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〃What can he mean！〃 said Charlotte； in amazement；
〃George does not appear well； and latterly his
manner is much alteredwhat can he mean； Mr。
Delafield？〃
〃He is ill；〃 said Delafield； far from feeling quite
easy at the evident interest that the lady
exhibited； 〃he is ill； and should be in his bed；
instead of attending the morning levees of even
Miss Henly。〃
〃Indeed； he is too regardless of his health；〃 said
Charlotte in a low tone； fixing her eyes on the
grate； where she continued gazing for some time。
Every effort of Seymour was made to draw off the
attention of the young lady from a subject； that；
however melancholy； seemed to possess peculiar
charms for her。 In this undertaking the gentleman
would not have succeeded but for the fortunate
appearance of Miss Osgood； who came into the
room very opportunely to keep alive the discourse。
〃What； tete…a…tete！〃 exclaimed Maria； 〃you should
discharge your footman； Charlotte； for saying that
you were at home。 A young lady is never supposed
to be at home when she is alonewith a
gentleman。〃
〃I shall then know how to understand the servant of
Mr。 Osgood； when I inquire for his daughter；〃 cried
Seymour gayly。
〃Ah！ Mr。 Delafield； it is seldom that I have an
opportunity of hearing soft things； for I am never
alone with a gentleman in my father's house〃
〃And is Mrs。 Osgood so rigid？〃 returned the
gentleman； 〃surely the gravity of her daughter
should create more confidence〃
〃Most humbly I thank you； Sir；｛〃｝ said Maria；
courtseying low before she took the chair that he
handed； 〃but it is not the caution of Mrs。 Osgood
that prevents any solos in her mansion； unless it be
on a harp or flute； or any possibility of a tete…a…
tete。〃
〃Now you have excited my curiosity to a degree
that is painfully unpleasant；〃 said Delafield； 〃I
know you to be too generous not to allay it〃
〃Oh！ it is nothing more than a magical number； that
frightens away all applicants for such a favour；
unless indeed it may be such as would not be very
likely to be successful were they to apply； and
which even would render it physically impossible to
have a tender interview within the four walls of the
mansion〃
〃It is a charmed number； indeed！ and is it on the
door？ is it the number of the house？〃
〃Oh！ not at allonly the number of the family； the
baker's dozen； that I mentioned last evening； now
in visiting Miss Henly there is no such interruption
to be apprehended。〃
Charlotte could not refrain from smiling at the
vivacity of her friend； who； perceiving that her wish
to banish the look of care that clouded the brow of
the other had vanished； changed the discourse as
abruptly as she had introduced it。
〃I met George Morton at the door； and chatted with
him for several minutes。 He appears quite ill； but I
know he has gone two miles in the country for his
mother this raw day； unless he is more careful of
himself he will ruin his constitution； which is none
of the best now。〃
Maria spoke with feeling； and with a manner that
plainly showed that her ordinary levity was
assumed； and that she had at the bottom； much
better feelings than the trifling intercourse of the
world would usually permit her to exhibit。 Charlotte
did not reply； but her brightening looks once more
changed to that pensive softness which so well
became her delicate features； and which gave to
her countenance an expression such as might be
supposed to shadow the glory of angels； when；
from their abode of purity and love； they look down
with pity on the sorrows of man。
The quick glance of Delafield not only watched； but
easily detected； both the rapid transitions and the
character of these opposite emotions。 Under the
sudden influence of passions； that probably will not
escape our readers； he could not forbear uttering； in
a tone in which pique might have been too
apparent。
〃Really； Mr。 Morton is a happy fellow！〃
The blue eyes of Charlotte were turned to the
speaker with a look of innocent inquiry； but she
continued silent。 Maria； however； not only bestowed
a glance at the youth from her laughing hazel ones；
but found utterance for her tongue also。
〃How so？〃 she asked〃He is not of a strong
constitution； not immensely rich； nor over and
abovethat is； not particularly handsome。 Why is
he so happy？〃
〃Ah！ I have discovered that a man may be happy
without one of those qualifications。〃
〃And miserable who has them all？〃
〃Nay； nay； Miss Osgood； my experience does not
extend so farI am not quite the puppy you think
me。〃
Maria； in her turn； was silent； but she arose from
her seat； and moved with an absent air to a distant
part of the room； and for a short time seemed to be
particularly occupied in examining the beauties of a
port…folio of prints； with every one of which she was
perfectly familiar。 The conversation was resumed by
her friend。
〃You have mortified Miss Osgood； Mr。 Delafield；〃
said Charlotte； 〃she is too good natured to judge
any one so harshly。〃
〃Is her good nature； in this particular； infectious？〃
the young man rather whispered than uttered
aloud〃Does her friend feel the same indulgence
for the infirmities of a frail nature to which she
really seems herself hardly to belong？〃
〃You compliment me； Mr。 Delafield； at the expense
of truth； if it really be a compliment to tell me that
I am not a girla female； for if I am not a woman；
I must be something worse。〃
〃You are an angel！〃 said Delafield； with
uncontrollable fervour。
Charlotte was startled by his manner and his words；
and unconsciously turned to her friend； as if to seek
her protecting presence； but to her astonishment；
she beheld Maria in the act of closing the door as
she was leaving the room。
〃Maria！〃 she cried； 〃whither in such a hurry？ I
expected you to pass the morning with me。〃
〃I shall see your mother and return；〃 replied Miss
Osgood； closing the door so rapidly as to prevent
further remark。 This short speech； however； gave
Charlotte time to observe the change that
something had produced in the countenance of her
old companion； where； in place of the thoughtless
gaiety that usually shone in her features； was to be
seen an expression of painful mortification； and
even the high glow that youth and health had
imparted to her cheeks； was supplanted by a death…
like paleness。 Delafield had been endeavouring to
peruse the countenance of Miss Henly in a vain
effort to discover the effect produced by his warm
exclamation； and these observations； which were
made by the quick eye of friendship； entirely
escaped his notice。
〃Maria is not well； Mr。 Delafield；〃 Charlotte said
hastily。 〃I know your goodness will excuse me while
I follow her。〃
The young man bowed with a mortified air； and was
somewhat ungraciously beginning to make a polite
reply； when the door opened a short space； and the
voice of Miss Osgood was once more heard； saying
in a forced； but lively manner
〃I never was better in my life； I shall run into Mrs。
Morton's for ten minutes； let me find you here； Mr。
Delafield； when I return。〃 Her footstep was heard
tripping along the passage； and in a moment after；
the street door of the house opened and shut。
Charlotte perceiving that her friend was
determined； for some inexplicable reason； to be
alone； quietly resumed her seat。 Her musing air
was soon changed to one of surprise； by the
following remark of her companion：
〃You appear； Miss Henley；〃 he said； 〃to be
sensitively alive to the ailings of all you know but
me。〃
〃I did not know that you were ill； Mr。 Delafield！
Really； sir； I never met with any gentleman's looks
which so belied him； if you are otherwise than both
well and happy。〃
As much experience as Delafield possessed in the
trifling manoeuvres of managers； or perhaps in the
manifestations of feelings that are exhibited by
every…day people； he was an absolute novice in the
emotions of a pure； simple； ingenuous female
heart。 He was alive to the compliment to his
acknowledged good looks； conveyed in this speech；
but he was not able to appreciate the single…
heartedness that prompted it。 Perhaps his
handsome face was as much illuminated by the
consciousness of this emotion as by the deeper
feeling he actually experienced； while he replied；
〃I am well； or ill； as you decree。 Miss Henley； it is
impossible that you should live in the world； and be
seen； be known as you are； and must have been
seen and known； and not long since learned the
power you possess over the happiness of
hundreds。〃
Though Charlotte was simple； unsuspecting； pure；
and extremely modest； she was far from dullshe
was not now to learn the difference between the
language of ordinary trifling and general
compliment； and that to which she now listened；
and which； however vague； was still so particular as
to induce her to remain silent。 The looks and
manner of the youthful female； at that moment；
would have been a study to those who love to dwell
on the better and purer beings of creation。 She was
silent； as we have already remarked； because she
could make no answer to a speech that either
meant every thing or nothing。 The slight tinge that
usually was seated on her cheek spreading over