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tones of the speaker's voice； as she thus
unconsciously uttered her concern； that impelled
the listener to advance to the side of the carriage；
where a short conversation passed between the
gentlemen； and the stranger returned to the ladies；
who were yet lingering near the spot； apparently
unwilling to depart from a scene that had so deeply
interested one of them。 Raising his hat； the
gentleman； addressing himself to the magnet that
had attracted him； said
〃Your friend declines the offer of my coat； and says
that the carriage is quite warmthey are going to
the alms…house； and I am happy to inform you that
the poor man is already much better； and is
recovering from his fit。〃
｛The New York City Almshouse； at Bellevue on the
East River； housed over 1；500 inmates at a time
（with annual deaths approaching 500）； and served
as a last refuge for the destitute of all ages｝
Charlotte now for the first time observed the
speaker； and a blush passed over her face as she
courtesied her thanks in silence。 But her
companion； aroused from gazing at the finery of a
shop window； by the voice of the stranger； turned
quickly； and with very manifest satisfaction；
exclaimed
〃Bless me！ Mr。 DelafieldI did not observe you
before！then you think the poor wretch will not
die？〃
〃Ah！ assuredly not；〃 returned the gentleman；
recognizing the face of an acquaintance； with an
animation he could not conceal： 〃but how
inadvertent I have been； not to have noticed Miss
Osgood before！〃While speaking； his eyes rested
on the lovely countenance of her friend； as if； by
their direction； he meant to explain the reason of
his remissness。
〃We were both too much engaged with the
sufferings of the poor man； for until this moment I
did not observe you；〃 said the ladywith that kind
of instinctive quickness that teaches the fair the
importance of an amiable exterior； in the eyes of
the other sex。
〃Doubtless；〃 returned the gentleman； gravely； and
for the first time withdrawing his gaze from the
countenance of Charlotte； but the precaution was
unnecessary：the young lady had been too much
engrossed with her own sensations to notice the
conduct of others； and from the moment that the
carriage had driven out of right； had kept her eyes
on the ground； as she walked silently and
unobtrusively by the side of her companion。
〃Miss HenlyMr。 Seymour Delafield；〃 said Maria。
The silent bow and courtesy that followed this
introduction was succeeded by an animated
discourse between the gentleman and his old
acquaintance； which was； but seldom interrupted by
any remark from their more retiring companion。
Whenever she did speak； however； the gentleman
listened with the most flattering attention； that
was the more remarkable； from the circumstance of
his talking frequently at the same time with Maria
Osgood。 The trio took a long walk together； and
returned to the house of Mr。 Henly； in time for the
necessary arrangements for the coming dinner。 It
was when within a short distance of the dwelling of
Charlotte that the gentleman ventured to allude to
the event that had made them acquainted。
〃The fearless manner in which you predicted the
humanity of Mr。 Morton； would be highly gratifying
to himself； Miss Henly；〃 he observed； 〃and were I of
his acquaintance； it should be my task to inform
him of your good opinion。〃
〃I believe Mr。 Morton has not now to learn that；〃
said Charlotte； simply； but dropping her eyes； 〃I
have been the next door neighbour of George all my
life； and have seen too much of his goodness of
heart not to have expressed the same opinion
often。〃
〃But not to himself；〃 cried Maria； 〃so； Mr。 Delafield；
if you wish to apprise him of his good fortune； you
have only to attend my music party to…morrow
evening； and I will take particular care that you get
acquainted with the humane hero。〃
The invitation was gladly accepted； and the
gentleman took his leave at the door of the house。
〃Well； Charlotte； you have seen him at last！〃 cried
Maria； the instant the door had closed； 〃and I am
dying to know how you like him！〃
〃To save your life；〃 said the other； laughing； 〃I will
say a great deal； although you so often accuse me
of taciturnitybut who is HIM？〃
〃Him！ why； Delafield！Seymour Delafield！the
pattern for all the beauxthe magnet for all the
bellesand the delight of all the parents in town！〃
〃His own； too？〃 inquired Charlotte； a little archly。
〃He has nonethey are dead and gonebut their
money is left behind； and that brings him fathers
and mothers by the dozen！〃
〃It is fortunate that he can supply their loss in any
way；〃 said Charlotte； with emphasis。
〃To be sure he can； he can do more than you or I
could； my dear； he can pick his parents from the
best in the cityand； therefore； he ought to be well
provided。〃
〃And could he be better provided； as you call it； in
that respect； than ourselves？〃 asked Miss Henly； a
little reproachfully。
〃Oh no； surely not； now if he were a woman； how
soon would he be married！why； child； they say he
is worth at least three hundred thousand dollars！
he'd be a bride in a month！〃
〃And miserable； perhaps； in a year；〃 said Charlotte；
〃it is fortunate for him that he is a man； by your
tale； or his wealth might purchase misery for him。〃
〃Oh！ no one can be miserable that is well married；〃
cried Maria； 〃Heigho！ the idea of old…maidism is too
shocking to think about！〃
〃Why does not Mr。 Delafield get married； then； if
marriage be so very desirable？〃 said Miss Henly；
smiling at the customary rattle of her companion：
〃he can easily get a wife； you say？〃
｛rattle = trivial chatter｝
〃It is the difficulty of choosingthere are so many
attentive to him〃
〃Maria！〃
〃Mercy！ I beg pardon of female delicacy！but since
the young man has returned from his travels； he
has been so muchmuch courtednay； by the old
people； I meanand the girls beckon him about so…
…and it's Mr。 Delafield； have you read Salmagundi？
and； Mr。 Delafield； have you seen Cooke？and； Mr。
Delafield； do you think we shall have war？and
have you seen Bonaparte？ And； in short； Mr。
Delafield； with his handsome person； and three
hundred thousand dollars； has been so much of all…
in…all to the ladies； that the man has never time to
choose a wife！〃
｛Salmagundi = a series of comic essays （1819…
1820） by New York City writer James Kirke Paulding
（1778…1860）； emulating an earlier series by
Washington Irving and others； Cooke = probably
Thomas Potter Cooke （1786…1864）； a noted English
actor； Bonaparte = Napoleon Bonaparte died on St。
Helena in 1821｝
〃I really wonder that you never took the office upon
yourself；〃 said Charlotte； busied in throwing aside
her coat and gloves； 〃you appear to have so much
interest in the gentleman。〃
〃Oh！ I did； a month sincethe moment that he
landed。〃
〃Indeed！ and who was it？〃
〃Myself。〃
〃And have you told him of your choice？〃 asked the
other； laughing。
〃Not with my tongue： but with my eyes； a thousand
timesand with all that unspeakable language that
female invention can supply：I go where he goes
if I see him in the street behind me； I move slowly
and with dignity； still he passes meif before me； I
am in a hurrybut｛〃｝
〃You pass him？〃 interrupted Charlotte； amused with
her companion's humour。
〃Exactlywe never keep an equal pace； this is the
first time that he has walked with me since he
returned from abroadand for this honour I am
clearly indebted to yourself。〃
〃To me； Maria？〃 said Charlotte； in surprise。
〃To none otherhe talked to me； but he looked at
you。 Ah！ he knows by instinct that you are an only
childand I do believe that the wretch knows that I
have twelve brothers and sistersbut you had
better take him； Charlotte； he is worth twenty
George Mortonsat least； in money。〃
〃What have the merits of George Morton and Mr。
Delafield to do with each other？〃 said Charlotte；
removing her hat； and exhibiting a head of hair that
opportunely fell in rich profusion over her shoulders；
so as to conceal the unusual flush on her；
ordinarily； pale cheek。
This concluded the conversation； for Charlotte
instantly left the room； and was occupied for some
time in giving such orders as her office of assistant
in housekeeping to her mother rendered necessary。
Charlotte Henly was the only child that had been
left from six who were born to her parents； the
others having died in their infancy。 The deaths of
the rest of their children had occasioned the
affection of her parents to center in the last of their
offspring with more than common warmth； and the
tenderness of their love was heightened by the
extraordinary qualities of their child。 Possessed of
an abundance of the goods of this world； these
doating parents were looking around with intense
anxiety； among their acquaintance； and watching
for the choice that was to determine the worldly
happiness of their daughter。
Charlotte was but seventeen； yet the customs of
the country； and the temptations of her expected
wealth； together with her own attractions； had
already placed her within the notice of the world。
But no symptom of that incipient affection which
was to govern her life； could either of her parents
eve