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〃It is well if I have done that little good；〃 said
George。
〃You have brought tears into eyes that never
should weep；〃 cried Delafield； 〃and melancholy to a
countenance that seems formed by nature to
convey an idea of peaceful content。〃
Morton looked earnestly at the speaker for a
moment； when a painful feeling seemed suddenly
to seize on his heartfor his cheek grew paler； and
his lip quivered with an agitation that apparently he
could not control。 Charlotte alone noticed the
alteration； and； speaking in a low tone； she said
〃Do go home； George； you are far from being well
to oblige me； go home。〃
〃To oblige you； I would do much more unwelcome
biddings；〃 he replied； with a slight colour； 〃but I
believe you are right； and； having discharged my
duty here； I will retire。〃
He rose； and； paying the customary compliments to
the mistress of the mansion； withdrew。 With him
disappeared all the awakened interest of Charlotte
in the scene。
In vain was Seymour Delafield attentive； polite； and
even particularly so。 That devotedness of
admiration for which so many sighed； and which so
many envied； was entirely thrown away upon
Charlotte。 She listened； she bowed； and she
smiledand； sometimes； she answered； but it was
evidently without meaning or interest； until；
wearied with his fruitless efforts to make an
impression； and perhaps with a hope of exciting a
little jealousy； he turned his attention to her more
lively companion。
〃Your mother's nursery； Miss Osgood；〃 he cried；
〃ought on such an occasion to be tenantless。〃
〃You think there are enough of us here to make it
so；〃 returned the lady； with an affected sigh。
〃I really had not observed the number of your
charming familyhow many are there of you？〃
〃A baker's dozen。〃 Charlotte laughed； and the youth
felt mortified。 The laugh was natural； and clearly
extorted； without a thought of himself。
〃When you are all married；〃 he said； 〃you will form
a little world in yourselves。〃
〃When the sky falls we shall catch larks。〃
｛When the sky。。。。 = an old proverb； found in
English； French； and even Latin； meaning that the
idea or proposal is absurd｝
〃Surely； you intend to marry？〃
Maria made no reply； but turned her eyes on
Delafield； with an affected expression of
melancholy that excited another laugh in her friend。
〃You certainly have made no rash vow on the
subject；〃 continued Seymour； pretending to a slight
interest in her answer。
〃My troth is not yet plighted；〃 said the lady； a little
archly。
〃But there is no telling how long it will continue
so。〃
〃I am afraid sothirteen is a dreadful divisor for a
small family estate。〃
A general movement in the party was gladly seized
by Charlotte as an excuse to go； and Delafield
handed her to her carriage； with the mortifying
conviction that she was utterly indifferent to every
thing but the civility of the act。
CHAPTER III。
IT was quite early on the following morning； when
Mr。 Delafield rung at the door of the house in which
the father of Miss Henly resided。 The gentleman
had obtained the permission of the young lady； the
preceding evening； to put himself on the list of her
visiting acquaintance； and a casual introduction to
both of Charlotte's parents had smoothed the way
to this intimacy。 It is certain； that； much as Mr。 and
Mrs。 Henly loved their child； neither of them
entertained the selfish wish of monopolizing all of
her affections to themselves during life。 It was
natural； and a thing to he expected； that Charlotte
should marry； and among the whole of their
acquaintance there appeared no one so
unobjectionable as her new admirer。 He was
agreeable in person； in manners； and in temper； he
was intelligent； witty； and a man of the world； and；
moreover； he was worththree hundred thousand
dollars！ What parent is there whose judgment
would remain unbiassed by these solid reasons in
favour of a candidate for the hand of his child？ or
what female is there whose heart could be steeled
against such attractions in her suitor？ Many were
the hours of care that had been passed by the
guardians of Charlotte's happiness； in ruminating
on the event that was to yield their charge to the
keeping of another； frequent were their discussions
on this interesting subject； and innumerable their
plans to protect her inexperience against falling
into those errors that had blasted the peace of so
many around them； but the appearance of Seymour
Delafield seemed as the fulfilment of their most
sanguine expectations。 To his refinement of
manners； they both thought that they could yield
the sensitive delicacy of their child with confidence；
in his travelled experience they anticipated the
permanency of a corrected taste； nor； was it a
disagreeable consideration to either； that as the
silken cord of paternal discipline was to be
loosened； it was to be succeeded by the fetters of
hymen cast in polished gold。 In what manner their
daughter regarded the evident admiration of Mr。
Delafield will appear； by her conclusion of our tale。
On entering the parlour； Delafield found George
Morton seated in a chair near the fire； with his
person more than usually well guarded against the
cold； as if he were suffering under the effects of a
serious indisposition。 The salutations between the
young men were a little embarrassed on both sides；
the face of George growing even paler than before；
while the fine colour on Delafield's cheek mounted
to his very temples。 After regarding for a moment；
with much inward dissatisfaction； the apparent
ease with which George was maintaining
possession of the apartment by himself； Mr。
Delafield overcame the sudden emotion created by
the surprise； and spoke。
〃I am sorry that you appear so ill； Mr。 Morton； and I
regret that you should have suffered so much in the
cause of humanity； when one so much better able
to undergo the fatigue； by constitution； should have
remained an idle spectator； like myself。〃
The silent bow of George might be interpreted into
a desire to say nothing of his own conduct； or into
an assent with the self…condemnation of the
speaker。 Delafield； however； took the chair which
the other politely placed for him； and continued
〃But； Sir； you have your reward。 The interest and
admiration excited in Miss Henly； would
compensate me for almost any privation or hardship
that man could undergo。〃
〃It is no hardship to ride a few miles in a
comfortable coach；〃 said George； with a feeble
smile； 〃nor can I consider it a privation of
enjoyment； to be able to assist the distressed；〃he
hesitated a moment； and a flush gradually stole
over his features as he continued； 〃It is true； Sir；
that I prize the good opinion of Miss Henly highly；
but I look to another quarter for approbation on
such a subject。〃
〃And very justly； George；〃 said the soft voice of
Charlotte； 〃such applause as mine can be but of
little moment to one who performs such acts as
yours。〃
The gentlemen were sitting with their faces towards
the fire； and had not heard the light step of Miss
Henly as she entered the apartment； but both
instantly arose and paid their salutations； the
invalid by a silent bow； and by handing a chair； and
Delafield with many a graceful compliment on her
good looks； and divers protestations concerning the
pleasure he felt at being permitted to visit at her
house。 No two things could be more different than
the manners of these gentlemen。 That of the latter
was very highly polished； insinuating； and although
far from unpleasantly so； yet slightly artificial；
while that of the former was simple； ingenuous；
and in the presence of Miss Henly was apt to be at
times a little constrained。 Charlotte certainly
perceived the difference； and she as certainly
thought that it was not altogether to the advantage
of George Morton。 The idea seemed to give her
pain； for she showed several little attentions to her
old friend； that by their flattering； but unstudied
particularity； were adapted to put any man at his
ease and assure him of his welcome； still the
embarrassment of George did not disappear； but he
sat an uneasy listener to the conversation that
occurred； as if reluctant to stay； and yet unwilling
to depart。 After a few observations on the
entertainment of the preceding evening； Mr。
Delafield continued
〃I was lamenting to Mr。 Morton； as you entered；
that he should have suffered so much from my want
of thought； the day before yesterday； it requires a
good constitution to endure exposure〃
〃And such I often tell you； George； you do not
possess；〃 said Charlotte； kindly and with a little
melancholy； 〃yet you neither seem to regard my
warnings on the subject； nor those of any of your
friends〃
〃There is a warning that I have not disregarded；〃
returned the youth； endeavouring to smile。
〃And what is it？〃 asked Charlotte； struck with the
melancholy resignation of his manner。
〃That I am not fit company； just now； for hearts as
gay as yours and Mr。 Delafield's；〃 he returned； and
rising； he made a hasty bow and withdrew。
〃What can he mean！〃 said Charlotte； in amazement；
〃George does not appear well； and latterly his
manner is much alteredwhat can he m