The Formidable Cake

Mr. Weston was a native of Highbury; he belonged to an honorable family which, for two or three generations, had gradually acquired ease and consideration; his brothers were engaged in trade; but, after having finished his studies, he did not want to follow their example: he happened to be independent in consequence of a small personal inheritance and, in accordance with his tastes, he embraced the career of arms.

Captain Weston was very fashionable: the chances of military life having put him in the way of Miss Churchill, of a great Yorkshire family, no one was surprised when she fell in love with him, except the girl's brother and sister-in-law; the latter did not know the fiancé, but their pride was offended by this misalliance.

Nevertheless, Miss Churchill being of age and disposing of her fortune (moreover in no way related to the income of the head of the family) did not allow herself to be deterred from this marriage: it took place despite the opposition of Mr. and Mrs. Churchill, who solemnly broke with their sister and sister-in-law.

It was an ill-assorted union; Mrs. Weston should have found happiness there; Mr. Weston indeed did not know how to thank his wife for her great kindness in falling in love with him; but if she had shown enough firmness of character to act according to her will and stand up to her brother, she lacked it to bear the consequences of her act; she could not forget the luxury in which she had been brought up; the household lived beyond their means while nevertheless leading a comparatively modest lifestyle; Mrs. Weston had not ceased to love her husband, but she would have liked to be both Captain Weston's wife and Miss Churchill

Captain Weston had not, in the end, achieved as brilliant a deal as the Churchill's imagined; his wife died after three years of marriage and he found himself less wealthy than before, with a son to raise. He had not long, it is true, this sort of preoccupation; the birth of a boy and the mother's state of health had already facilitated a kind of reconciliation, and soon after Mrs. Weston's death Mr. and Mrs. Churchill offered to take charge of young Frank entirely. The father must, of course, have felt some scruples and some reluctance to accept, but other considerations prevailed: the child was entrusted to the care and devoted to the fortune of the Churchills.

Captain Weston, free from all ties, decided that a complete change of life was necessary: ​​he resigned and his brothers, advantageously established in London, facilitated his access to business. His occupations were not very engrossing, and he often came to Highbury, where he had kept a small house; between his work and the distractions of the world, the next eighteen years passed pleasantly for him. At the end of this time his fortune had increased sufficiently to enable him to buy a sizable property, which he had always desired, and to marry a woman without a dowry.

Miss Taylor had for more than two years occupied a preponderant place in Mr. Weston's projects, but the latter, no longer subject to the impulses of youth, had resolved to wait to marry until he had purchased Randalls, whose sale had twice been postponed. Eventually all the conditions were met: he was able to buy the house and easily obtained the hand of the woman he loved.

He owed no account to anyone: Frank indeed, tacitly brought up as his uncle's heir, had also become his adopted son and had taken the name of Churchill when he came of age; he would, in all likelihood, never need his father's help.

Mr. Weston saw his son once a year in London, and the extremely flattering portrait he painted of him on his return had won the young man the votes of the people of Highbury. Mr. Frank Churchill was therefore one of the glories of the country and the object of general curiosity, which, moreover, was not repaid, for he had never appeared at Highbury. At the time of Mr. Weston's marriage, the young man contented himself with writing to his mother-in-law. For several days this was the favorite topic of tea-time conversation at Mrs. Bates' and Mrs. Cole's: "Surely you have heard of Mr. Frank Churchill's lovely letter to Mrs. Weston?" »

The latter, already warned in favor of the young man, was touched by this proof of deference which came to fortify her legitimate hopes of happiness. She considered herself, indeed, greatly favored by fortune, having enough experience to appreciate at their value the manifold advantages of her marriage; separation from his Burton friends was, indeed, the only inconvenience of this union, though it was much lessened by the close neighborhood and conciliatory dispositions of Mr. Weston.

Mrs. Weston's happiness was so evident that Amanda, ​​despite her knowledge of her father's character, could not without surprise hear him speak of "that poor Miss Taylor" after returning from a visit to Randalls, where they left her. surrounded by every possible comfort. When, on the contrary, Mrs. Weston came to Hartfield, as she got into the carriage, accompanied by her kind husband, to return home, Mr. Burton invariably observed: "Poor Miss Taylor!" I'm sure she would gladly stay.

Nevertheless, after some time Mr. Burton overcame his grief; his neighbors had exhausted their compliments and he no longer had the annoyance of hearing himself congratulated daily on such a lamentable event. On the other hand the imposing wedding cake was finally finished; this symbolic pastry had caused him much torment: he himself was subject to a severe diet and he did not doubt that a food harmful to him was unhealthy for others, consequently after having tried in vain to prevent a cake of this kind from being made, he had always objected to anyone touching it, he took the trouble to consult his doctor about it; pressed with questions Mr. Perry was compelled to pronounce:

It could be considered indigestible for most people, maybe even for everyone, unless it was eaten in extreme moderation. Armed with this opinion, Mr. Burton hoped to influence all those who came to visit the newlyweds: in spite of his advice, the cake was successful and became a constant cause of annoyance to him.

Afterwards it was rumored in Highbury that the Perry children had been seen with a slice of the aforesaid cake in their hands, but Mr. Burton would never believe it.