tales for fifteen-第14部分

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the　only　treasure　wanting　to　complete　the　sum　of
his　earthly　bliss。　It　truly　looked　a　being　to　be　loved
without　the　usual　alloy　of　our　passions；　and　there
was　a　modest　ingenuousness　which　shone　in　her
air；　that　gently　impelled　the　hearts　of　others　to
regard　its　possessor　with　a　species　of　holy
affection。　Amongst　the　gay　throng；　however；　that
thoughtlessly　glided　along　the　Broadway；　even　this
image　of　female　perfection　was　suffered　to　move
unnoticed　by　hundreds；　and　it　was　owing　to　the
obstruction　offered　to　the　passage　of　the　ladies；　by
a　small　crowd　that　had　gathered　on　the　side…walk；
that　a　gentleman　of　uncommon　personal
endowments　enjoyed　an　opportunity　of　examining　it
with　more　than　ordinary　attention。　The　eldest　of
the　females　drew　her　companion　away　from　this
impediment　to　their　passage；　by　moving　towards
the　opposite　side　of　the　street；　and　observing；　as
they　crossed；　with　an　indifference　in　her　manner

〃It　is　nothing；　Charlotte；　but　a　drunken　man；　if
people　will　drink；　they　must　abide　the
consequences。〃

〃He　does　not　seem　intoxicated；　Maria；〃　replied　the
other；　in　a　voice　whose　tones　corresponded　with　her
appearance；　〃it　is　some　sudden　illness。〃

〃One　that；　I　dare　say；　he　is　accustomed　to；〃　said
Maria；　without　having　even　taken　such　a　look　at　the
sufferer　as　would　enable　her　to　identify　his　colour；
〃he　will　be　well　enough　after　he　has　slept。〃

〃But　is　the　pavement　a　place　for　him　to　sleep　on？〃
rejoined　her　companion；　still　gazing　towards　the
miserable　object；　〃and　if　he　should　be　ill！why　do
they　not　raise　him？Why　do　they　suffer　him　to
injure　himself　as　he　does？〃

The　speaker；　at　the　same　time　that　she　shrunk　in　a
kind　of　sensitive　horror　from　this　exhibition　of
human　infirmities；　now　unconsciously　stopped；　with
an　interest　in　the　man　that　she　could　not　controul；
and　thus　compelled　Maria　to　pause　also。　The　crowd
had　withdrawn　from　the　man；　giving　him　sufficient
room　to　roll　over；　in　evident　pain；　while　they　yet
stood　gazing　at　him；　with　that　indefinable　feeling
of　curiosity　and　nerveless　sympathy；　which
characterises　man　when　not　called　on　to　act；　by
emulation；　vanity；　or　the　practice　of　well…doing。　No
one　offered　to　assist　the　sufferer；　although　many
said　it　ought　to　be　done；　some　spoke　of　sending　for
those　who　monopolized　the　official　charity　of　the
city；　many；　having　satisfied　their　curiosity；　and
finding　that　the　moment　for　action　was　arriving；
quietly　withdrew　from　a　trouble　that　would　interfere
with　their　comforts　or　their　businesswhile　a　few
felt　an　impulse　to　aid　the　man；　but　hesitated　in
being　foremost　in　doing　that　which　would　be
honourable　to　their　feelings；　but　might　not　accord
with　their　condition；　or　might　seem　as　the
ostentatious　display　of　unusual　benevolence。
Where　men　are　congregated；　conduct　must　be
regulated　by　the　touchstone　of　public　opinion；　and；
although　it　is　the　fashion　of　New…York　to　applaud
acts　of　charity；　and　to　do　them　too　in　a　particular
mannerit　is　by　no　means　usual　to　run　to　the
assistance　of　a　fellow　creature　who　is　lying　in
distress　on　a　pavement。

｛those　who　monopolized　the　official　charity　=　in
1821　the　only　officially　supported　charitable
organization　in　New　York　City　was　the　City
Dispensary　　municipal　aid　to　others　having　been
cut　off　in　1817　on　the　grounds　that　charity　to　the
poor　only　made　them　lazy　and　improvident｝

Whatever　might　be　the　impulses　of　the　gentleman
whom　we　have　mentioned；　his　attention　was　too
much　absorbed　by　the　conversation　and　manner　of
the　two　ladies　to　regard　any　thing　else；　and　he
followed　them　across　the　street；　and　stopped　also
when　they　paused　to　view　the　scene。　He　was
inwardly　and　deeply　admiring　the　most　youthful　of
the　females；　for　the　natural　and　simple　display　of
those　very　qualities　that　he　forgot　himself　to
exercise；　when　he　was　roused　with　a　feeling　of
something　like　mortification；　by　hearing　Charlotte
exclaim；　with　a　slight　glow　on　her　cheek

〃Ah！　there　is　George　Morton　cominghe　surely　will
not　pass　the　poor　man　without　offering　to　assist
him。〃

The　gentleman　turned　his　head　quickly；　and　noticed
a　youth　making　his　way　through　the　crowd；
successfully；　to　the　side　of　the　sufferer。　The
distance　was　too　great　to　hear　what　passedbut　an
empty　coach；　whose　driver　had　stopped　to　gaze
with　the　rest；　was　instantly　drawn　up；　and　the　man
lifted　in；　and　followed　by　the　youth；　whose
appearance　had　effected　these　movements　with　the
silence　and　almost　with　the　quietness　of　magic。

George　Morton　was　far　from　possessing　the　elegant
exterior　of　the　uneasy　observer　of　this　scene；　yet
were　the　eyes　of　the　lovely　young　woman　who　had
caught　his　attention；　fixed　in　evident　delight　on　his
person；　until　it　was　hid　from　view　in　the　carriage；
when；　drawing　a　long　breath；　as　if　relieved　from
great　uneasiness；　she　said；　in　a　low　voice

〃I　knew　that　George　Morton　would　not　pass　him　so
unfeelinglybut　where　are　they　going？not　far；　I
hope；　on　this　cold　dayand　George　without　his
great　coat。〃

There　was　a　plaintive　and　natural　melody　in　the
tones　of　the　speaker's　voice；　as　she　thus
unconsciously　uttered　her　concern；　that　impelled
the　listener　to　advance　to　the　side　of　the　carriage；
where　a　short　conversation　passed　between　the
gentlemen；　and　the　stranger　returned　to　the　ladies；
who　were　yet　lingering　near　the　spot；　apparently
unwilling　to　depart　from　a　scene　that　had　so　deeply
interested　one　of　them。　Raising　his　hat；　the
gentleman；　addressing　himself　to　the　magnet　that
had　attracted　him；　said

〃Your　friend　declines　the　offer　of　my　coat；　and　says
that　the　carriage　is　quite　warmthey　are　going　to
the　alms…house；　and　I　am　happy　to　inform　you　that
the　poor　man　is　already　much　better；　and　is
recovering　from　his　fit。〃

｛The　New　York　City　Almshouse；　at　Bellevue　on　the
East　River；　housed　over　1；500　inmates　at　a　time
（with　annual　deaths　approaching　500）；　and　served
as　a　last　refuge　for　the　destitute　of　all　ages｝

Charlotte　now　for　the　first　time　observed　the
speaker；　and　a　blush　passed　over　her　face　as　she
courtesied　her　thanks　in　silence。　But　her
companion；　aroused　from　gazing　at　the　finery　of　a
shop　window；　by　the　voice　of　the　stranger；　turned
quickly；　and　with　very　manifest　satisfaction；
exclaimed

〃Bless　me！　Mr。　DelafieldI　did　not　observe　you
before！then　you　think　the　poor　wretch　will　not
die？〃

〃Ah！　assuredly　not；〃　returned　the　gentleman；
recognizing　the　face　of　an　acquaintance；　with　an
animation　he　could　not　conceal：　〃but　how
inadvertent　I　have　been；　not　to　have　noticed　Miss
Osgood　before！〃While　speaking；　his　eyes　rested
on　the　lovely　countenance　of　her　friend；　as　if；　by
their　direction；　he　meant　to　explain　the　reason　of
his　remissness。

〃We　were　both　too　much　engaged　with　the
sufferings　of　the　poor　man；　for　until　this　moment　I
did　not　observe　you；〃　said　the　ladywith　that　kind
of　instinctive　quickness　that　teaches　the　fair　the
importance　of　an　amiable　exterior；　in　the　eyes　of
the　other　sex。

〃Doubtless；〃　returned　the　gentleman；　gravely；　and
for　the　first　time　withdrawing　his　gaze　from　the
countenance　of　Charlotte；　but　the　precaution　was
unnecessary：the　young　lady　had　been　too　much
engrossed　with　her　own　sensations　to　notice　the
conduct　of　others；　and　from　the　moment　that　the
carriage　had　driven　out　of　right；　had　kept　her　eyes
on　the　ground；　as　she　walked　silently　and
unobtrusively　by　the　side　of　her　companion。

〃Miss　HenlyMr。　Seymour　Delafield；〃　said　Maria。
The　silent　bow　and　courtesy　that　followed　this
introduction　was　succeeded　by　an　animated
discourse　between　the　gentleman　and　his　old
acquaintance；　which　was；　but　seldom　interrupted　by
any　remark　from　their　more　retiring　companion。
Whenever　she　did　speak；　however；　the　gentleman
listened　with　the　most　flattering　attention；　that
was　the　more　remarkable；　from　the　circumstance　of
his　talking　frequently　at　the　same　time　with　Maria
Osgood。　The　trio　took　a　long　walk　together；　and
returned　to　the　house　of　Mr。　Henly；　in　time　for　the
necessary　arrangements　for　the　coming　dinner。　It
was　when　within　a　short　distance　of　the　dwelling　of
Charlotte　that　the　gentleman　ventured　to　allude　to
the　event　that　had　made　them　acquainted。

〃The　fearless　manner　in　which　you　predicted　the
humanity　of　Mr。　Morton；　would　be　highly　gratifying
to　himself；　Miss　Henly；〃　he　observed；　〃and　were　I　of
his　acquaintance；　it　should　be　my　task　to　inform
him　of　your　good　opinion。〃

〃I　believe　Mr。　Morton　has　not　now　to　learn　that；〃
said　Charlotte；　simply；　but　dropping　her　eyes；　〃I
have　been　the　next　door　neighbour　of　George　all　my
life；　and　have　seen　too　much　of　his　goodness　of
heart　not　to　have　expressed　the　same　opinion
often。〃

〃But　not　to　himself；〃　cried　Maria；　〃so；　Mr。　Delafield；
if　you　wish　to　apprise　him　of　his　good　fortune；　you
have　only　to　attend　my　music　party　to…morrow
evening；　and　I　will　take　particular　care　that　you　get
acquainted　with　the　humane　hero。〃

The　invitation　was　gladly　accepted；　and　the
gentleman　took　his　leave　at　the　door　of　the　house。

〃Well；　Charlotte；　you　have　seen　him　at　last！〃　cried
Maria；　the　instant　the　door　had　closed；　〃and　I　am
dying　to　know　how　you　like　him！〃

〃To　save　your　life；〃　said　the　other；　laughing；　〃I　will
say　a　great　deal；　although　you　so　often　accuse　me
of　taciturnitybut　who　is　HIM？〃

〃Him！　why；　Delafield！Seymour　Delafield！the
pattern　for　all　the　beauxthe　magnet　for　all　the
bellesand　the　delight　of　all　the　parents　in　town！〃

〃His　own；　too？〃　inquired　Charlotte；　a　little　archly。

〃He　has　nonethey　are　dead　and　gonebut　their
money　is　left　behind；　and　that　brings　him　fathers
and　mothers　by　the　dozen！〃

〃It　is　fortunate　that　he　can　supply　their　loss　in　any
way；〃　said　Charlotte；　with　emphasis。

〃To　be　sure　he　can；　he　can　do　more　than　you　or　I
could；　my　dear；　he　can　pick　his　parents　from　the
best　in　the　cityand；　therefore；　he　ought　to　be　well
provided。〃

〃And　could　he　be　better　provided；　as　you　call　it；　in
that　respect；　than　ourselves？〃　asked　Miss　Henly；　a
little　reproachfully。

〃Oh　no；　surely　not；　now　if　he　were　a　woman；　how
soon　would　he　be　married！why；　child；　they　say　he
is　worth　at　least　three　hundred　thousand　dollars！
he'd　be　a　bride　in　a　month！〃

〃And　miserable；　perhaps；　in　a　year；〃　said　Charlotte；
〃i