Read Online The Buccaneers by Edith Wharton - Free Book Online Page B

Jinny and Nan had been invited to act as Conchita Closson’s bridesmaids. She thought it unnatural that the Clossons, who were strangers in New York, and still camping at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, should be marrying their daughter before Virginia was led to the altar. And then the bridegroom!—well, everybody knew that he was only a younger son, and that in England, even in the great aristocratic families, younger sons were of small account unless they were clever enough to make their own way—an ambition which seemed never to have troubled Dick Marable. Moreover, there were dark rumours about him, reports of warnings discreetly transmitted through the British Legation in Washington, and cruder tales among the clubs. Still, nothing could alter the fact that Lord Richard Marable was the son of the Marquess of Brightlingsea, and that his mother had been a duke’s daughter—and who knows whether the Eglintons and Parmores, though they thanked heaven their dear girls would never be exposed to such risks, were not half envious of the Clossons? But then there was the indecent haste of it. The young people had met for the first time in August; and they were to be married in November! In good society it was usual for a betrothal to last at least a year; and among the Eglintons and Parmores even that time-allowance was thought to betray an undue haste. “The young people should be given time to get to know each other,” the mothers of Fifth Avenue decreed; and Mrs. Parmore told Miss Testvalley, when the latter called to pay her respects to her former employer, that she for her part hoped her daughter would never consent to an engagement of less than two years. “But I suppose, dear Miss Testvalley, that among the people you’re with now there are no social traditions.”
    â€œNone except those they are making for themselves,” Miss Testvalley was tempted to rejoin; but that would not have been what she called a “governess’s answer,” and she knew a governess should never be more on her guard than when conversing with a former employer. Especially, Miss Testvalley thought, when the employer had a long nose with a slight droop, and pale lips like Mrs. Parmore’s. She murmured that there were business reasons, she understood; Mr. Closson was leaving shortly for Brazil.
    â€œAh, so they say. But, of course, the rumours one hears about this young man... a son of Lord Brightlingsea’s, I understand? But, Miss Testvalley, you were with the Brightlingseas; you must have known him?”
    â€œIt’s a very big family, and when I went there the sons were already scattered. I usually remained at Allfriars with the younger girls.”
    Mrs. Parmore nodded softly. “Quite so. And by that time this unfortunate young man had already begun his career of dissipation in London. He has been dissipated, I believe?”
    â€œLately I think he’s been trying to earn his living on Mr. Closson’s plantation in Brazil.”
    â€œPoor young man! Do his family realize what a deplorable choice he has made? Whatever his past may have been, it’s a pity he should marry in New York, and leave it again, without having any idea of it beyond what can be had in the Closson set. If he’d come in different circumstances, we should all have been so happy.... Mr. Parmore would have put him down at his clubs ... he would have been invited everywhere.... Yes, it does seem unfortunate.... But of course no one knows the Clossons.”
    â€œI suppose the young couple will go back to Brazil after the marriage,” said Miss Testvalley evasively.
    Mrs. Parmore gave an ironic smile. “I don’t imagine Miss Closson is marrying the son of a marquess to go and live on a plantation in Brazil. When I took Alida to Mrs. Connelly’s to order her dress for the Assembly, Mrs. Connelly told me she’d heard from Mrs. Closson’s maid that Mr. Closson meant to give the