tales for fifteen-第21章

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on　which　he　prided　himself　would　fail　to　make　its
usual　impression。

〃Passionately！〃　exclaimed　Charlotte；　then；　colouring
to　the　eyes；　she　added；　〃at　least　I　sometimes　think
so；　but　I　believe　I　am　thought　to　be　without　taste。〃

〃Those　who　think　so　must　want　it　themselves；〃　said
Seymour；　in　a　low　voice；　then；　obedient　to　the　beck
of　one　of　the　presiding　nymphs；　he　hastened　to
take　his　share　in　the　performance。

〃Now　Charlotte；　you　little　prude；〃　whispered　her
friend；　the　instant　he　withdrew；　〃is　he　not　very；
very　handsome？〃

〃Very；〃　said　Charlotte；　〃more　so　than　any　other
gentleman　I　have　ever　seen。〃

〃And　engaging；　and　agreeable；　and　gentlemanlike？〃

〃Agreeable；　and　gentlemanlike　too。〃

〃And　graceful；　and　loveable？〃

〃Graceful；　certainly；　and；　very　possible；　loveable；　to
those　who　know　him。〃

〃Know　him！what　more　would　you　know　of　the
man？　You　see　his　beauty　and　eleganceyou
witness　his　breedingyou　listen　to　his　sense　and
informationwhat　more　is　necessary　to　fall　in　love
with　him？〃

〃Really；　I　pretend　to　no　reasoning　upon　the　subject
at　all；〃　said　Charlotte；　smiling；　〃but　if　you　have
such　an　intention；　indulge　in　it　freely；　I　beg　of　you；
for　you　will　not　find　a　rival　in　me。But；　listen；　he　is
about　to　play　a　solo　on　his　flute。〃

A　man　with　three　hundred　thousand　dollars　may
play　a　solo；　but　he　never　can　be　alone　where　there
are　any　to　listen。　The　hearts　of　many　throb　at　the
very　breathings　of　wealth　through　a　flute；　who
would　remain　callous　to　the　bitterest　sighs　of
poverty。　But　Delafield　possessed　other　attractions
to　catch　the　attention　of　the　audience：　his　powers
on　the　instrument　greatly　exceeded　those　of　any　of
his　competitors；　and　his　execution　was　really
wonderful；　every　tongue　was　silent；　every　ear　was
attentive；　and　every　head　nodded　approbation；
excepting　that　of　our　heroine。　Delafield；　perfectly
master　of　his　instrument　and　the　music；　fixed　his
eye　on　the　countenance　of　Charlotte；　and　he
experienced　a　thrill　at　his　heart　as　he　witnessed　her
lovely　face　smiling　approbation；　while　his　fingers
glided　over　the　flute　with　a　rapidity　and　skill　that
produced　an　astonishing　variety　and　gradation　of
sounds。　At　length；　thought　he；　I　have　succeeded；
and　have　made　an　impression　on　this　charming　girl
that　is　allied　to　admiration。　The　idea　gave　him
spirits　for　the　task；　and　his　performance　exceeded
any　thing　the　company　had　ever　witnessed　before。
On　laying　down　the　instrument；　he　approached　the
place　where　the　friends　were　sitting；　with　an
exultation　in　his　eyes　that　was　inferior　only　to
modesty　in　the　power　to　captivate。

〃Certainly；　Mr。　Delafield；〃　cried　Maria　Osgood；　〃you
have　outdone　your　own　outdoings。〃

〃If　I　have　been　so　fortunate　as　to　please　here；　then
I　am　rewarded　indeed；〃　said　the　youth；　with　a　bow
and　an　expression　that　rendered　it　a　little　doubtful
to　which　of　the　ladies　the　compliment　was
addressed。　At　this　instant；　George　Morton
approached　them。

〃Mr。　Delafield；　let　me　make　you　acquainted　with　Mr。
Morton；〃　said　Maria；　glancing　her　eye　at　the　former
in　a　manner　that　he　understood。

〃I　have　great　pleasure　in　taking　Mr。　Morton　by　the
hand；〃　said　Seymour；　〃if　he　will　excuse　the　want　of
ceremony　in　this　company。　The　lesson　that　you
gave　to　me　yesterday；　sir；　will　not　soon　be
forgotten。〃

〃In　what　manner；　sir？〃　inquired　George；　with　a　little
embarrassment　and　a　conscious　blush。

〃In　teaching　me；　among　others；　Mr。　Morton；　the
difference　between　active　and　passive　humanity
between　that　which　is　satisfied　with　feeling；　and
that　which　prompts　to　serve。〃

To　this　unexpected　compliment　young　Morton　could
do　no　more　than　bow　in　silence；　for　it　was　too
flattering　for　a　replyand　too　true　to　deny。　As
Delafield　turned　his　eye；　at　a　little　loss　to　know
whether　to　be　pleased　or　not　with　his　own　humility；
he　met　a　look　from　Charlotte　that　more　than
rewarded　him　for　the　effort。　It　was　a　mild；
benevolent；　pure　glance；　that　spoke　admiration　and
heartfelt　pleasure。　He　forgot　his　solo；　and　the
expected　compliments；　and；　for　the　rest　of　the
evening；　that　thrilling　expression　floated　in　his
brain；　and　was　present　to　his　thoughts；　it　was
worth　a　thousand　of　the　studied　glances　that　were
continually　aimed　at　him　from　all　sides　of　the　room；
and　with　every　variety　of　eyefrom　the　piercing
black；　to　the　ogling　gray。　It　was　a　look　that　came
directly　from；　and　went　to；　the　heart。　If　young
ladies　always　knew　how　nicely　nature　has　qualified
the　other　sex　to　judge　of　their　actions；　what
multitudes　of　astonishingly　expressive　glances；　and
artfully　contrived　gestures　and　movements；　would
sink　down　into　looks；　that　indicated　feelings　and
motives；　that　were　adapted　to　the　occasion！　What
trouble　in　creating　incidents　that　might　draw　out
charms　would　be　avoided！　And；　in　short；　how　much
extra　labour；　both　of　body　and　mind；　would　be
spared！

This　agreeable　contemplation　of　Mr。　Delafield　was
soon　interrupted　by　the　cheerful　voice　of　Maria
Osgood；　who　cried

〃Bless　me；　George；　you　really　do　look　ill。〃

〃It　is　seldom　that　I　have　much　health　to　boast　of；〃
replied　the　youth；　in　a　feeble　voice；　and　with　a　still
feebler　smile。

〃But；〃　said　Maria；　without　reflecting；　〃you　look
worse　than　usual。〃

There　was　so　much　truth　in　this　remark；　that　the
young　man　could　only　smile　in　silence；　while
Seymour；　surveying　the　very　plain　exterior　of　his
new　acquaintance；　turned　his　eyes　with　additional
satisfaction　towards　a　mirror　that　reflected　his　own
form　from　head　to　feet。

〃You　will　not　attempt　the　flute　to…night；　George？〃
said　Charlotte。

〃I　believe　I　must；　or　not　fulfil　my　engagement　to
Mrs。　Osgood。〃

〃Surely；〃　continued　Charlotte；　in　a　low　tone　to　her
friend；　〃George　had　better　not　play；　looking　so　ill　as
he　does。〃

〃Certainly　not；　besides；　his　performance　would　not
shine　after　that　of　Mr。　Delafield。〃

Seymour　overheard　this　speech；　which　was　really
intended　only　for　the　ear　of　Charlotte；　and　he　was
instantly　seized　with　an　unaccountable　desire　to
hear　the　flute　of　Mr。　Morton。　Seymour　was
conscious　that　he　played　well；　and　could　he　have
forgotten　the　indifference　that　Miss　Henly　exhibited
to　his　performance；　would　have　been　abundantly
flattered　with　the　encomiums　that　were　lavished　on
his　skill。

A　request　from　the　mistress　of　the　mansion　now
compelled　George　to　make　his　appearance　among
the　musicians；　and　in　a　few　minutes　his　flute　was
heard　alone。　There　was　a　vacancy　in　the　looks　of
Charlotte；　during　the　scientific　execution　of　the
different　individuals　who　had　been　labouring　at　the
several　instruments　in　the　course　of　the　evening；
that　denoted　a　total　indifference　to　the　display。
But；　the　moment　that　George　was　called　on　to　take
his　part　in　the　entertainment；　this　restlessness
disappeared；　and　was　succeeded　by　an　expression
of　intense　interest　and　deep　anxiety。　The　melody　of
George　was　simple　and　plaintive；　he　aimed　at　no
extraordinary　exhibition　of　skill；　and　it　was　difficult
to　compare　his　music　with　that　of　Seymour。　The
latter；　however；　studied　the　countenance　of　the
young　lady　near　him　as　the　best　index　to　their
comparative　merit；　and　he　was　soon　able　to　read
his　own　want　of　success。　For　the　first　few　minutes；
anxiety　was　the　principal　expression　portrayed　in
her　lovely　face；　but　it　was　soon　succeeded　by　a
deep　and　powerful　emotion。　There　is　something
contagious　in　the　natural　expression　of　our
passions；　that　insensibly　enlists　the　sympathies　of
the　beholderand　Seymour　felt　a　soft　melancholy
stealing　over　him　as　he　gazed；　that　was　but　a　faint
reflection　of　the　tenderness　excited　in　the　breast　of
Charlotte；　while　she　listened　to　sounds　that
penetrated　to　her　very　soul。　There　is　no　mistaking
the　effect　of　music　that　depends　only　on　its
melody。　Its　appeal　to　the　heart　is　direct　end
unequivocal；　and　nothing　but　callous　indifference
can　resist　its　power。　The　most　profound　silence
pervaded　the　apartment；　and　George　was　enabled
to　finish　his　piece　with　a　spirit　that　increased　with
the　attention。　As　the　last　breathing　notes　died　on
the　ear；　Delafield　turned　to　meet　those　eyes　which
had　already　secured　an　unconscious　victory；　and
saw　them　moistened　with　a　lustre　that　added　to
their　na