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the denouement of her character shall regularly arrive。

There was not much time for Betts Shoreham to philosophize; and
speculate on female caprices and motives; John Monson making his
appearance in as high evening dress as well comported with what is
called 〃republican simplicity。〃 John was a fine looking fellow; six feet
and an inch; with large whiskers; a bushy head of hair; and particularly
white teeth。 His friend was two inches shorter; of much less showy
appearance; but of a more intellectual countenance; and of juster
proportions。 Most persons; at first sight; would praise John Monson's
person and face; but all would feel the superiority of Betts Shoreham's;
on an acquaintance。 The smile of the latter; in particular; was as winning
and amiable as that of a girl。 It was that smile; on the one hand; and his
active; never dormant sympathy for her situation; on the other; which;
united; had made such an inroad on the young governess's affections。

〃It's deuced cold; Betts;〃 said John; as he came near the fire; 〃this
delightful country of ours has some confounded hard winters。 I wonder
if it be patriotic to say; OUR winters?〃

〃It's all common property; Monsonbut; what have become of your
sister and Mademoiselle Hennequin? They were both here a minute
since; and have vanished like〃

〃What?ghosts!no; you dare not call them THAT; lest their spirits
take it in dudgeon。 Julie is no ghost; though she is sometimes so delicate
and ethereal; and as for Henny〃

〃Who?〃 exclaimed Betts; doubting if his ears were true。

〃Henny; Tote and Moll's governess。 Whom do you think I could mean;
else? I always call her Henny; en famille; and I look upon you as almost
one of us since our travels。〃

{en famille = at home}

〃I'm sure I can scarcely be grateful enough; my dear fellowbut; you do
not call her so to her face?〃

〃Whynoperhaps not exactly in her very teethand beautiful teeth
she has; BettsJulie's won't compare with them。〃

〃Miss Monson has fine teeth; notwithstanding。 Perhaps Mademoiselle
Hennequin〃

〃Yes; Henny has the best teeth of any girl I know。 They are none of
your pearlssome pearls are yellowish; you knowbut they are teeth;
just what ought to be in a handsome girl's mouth。 I have no objection to
pearls in a necklace; or in the pockets; but TEETH are what are wanted
in a mouth; and Henny has just the finest set I know of。〃

Betts Shoreham fidgetted at the 〃Henny;〃 and he had the weakness; at
the moment; to wish the young governess were not in a situation to be
spoken of so unceremoniously。 He had not time to express this feeling;
before John Monson got a glimpse of me; and had me under
examination beneath the light of a very powerful lamp。 I declare that;
knowing his aversion to our species; I felt a glow in all my system at the
liberties he was taking。

〃What have we here?〃 exclaimed John Monson; in surprise; 〃has Miss
Flowergarden made a call; and is this her card?〃

〃I believe that pocket…handkerchief belongs to your sister;〃 answered
Betts; drily; 〃if that be what you mean。〃

〃Jule! well; I am sorry to hear it。 I did hope that no sister of MINE
would run into any such foolish extravagancedo you own it; Jule?〃
who entered the room at that instant〃is this bit of a rag yours; or is it
not more likely to be Henny's?〃

〃Bit of a rag!〃 cried the sister; snatching me dexterously out of the
spoiler's hands; 〃and 'Henny;' too! This is not a bit of a rag; sir; but a
very pretty pocket…handkerchief; and you must very well know that
Mademoiselle Hennequin is not likely to be the owner of any thing as
costly。〃

〃And what did it cost; pray? At least tell me THAT; if nothing else。〃

〃I shall not gratify your curiosity; sira lady's wardrobe is not to be
dissected in this manner。〃

〃Pray; sir; may I ask;〃 Mr。 Monson now coming in; 〃did you pay for
Jule's handkerchief? Hang me; if I ever saw a more vulgar thing in my
life。〃

〃The opinion is not likely to induce me to say yes;〃 answered the father;
half…laughing; and yet half…angry at his son's making such allusions
before Betts〃never mind him; my dear; the handkerchief is not half as
expensive as his own cigars。〃

〃It shall be as thoroughly smoked; nevertheless; rejoined John; who was
as near being spoilt; and escaping; as was at all necessary。 〃Ah; Julie;
Julie; I'm ashamed of thee。〃

This was an inauspicious commencement for an evening from which so
much happiness had been anticipated; but Mrs。 Monson coming down;
and the carriages driving to the door; Mademoiselle Hennequin was
summoned; and the whole party left the house。

As a matter of course; it was a little out of the common way that the
governess was asked to make one; in the invitations given to the
Monsons。 But Mademoiselle Hennequin was a person of such perfect
bon ton; had so thoroughly the manners of a lady; and was generally
reputed so accomplished; that most of the friends of the family felt
themselves bound to notice her。 There was another reason; too; which
justice requires I should relate; though it is not so creditable to the
young lady; as those already given。 From some quarter; or other; a
rumor had got abroad that Miss Monson's governess was of a noble
family; a circumstance that I soon discovered had great influence in
New York; doubtless by way of expiation for the rigid democratical
notions that so universally pervade its society。 And here I may remark;
en passant; that while nothing is considered so disreputable in America
as to be 〃aristocratic〃 a word of very extensive signification; as it
embraces the tastes; the opinions; the habits; the virtues; and sometimes
the religion of the offending partyon the other hand; nothing is so
certain to attract attention as nobility。 How many poor Poles have I
seen dragged about and made lions of; merely because they were
reputed noble; though the distinction in that country is pretty much the
same as that which exists in one portion of this great republic; where
one half the population is white; and the other black; the former making
the noble; and the latter the serf。

{make one = be included; bon ton = superior manners and culture;
notice her = include her socially; 〃aristocratic〃 = Cooper was
hypersensitive to accusations of being 〃aristocratic〃; poor Poles = since
his days in Paris in the early 1830s; Cooper had befriended and aided
Poles fleeing Russian domination of their homeland}

〃What an exceedingly aristocratic pocket…handkerchief Miss Monson
has this evening;〃 observed Mrs。 G。 to Mr。 W。; as we passed into Mrs。
Leamington's rooms; that evening; 〃I don't know when I've seen any
thing so aristocratic in society。〃

〃The Monsons are very aristocratic in all things; I understand they dine
at six。〃

〃Yes;〃 put in Miss F。; 〃and use finger bowls every day。〃

〃How aristocratic!〃

〃Verythey even say that since they have come back from Europe; the
last time; matters are pushed farther than ever。 The ladies insist on
kneeling at prayers; instead of inclining; like all the rest of the world。〃

〃Did one ever hear of any thing so aristocratic!〃

〃They DO say; but I will not vouch for its truth; that Mr。 and Mrs。
Monson insist on all their children calling them 'father' and 'mother;'
instead of 'pa' and 'ma。' 〃

〃Why; Mr。 W。; that is downright monarchical; is it not?〃

〃It's difficult to say what is; and what is not monarchical; now…a…days;
though I think one is pretty safe in pronouncing it anti…republican。〃

〃It is patriarchal; rather;〃 observed a wit; who belonged to the group。

Into this 〃aristocratical〃 set I was now regularly introduced。 Many
longing and curious eyes were drawn toward me; though the company
in this house was generally too well bred to criticise articles of dress
very closely。 Still; in every country; aristocracy; monarchy; or
democracy; there are privileged classes; and in all companies privileged
persons。 One of the latter took the liberty of asking Julia to leave me in
her keeping; while the other danced; and I was thus temporarily
transferred to a circle; in which several other pocket…handkerchiefs had
been collected; with a view to compare our several merits and demerits。
The reader will judge of my surprise; when; the examination being
ended; and the judgment being rendered altogether in my favor; I found
myself familiarly addressed by the name that I bore in the family circle;
or; as No。 7; for pocket…handkerchiefs never speak to each other
except on the principle of decimals。 It was No。 12; or my relative of the
extreme cote gauche; who had strangely enough found his way into this
very room; and was now lying cheek by jowl with me again; in old Mrs。
Eyelet's lap。 Family affection made us glad to meet; and we had a
hundred questions to put to each other in a breath。

{cote gauche = left wing; politically}

No。 12 had commenced life a violent republican; and this simply
because he read nothing but republican newspapers; a sufficiently
simple reason; as all know who have heard both sides of any question。
Shortly after I was purchased by poor; dear Adrienne; a young
American traveler had stepped into the magasin; and with the
recklessness that distinguishes the expenditures of his countryme

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