Their Wedding Journey

第25章

IsitbecausetheCeltcannotbrookequality;andwherehehasnotanestablishedandrecognizedcasteabovehim,longstotrampleonthoseabouthim;andifhecannotbelowest,willatleastbehighest?

However,ourfriendsdidnotsufferthisoranyotheradvantageofthecolonialrelationtodivertthemfromtheopiniontowhichtheirobservationwasgraduallybringingthem,——thatitsoverweeningloyaltyplacedagreatcountrylikeCanadainsverysillyattitude,theattitudeofanovergrown,unmanlyboy,clingingtothematernalskirts,andthoughspoiltandwillful,withoutanycharacterofhisown。Theconstantreferenceoflocalhopestothatremotecentrebeyondseas,thetestofsuccessbythecriterionsofanecessarilydifferentcivilization,thesocialandintellectualdependenceimpliedbytraitsthatmeetthemosthurriedglanceintheDominion,giveaneffectofmeannesstothewholefabric。Doubtlessitisalifeofcomfort,ofpeace,ofirresponsibilitytheylivethere,butitlacksthegrandeurwhichnosumofmaterialprosperitycangive;itisignoble,likeallvoluntarilysubordinatethings。Somehow,onefeelsthatithasnobasisintheNewWorld,andthattillitisshakenloosefromEnglanditcannothave。

Itwouldbeapity,however,ifitshouldbepartedfromtheparentcountrymerelytobejoinedtoanunsympathetichalf-brotherlikeourselvesandnothing,fortunately,seemstobefurtherfromtheCanadianmind。Therearesomeexperimentsnolongerpossibletouswhichcouldstillbetriedtheretotheadvantageofcivilization,andwewerebettertwogreatnationssidebysidethanaunionofdiscordanttraditionsandideas。ButnonethelessdoestheAmericantraveller,swellingwithforgetfulnessoftheshabbydespotswhogovernNewYork,andtheswindlingrailroadkingswhosewordislawtothewholeland,feellikesayingtothehullingyounggiantbeyondSt。LawrenceandtheLakes,“Severtheapron-stringsofallegiance,andtrytobeyourselfwhateveryouare。“

SomethingofthissortBasilsaid,thoughofcoursenotinapostrophicphrase,norwithIsabel’sentireconcurrence,whenheexplainedtoherthatitwastothecolonialdependenceofCanadasheowedtheabilitytobuythingssocheaplythere。

Thefactisthattheladies’parloratthehotelhadbeenafterdinnernobetterthanadenofsmugglers,inwhichthefaircontrabandistshaddebatedthebestmeansofevadingthelawsoftheircountry。Athearteverymanisasmuggler,andhowmuchmoreeverywoman!ShewouldhavenoscrupleinruiningthesilkandwooleninterestthroughouttheUnitedStates。Sheisafree-traderbyintuitiveperceptionofright,andislimitedinpracticebynothingbutfearofthestatute。WhatcouldbetakenintotheStateswithoutdetection,wasthesubjectbeforethatwickedconclave;andnext,whatitwouldpaytobuyinCanada。Itseemedthatsilkumbrellasweremosteligiblewares;andinthedisplayofsuchpurchasestheparlorwasgiventheappearanceofaviolentthunder-storm。

Glovesitwasnotadvisabletoget;theywerebetterathome,asweremanykindsoffinewoolengoods。Butlaces,whichyoucouldcarryaboutyou,wereexcellent;andsowasanykindofsilk。Coulditbecarriedifsimplycut,andnotmadeup?Therewasadifferenceaboutthis:thefriendofoneladyhadtakenhomehalfatrunkfulofcutsilks;thefriendofanotherhad“runupthebreadths“ofonelonelittlesilkskirt,andthenlostitbytherapacityofthecustomsofficers。Itwasprettymuchluck,andwhethertheofficershappenedtobeingood-humorornot。Youmustnottrytotakeinanythingoutofseason,however。

OnehadheardofaBostonladygoinghomeinJuly,who“hadthefurstakenoffherback,“inthatinclementmonth。Bestgeteverythingseasonable,andputitonatonce。“Andthen,youknow,iftheyaskyou,youcansayit’sbeenworn。“Tothis

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