tales for fifteen-第20章

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brilliant　effect　of　the　taste　of　the　young　ladies　was
intended　much　like　the　nightly　lustre　of　the　lottery…
offices；　to　tempt　adventurers　to　try　their　chances。
》From　this　premeditated　scheme　of　conquest　we
ought；　in　justice；　however；　to　except　Maria　herself；
who；　from　constitutional　gayety　and
thoughtlessness；　seldom　planned　for　the　morrow；
and　who；　perhaps；　from　her　association　with
Charlotte；　had　acquired　a　degree　of
disinterestedness　that　certainly　belonged　to　no
other　member　of　her　family。

Whatever　were　the　views　of　the　family　in　collecting
their　friends　and　acquaintances　on　this　important
evening；　they　were　completely　successful　in　one
point　at　least；　for；　before　nine；　half　the　dilettanti　of
the　city　were　assembled　in　Greenwich…street；　in　a
most　elaborate　state　of　musical　excitement。
Charlotte　Henly；　of　course；　was　of　the　party；
although　she　was　absolutely　ignorant　of　a　single
note；　nor　knew　how　to　praise　a　scientific　execution；
or　to　manifest　disgust　at　simple　melody。　But；　her
importance　in　the　world　of　fashion；　and　her　friend
Maria；　obtained　her　a　place。　There　was　a　reason
that　secretly　influenced　Charlotte　in　electing　her
evening's　amusement；　that　was　not　known；
however；　even　to　her　friend。George　Morton　played
on　the　German　flute　in　a　manner　that　vibrated　on
her　nerves　with　an　exquisite　thrill　that　she　often
strove　to　conquer；　and　yet　ever　loved　to　indulge。
His　musical　powers　were　far　from　being　generally
applauded；　as　they　were　thought　to　be　deficient　in
compass　and　variety；　but　Charlotte　never
descended　to　criticism　in　music。　She　conceived　it　to
be　an　enjoyment　for　the　senses　only；　or；　rather；
she　thought　nothing　about　it；　and　if　the　rounds
failed　to　delight　her；　she　unhesitatingly　attributed
the　circumstance　to　an　absence　of　melody。　It　was
to　listen　to　the　flute　of　George　Morton；　then；　that
the　drawing…room　of　Mrs。　Osgood　was　adorned　with
the　speaking　countenance　of　Miss　Henly。

Among　the　guests　who　made　an　early　appearance
in　this　〃Temple　of　Apollo；〃　was　the　youth　who　had
attended　the　ladies　in　their　walk。　Seymour　Delafield
glanced　his　eye　impatiently　around　the　apartment；
as　soon　as　he　had　paid　the　customary　compliments
to　the　mistress　of　the　mansion　and　her　bevy　of　fair
daughters；　but　a　look　of　disappointment　betrayed
the　search　to　be　an　unsuccessful　one。　Both　the　look
and　the　result　were　noticed　by　Maria；　and；　turning　a
glance　of　rather　saucy　meaning　on　the　gentleman；
she　said

〃I　apprehend　your　flute；　which；　by　the　by；　I　am　glad
to　see　you　have　brought；　will　be　rather　in　the
PENSEROSO　style　this　evening；　Mr。　Delafield。〃

｛penseroso　=　melancholy｝

〃Unless　enlivened　by　the　contagious　gayety　of　your
smile；〃　returned　Delafield；　endeavouring　to　look
excessively　unconcerned；　〃but〃

〃Oh！　my　very　laugh　is　musical；　I　know；〃　interrupted
Maria；　〃but　then　it　is　often　shockingly　out　of　time。〃

〃It　seldom　fails　to　produce　an　accompaniment；〃
said　the　gentleman；　now　smiling　in　reality；　〃but〃

〃Where　is　Charlotte　Henley？〃　said　the　young　lady；
again　interrupting　him；　〃she　has　a　perfect　horror　of
the　tuning　of　fiddles　and　the　preparatory
thrummings　on　the　piano；　so　endeavour　to　preserve
the　harmony　of　your　temper　for　the　second　act。〃

〃Well！　it　is　some　relief　to　know　she　is　coming　at
all；〃　cried　Seymour；　quickly；　and　then；　recovering
himself　with　perfect　breeding；　he　added〃for　one
would　wish　to　see　you　as　happy　as　all　your　friends
can　make　you；　on　such　an　occasion。〃

〃I　am　extremely　indebted　to　your　unbounded
philanthropy；〃　said　Maria；　rising　and　courtseying
with　great　gravity；　〃do　not　doubt　of　its　being
honourably　mentioned　at〃

〃Nay；　nay；〃　cried　the　youth；　colouring　and　laughing；
〃you　would　not　think　of　mentioning　my　remarks　to〃…
…

〃At　the　next　meeting　of　the　Dorcas　Society；　of
which　I　am　an　unworthy　member；〃　continued　Maria；
without　listening　to　his　remonstrance。

｛Dorcas　Society　=　lady's　group　at　a　church；　devoted
to　making　and　providing　clothes　for　the　poor｝

Seymour　Delafield　now　laughed　without　any
affectationand　exchanging　a　look　of　perfect
consciousness　of　each　other's　meaning；　they
separated；　as　the　preparations　for　the　business　of
the　evening　were　about　to　commence。　For　a　short
time　there　was　a　confusion　of　sounds　that　perfectly
justified　the　absence　of　Miss　Henly；　when　the　music
began　in　earnest。　Within　half　an　hour；　Mr。　Delafield；
who　had　suffered　himself　to　be　drawn　to　the　back
of　the　chair　of　a　professed　belle；　turning　his　head
to　conceal　a　yawn　that　neither　the　lady's　skill　nor
his　good　manners　could　repress；　observed　Charlotte
sitting　quietly　by　the　side　of　her　friend。　Her
entrance　had　been　conducted　with　such　tact；　that
had　she　possessed　the　most　musical　ear
imaginable；　it　were　impossible　to　disturb　the　party
less；　a　circumstance　that　did　not　fail　to　impress
Seymour　agreeably；　from　its　novelty。　He　moved　to
the　side　of　the　fair　vision　that　had　engrossed　all　his
thoughts　since　the　moment　they　had　first　met；　and
took　the　chair　that　the　good　nature　of　Miss　Osgood
offered　to　his　acceptance　between　them。

〃Thank　fortune；　Miss　Henly；〃　he　said；　the　instant　he
was　seated；　〃that　bravura　has　ceased；　and　I　can
now　inquire　how　you　recovered　from　the　fatigue　of
your　walk？〃

〃I　suffered　no　fatigue　to　recover　from；〃　replied　the
lady；　raising　her　eyes　to　his　with　an　expression　that
told　the　youth　he　had　better　talk　straight　forward　at
once；　〃I　walk　too　much　to　be　fatigued　with　so　short
an　excursion。〃

〃You　came　here　to　favour　us　with　your　skill　on　the
harp；　Miss　Henly？〃

〃No。〃

〃On　the　piano？〃

〃On　neitherI　play　on　nothing。〃

〃You　sing；　then？〃

〃Not　at　all。〃

〃What！　not　with　that　voice？〃　exclaimed　the　young
man；　in　surprise。

〃Not　with　this　voice；　and　surely　with　no　other。〃

Seymour　felt　uneasy；　and；　perhaps；　disappointed。
He　did　not　seem　to　have　roused　a　single　sensation
in　the　breast　of　his　companion；　and　it　was　seldom
that　the　elegant　possessor　of　three　hundred
thousand　dollars　failed　to　do　so；　wherever　he　went；
or　whatever　he　did。　But；　in　the　present　instance；
there　was　nothing　to　be　discerned　in　the
countenance　or　manner　of　Charlotte　that　indicated
any　thing　more　than　the　sweetness　of　her　nature
and　the　polish　of　her　breeding。　He　changed　the
subject。

〃I　hope　your　friend　did　not　suffer　yesterday　from　his
humanity？〃

〃I　sincerely　hope　so　too；〃　said　Charlotte；　with　much
simplicity；　and　yet　with　a　good　deal　of　feeling。

〃I　am　fearful　that　we　idle　spectators；〃　continued
the　gentleman；　〃suffered　in　your　estimation；　in　not
discovering　equal　benevolence　with　Mr。　Morton。〃

Charlotte　glanced　her　mild　eyes　at　the　speaker；　but
made　no　reply。

〃Your　silence；　Miss　Henly；　assures　me　of　the　truth
of　my　conjecture。〃

〃You　should　never　put　a　disagreeable　construction
on　the　acts　of　another；〃　said　Charlotte；　with　a
sweetness　that　tended　greatly　to　dissipate　the
mortification　Mr。　Delafield　really　felt；　at　the　same
time　that　he　was　unwilling　to　acknowledge　it；　even
to　himself。

They　were　now　again　interrupted　by　the　music；
which　continued　some　time；　during　which　George
Morton　made　his　appearance。　His　coat　close
buttoned　to　his　throat；　and　an　extra　silk
handkerchief　around　his　neck；　which　he　removed
only　after　he　entered　the　apartment；　immediately
arrested　the　attention　of　Charlotte　Henly。　Turning
to　Maria；　she　said；　in　those　tones　of　real　interest
that　never　can　be　mistaken　for　manner

〃I　am　afraid　that　George　has　suffered　from　his
exposure。　Do　not　ask　him　to　play；　for　he　will　be
sure　to　comply。〃

〃Oh！　the　chicken　has　only　taken　cold；〃　cried　Maria；
〃If　he　does　not　play；　what　will　you　do？　you　came
here　to　hear　him　only。〃

〃Has　Miss　Henly　ears　for　no　other　performer；　then？〃
asked　Seymour　Delafield。

〃Miss　Henly　has　as　many　ears　as　other　people；〃
said　Maria；　〃but　she　does　not　condescend　to　use
them　on　all　occasions。〃

〃Rather　say；〃　cried　Charlotte；　laughing；　〃that　the
want　of　taste　in　Miss　Henly　renders　her　ears　of　but
little　use　to　her。〃

〃You　are　not　fond　of　music；　then？〃　asked　the　youth；
a　little　vexed　at　thinking　that　an　accomplishment
on　which　he　prided　himself　would　fail　to　make　its
usual　impression。

〃Passionately！〃　exclaimed　Char