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 countrymen；
swept off half a dozen of the family at one purchase。 Accident gave him
the liberal end of the piece； a circumstance to which he never would
have assented had he known the fact； for being an attache of the
legation of his own country； he was ex officio aristocratic。 My brother
amused me exceedingly with his account of the indignation he felt at
finding himself in a very hot…bed of monarchical opinions； in the set at
the American legation。 What rendered these diplomates so much the
more aristocratic； was the novelty of the thing； scarcely one of them
having been accustomed to society at home。 After passing a few months
in such company； my brother's boss； who was a mere traveling
diplomatist； came home and began to run a brilliant career in the circles
of New York； on the faith of a European reputation。 Alas！ there is in
pocket…handkerchief nature a disposition to act by contraries。 The
〃more you call； the more I won't come〃 principle was active in poor No。
12's mind； and he had not been a month in New York society； before
he came out an ultra monarchist。 New York society has more than one
of these sudden political conversions to answer for。 It is such a thorough
development of the democratic principle； that the faith of few believers
is found strong enough to withstand it。 Every body knows how much a
prospect varies by position。 Thus； you shall stand on the aristocratic
side of a room filled with company； and every thing will present a vulgar
and democratic appearance； or； vice versa； you shall occupy a place
among the oi polloi； and all is aristocratic； exclusive； and offensive。 So it
had proved with my unfortunate kinsman。 All his notions had changed；
instead of finding the perfection he had preached and extolled so long；
he found nothing to admire； and every thing to condemn。 In a word；
never was a pocket…handkerchief so miserable； and that； too； on
grounds so philosophical and profound； met with； on its entrance into
active life。 I do believe； if my brother could have got back to France； he
would have written a book on America； which； while it overlooked
many vices and foibles that deserve to be cut up without mercy； would
have thrown even de Tocqueville into the shade in the way of political
blunders。 But I forbear； this latter writer being unanswerable among
those neophytes who having never thought of their own system； unless
as Englishmen； are overwhelmed with admiration at finding any thing of
another character advanced about it。 At least； such are the sentiments
entertained by a very high priced pocket…handkerchief。
｛magasin = shop； ex…officio = by virtue of his positionCooper
frequently criticized American diplomats for taking on the conservative
views of the monarchial governments to which they were accredited； oi
polloi = common people； rabble （Greek）； de Tocqueville = Alexis de
Tocqueville = French writer （1805…1859）； famous for his account of
American culture； 〃Democracy in America〃 （1835 and 1840）Cooper
had provided Tocqueville with letters of introduction for his 1832
American visit； but resented the extreme admiration accorded his
book｝
Mademoiselle Hennequin； I took occasion to remark； occupied much of
the attention of Betts Shoreham； at Mrs。 Leamington's ball。 They
understood each other perfectly； though the young man could not get
over the feeling created by the governess's manner when she first met
with me。 Throughout the evening； indeed； her eye seemed studiously
averted from me； as if she struggled to suppress certain sentiments or
sensations； that she was unwilling to betray。 Now； these sentiments； if
sentiments they were； or sensations； as they were beyond all dispute；
might be envyrepinings at another's better fortunesor they might be
excited by philosophical and commendable reflections touching those
follies which so often lead the young and thoughtless into extravagance。
Betts tried hard to believe them the last； though； in his inmost heart； he
would a thousand times rather that the woman he loved should smile on
a weakness of this sort； in a girl of her own age； than that she should
show herself to be prematurely wise； if it was wisdom purchased at the
expense of the light…heartedness and sympathies of her years and sex。
On a diminished scale； I had awakened in his bosom some such uneasy
distrust as the pocket…handkerchief of Desdemona is known to have
aroused in that of the Moor。
｛Shakespeare； 〃Othello〃｝
Nor can I say that Julia Monson enjoyed herself as much as she had
anticipated。 Love she did not Betts Shoreham； for that was a passion
her temperament and training induced her to wait for some pretty
unequivocal demonstrations on the part of the gentleman before she
yielded to it； but she LIKED him vastly； and nothing would have been
easier than to have blown this smouldering preference into a flame。 She
was too young； and； to say the truth； too natural and uncalculating； to be
always remembering that Betts owned a good old…fashioned landed
estate that was said to produce twenty； and which did actually produce
eleven thousand a year； nett； and that his house in the country was
generally said to be one of the very best in the state。 For all this she
cared absolutely nothing； or nothing worth mentioning。 There were
enough young men of as good estates； and there were a vast many of
no estates at all； ready and willing to take their chances in the 〃cutting
up〃 of 〃old Monson；〃 but there were few who were as agreeable； as
well mannered； as handsome； or who had seen as much of the world； as
Betts Shoreham。 Of course； she had never fancied the young man in
love with herself； but； previously to the impression she had quite
recently imbibed of his attachment to her mother's governess； she had
been accustomed to think such a thing MIGHT come to pass； and that
she should not be sorry if it did。
I very well understand this is not the fashionable； or possibly the polite
way of describing those incipient sentiments which form the germ of
love in the virgin affections of young ladies； and that a skillful and refined
poe