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lovely face smiling approbation； while his fingers
glided over the flute with a rapidity and skill that
produced an astonishing variety and gradation of
sounds。 At length； thought he； I have succeeded；
and have made an impression on this charming girl
that is allied to admiration。 The idea gave him
spirits for the task； and his performance exceeded
any thing the company had ever witnessed before。
On laying down the instrument； he approached the
place where the friends were sitting； with an
exultation in his eyes that was inferior only to
modesty in the power to captivate。
〃Certainly； Mr。 Delafield；〃 cried Maria Osgood； 〃you
have outdone your own outdoings。〃
〃If I have been so fortunate as to please here； then
I am rewarded indeed；〃 said the youth； with a bow
and an expression that rendered it a little doubtful
to which of the ladies the compliment was
addressed。 At this instant； George Morton
approached them。
〃Mr。 Delafield； let me make you acquainted with Mr。
Morton；〃 said Maria； glancing her eye at the former
in a manner that he understood。
〃I have great pleasure in taking Mr。 Morton by the
hand；〃 said Seymour； 〃if he will excuse the want of
ceremony in this company。 The lesson that you
gave to me yesterday； sir； will not soon be
forgotten。〃
〃In what manner； sir？〃 inquired George； with a little
embarrassment and a conscious blush。
〃In teaching me； among others； Mr。 Morton； the
difference between active and passive humanity
between that which is satisfied with feeling； and
that which prompts to serve。〃
To this unexpected compliment young Morton could
do no more than bow in silence； for it was too
flattering for a replyand too true to deny。 As
Delafield turned his eye； at a little loss to know
whether to be pleased or not with his own humility；
he met a look from Charlotte that more than
rewarded him for the effort。 It was a mild；
benevolent； pure glance； that spoke admiration and
heartfelt pleasure。 He forgot his solo； and the
expected compliments； and； for the rest of the
evening； that thrilling expression floated in his
brain； and was present to his thoughts； it was
worth a thousand of the studied glances that were
continually aimed at him from all sides of the room；
and with every variety of eyefrom the piercing
black； to the ogling gray。 It was a look that came
directly from； and went to； the heart。 If young
ladies always knew how nicely nature has qualified
the other sex to judge of their actions； what
multitudes of astonishingly expressive glances； and
artfully contrived gestures and movements； would
sink down into looks； that indicated feelings and
motives； that were adapted to the occasion！ What
trouble in creating incidents that might draw out
charms would be avoided！ And； in short； how much
extra labour； both of body and mind； would be
spared！
This agreeable contemplation of Mr。 Delafield was
soon interrupted by the cheerful voice of Maria
Osgood； who cried
〃Bless me； George； you really do look ill。〃
〃It is seldom that I have much health to boast of；〃
replied the youth； in a feeble voice； and with a still
feebler smile。
〃But；〃 said Maria； without reflecting； 〃you look
worse than usual。〃
There was so much truth in this remark； that the
young man could only smile in silence； while
Seymour； surveying the very plain exterior of his
new acquaintance； turned his eyes with additional
satisfaction towards a mirror that reflected his own
form from head to feet。
〃You will not attempt the flute to…night； George？〃
said Charlotte。
〃I believe I must； or not fulfil my engagement to
Mrs。 Osgood。〃
〃Surely；〃 continued Charlotte； in a low tone to her
friend； 〃George had better not play； looking so ill as
he does。〃
〃Certainly not； besides； his performance would not
shine after that of Mr。 Delafield。〃
Seymour overheard this speech； which was really
intended only for the ear of Charlotte； and he was
instantly seized with an unaccountable desire to
hear the flute of Mr。 Morton。 Seymour was
conscious that he played well； and could he have
forgotten the indifference that Miss Henly exhibited
to his performance； would have been abundantly
flattered with the encomiums that were lavished on
his skill。
A request from the mistress of the mansion now
compelled George to make his appearance among
the musicians； and in a few minutes his flute was
heard alone。 There was a vacancy in the looks of
Charlotte； during the scientific execution of the
different individuals who had been labouring at the
several instruments in the course of the evening；
that denoted a total indifference to the display。
But； the moment that George was called on to take
his part in the entertainment； this restlessness
disappeared； and was succeeded by an expression
of intense interest and deep anxiety。 The melody of
George was simple and plaintive； he aimed at no
extraordinary exhibition of skill； and it was difficult
to compare his music with that of Seymour。 The
latter； however； studied the countenance of the
young lady near him as the best index to their
comparative merit； and he was soon able to read
his own want of success。 For the first few minutes；
anxiety was the principal expression portrayed in
her lovely face； but it was soon succeeded by a
deep and powerful emotion。 There is something
contagious in the natural expression of our
passions； that insensibly enlists the sympathies of
the beholderand Seymour felt a soft melancholy
stealing over him as he gazed； that was but a faint
reflection of the tenderness excited in the breast of
Charlotte； while she listened to sounds that
penetrated to her very soul。 There is no mistaking
the effect of music that depends only on its
melody。 Its appeal to the heart is direct end
unequivocal； and nothing but callous indifference
can resist its power。 The most profound silence
pervaded the apartment； and George was enabled
to finish his piece with a spirit that increased with
the attention。 As the last breathing notes died on
the ear； Delafield turned to meet those eyes which
had already secured an unconscious victory； and
saw them moistened with a lustre that added to
their natural softness。 Beauty in tears is
proverbially irresistibleand the youth； bending
forward； said in a voice that was modulated to the
stillness of the room
〃Such melody； Miss Henly； captivates the senses。〃
〃Does it not touch the heart？〃 asked the young
lady； with a little of unusual animation。
〃The heart too。 But Mr。 Morton looks exhausted
after his labours。〃
All the pleasure which had shone in the
countenance of Charlotte； vanished instantly； and
gave place to deep concern。
〃Oh！ it is unjustifiable； thus to purchase pleasure at
the expense of another；〃 said she； in a tone that
Seymour scarcely heard。
How tenderly would the man be loved； thought the
youth； who succeeded in engaging the affections of
this young creature！ how disinterested is her
regardand how considerate are her feelings！ Here
will I trust my hopes for happiness in this life； and
here will I conquer； or here will I die！
No two persons could possibly be actuated by
sensations more different than Charlotte and
Seymour Delafield。 He had been so long palled with
the attentions of managing mothers and designing
daughters； had seen so much of female
manoeuvring； and had so easily seen through it；
that the natural and inartificial loveliness of
Charlotte touched his senses with a freshness of
delicacy that to him was as captivating as it was
novel。 Upon unpractised men； the arts of the sex
are often successful； but generally they are allies
that increase the number of the assailants； without
promoting the victory。 It is certain that many a fair
one played that evening in order that Mr。 Delafield
might applaud； that some sighed that he might
hear； and others ogled that he might sigh： but not
one made the impression that the quiet； speaking
eye； and artless but peaceful nature of Charlotte
produced on the youth。 While this novel feeling was
gaining ground in the bosom of Mr。 Delafield；
Charlotte saw nothing in her new acquaintance but
a gentleman of extraordinary personal beauty；
agreeable manners； and graceful addressqualities
that are always sure to please； and； not unusually；
to captivate。 But to her he was a stranger； and
Charlotte； who never thought or reasoned on the
subject； would have been astonished had one
seriously spoken of her loving him。 The road to
conquest with her lay through her heart； and was
but little connected with her imagination。
〃Heigho！ George；〃 cried Maria； as he approached；
〃you have given me the dolefuls。〃
〃And me both pleasure and pain；〃 said Charlotte。
〃Why the latter？〃 asked the youth； quickly。
〃Surely it was imprudent in you to play； with such a
cold。〃
The lip of the youth quivered； and a smile of
mournful and indefinable meaning passed over his
features； but he continued silent。
〃It is to be hoped it had one good effect at least；〃
continued Maria。
〃Such as what？〃
〃Such as putting the little dears to sleep in the
nursery； which is directly over our heads。〃
〃It is well if I have done that little good；〃 said
George。
〃You