HAPTER II.

COURTING THE MOTHER.

Mrs. Pinkerton sat in an easy-chair near the window, doing nothing, when
I marched in to begin the siege. I felt diffident and uneasy, although I
am not usually troubled that way. But if I should live to the advanced
age of Methusaleh, I could never forget Mrs. Pinkerton's appearance on
that memorable occasion. Before I had spoken a word I saw that she knew
what was coming, and had hardened her heart against me. She had
anticipated all that I would say, had discounted my plea, as it were,
and prejudged the whole case. Her look plainly said: "Young man, I know
your pitiful story. You needn't tell me. You may be very well as young
men go, you fancy you can more than fill a mother's place in Bessie's
inexperienced heart, but you can't get me out. I am Adamant. Your
intentions are all very honorable, but you are a graceless intruder.
Your credentials are rejected on sight." I saw the difficult task I had
undertaken. "Mrs. Pinkerton," I said, mustering all my forces, "it is no
use mincing the matter, or beating about the shrubbery. I am in love
with your daughter, and Bessie is in love with me. I believe I can make
Bessie happy, and am sure nothing but Bessie can make me happy. I have
come to ask your consent to our marriage." Then I hung my head like a
whipped school-boy.

Mrs. Pinkerton took off her eye-glasses, and then put them on again with
considerable care; after which she leveled a look at me and through me
that made me feel like calling out "Murder!" or making for the door. But
I stood my ground, and heard her say quietly,--

"So you are engaged to my daughter?"

A simple remark, but the tone meant "You are a puppy." I had to muster
all my resolution to reply politely and coolly that, with her gracious
consent, such was the fact.

"Are you aware that it is customary to obtain parental consent before
proceeding to such lengths?"

"Mrs. Pinkerton, excuse me. I thought in my ignorance that it would be
just as well to do that afterwards; or rather, I didn't think anything
about it. I was so much in love with Bessie that it was all out before I
knew it. If I had thought, of course I would have--"

"Yes, yes," said Mrs. Pinkerton, "if your kind of people ever thought,
they would undoubtedly do differently. Bessie certainly ought to know
better. Girls rush into matrimony now-a-days with as much carelessness
as they would choose partners at a game of croquet. I should have been