he proprieties of literature are not those of
practical life. Mrs. Arrowpoint naturally wished for the best of
everything. She not only liked to feel herself at a higher level of
literary sentiment than the ladies with whom she associated; she wished
not to be behind them in any point of social consideration. While
Klesmer was seen in the light of a patronized musician, his
peculiarities were picturesque and acceptable: but to see him by a
sudden flash in the light of her son-in-law gave her a burning sense of
what the world would say. And the poor lady had been used to represent
her Catherine as a model of excellence.

Under the first shock she forgot everything but her anger, and snatched
at any phrase that would serve as a weapon.

"If Klesmer has presumed to offer himself to you, your father shall
horsewhip him off the premises. Pray, speak, Mr. Arrowpoint."

The father took his cigar from his mouth, and rose to the occasion by
saying, "This will never do, Cath."

"Do!" cried Mrs. Arrowpoint; "who in their senses ever thought it would
do? You might as well say poisoning and strangling will not do. It is a
comedy you have got up, Catherine. Else you are mad."

"I am quite sane and serious, mamma, and Herr Klesmer is not to blame.
He never thought of my marrying him. I found out that he loved me, and
loving him, I told him I would marry him."

"Leave that unsaid, Catherine," said Mrs. Arrowpoint, bitterly. "Every
one else will say that for you. You will be a public fable. Every one
will say that you must have made an offer to a man who has been paid to
come to the house--who is nobody knows what--a gypsy, a Jew, a mere
bubble of the earth."

"Never mind, mamma," said Catherine, indignant in her turn. "We all
know he is a genius--as Tasso was."

"Those times were not these, nor is Klesmer Tasso," said Mrs.
Arrowpoint, getting more heated. "There is no sting in _that_ sarcasm,
except the sting of undutifulness."

"I am sorry to hurt you, mamma. But I will not give up the happiness of
my life to ideas that I don't believe in and customs I have no respect
for."

"You have lost all sense of duty, then? You have forgotten that you are
our only child--that it lies with you to place a great property in the
right hands?"

"What are the right hands? My grandfather gained the property in trade."

"Mr. Arrowpoint, _will_ you sit by and hear this without speaking?"

"I am a gentleman, Cath. We expect you to marry a