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meant every thing or nothing。 The slight tinge that
usually was seated on her cheek spreading over its
whole surface like the faintest glow of sunset
blending； by mellow degrees； with the surrounding
clouds； was heightened to richness； and even
diffused itself like a reflection； across her polished
forehead； because she believed she was about to
listen to a declaration that her years and her
education united to tell her was never to approach
female ears without slightly trespassing on the
delicacy of her sex。 Her mild blue eyes； beaming
with the glow on her face； rose and fell from the
carpet to the countenance of Delafield； but chiefly
dwelt in open charity； and possibly in anxiety； on
his own。 In fact； there was thrown around her whole
air； such a touch of exquisite and shrinking
delicacy； so blended with feeling benevolence； and
even tender interest； that it was no wonder that a
man； handsome to perfection； young； intelligent；
and rich； mistook her feelings。
〃Pardon me； Miss Henley；〃 he cried； and the
apology was unconsciously paid to the commanding
purity and dignity of her air； 〃if I overstep the rules
of decorum； and hasten to declare that which I
know years of trial would hardly justify my saying；
but your beauty； your grace； youryourwhere
shall I find words to express it？your loveliness；
yes； that means every thingyour loveliness has
not been seen with impunity。〃
This might have done very well for a sudden and
unprepared declaration； but being a little indefinite；
it failed to extract a reply； his listener giving a
respectful； and； at times； a rather embarrassing
attention to what he was to add。 After a short
pause； the youth； who found words as he
proceeded； and with whom； as with all others； the
first speech was the most difficult； continued
〃I have known you but a short time； Miss Henley；
but to see you once is to see you always。 You
smile； Miss Henley； but give me leave to hope that
time and assiduity will enable me to bring you to
such a state of feeling； that in some degree； you
may know how to appreciate my sensations。〃
〃If I smile； Mr。 Delafield；〃 said Charlotte in a low
but distinct voice； 〃it is not at you； but at myself。 I；
who have been for seventeen years constantly with
Charlotte Henley； find each day something new in
her； not to admire； but to reprehend。〃 She paused a
moment； and then added； smiling most sweetly as
she spoke； 〃I will not affect to misunderstand you；
Mr。 Delafield； your language is not very intelligible；
but it is such that I am sure you would not use to
me if you were not serious； and did not feel； or
rather think you feel what you utter。〃
〃Think I feel？〃 he echoed。 〃Don't I know it？ Can I
be mistaken in my own sentiments？ I may be
misled in yoursmay have flattered myself with
being able to accomplish that at some distant day；
which your obduracy may deny me； but in my own
feelings I cannot be mistaken。〃
〃Not where they are so very new； nay； do not start
so eagerlywhere they MUST be so very new。
Surely your fancy only leads you to say so much；
and to…morrow； or next day； your fancy； unless
encouraged by you to dwell on my unworthy self；
will lead you elsewhere。〃
〃Now； Miss Henley； what I most admire in your
character is its lovely ingenuousness； its simplicity；
its HEART； and I will own I did not expect such an
answer to a question put； like mine； in sincerity and
truth。〃
〃If I have failed to answer any question you have
put to me； Mr。 Delafield； it is because I am
unconscious than any was asked； and if I have
displayed disengenuousness； want of simplicity； or
want of feeling； it has been unintentional； I do
assure you； and only proves that I can be guilty of
errors； without their being detected by one who has
known me so long and so intimately。〃
〃My impetuosity has deceived me and distressed
you；〃 said Delafield〃I would have said that I love
you ardently； passionately； and constantly； and
shall for ever love you。 I should have asked your
permission to say all this to your parents； to
entreat them to permit me to see you often； to
address you； and； if it were not impossible； to hope
that in time they would consent to intrust me with
their greatest treasure； and that you would not
oppose their decree。〃
〃This is certainly asking many questions in a
breath；〃 said Charlotte smiling； but without either
irony or triumph； 〃and were it not for that word；
breath； I should experience some uneasiness at
what you say； I find great satisfaction； Mr。
Delafield； in reflecting that our acquaintance is not
a week old。〃
〃A week is time enough to learn to adore such a
being as you are； Miss Henley； though an age would
not suffice to do justice to your merits。 Say； have I
your permission to speak to your father？ I do not
ask you yet to return my affectionnay； I question
if you can ever love as I do。〃
〃Perhaps not；〃 said Charlotte； 〃I can love enough to
feel a great and deep interest in those who are
dear to me； but I never yet have experienced such
emotions； as you describeI believe； in this
particular； you have formed a just opinion of me；
Mr。 Delafield； I suspect such passions are not in
the compass of my feelings。〃
〃They are； they must be； Miss Henley： allow me to
see you often； to speak to your father； and at least
to hopemay I not hope that in time you will learn
to think me a man to be trusted with your
happiness as your husband？〃
The quiet which had governed the manner of
Charlotte during this dialogue； was sensibly
affected by this appeal； and for a short time she
appeared too much embarrassed to reply。 During
this interval； Delafield gazed on her； in delight； for
with the sanguine feelings of youth； he interpreted
every symptom of emotion in his own favour。
Finding； however； that she was distressed for a
reply； he renewed his suit
〃Though I have known you but a few days； I feel as
if I had known you for years。 There are； I believe；
Miss Henley； spirits in the world who commune with
each other imperceptibly； who seem formed for
each other； and who know and love each other as
by instinct。〃
〃I have no pretensions to belong to that class；〃
said Charlotte； 〃I must know well to love a little；
but I trust I feel kind sentiments to the whole
human race。〃
〃Ah； you do not know yourself。 You have lived all
your life in the neighbourhood of that Mr。 Morton
who just went out； and you feel pity for his illness。
He does indeed look very illbut you have yet to
learn what it is to love。 I ask the high favour of
being permitted to attempt the office ofofof〃
〃Of teaching me！〃 said Charlotte with a smile。〃
｛sic｝
〃Nothat word is too presumptuoustoo coarse〃
〃Hear me； Mr。 Delafield；〃 said Miss Henley after a
short pause； during which she seemed to have
experienced some deep and perhaps painful
emotions〃I cannot undertake to give you a reason
for my conductvery possibly I have no good one；
but I feel that I should be doing you injustice by
encouraging what you are pleased to call hopesI
wish to be understood now； as saying that I cannot
consent to your expecting that I should ever
become your wife。〃
Delafield was certainly astonished at this refusal；
which was given in that still； decided manner that
admits of little opposition。 He had long been
accustomed to apprehend a sudden acceptance； and
had been in the habit of strictly guarding both his
manner and his language； lest something that he
did or said might justify expectations that would
have been out of his power to fulfil； but now； when；
for the first time； he had ventured a direct offer； he
met with a rejection that possessed all the
characteristics of sincerity； he was； in truth； utterly
astounded。 After taking a sufficient time to collect
in some degree his faculties； he came to the
conclusion that he had been too precipitate； and
had urged the suit too far； and too hastily。
〃Such may be your sentiments now； Miss Henley；〃
he said； 〃but you may alter them in time： you are
not called on for a definite answer。〃
〃If not by you； I am by truth； Mr。 Delafield。 It would
be wrong to lead you to expect what can never〃
〃Never？〃 said Delafield〃you cannot speak so
decidedly。〃
〃I do； indeed I do；〃 returned Charlotte firmly。
〃I have not deceived myself in believing you to be
disengaged； Miss Henley？〃
〃You have a right to require a definite answer to
your questions； Mr。 Delafield； but you have no right
to exact my reasons for declining your very
flattering offerI am young； very youngbut I know
what is due to myself and to my sex〃
〃By heavens！ my suspicion is trueyou are already
betrothed！〃
〃It would be easy to say NO to that assertion； sir；〃
added Charlotte； rising； 〃but your right to a reason
in a matter where inclination is so material； is
exactly the same as my right would be to ask you
why you did not address me。 I thank you for the
preference you have shown me； Mr。 Delafield。 I
have not so little of the woman about me； not to
remember it always with gratitude； but I tell you
plainly and firmly； for it is necessary that I should
do soI never can consent to receive your
proposals。〃
〃I understand you； madamI understand you；〃 said
the youn