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importance in the world of fashion； and her friend
Maria； obtained her a place。 There was a reason
that secretly influenced Charlotte in electing her
evening's amusement； that was not known；
however； even to her friend。George Morton played
on the German flute in a manner that vibrated on
her nerves with an exquisite thrill that she often
strove to conquer； and yet ever loved to indulge。
His musical powers were far from being generally
applauded； as they were thought to be deficient in
compass and variety； but Charlotte never
descended to criticism in music。 She conceived it to
be an enjoyment for the senses only； or； rather；
she thought nothing about it； and if the rounds
failed to delight her； she unhesitatingly attributed
the circumstance to an absence of melody。 It was
to listen to the flute of George Morton； then； that
the drawing…room of Mrs。 Osgood was adorned with
the speaking countenance of Miss Henly。
Among the guests who made an early appearance
in this 〃Temple of Apollo；〃 was the youth who had
attended the ladies in their walk。 Seymour Delafield
glanced his eye impatiently around the apartment；
as soon as he had paid the customary compliments
to the mistress of the mansion and her bevy of fair
daughters； but a look of disappointment betrayed
the search to be an unsuccessful one。 Both the look
and the result were noticed by Maria； and； turning a
glance of rather saucy meaning on the gentleman；
she said
〃I apprehend your flute； which； by the by； I am glad
to see you have brought； will be rather in the
PENSEROSO style this evening； Mr。 Delafield。〃
｛penseroso = melancholy｝
〃Unless enlivened by the contagious gayety of your
smile；〃 returned Delafield； endeavouring to look
excessively unconcerned； 〃but〃
〃Oh！ my very laugh is musical； I know；〃 interrupted
Maria； 〃but then it is often shockingly out of time。〃
〃It seldom fails to produce an accompaniment；〃
said the gentleman； now smiling in reality； 〃but〃
〃Where is Charlotte Henley？〃 said the young lady；
again interrupting him； 〃she has a perfect horror of
the tuning of fiddles and the preparatory
thrummings on the piano； so endeavour to preserve
the harmony of your temper for the second act。〃
〃Well！ it is some relief to know she is coming at
all；〃 cried Seymour； quickly； and then； recovering
himself with perfect breeding； he added〃for one
would wish to see you as happy as all your friends
can make you； on such an occasion。〃
〃I am extremely indebted to your unbounded
philanthropy；〃 said Maria； rising and courtseying
with great gravity； 〃do not doubt of its being
honourably mentioned at〃
〃Nay； nay；〃 cried the youth； colouring and laughing；
〃you would not think of mentioning my remarks to〃…
…
〃At the next meeting of the Dorcas Society； of
which I am an unworthy member；〃 continued Maria；
without listening to his remonstrance。
｛Dorcas Society = lady's group at a church； devoted
to making and providing clothes for the poor｝
Seymour Delafield now laughed without any
affectationand exchanging a look of perfect
consciousness of each other's meaning； they
separated； as the preparations for the business of
the evening were about to commence。 For a short
time there was a confusion of sounds that perfectly
justified the absence of Miss Henly； when the music
began in earnest。 Within half an hour； Mr。 Delafield；
who had suffered himself to be drawn to the back
of the chair of a professed belle； turning his head
to conceal a yawn that neither the lady's skill nor
his good manners could repress； observed Charlotte
sitting quietly by the side of her friend。 Her
entrance had been conducted with such tact； that
had she possessed the most musical ear
imaginable； it were impossible to disturb the party
less； a circumstance that did not fail to impress
Seymour agreeably； from its novelty。 He moved to
the side of the fair vision that had engrossed all his
thoughts since the moment they had first met； and
took the chair that the good nature of Miss Osgood
offered to his acceptance between them。
〃Thank fortune； Miss Henly；〃 he said； the instant he
was seated； 〃that bravura has ceased； and I can
now inquire how you recovered from the fatigue of
your walk？〃
〃I suffered no fatigue to recover from；〃 replied the
lady； raising her eyes to his with an expression that
told the youth he had better talk straight forward at
once； 〃I walk too much to be fatigued with so short
an excursion。〃
〃You came here to favour us with your skill on the
harp； Miss Henly？〃
〃No。〃
〃On the piano？〃
〃On neitherI play on nothing。〃
〃You sing； then？〃
〃Not at all。〃
〃What！ not with that voice？〃 exclaimed the young
man； in surprise。
〃Not with this voice； and surely with no other。〃
Seymour felt uneasy； and； perhaps； disappointed。
He did not seem to have roused a single sensation
in the breast of his companion； and it was seldom
that the elegant possessor of three hundred
thousand dollars failed to do so； wherever he went；
or whatever he did。 But； in the present instance；
there was nothing to be discerned in the
countenance or manner of Charlotte that indicated
any thing more than the sweetness of her nature
and the polish of her breeding。 He changed the
subject。
〃I hope your friend did not suffer yesterday from his
humanity？〃
〃I sincerely hope so too；〃 said Charlotte； with much
simplicity； and yet with a good deal of feeling。
〃I am fearful that we idle spectators；〃 continued
the gentleman； 〃suffered in your estimation； in not
discovering equal benevolence with Mr。 Morton。〃
Charlotte glanced her mild eyes at the speaker； but
made no reply。
〃Your silence； Miss Henly； assures me of the truth
of my conjecture。〃
〃You should never put a disagreeable construction
on the acts of another；〃 said Charlotte； with a
sweetness that tended greatly to dissipate the
mortification Mr。 Delafield really felt； at the same
time that he was unwilling to acknowledge it； even
to himself。
They were now again interrupted by the music；
which continued some time； during which George
Morton made his appearance。 His coat close
buttoned to his throat； and an extra silk
handkerchief around his neck； which he removed
only after he entered the apartment； immediately
arrested the attention of Charlotte Henly。 Turning
to Maria； she said； in those tones of real interest
that never can be mistaken for manner
〃I am afraid that George has suffered from his
exposure。 Do not ask him to play； for he will be
sure to comply。〃
〃Oh！ the chicken has only taken cold；〃 cried Maria；
〃If he does not play； what will you do？ you came
here to hear him only。〃
〃Has Miss Henly ears for no other performer； then？〃
asked Seymour Delafield。
〃Miss Henly has as many ears as other people；〃
said Maria； 〃but she does not condescend to use
them on all occasions。〃
〃Rather say；〃 cried Charlotte； laughing； 〃that the
want of taste in Miss Henly renders her ears of but
little use to her。〃
〃You are not fond of music； then？〃 asked the youth；
a little vexed at thinking that an accomplishment
on which he prided himself would fail to make its
usual impression。
〃Passionately！〃 exclaimed Charlotte； then； colouring
to the eyes； she added； 〃at least I sometimes think
so； but I believe I am thought to be without taste。〃
〃Those who think so must want it themselves；〃 said
Seymour； in a low voice； then； obedient to the beck
of one of the presiding nymphs； he hastened to
take his share in the performance。
〃Now Charlotte； you little prude；〃 whispered her
friend； the instant he withdrew； 〃is he not very；
very handsome？〃
〃Very；〃 said Charlotte； 〃more so than any other
gentleman I have ever seen。〃
〃And engaging； and agreeable； and gentlemanlike？〃
〃Agreeable； and gentlemanlike too。〃
〃And graceful； and loveable？〃
〃Graceful； certainly； and； very possible； loveable； to
those who know him。〃
〃Know him！what more would you know of the
man？ You see his beauty and eleganceyou
witness his breedingyou listen to his sense and
informationwhat more is necessary to fall in love
with him？〃
〃Really； I pretend to no reasoning upon the subject
at all；〃 said Charlotte； smiling； 〃but if you have
such an intention； indulge in it freely； I beg of you；
for you will not find a rival in me。But； listen； he is
about to play a solo on his flute。〃
A man with three hundred thousand dollars may
play a solo； but he never can be alone where there
are any to listen。 The hearts of many throb at the
very breathings of wealth through a flute； who
would remain callous to the bitterest sighs of
poverty。 But Delafield possessed other attractions
to catch the attention of the audience： his powers
on the instrument greatly exceeded those of any of
his competitors； and his execution was really
wonderful； every tongue was silent； every ear was
attentive； and every head nodded approbation；
excepting that of our heroine。 Delafield； perfectly
master of his instrument and the music； fixed his
eye on the countenance of Charlotte； and he
experienced a thrill at his heart as he witnessed her
lovely face smiling approbation； while his fingers
glided over the flute with a rapidity and skill that
pro