front in afeminine hand In those days young ladies did not write in the bold andmasculine manner now deemed proper. Stephen stared at the note, manlike,and pondered.
"Who brought it, mother?"
"Why don't you open it, and see?" asked his mother with a smile.
He took the suggestion. What a funny formal little note we should thinkit now! It was not funny to Stephen--then. He read it, and he read itagain, and finally he walked over to the window, still holding it in hishand.
Some mothers would have shown their curiosity. Mrs. Brice did not,wherein she proved herself their superiors in the knowledge of mankind.
Stephen stood for a long while looking out into the gathering dusk. Thenhe went over to the fireplace and began tearing the note into littlebits. Only once did he pause, to look again at his name on the envelope.
"It is an invitation to Miss Carvel's party," he said.
By Thursday of that week the Brices, with thanksgiving in their hearts,had taken possession of Mr. Brinsmade's little house.