tales for fifteen-第15部分

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is　worth　at　least　three　hundred　thousand　dollars！
he'd　be　a　bride　in　a　month！〃

〃And　miserable；　perhaps；　in　a　year；〃　said　Charlotte；
〃it　is　fortunate　for　him　that　he　is　a　man；　by　your
tale；　or　his　wealth　might　purchase　misery　for　him。〃

〃Oh！　no　one　can　be　miserable　that　is　well　married；〃
cried　Maria；　〃Heigho！　the　idea　of　old…maidism　is　too
shocking　to　think　about！〃

〃Why　does　not　Mr。　Delafield　get　married；　then；　if
marriage　be　so　very　desirable？〃　said　Miss　Henly；
smiling　at　the　customary　rattle　of　her　companion：
〃he　can　easily　get　a　wife；　you　say？〃

｛rattle　=　trivial　chatter｝

〃It　is　the　difficulty　of　choosingthere　are　so　many
attentive　to　him〃

〃Maria！〃

〃Mercy！　I　beg　pardon　of　female　delicacy！but　since
the　young　man　has　returned　from　his　travels；　he
has　been　so　muchmuch　courtednay；　by　the　old
people；　I　meanand　the　girls　beckon　him　about　so…
…and　it's　Mr。　Delafield；　have　you　read　Salmagundi？
and；　Mr。　Delafield；　have　you　seen　Cooke？and；　Mr。
Delafield；　do　you　think　we　shall　have　war？and
have　you　seen　Bonaparte？　And；　in　short；　Mr。
Delafield；　with　his　handsome　person；　and　three
hundred　thousand　dollars；　has　been　so　much　of　all…
in…all　to　the　ladies；　that　the　man　has　never　time　to
choose　a　wife！〃

｛Salmagundi　=　a　series　of　comic　essays　（1819…
1820）　by　New　York　City　writer　James　Kirke　Paulding
（1778…1860）；　emulating　an　earlier　series　by
Washington　Irving　and　others；　Cooke　=　probably
Thomas　Potter　Cooke　（1786…1864）；　a　noted　English
actor；　Bonaparte　=　Napoleon　Bonaparte　died　on　St。
Helena　in　1821｝

〃I　really　wonder　that　you　never　took　the　office　upon
yourself；〃　said　Charlotte；　busied　in　throwing　aside
her　coat　and　gloves；　〃you　appear　to　have　so　much
interest　in　the　gentleman。〃

〃Oh！　I　did；　a　month　sincethe　moment　that　he
landed。〃

〃Indeed！　and　who　was　it？〃

〃Myself。〃

〃And　have　you　told　him　of　your　choice？〃　asked　the
other；　laughing。

〃Not　with　my　tongue：　but　with　my　eyes；　a　thousand
timesand　with　all　that　unspeakable　language　that
female　invention　can　supply：I　go　where　he　goes
if　I　see　him　in　the　street　behind　me；　I　move　slowly
and　with　dignity；　still　he　passes　meif　before　me；　I
am　in　a　hurrybut｛〃｝

〃You　pass　him？〃　interrupted　Charlotte；　amused　with
her　companion's　humour。

〃Exactlywe　never　keep　an　equal　pace；　this　is　the
first　time　that　he　has　walked　with　me　since　he
returned　from　abroadand　for　this　honour　I　am
clearly　indebted　to　yourself。〃

〃To　me；　Maria？〃　said　Charlotte；　in　surprise。

〃To　none　otherhe　talked　to　me；　but　he　looked　at
you。　Ah！　he　knows　by　instinct　that　you　are　an　only
childand　I　do　believe　that　the　wretch　knows　that　I
have　twelve　brothers　and　sistersbut　you　had
better　take　him；　Charlotte；　he　is　worth　twenty
George　Mortonsat　least；　in　money。〃

〃What　have　the　merits　of　George　Morton　and　Mr。
Delafield　to　do　with　each　other？〃　said　Charlotte；
removing　her　hat；　and　exhibiting　a　head　of　hair　that
opportunely　fell　in　rich　profusion　over　her　shoulders；
so　as　to　conceal　the　unusual　flush　on　her；
ordinarily；　pale　cheek。

This　concluded　the　conversation；　for　Charlotte
instantly　left　the　room；　and　was　occupied　for　some
time　in　giving　such　orders　as　her　office　of　assistant
in　housekeeping　to　her　mother　rendered　necessary。

Charlotte　Henly　was　the　only　child　that　had　been
left　from　six　who　were　born　to　her　parents；　the
others　having　died　in　their　infancy。　The　deaths　of
the　rest　of　their　children　had　occasioned　the
affection　of　her　parents　to　center　in　the　last　of　their
offspring　with　more　than　common　warmth；　and　the
tenderness　of　their　love　was　heightened　by　the
extraordinary　qualities　of　their　child。　Possessed　of
an　abundance　of　the　goods　of　this　world；　these
doating　parents　were　looking　around　with　intense
anxiety；　among　their　acquaintance；　and　watching
for　the　choice　that　was　to　determine　the　worldly
happiness　of　their　daughter。

Charlotte　was　but　seventeen；　yet　the　customs　of
the　country；　and　the　temptations　of　her　expected
wealth；　together　with　her　own　attractions；　had
already　placed　her　within　the　notice　of　the　world。
But　no　symptom　of　that　incipient　affection　which
was　to　govern　her　life；　could　either　of　her　parents
ever　discover；　and　in　the　exhibitions　of　her
attachments；　there　was　nothing　to　be　seen　but　that
quiet　and　regulated　esteem；　which　grows　out　of
association　and　good　sense；　and　which　is　so
obviously　different　from　the　restless　and　varying
emotions　that　are　said　to　belong　to　the　passion　of
love。

Maria　Osgood　was　a　distant　relative；　and　an　early
associate；　who；　although　as　different　from　her
cousin　in　appearance　and　character　as　black　is　from
white；　was　still　dear　to　the　latter；　both　from　habit
and　her　unconquerable　good　nature。

George　Morton；　the　youth　of　whom　such　honourable
mention　has　been　made；　was　the　son　of　a
gentleman　who　had　long　resided　in　the　next
dwelling　to　Mr。　Henly　in　the　city；　and　who　also
possessed　a　country　house　near　his　own　villa。
These　circumstances　had　induced　an　intimacy
between　the　families　that　was　cemented　by　the
good　opinion　each　entertained　of　the　qualities　of
the　other；　and　which　had　been　so　long　and　so　often
tried　in　scenes　of　happiness　and　misery；　that　were
known　to　both。　Young　Morton　was　a　few　years　the
senior　of　Charlotte；　and；　at　the　time　of　commencing
our　tale；　was　but　lately　released　from　his　collegiate
labours。　His　goodness　of　heart　and　simplicity　of
manners　made　him　an　universal　favourite；　while　the
peculiarity　of　their　situation　brought　him　oftener
before　the　notice　of　Charlotte　than　any　other　young
man　of　her　acquaintance。But；　notwithstanding　the
intimation　of　Maria　Osgood；　none　of　their　friends　in
the　least　suspected　any　other　feeling　to　exist
between　the　youthful　pair　than　the　natural　and　very
obvious　one　of　disinterested　esteem。　As　the　family
seated　themselves　at　the　dinner　table；　their　guest
exclaimed；　in　the　heedless　way　that　characterised
her　manner

〃Oh！　Mrs。　Henly；　I　have　to　congratulate　you　on　the
prospects　of　your　soon　having　a　son；　and　one　so
amiable　and　attractive　as　your　daughter。〃

〃Indeed！〃　returned　the　matron；　comprehending　the
other's　meaning　intuitively；　〃and　what　may　be　the
young　gentleman's　name？〃

〃You　will　be　the　envy　of　all　the　mothers　in　town；〃
continued　Maria；　〃and　deservedly　so。　Two　such
children　to　fall　to　the　lot　of　one　mother！Nay；　do
not　shake　your　head；　Charlotte；　it　must　and　shall
be　a　match；　I　am　determined。〃

〃My　friendship　for　you　would　deter　me　from　the
measure；　should　nothing　else　interfere；〃　said
Charlotte；　good　humouredly。

〃Ah！　I　have　already　abandoned　my　pretensions
twelve　brothers　and　sisters；　my　dear；　are　a　dreadful
addition　to　bring　into　a　family　at　once！〃

〃I　am　sure　I　do　not　think　so；〃　returned　Charlotte；
timidly　glancing　her　eye　at　her　mother；　〃besides；　I
feel　bound　in　honour　to　remember　your　original
intention。〃

〃I　tell　you　I　have　abandoned　it；　with　all　thoughts　of
the　youth。〃

〃And　who　is　the　youth？〃　asked　Mrs。　Henly；　affecting
an　indifference　that　she　did　not　feel。

〃You　will　have　the　handsomest　son　in　the　city；
certainly；〃　said　Maria；　〃and；　possibly；　the　richest
and　the　most　learnedand；　undeniably；　the　most
admired！〃

〃You　quite　excite　my　curiosity　to　know　who　this
paragon　can　be；〃　said　the　mother；　looking　at　her
husband；　who　returned　the　glance　with　one　of　equal
solicitude。

〃I　do　not　think　he　is　more　than　four　and　twenty；〃
added　Maria；　〃and　his　black　eyes　would　form　a
charming　contrast　to　your　blue　ones。〃

〃To　whom　does　Miss　Osgood　allude？〃　asked　Mrs。
Henly；　yielding　to　a　solicitude　that　she　could　no
longer　controul。

〃To　Mr。　Seymour　Delafield；〃　said　Charlotte；　raising
her　mild　eyes　to　the　face　of　her　mother；　and
smiling；　as　she　delicately　pared　her　apple；　with　a
simple　ingenuousness　that　banished　uneasiness
from　the　breast　of　her　parent　in　an　instant。

〃I　know　him；〃　said　Mr。　Henly；　〃but　I　did　not　think
you　had　ever　seen　him；　Charlotte。〃

〃We　met　him　in　our　morning　walk；　sir；　and　Maria
introduced　him。〃

〃He　is　thought　to　be　very　handsome；〃　continued　her
father；　helping　himself　to　a　glass　of　wine　while
speaking。

〃And　very　justly；〃　returned　the　daughter；　〃I　think
him　the　handsomest　man　that　I　have　ever　seen。〃

〃Have　I　your　permission　for　telling　him　so？〃　cried
Maria；　with　a　laugh。

〃I　have　not　the　least　objection　to　his　knowing　it；　on
my　own　account；　except　from　the　indelicacy　of
complimenting　a　gentleman；〃　said　Charlotte；　with
perfect　simplicity；　〃but　whether　it　would　be
beneficial　to　himself　or　not；　you　can　best　judge。〃

〃You　think　him　vain；　then？〃　observed　her　mother。

〃Not　in　the　least；　or；　rather；　he　did　not　exhibit　it　to
me〃was　the　answer；　with　the　same　open　air　as
before。

〃He　has　also　a　great　reputation　for　good　sense；〃
continued　her　father；　avoiding　the　face　of　his　child。

〃I　thought　he　had　wit；　sir。〃

〃And　not　good　sense？〃

〃Am　I　a　judge？〃　asked　Charlotte；　rising；　and　holding
a　lighted　paper　to　her　father；　while　he　took　a　new
segar。

Her　clear　blue　eyes　resting　on　him　in　the　fulness　of
filial　affection；　as　she　performed　this　office；　and　the
open　air　with　which　she　bent　forward　to　receive　the
kiss　he　offered　in　thanks；　removed　any
apprehensions　which　the　name　of　their　morning's
companion　might　have　excited。

Mr。　Henly　knew　nothing　concerning　this　young　man
that　would　induce　him　at　all　to　avoid　the　connexion；
but　still　he　had　not　yet　examined　his　character　with
that　searching　vigilance　that　he　thought　due　to　the
innocence　and　merit　of　his　child。　Determining　within
himself；　however；　that　this　was　a　task　that　should
no　longer　be　neglected；　he　rose；　and　telling　the
ladies　that　he　left　the　bottle　with　them；　withdrew
to　his　study。

The　door　had　hardly　closed　behind　Mr。　Henly；　when
George　Morton　entered　the　dining　parlour；　with　the
freedom　of　an　old　and　favourite　friend；　and　telling
Mrs。　Henly　that；　in　consequence　of　his　family's
dining　out；　and　his　own　engagements；　he　was
fasting；　and　begged　her　charity　for　a　meal。　From
the　instant　that　he　appeared；　Charlotte　had　risen
with　alacrity；　and　was　no　sooner　acquainted　with
his　wants；　than　she　rung　to　order　what　he　required。
She　brought　him　a　glass　of　sparkling　wine　with　her
own　hands；　and　pushing　a　chair　nearer　to　the