The Watkinson Evening by Eliza Leslie
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the Watkinson evening

[ from Godey's lady's Book_, December, 1846 .]

by Eliza Leslie (1787-1858)

Mrs Morland, a polished and accomplished woman, was_the widow of a distinguished senator from one_of_the western states, of_which, also, her husband had twice filled the office of governor . her daughter having completed her education at_the best boarding- school in Philadelphia, and her son being about to graduate at Princeton, the mother had planned with her children a tour to Niagara and_the lakes, returning by way of Boston . on leaving Philadelphia, Mrs Morland and_the delighted Caroline stopped at Princeton to_be present at_the annual commencement, and had the happiness of seeing their beloved Edward receive his diploma as bachelor_of_arts; after hearing him deliver, with great applause, an oration on_the beauties of_the American character . college youths are very prone to treat on subjects that imply great experience of_the world . but Edward Morland was full of kind feeling for everything and everybody; and_his views of life had hitherto been tinted with a perpetual rose- color .

Mrs Morland, not depending altogether upon_the celebrity of her late husband, and wishing that her children should_see specimens of_the best society in_the northern cities, had left home with numerous letters of introduction . but when_they arrived at New_York, she found to her great regret, that having unpacked and taken out her small traveling desk, during her short stay in Philadelphia, she had strangely left it behind in_the closet of her room at_the hotel . in_this desk were deposited all her letters, except two which had_been offered to her by friends in Philadelphia . the young people, impatient to_see the wonders of Niagara, had entreated her to stay but a day_or_two in_the city of New_York, and thought these two letters would_be quite sufficient for_the_present . in_the meantime she wrote back to_the hotel, requesting that_the missing desk should_be forwarded to New_York as_soon_as_possible .

on_the morning after their arrival at_the great commercial metropolis of America, the Morland family took a carriage to ride round through_the principal parts of_the city, and to deliver their two letters at_the houses to_which they were addressed, and which were both situated in_the region that lies between_the upper part of broadway and_the north river . in one_of_the_most fashionable streets they found the elegant mansion of Mrs St . Leonard; but on stopping at_the door, were informed that its mistress was not at home . they then left the introductory letter ( which they had prepared for_this mischance, by enclosing it in an envelope with a card), and proceeding to another street considerably farther up, they arrived at_the dwelling of_the Watkinson family, to_the mistress of_which the other Philadelphia letter was directed . it_was one of a large block of houses all exactly alike, and all shut up from top to bottom, according to a custom more prevalent in New_York than in any_other city .

here they were also unsuccessful; the servant who came to_the door telling them that_the ladies were particularly engaged and could_see no company . so they left their second letter and card and drove off, continuing their ride till they reached the Croton water works, which they quitted the carriage to_see and admire . on returning to_the hotel, with_the intention after an hour or two of rest to_go out again, and walk till near dinner- time, they found waiting them a note from Mrs Watkinson, expressing her regret that she had_not_been able to_see them when_they called; and explaining that her family duties always obliged her to deny herself the pleasure of receiving morning visitors, and_that her servants had general orders to_that effect . but she requested their company for_that evening (naming nine o'clock as_the hour), and particularly desired an immediate answer .

"I suppose," said Mrs Morland, " she intends asking some of her friends to meet us, in_case we accept the invitation; and therefore is naturally desirous of a reply as_soon_as_possible . of_course we_will_not keep her in suspense .Mrs Denham, who volunteered the letter, assured me that Mrs Watkinson was one_of_the_most estimable women in New_York, and a pattern to_the circle in_which she moved . it seems that Mr Denham and Mr Watkinson are connected in business . shall we go ? "

the young people assented, saying they had no_doubt of passing a pleasant evening .

the billet of acceptance having been written, it_was sent off immediately, entrusted to one_of_the errand-goers belonging to_the hotel, that_it might_be received in advance of_the next hour for_the dispatch- post-- and Edward Morland desired the man to_get into an omnibus with_the note that no time might_be lost in delivering it ." it_is but right"-- said he to_his mother--" that we_should give Mrs Watkinson an ample opportunity of making her preparations, and sending round to invite her friends ."

" how considerate you_are, dear Edward"-- said Caroline--" always so thoughtful of every_one's convenience . your college friends must_have idolized you ."

" no"-- said Edward--" they called me aprig ." just then aremarkably handsome carriage drove up_to_the private door of_the hotel . from_it alighted a very elegant woman, who in a few_moments was ushered into_the drawing- room by_the head waiter, and on_his designating Mrs Morland's family, she advanced and gracefully announced herself as Mrs St . Leonard . this_was the lady at whose house they had left the first letter of introduction . she expressed regret at not having been at home when_they called; but said that on finding their letter, she had immediately come down to_see them, and to engage them for_the evening ." tonight"-- said Mrs St . Leonard--"I expect as_many friends as I_can collect for a summer party . the occasion is_the recent marriage of_my niece, who with her husband has just returned from their bridal excursion, and they_will_be soon on their way to_their residence in Baltimore . i_think I_can promise you an agreeable evening, as I expect some very delightful people, with_whom I_shall_be most happy to_make you acquainted ."

Edward and Caroline exchanged glances, and could_not refrain from looking wistfully at their mother, on whose countenance a shade of regret was very apparent . after a short pause she replied to Mrs St . Leonard--" I_am truly sorry to_say that we_have just answered in_the affirmative a previous invitation for_this very evening ."

" I_am indeed disappointed"-- said Mrs St . Leonard, who had_been looking approvingly at_the prepossessing appearance of_the two young people ." is_there no way in which_you_can revoke your compliance with_this unfortunate first invitation-- at_least, I_am_sure, it_is unfortunate for_me . what a vexatious contretemps that i_should_have chanced to_be out when_you called; thus missing the pleasure of seeing you at once, and securing that of your society for_this evening ? the truth is, i_was disappointed in some_of_the preparations that had_been sent home this_morning, and I had to_go myself and_have the things rectified, and was detained away longer than I expected . may I ask to_whom you_are engaged this evening ? perhaps I_know the lady-- if_so, i_should_be very_much tempted to_go and beg you from her ."

" the lady is Mrs John Watkinson"-- replied Mrs Morland--" most probably she will invite some of her friends to meet us ."

" that of_course"-- answered Mrs St . Leonard--" I_am really very sorry-- and I_regret to_say that I_do_not know her at all ."

" we_shall_have to abide by our first decision," said Mrs Morland ." by Mrs Watkinson, mentioning in her note the hour of nine, it is_to_be presumed she intends asking some other company . I_cannot possibly disappoint her . I_can speak feelingly as_to_the annoyance ( for I_have known it by my own experience) when after inviting a number of_my friends to meet some strangers, the strangers have sent an excuse almost at_the eleventh hour . i_think no inducements, however strong, could tempt me to_do_so myself ."

"I confess that you_are perfectly right," said Mrs St . Leonard ." I_see you_must go to Mrs Watkinson . but can_you not divide the evening, by passing a part of it with her and then finishing with me ? "

at_this suggestion the eyes of_the young people sparkled, for they had become delighted with Mrs St . Leonard, and imagined that a party at her house must_be every way charming . also, parties were novelties to both of_them .

" if possible we_will do_so," answered Mrs Morland, " and with what pleasure I_need not assure you . we leave New_York to- morrow, but we_shall return this_way in September, and will then be exceedingly happy to_see more of Mrs St . Leonard ."

after a little more conversation Mrs St . Leonard took her leave, repeating her hope of still seeing her new friends at her house that night; and enjoining them to let her know as_soon_as they returned to New_York on their way home .

Edward Morland handed her to her carriage, and then joined his mother and sister in their commendations of Mrs St . Leonard, with whose exceeding beauty were united a countenance beaming with intelligence, and a manner that put every_one at their ease immediately .

" she_is an evidence," said Edward, " how superior our women of fashion are to_those of Europe ."

" wait, my dear son," said Mrs Morland, " till you_have_been in Europe, and had an opportunity of forming an opinion on_that point ( as on many others) from actual observation . for_my part, I believe that in all civilized countries the upper classes of people are very_much alike, at_least in their leading characteristics ."

"Ah ! here comes the man that was sent to Mrs Watkinson," said Caroline Morland ." I_hope he_could_not find the house and has brought the note back with_him . we_shall then be_able to_go at first to Mrs St . Leonard's, and pass the whole evening there ."

the man reported that he had found the house, and had delivered the note into Mrs Watkinson's own hands, as she chanced to_be crossing the entry when_the door was opened; and_that she read it immediately, and said " very_well ."

" are_you certain that you_made no mistake in_the house," said Edward, " and_that you really did give it to Mrs Watkinson ? "

" and it's quite_sure I_am, sir," replied the man, " when I first came over from_the ould country I lived with_them awhile, and though when she saw me to- day, she did_not let on_that she remembered my doing that same, she_could_not help calling me James . yes, the rale words she said when I handed her the billy-dux was, ' very_well, James .'"

" come, come," said Edward, when_they found themselves alone, " let_us look on_the bright side . if we_do_not find a large party at Mrs Watkinson's, we_may in all probability meet some very agreeable people there, and enjoy the feast of reason and_the flow of soul . we_may find the Watkinson house so pleasant as_to leave it with regret even for_Mrs St . Leonard's ."

" I_do_not believe Mrs Watkinson is in fashionable society," said Caroline, " or Mrs St . Leonard would_have known her .I heard some_of_the ladies here talking last evening of Mrs St . Leonard, and I_found from what they said that she_is among_the elite of_the lite ."

" even if she_is," observed Mrs Morland, " are polish of manners and cultivation of mind confined exclusively to persons of_that class ? "

" certainly not," said Edward, " the most talented and refined youth at our college, and he in whose society I_found the greatest pleasure, was_the son of a bricklayer ."

in_the ladies' drawing- room, after dinner, the Morlands heard a conversation between several of_the female guests, who all seemed to_know Mrs St . Leonard very_well by reputation, and_they talked of her party that was to " come off" on_this evening .

"I hear," said one lady, " that Mrs St . Leonard is to_have an unusual number of lions ."

she then proceeded to name a gallant general, with_his elegant wife and accomplished daughter; a celebrated commander in_the navy; two highly distinguished members of congress, and even an ex- president . also several of_the most eminent among_the American literati, and two first- rate artists .

Edward Morland felt as_if he could_say, " had I three ears I'd hear thee ."

" such a woman as Mrs St . Leonard can always command the best lions that_are to_be found," observed another lady .

" and then," said a third, " I_have_been told that she has such exquisite taste in lighting and embellishing her always elegant rooms . and her supper table, whether for summer or winter parties, is so beautifully arranged; all the viands are so delicious, and_the attendance of_the servants so perfect-- and Mrs St . Leonard does the honors with so_much ease and tact ."

" some friends of_mine that visit her," said a fourth lady, " describe her parties as absolute perfection . she always manages to bring together those persons that_are best fitted to enjoy each_other's conversation . still no one is overlooked or neglected . then everything at her reunions is so_well proportioned-- she has just enough of music, and just enough of whatever amusement may add to_the pleasure of her guests; and still there_is no appearance of design or management on her part ."

" and better than all," said the lady who had spoken firsts " Mrs St . Leonard is one_of_the kindest, most generous, and most benevolent of women-- she does good in every possible way ."

" I_can listen no longer," said Caroline to Edward, rising to_change her seat ." if I hear any more I_shall absolutely hate the Watkinsons . how provoking that_they should_have sent us the first invitation . if_we had only thought of waiting till we_could hear from Mrs St . Leonard ! "

" for shame, Caroline," said her brother, " how can_you talk so of persons you_have never seen, and to_whom you ought to_feel grateful for_the kindness of_their invitation; even if_it has interfered with another party, that I_must confess seems to offer unusual attractions . now I_have a presentiment that we_shall find the Watkinson part of_the evening very enjoyable ."

as_soon_as tea was over, Mrs Morland and her daughter repaired to_their toilettes .Fortunately, fashion as_well as good

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