Some of the American merchants
felt threatenings of apoplexy, and had themselves bled: all, like wise men, at
this first moment of prosperity, prepared to rush into the bowels of
speculation, and to delve new difficulties, in whose depths they might lose
themselves at some future day. Stocks, which had been accumulating for years,
now went off in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye; warehouses were lightened,
ships were laden; work abounded, wages rose: the good time seemed come. These
prospects might be delusive, but they were brilliant - to some they were even
true. At that epoch, in that single month of June, many a solid fortune was
realized.
    When a whole province rejoices, the humblest of its inhabitants tastes a
festal feeling: the sound of public bells rouses the most secluded abode, as if
with a call to be gay. And so Caroline Helstone thought, when she dressed
herself more carefully than usual on the day of this trading triumph, and went,
attired in her neatest muslin, to spend the afternoon at Fieldhead, there to
superintend certain millinery preparations for a great event: the last appeal in
these matters being reserved for her unimpeachable taste. She decided on the
wreath, the veil, the dress to be worn at the altar: she chose various robes and
fashions for more ordinary occasions, without much reference to the bride's
opinion; that lady, indeed, being in a somewhat impracticable mood.
    Louis had presaged difficulties, and he had found them: in fact, his
mistress had shown herself exquisitely provoking; putting off her marriage day
by day, week by week, month by month. At first coaxing him with soft pretences
of procrastination, and in the end rousing his whole deliberate but determined
nature to revolt against her tyranny, at once so sweet and so intolerable.
    It had needed a sort of tempest-shock to bring her to the point; but there
she was at last, fettered to a fixed day: there she lay, conquered by love, and
bound with a vow.
    Thus vanquished and restricted, she pined, like any other chained denizen of
deserts. Her captor alone could cheer her; his society only could make amends
for the lost privilege of liberty: in his absence, she sat or wandered alone;
spoke little, and ate less.
    She furthered no preparations for her nuptials: Louis was himself obliged to
direct all arrangements: he was virtually master of Fieldhead, weeks before he
became so nominally: the least presumptuous, the kindest master that ever was;
but with his lady absolute.