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make her the confidant of what she already knew；
though only by conjecture and inference。 Delafield
at this time was so urgent； and secretly so
determined to prevail； in order that his pride if not
his affections might be soothed； that in an
unguarded moment he induced the inconsiderate
Maria to betray； we will not say the confidence of
her friend； but such facts as could only have come
to her knowledge by the intimacy of unaffected
association。 If there were any thing to extenuate
this breach of decorum by Maria； it was the manner
in which it was effected。 Miss Osgood had just
returned from one of her frequent visits to the villa
of Mr。 Henley； when Delafield made his customary
morning call： the absence of Maria； and the object
of her visit； had been well known to him； and as it
was a time when he began to speak of Miss Henley
without much emotion； and but little love； he could
not avoid yielding so far to his pique as to express
himself as follows：
〃So； Miss Maria； you have just returned from paying
another visit to your beautiful little friend without
any heart。〃
〃My little friend without any heart！ Of whom do you
speak？ and what do you mean！〃
〃I speak of Miss Charlotte Henley； the nun；she
who has all of heaven about her but its lovethat
brilliant casket without its jewelsthat woman
yes； that YOUNG woman without any heart。〃
〃Upon my word； sir； this is a very pretty poem you
have been reciting！ but in my opinion； your
conclusion is wrong。 As she refused to give you her
heart； it is the more probable that she has it yet in
that brilliant casket you speak of〃
〃Noshe never had one。 She wants the greatest
charm that nature can give to a womana warm；
grateful； and affectionate heart。〃
〃And pray； sir；〃 said Maria； bending her eyes
inquisitively toward the youth； 〃if she want it； what
has she done with it！〃
〃She never had one； Miss Osgood。 I will grant you
that she is lovely； exquisitely lovely！ pure； gentle；
amiable； every epithet you may wish to apply； that
indicates nothing but acquired excellence： but as to
natural feelings； she is as cold as an iciclein short
she is destitute of HEARTthe thing of all others I
most prize in a woman； and for which I admire you
so much。〃
Maria laughed； but she coloured also。 It had long
been obvious to herself； and to the world too； that
Delafield sought her society； now that he was not
admitted at Mr。 Henley's； much more than that of
my other young woman in the city； but she thought
that she well understood the secret reason for this
preference； though the world might not。 How
gratifying this speech was to the feelings of the
gay girl； the sequel of our tale must show。 The
young man however did not judge her too
favourably； when he supposed her to possess those
kindred sensations that unite us with our fellow…
beings； and he might have added a good deal of
generosity to the catalogue of her virtues。 After a
pause of a moment she replied
〃I suppose I must thank you； Delafield； for the
pretty compliment you have just paid me； but I am
so unused to this sort of thing； that I really feel as
bashful as sweet fifteen； though I am at mature
twenty。〃
〃That is because you DO feel； Miss Osgood； I might
have said as much to Charlotte Henley without
exciting the least emotion in her； or of even
bringing one tinge of that bright blush over her
features which makes you look so handsome。〃
〃Mercy！ mercy！ have mercy； I entreat you；〃 cried
Maria； averting her face； 〃or I shall soon be as red
as the cook。 But I cannot； I will not consent to hear
my friend traduced in such a manner； so far from
wanting feeling； Charlotte Henley is all heart。 To
use your own language；〃 she added； turning her
eyes towards him archly； 〃it is for her heart that I
most love her。〃
〃You deceive yourself。 Early attachment； and long
association； and your own generous； warm feelings
deceive you。 She is accustomed to show gentle and
kind civilities to all around her； and you mistake
habit for affection。〃
〃She is accustomed to do all that； I own； but to do
it in a manner that adds to its value by her simple
unaffected feelings。 She is not； I must
acknowledge； like certain people of my
acquaintance； a bundle of tinder to take fire at
every spark that approaches； but she loves all she
should love； and I fear she loves one too well that
she should not love。〃
〃Love one that she should not love？〃 cried
Delafield： 〃what； is her heart then engaged to
another！ Is it possible that Miss Henley； the cold；
prudish Miss Henley； can indulge an improper
attachment after all？〃
〃Mr。 Delafield；〃 said Miss Osgood； gravely； 〃I am
not apt to betray what I ought to conceal； although
I am the giddy creature that I seem。 But I have
spoken unguardedly； and must explain： in the first
place； I would not have you suppose that Charlotte
Henley and I talk of our hearts and our lovers to
each other； like two girls at a boarding school。 If I
know that she has such a thing as a heart at all； it
is not from herself but from my own observation；
and as for lovers； though she may have had dozens
for any thing I know； to ME they are absolutely
strangers。Don't interrupt me； I am not begging
one。 After this explanation I will say； trusting；
Delafield entirely in your honour； which I do believe
you to possess in a high〃
〃You mayyou may；〃 interrupted the young man
eagerly： 〃I will never betray your confidenceyou
might trust yourself to my honour and good faith〃
〃I wish you would not be bringing yourself and
myself constantly into the conversation；〃 said the
lady； compressing her lips to conceal a smile； 〃we
are talking of Charlotte Henley； and of her only。 She
was brought up in the daily habit of seeing much of
George Morton； who； I believe； even you will own
has a heart； for it will cost him his life。〃
〃His life！〃
〃I fear so； nay； it is without hope。 The cold he took
in carrying the poor sufferer to the hospital last
winter has thrown him into a decline。 I do believe
that Charlotte Henley is fond of him； but mind； I do
not say that she is in loveif appears to be less of
passion than of intense affection。〃
〃Yes； such as she would feel for a brother。〃
〃She has no brother。 I do not intend to define the
passions： but I do believe that if he were to live
and offer himself； she would marry him； and make
him such a wife as any man might envy。〃
〃What！ do you think she loves him unasked； and
yet refuse me who begged her hand like her slave。〃
〃It is not unasked； he has known her all her life
has ever shown a preference for herhas been kind
to her and to all others in her presencehe has
long anticipated her wishes； in trifles； andandin
short； he has done just what he ought to do； to
gain her love。〃
〃Then you think I erred in the manner in which I
made my advances？〃
〃Your advances； as you call them； would have
succeeded with nine girls in ten； though not with
Miss Henleybesides； you are too late。〃
〃Certainly not too late when no declaration had
been made by any other。〃
〃I am not about to discuss the proprieties of
courtship with you； Mr。 Delafield；〃 cried Maria；
laughing and rising from her chair。 〃Come； let us
walk； it is a sin to shut ourselves up on such a
morning。 The subject must now he changed and the
scene too。〃
He accepted her challenge； and they proceeded
through the streets together； but she evaded every
subsequent attempt he made to renew the
discourse。 Perhaps she felt that she had gone too
farperhaps there was something in it that was
painful to her own feelings。
The explanation； however； had a great tendency to
destroy the remains of what Delafield mistook for
love。 Instead of having his affections seriously
engaged in a short intercourse with Miss Henley；
our readers may easily perceive that it was nothing
but his imagination that was excited； and which
had kept his brain filled with images still more
lovely than the original： but now that the wan
features of George Morton were constantly brought
into the picture by the side of the deity he had
worshipped； the contemplation of these fancied
beauties become hourly less pleasant； and in a
short time he ceased to dwell on the subject
altogether。
A consequence； however； grew out of his short…lived
inclination； that was as unlooked for by himself as
by the others interested in the result。 He became
so much accustomed to the society of Maria
Osgood； that at length he fell it was necessary to
his comfort。 To the surprise of the whole city； the
handsome； rich； witty； and accomplished Mr。
Seymour Delafield declared himself in form before
the spring had expired to one of the plain
daughters of Mr。 Osgood； a man with a large family；
and but little money。 Maria had a difficult task to
conceal the pleasure she felt； as she listened to；
not the passionate declaration of her admirer； but
to his warm solicitation that she would unite her
destinies to his own。 She did conceal it； however；
and would only consent to receive his visits for a
time； on the condition that he was not to consider
her as at all engaged by the permission。
CHAPTER V。
WHILE such happy prospects were opening on the
future life o