There was a light in my father's counting-house. This surprised me as it was only two o'clock. I entered. My father was seated at his desk; near him stood Captain Classen, his old friend and servant. They both stared to see me, and winked to one another as I thought; I wished them good morning, and was about to retire.
"Good morning, Henry," said my father, "I am glad you are here, for I have business with you." —"Classen, we are agreed then; twelve o'clock precisely; I will have every thing in readiness." Classen withdrew. "Henry," said my father without laying down his pen, "prepare for a voyage to France today."—
"To France, dear father, and on what business?"—
"I wish you to marry."—
"Marry!" l exclaimed half aloud—"Me marry!"—
"Yes, a daughter of Mr. Gerson, a merchant of Bordeaux."—
"What, father, a lady whom I have never seen?"—
"It is a good house, and you will have the choice of three sisters."—
"But suppose I should not like either of them?"—
"No foolery, Henry," said my father, in a tone of earnestness; "there is a time for everything, and I have allowed enough for that."—
"If I were a prince." -
"And though you were an emperor, you would be but a thoughtless boy, in need of a guardian, and my son. Here is a letter from Mr. Gerson, saying that he expects you, and this is my answer. "At twelve you will embark."—
"You will surely allow me to take leave of a few of my friends?"—
"It is not necessary. Here are some cards; you have only to write your name upon them." I took the cards and retired to my chamber.
"Marry: I muttered to myself, and to a little yellow, meagre French woman, whose whole business it is to disfigure, yet more by art, her sufficiently disgusting person? And why not in Hamburgh, if it is to be at all? The tall, fair Miss Sorgel, or the short, round brunette, Miss Waterman, or the rich one-eyed Miss Funk, or the beautiful naive Miss Adler, or the witty, fascinating— My ideas became confused, and sleep bowed down my head. I was just on the point of changing my perpendicular for a horizontal position rather too suddenly, when I luckily awoke, and had sense enough to throw myself upon the bed, where, in the arms of Morpheus, I soon forgot alike the beauties of Hamburg and Bordeaux.
"Henry '" sounded in my ears. I sprang up, rubbed my drowsy eye-lids, and stared; my father stood before me. "It is eleven o'clock; your trunk is packed, the wind is fair, and every minute you delay is lost. Haste then to take some refreshment and embark."
I looked sheepish and confounded. Upon a chair lay my travelling dress—my father retired, and my servant, George, assisted me to undress and dress again.
"Are you to accompany me?" I asked.
"Yes, Sir." —
"I am glad of it," said I, and derived some little consolation from the circumstance; for there was not in existence a greater rogue, nor, at the same time, a more faithful fellow than this same George.
My father paid him for reporting my extravagancies, (which he might do without hesitation, for I made no secret of them myself) and I for assisting me to commit them. The prospect of the voyage began now to interest me; and if, for my sins, I was to be tied to a wife, like a poacher to a stag, it was at all events more agreeable to choose her for myself from among three sisters in France, than to have one allotted to me out of the magazine of merchants' daughters here, warranted sound and perfect, like any other article of merchandize. I dined with a better appetite than my parents, and received their good wishes, tears, and advice, on taking leave, with becoming indifference.
