Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-05-23
MISCELLANEOUS.
SOPHIA RoBARTEss FLIRTATIoNs.


There had been n silence Of some minutes, which
was broken by Harriet, the youngest of the three
sisters, exclaiming, Really Julia and Sophia, you
are excessively entertaining this morning, almost
as cheering as the weather Have you nothing to
tell us of Mrs. Mackenzie's party was nobody
either delightfully."- entertaining or chormingy abb
surd !"
"No" replied Julia, I" it was too stupid even to
laurh at afterwards | never was more completely
ennuyce in my life. ! cannot imagine how it ls
but it seems if the very air of the place had the
effect of destroying the power OF being agreeable
for people who are really most charming elsewhere
are always dull at Mrs Mackenzie's."
"Even the charming Miss Robartes; eh, Julia !"
said Harriet but can explain the enigma 1t
is because the--the what shall | call the as
sembly is presided over by the goddess Of dulness
herself in the shape Of Mrs. Mackenzie, and, you
know, " What mortal can resist the yuwn OF gods -
Come, come, Harriet said Sophia, " Mrs. Mac
kenzie does her best TO make her house agreeable,
and we should be grateful for her good intentions"
" No, Sophia, it Is just case in which good in
tentions only aggravate ,le offence. 1t is high
treason against pleasure for any one to give eve.
ming parties who is so utterly devoid of all quaif-
cations natural acquired, for such an underta-
king as Mrs. Mackenzie. Such persons deserve no
mercy"
g For my part" said Sophia, 81 must say have
been at more stupid parties than the one last night"
"We certainly" remarked Julia, " was wrong
to say that everybody lost the power ofbeng agree
able ought 10 have accepted Mr. Lowe. By the
bye, Sophia, he is remarkably attentive"
Sophia blushed slightly, and Harriet aughingly
remarked, "Oh, solitary exception serves only
to establish general rule, and in this case, Miss
Sophia, your evidence cannot be admitted as it APP
pears you were not in circumstances to form cor
rect Judgment"
At this moment servant entered with a letter
for Sophia She broke the seal, and after reading
the first few lines glanced her eye at the sigma
ture, whilst the color rose to her temples She then
silently placed the letter before her mother, who,
as she folded it up after reading it, said, 'sWell,
my DEAR am not surprised; nor are you, | dare
say. All you can do, my dear, is to write as kind
and polite note as possible, expressive of your
great esteem, and so on, and regretting that it is
not in your power to return the sentiments he ex-
presses for you. Certainly he is an excellent young
man one whose person, manners, and character
are, as far as know anything about him, unobiec-
tionabe; and your father tells me few young men
are doing so well in business; STILL yow forming
such a conneXion is not to be thought Of he has SC
many relations, all low people, and residing in the
town too Not one of them but is quite impress en-
table in anything like society. pity him extreme
ly; it really is great misfortune for a rising Young
man to have such host of vulgar relatons'
But mamma" suggested Sophia, 81 surely is
not necessary that Mr. Lowe should be intimate
with all his reations:"
"Certany not; but it unfortunately happens
that the very worst among them the most vulgar
and dsagreeable are the most nearly related; his
brother and sisters for instance"
Besides" added Julia, "you know his opinion
on that subject. Remember the severe remarks he
made upon the conduct of Mr.. Seaton 10 his sister
who made that low match"
"And," said Harriet, laughing heartily, "only
fancy, Sophia, with her refined taste and love 70
the intellectual condemned to pass long day will
Mrs. Jeremiah Lowe, in fine house, where bool
or an engraving is never to be seen from the frs
day of January to the last of December; but nev
er mind Sophia, dare say she would entertain vol
charmingly with the cost of her tables and chairs
and the wonderful escape the splendid mirror il
her drawing room had during the last frost"
eyes," chimed in Julia "and then there is Mis-
Tamar Lowe, who keeps your admirers house b
the way, what very peculiar names they have IN tn
family what should you do with her, Sophia 2
Oh, retain her in the house TO detail all the trans
gressions of the servants; how Patty threw
whole potato into the tub fer the pigs, and John ru
ms all the edges Of the knives"
"And do not forget Mr.. and Mrs. Pratt" SAT-
Harriet, "wth their tribe of rough, i'll bred chill
dren, who must come and see Aunt Charles. Mine
Sophia you always give us warning when you ex
pect a visit from the Pratts.'
"What nonsense you do talk" said Sophia, wit
something very like a forced laugh.
"Nonsense do you call ?" replied Harriet; Z"
call it very good sense; but remember Sophia
shall not be your bridesmaid in conjunction wit
Miss lamar that would be a sacrifice quite be
yond my sisterly affection to make"
"You need not concern YOURSELF Harriet" sal
Mrs Robartes; 6 am sure Sophia has no idea c
putting your affection to a test.'
"Oh, indeed, mamma, | am not sure of that" re
turned Harriet, looking archly at her sister, whG
do you say, Sophia it is quite impossible to %
over the legion of relatves?"
"Yes, Harriet" said her sister in decided bl
n1ftf biol
But the words were followed by sigh; for Sophi
Robartes had never seen any young man she ha
thought so agreeable as Charles Lowe,
DR.. Robartes physician in good practic
residing in populous town. He had been broug
up to the profession of medicine with the view
practising as a surgeon but having early in Il
married lady of considerable property, he had,
her earnest and repeated solicitations obtained
physicians diploma. Mrs Robartes was a han
some woman, and had what all her own partcul
acquaintance called most delightful manners.
these recommendations she united an intimate a
quantance with all the forms and refinements
polished society but out Of that particular div
ion Of the human race amongst whom she had
her life lived and moved, she knew little and CT
ed less Like the insect in the magic circle, s
moved round and round, incapable of penetrate
beyond her little sphere. She had, of course,
every well bred woman has, great horror of vi
and admiration of virtue but she could better (
crate the one If yelled under specIous refnemt
and polished manner, than endure the other if ,
companied by an awkward carriage and ignorar
of the usages Of polite life. AS She often said
her daughters in the course of their education,
can do with anything but vulgarity !" meaning
vugarity not coarseness of mind but of mann
Brought up under such a mother, it will of cou
be concluded that the Misses Robartes were n
feet in all the graces and accomplishments viii
though they do not form good foundation, are
must be admitted, very agreeable addition to
male requirements. Nor were they deficient
more solid and intellectual attanments especia
the two youngest; for DR.. Robartes was a man
considerable and varied information, and by
means so great a slave to convenionalism as
wife; so that his company and conversation ex
csed.a beneficial influence on the minds of
daughters. Sophia especially bore striking
anmhlanca 10 her fnther. which fnct tnnu nnrh