Louise
was quick to see that these two men, more widely divergent in quality
than any two of her own countrymen, were yet more subtly connected
by some unknown sympathy than the most equal of Americans. Minty's
prophetic belief of the effect of the two women upon Richardson was
certainly true as regarded Mrs. Bradley. The banker--a large material
nature--was quickly fascinated by the demure, puritanic graces of that
lady, and was inclined to exhibit a somewhat broad and ostentatious
gallantry that annoyed Mainwaring. When they were seated alone on
the veranda, which the ladies had discreetly left to them, Richardson
said,--
"Odd I didn't hear of Bradley's wife before. She seems a spicy, pretty,
comfortable creature. Regularly thrown away with him up here."
Mainwaring replied coldly that she was "an admirable helpmeet of a very
admirable man," not, however, without an uneasy recollection of her
previous confidences respecting her husband. "They have been most
thoroughly good and kind to me; my own brother and sister could not have
done more. And certainly not with better taste or delicacy," he added,
markedly.
"Certainly, certainly," said Richardson, hurriedly. "I wrote to Lady
Mainwaring that you were taken capital care of by some very honest
people; and that--"
"Lady Mainwaring already knows what I think of them, and what she owes
to their kindness," said Mainwaring, dryly.
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