One evening as Fanny, Lida and Gertrude were walking upon the piazza, a
servant came, saying that Mrs. Cameron desired to see Miss Middleton in
her room. Fanny immediately obeyed the summons, and as soon as she was
gone, Lida laughingly congratulated Gertrude upon the project of having so
pleasant a sister. Gertrude smilingly received Miss Gibson's
congratulations. "For," thought she, "even if Fanny does not marry Frank,
Miss Gibson will probably never know it, as she is to leave in a few
days."
Let us now with Fanny repair to Mrs. Cameron's room, but not like her
wondering why she was sent for. We well know why, and consequently are
prepared for the look of mingled indignation and astonishment which
appeared on Fanny's face when she learned that Mrs. Cameron was pleading
the cause of her son! Fanny answered, "Madam, I have always entertained
the highest respect for your son, but I must confess it is lessened if it
is with his knowledge you are speaking to me."
Mrs. Cameron, who had at first intimated that it was Frank's request that
she should thus intercede for him, now saw her mistake, and veering about,
declared what was indeed true, that Frank was wholly ignorant of the
whole. Then followed a long, eloquent speech, in which Mrs. Cameron by
turns tried to coax, flatter, importune, or frighten Fanny into a
compliance with her wishes, but Fanny could only repeat her first answer.
"I cannot, Mrs. Cameron, I cannot marry Frank. I acknowledge that I like
him, but only as I would love a brother. Further remonstrance is useless,
for I shall never marry him."
"And why not?" asked Mrs. Cameron. "Do you love another? Are you engaged
to another?"
"I cannot answer these questions," said Fanny. "Frank knows my reason and
has my permission to give it to you." Then rising, she added, "I suppose
our conference is now ended, and with your leave I will retire."
Mrs. Cameron nodded her head in assent, and Fanny immediately left the
room. A moment after she quitted the apartment, Gertrude entered, all
impatient to know her mother's success.
"Baffled, baffled," was Mrs. Cameron's reply to her interrogatories. "I
can do nothing with her. She is as stubborn as a mule, and we shall either
have to conjure up for some reason why the engagement was broken off, or
else run the risk of being well laughed at among our circle in New York."
A few days after this, Lida Gibson started for the South, promising Fanny
that she would see Julia as soon as possible after her return home. Ere
long Mrs. Cameron too was seized with a desire to return to the city. The
remainder of the party made no objections, and accordingly Mr. and Mrs.
Stanton, Mrs. Cameron, Frank and Gertrude were soon in New York.