the time came for them to separate, William, who was destined for the navy, to enter the naval school at Portsmouth; and John, who was intended for a merchant ship, to go to Liverpool. She even rejoiced with her husband, that they would thus, at least for several years, be safe from the curse of “the Gray Woman,” and they both determined, if possible, to prevent them from visiting home at the same time.
In the course of a few years the wishes of the parents seemed fully realized; since the career of the youths lay in entirely opposite paths. William, who had already distinguished himself as a midshipman by his activity and love of order, had risen to the rank of a lieutenant on board a ship-of-war which lay at Plymouth; and by the command of his superior officer, had gone to Liverpool to lay in sea stores. John, in the mean-while, after making several voyages as chief helmsman, was now the captain of a merchant ship trading with Havana and North America; and while at Liverpool, his brother heard respecting him, that he was a most enterprising seaman, fearless of danger, and almost always successful in his undertakings, though it was hinted that he had already made a little fortune by smuggling.
It was about twelve months after the above mentioned period, when the rich merchant, Samuel Barlow, sat in his small chamber attached to his counting room in Liverpool, busily engaged in reading a letter just received from a mercantile friend in Jamaica. His book-keeper and factotum, a spare man of about sixty, sat at a desk, noting down in a book whatever his principal dictated.
“Seventy boxes of hardware. Have you that down, Nathaniel?”
The writer bowed assent
“This next is a singular item,” observed Mr. Barlow, “but shall be attended to.” He read as follows: “Having determined to marry, and being unable to procure a suitable girl in Jamaica, I wish you to send me by the next ship a young lady possessing the following requisites. She must be about middle size, with an agreeable countenance, neither below twenty or beyond twenty-five years of age, of a good constitution, and sound in health, so as to be able to bear the change of climate. This last requisite is particularly desirable, since by her early loss I should be subjected to the repeated trouble of looking out for another. With regard to property I am indifferent, only desiring that the said person should come from a respectable family; and with your endorsement, I pledge myself to accept and marry her in fourteen days after sight.”
“This item will cost us some trouble,” said the book-keeper, pressing his hand to his brow. “Our best plan will be to insert an advertisement in the Liverpool Reporter.”
“No, Nathaniel,” observed the principal; “that matter is already settled, since I will do the business entirely in my own firm. When does the Fortune sail? Tomorrow? Hum, had it been only a week later, we could have readily filled up this item. I will, however, write by that vessel to Hoskins & Co. So take your pen, Nat.” Mr. Barlow dictated as follows: “Sir, according to order, you will receive by the next vessel a girl of one-and-twenty years of age, of the family, size and constitution specified.”
“Shall we mention her name?”
“No! Hoskins & Co. might suppose we took advantage of them by sending my niece, and countermand the order. Should she, however, reach Kingston before they are apprised of the fact, they must comply with their promise, whether willing or not.”
“What” cried Nathaniel, rousing from his usual apathy; “Is it Miss Eliza Barlow to whom you refer?”
“Certainly!” replied the principal. “Why should I let such a good speculation escape us? Hoskins & Co. are a house of long standing, a respectable firm, one of the best in Jamaica; and why should not my niece marry that firm.”
“But will it not cause some talk both here and in Jamaica!”
“Not in Jamaica; since no one will be aware of her relationship with us. And what house here can find fault, if possessing an article which exactly suits, I should use it to fill up an order, instead of looking further? As for what those may say who do not understand business, I care nothing.”
“That is all well and good, but what will Miss Eliza think? They say women have odd notions on such subjects, and perhaps her views may not coincide with yours.”
“Nonsense!” exclaimed Mr. Barlow. “Hoskins & Co. are a house with whom any one would be glad to do business. However,” he continued after a pause of thought; “the girl may possibly raise objections, and were our aviso despatched, and a different article sent from what we promised, the same might be considered a breach of faith. Thank heaven! such a fault has never been committed by Samuel Barlow & Co. And as you, Nat, understand women better than I do, having courted that French Governess thirty years ago, though fortunately you did escape out of the net, I should like to have your opinion on the subject.”
“Would it not be best for you,” replied Nathaniel respectfully, “to hold a consultation with Miss Eliza before I despatch the letter?”
“Do you think so?” observed Mr. Barlow, impatiently. “I wish Hoskins & Co. had sent for twenty boxes of dry goods, rather than for this girl. However, we must know how the business stands before tomorrow; therefore summon my niece at once, and if she decides in the negative, as she may foolishly do, you must immediately put an advertisement in the Reporter. This will appear by eight o’clock, so that any person may apply before ten o’clock, allowing us time to write definitely by the Fortune.”
Nathaniel simply bowed and left the cabinet, to do as requested.
Eliza Barlow was the daughter of Samuel Barlow’s deceased brother, and was only taken into her uncle’s house through fear of what commercial men might think, should he leave the orphan to struggle alone with poverty and loneliness. After giving her an education in a boarding school, he took her home at sixteen; though without allowing her to shew any interest in the domestic arrangements, since an old house-keeper possessed an entire sway over the mansion, as did Nathaniel the counting room. She saw her uncle only at meals, and if absent throughout the day no questions were asked, but the equipage or servant was always ready to attend her, without any intimation to Mr. Barlow, who was never more displeased than when she went to him with a request. Until this moment the thought of Eliza’s marrying had not entered his mind, but now it flashed like a gleam of lightning.
Although greatly surprised by the summons, for she had never ventured into her uncle’s counting room, Eliza hastened to obey it, first by pushing in her pocket a letter she had just been perusing. As Nathaniel opened the door, and she appeared before Mr. Barlow, he looked at her from head to foot, as if determining how far she fulfilled the requisites specified in his friend’s letter, till, as if satisfied with the investigation, he cheerfully invited her to take a seat, and at once opened the business.
“Are you acquainted with the firm of Hoskins & Co. of Kingston, Jamaica? They deal in hardware and dry goods.”
“It is the first time I ever heard the name, uncle,” replied Eliza, astonished at the enquiry.
“It is a most respectable house, firm and solid in every respect.”
“That is certainly advantageous for those who have anything to do with them,” observed Eliza, smilingly.
“Yes! and for yourself who may also be concerned with them.”
“Pray in what way could it be, uncle?”
“Very easily! very easily!” he exclaimed—“Hoskins & Co. wish to marry you.”
“Impossible!” cried the maiden. “As I said before, the name of Hoskins is quite unfamiliar; nay, I do not know whether the man is young or old.”
“Neither can I exactly tell you his age, only I know he is not one of those whiskered fellows who cluster on Sundays under the church porch, molesting women by their stares; but probably a sedate person, since I have transacted business with him for the last thirty years.”
“Mr. Hoskins may be a very respectable gentleman,” replied Eliza, “yet surely it is ridiculous in one of his years to think of marrying a girl whom he has never seen.”
“No!