In the Circulating Library (A Short Story)

In the Circulating Library

Her shoulders slumped. "I understand. Thank you for searching. This was my last hope."

"Last hope?" I repeated. Could I encourage her to confide in me? "If there is any way I can help—"

"Not unless you can explain steam engines to me in great detail."

"I'm afraid all I know is that there was a fascinating locomotive steam vehicle constructed in 1802. The Catch-Me-Who-Can was invented by a Mr. Richard Trevithick and presented to society at the Steam Circus," I told her. That much I could confess to, but not a hint of how important steam travel would become in a few decades. "Is there a specific reason you are so interested in the subject?"

A budding inventor or scientist must be encouraged!

She brought her hand up to rub the side of her head. "I didn't mean to," she blurted out. "He-he was so passionate about the subject, but he apologized for boring me. Then I said that I enjoyed discussing steam engines."

Ah. Now it all became clearer. "So, you hoped you could learn something about them before you next speak to him."

"Well, yes. I don't want to appear as a simpleton in front of him." Her brown eyes welled up with tears. "If he finds out that I lied, he will never speak to me again!"

A tale as old as time itself. Well, a romantic like myself could not sit by and let young love be ruined by a simple misunderstanding. "Have you read Pride and Prejudice?" I asked, my mind spinning with possibilities and plans.

With a start, she blinked. "I...don't read much."

Jane Austen's peerless novel was one I always kept on hand, so long as it was after 1813. I reached over and plucked the first volume off the shelf. "Perhaps you will make the effort for this one," I said, holding it out to her. "It will pass the time while I send for the book you need."

"What am I to do with it?" She asked, reluctantly taking it in her hand.

"Read it. Perhaps you might learn about something a little more interesting than steam engines. If you don't enjoy it, you don't have to continue."

She frowned as she studied the cover of the book. "Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt." She made as though she was going to leave.

"Just a moment. Does your family have a subscription?"

Color flushed her cheeks. "Oh. Yes, of course. How foolish of me to forget. My father paid for our subscription earlier this month. Mr. Henry Woodson. I am Miss Amelia Woodson." She reached into her reticule and produced the required fee to borrow the book.

Fee paid and book in hand, she hurried out. I leaned against the counter, watching until she was out of sight. It would be interesting to see what happened next.

~*~

Not two days later, Miss Woodson was back in the Reading Room. She returned the first volume of Pride and Prejudice and requested the second. She had little to say about what she had read, and I did not question her.

It was never good to ask a reader for their opinion before they had finished the book.

At least she was continuing with the novel. There must have been some interest for a self-proclaimed non-reader to continue at the activity.

I was kept occupied in my current posting. It was always great fun to visit the tail end of the Regency era. Many a romance has been set in this time period and for good reason. It was a time of change, of manners, of great leaps in science and chemistry, of adventure and heroism. Not to mention a time when many great authors put pen to paper and produced tales that lasted for generations.