left me inadvertently on the sofa she had so suddenly quitted herself。
｛de trop = one too many｝
Betts Shoreham manifested no concern at this movement； though
Mademoiselle Hennequin precipitately changed her seat； which had
been quite nearapproximately near； as one might sayto the chair
occupied by the gentleman。 This new evolution placed the governess
close at my side。 Now whatever might have been the subject of
discourse between these two young personsfor Mademoiselle
Hennequin was quite as youthful as my mistress； let her beauty be as it
mightit was not continued in my presence； on the contrary； the young
lady turned her eyes on me； instead of looking at her companion； and
then she raised me in her hand； and commenced a critical examination
of my person。
〃That is a very beautiful handkerchief； Mademoiselle Hennequin；〃 said
Betts Shoreham； making the remark an excuse for following the young
lady to the sofa。 〃Had we heard of its existence； our remarks the other
night； on such a luxury； might have been more guarded。〃
No answer was given。 The governess gazed on me intently； and tears
began to course down her cheeks； notwithstanding it was evident she
wished to conceal them。 Ashamed of her weakness； she endeavored to
smile them away； and to appear cheerful。
〃What is there in that pocket…handkerchief； dear Mademoiselle
Hennequin；〃 asked Betts Shoreham； who had a pernicious habit of
calling young ladies with whom he was on terms of tolerable intimacy；
〃dear；〃a habit that sometimes misled persons as to the degree of
interest he felt in his companions〃what CAN there be in that pocket…
handkerchief to excite tears from a mind and a heart like yours？〃
〃My mind and heart； Mr。 Shoreham； are not as faultless； perhaps； as
your goodness would make them out to be。 ENVY is a very natural
feeling for a woman in matters of dress； they say； and； certainly； I am
not the owner of so beautiful a pocket…handkerchiefpardon me； Mr。
Shoreham； I cannot command myself； and must be guilty of the
rudeness of leaving you alone； if〃
Mademoiselle Hennequin uttered no more； but rushed from the room；
with an impetuosity of manner and feeling that I have often had occasion
to remark in young French women。 As a matter of course； I was left
alone with Betts Shoreham。
I shall conceal nothing that ought to be told。 Betts Shoreham；
notwithstanding her dependent situation； and his own better fortunes；
loved the governess； and the governess loved Betts Shoreham。 These
were facts that I discovered at a later day； though I began to suspect
the truth from that moment。 Neither； however； knew of the other's
passion； though each hoped as an innocent and youthful love will hope；
and each trembled as each hoped。 Nothing explicit had been said that
evening； but much； very much； in the way of sympathy and feeling had
been revealed； and but for the inopportune entrance of Julia and myself；
all might have been told。
CHAPTER XV。
There is no moment in the life of man； when he is so keenly sensitive on
the subject of the perfection of his mistress； as that in which he
completely admits her power。 All his jealousy is actively alive to the
smallest shade of fault； although his feelings so much indispose him to
see any blemish。 Betts Shoreham felt an unpleasant pang； evenyes； it
amounted to a pangfor in a few moments he would have offered his
handand men cannot receive any drawback with indifference at such
an instanthe felt an unpleasant pang； then； as the idea crossed his mind
that Mademoiselle Hennequin could be so violently affected by a feeling
as unworthy as that of envy。 He had passed several years abroad； and
had got the common notion about the selfishness of the French； and
more particularly their women； and his prejudices took the alarm。 But
his love was much the strongest； and soon looked down the distrust；
however reasonable； under the circumstances； the latter might have
appeared to a disinterested and cool…headed observer。 He had seen so
much meek and pure…spirited self…denial； so much high principle in the
conduct of Mademoiselle Hennequin； during an intimacy which had now
lasted six months； that no passing feeling of doubt； like the one just felt；
could unsettle the confidence created by her virtues。 I know it may take
more credit than belongs to most pocket…handkerchiefs； to maintain the
problem of the virtues of a French governessa class of unfortunate
persons that seem doomed to condemnation by all the sages of our
modern imaginative literature。 An English governess； or even an
American governess； if； indeed； there be such a being in nature； may be
every thing that is respectable； and prudent； and wise； and good； but the
French governess has a sort of ex…officio moral taint about her； that
throws her without the pale of literary charities。 Nevertheless； one or
two of the most excellent women I have ever known； have been French
governesses； though I do not choose to reveal what this particular
individual of the class turned out to be in the end； until the moment for
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 th