tales for fifteen-第23章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



On　entering　the　parlour；　Delafield　found　George
Morton　seated　in　a　chair　near　the　fire；　with　his
person　more　than　usually　well　guarded　against　the
cold；　as　if　he　were　suffering　under　the　effects　of　a
serious　indisposition。　The　salutations　between　the
young　men　were　a　little　embarrassed　on　both　sides；
the　face　of　George　growing　even　paler　than　before；
while　the　fine　colour　on　Delafield's　cheek　mounted
to　his　very　temples。　After　regarding　for　a　moment；
with　much　inward　dissatisfaction；　the　apparent
ease　with　which　George　was　maintaining
possession　of　the　apartment　by　himself；　Mr。
Delafield　overcame　the　sudden　emotion　created　by
the　surprise；　and　spoke。

〃I　am　sorry　that　you　appear　so　ill；　Mr。　Morton；　and　I
regret　that　you　should　have　suffered　so　much　in　the
cause　of　humanity；　when　one　so　much　better　able
to　undergo　the　fatigue；　by　constitution；　should　have
remained　an　idle　spectator；　like　myself。〃

The　silent　bow　of　George　might　be　interpreted　into
a　desire　to　say　nothing　of　his　own　conduct；　or　into
an　assent　with　the　self…condemnation　of　the
speaker。　Delafield；　however；　took　the　chair　which
the　other　politely　placed　for　him；　and　continued

〃But；　Sir；　you　have　your　reward。　The　interest　and
admiration　excited　in　Miss　Henly；　would
compensate　me　for　almost　any　privation　or　hardship
that　man　could　undergo。〃

〃It　is　no　hardship　to　ride　a　few　miles　in　a
comfortable　coach；〃　said　George；　with　a　feeble
smile；　〃nor　can　I　consider　it　a　privation　of
enjoyment；　to　be　able　to　assist　the　distressed；〃he
hesitated　a　moment；　and　a　flush　gradually　stole
over　his　features　as　he　continued；　〃It　is　true；　Sir；
that　I　prize　the　good　opinion　of　Miss　Henly　highly；
but　I　look　to　another　quarter　for　approbation　on
such　a　subject。〃

〃And　very　justly；　George；〃　said　the　soft　voice　of
Charlotte；　〃such　applause　as　mine　can　be　but　of
little　moment　to　one　who　performs　such　acts　as
yours。〃

The　gentlemen　were　sitting　with　their　faces　towards
the　fire；　and　had　not　heard　the　light　step　of　Miss
Henly　as　she　entered　the　apartment；　but　both
instantly　arose　and　paid　their　salutations；　the
invalid　by　a　silent　bow；　and　by　handing　a　chair；　and
Delafield　with　many　a　graceful　compliment　on　her
good　looks；　and　divers　protestations　concerning　the
pleasure　he　felt　at　being　permitted　to　visit　at　her
house。　No　two　things　could　be　more　different　than
the　manners　of　these　gentlemen。　That　of　the　latter
was　very　highly　polished；　insinuating；　and　although
far　from　unpleasantly　so；　yet　slightly　artificial；
while　that　of　the　former　was　simple；　ingenuous；
and　in　the　presence　of　Miss　Henly　was　apt　to　be　at
times　a　little　constrained。　Charlotte　certainly
perceived　the　difference；　and　she　as　certainly
thought　that　it　was　not　altogether　to　the　advantage
of　George　Morton。　The　idea　seemed　to　give　her
pain；　for　she　showed　several　little　attentions　to　her
old　friend；　that　by　their　flattering；　but　unstudied
particularity；　were　adapted　to　put　any　man　at　his
ease　and　assure　him　of　his　welcome；　still　the
embarrassment　of　George　did　not　disappear；　but　he
sat　an　uneasy　listener　to　the　conversation　that
occurred；　as　if　reluctant　to　stay；　and　yet　unwilling
to　depart。　After　a　few　observations　on　the
entertainment　of　the　preceding　evening；　Mr。
Delafield　continued

〃I　was　lamenting　to　Mr。　Morton；　as　you　entered；
that　he　should　have　suffered　so　much　from　my　want
of　thought；　the　day　before　yesterday；　it　requires　a
good　constitution　to　endure　exposure〃

〃And　such　I　often　tell　you；　George；　you　do　not
possess；〃　said　Charlotte；　kindly　and　with　a　little
melancholy；　〃yet　you　neither　seem　to　regard　my
warnings　on　the　subject；　nor　those　of　any　of　your
friends〃

〃There　is　a　warning　that　I　have　not　disregarded；〃
returned　the　youth；　endeavouring　to　smile。

〃And　what　is　it？〃　asked　Charlotte；　struck　with　the
melancholy　resignation　of　his　manner。

〃That　I　am　not　fit　company；　just　now；　for　hearts　as
gay　as　yours　and　Mr。　Delafield's；〃　he　returned；　and
rising；　he　made　a　hasty　bow　and　withdrew。

〃What　can　he　mean！〃　said　Charlotte；　in　amazement；
〃George　does　not　appear　well；　and　latterly　his
manner　is　much　alteredwhat　can　he　mean；　Mr。
Delafield？〃

〃He　is　ill；〃　said　Delafield；　far　from　feeling　quite
easy　at　the　evident　interest　that　the　lady
exhibited；　〃he　is　ill；　and　should　be　in　his　bed；
instead　of　attending　the　morning　levees　of　even
Miss　Henly。〃

〃Indeed；　he　is　too　regardless　of　his　health；〃　said
Charlotte　in　a　low　tone；　fixing　her　eyes　on　the
grate；　where　she　continued　gazing　for　some　time。
Every　effort　of　Seymour　was　made　to　draw　off　the
attention　of　the　young　lady　from　a　subject；　that；
however　melancholy；　seemed　to　possess　peculiar
charms　for　her。　In　this　undertaking　the　gentleman
would　not　have　succeeded　but　for　the　fortunate
appearance　of　Miss　Osgood；　who　came　into　the
room　very　opportunely　to　keep　alive　the　discourse。

〃What；　tete…a…tete！〃　exclaimed　Maria；　〃you　should
discharge　your　footman；　Charlotte；　for　saying　that
you　were　at　home。　A　young　lady　is　never　supposed
to　be　at　home　when　she　is　alonewith　a
gentleman。〃

〃I　shall　then　know　how　to　understand　the　servant　of
Mr。　Osgood；　when　I　inquire　for　his　daughter；〃　cried
Seymour　gayly。

〃Ah！　Mr。　Delafield；　it　is　seldom　that　I　have　an
opportunity　of　hearing　soft　things；　for　I　am　never
alone　with　a　gentleman　in　my　father's　house〃

〃And　is　Mrs。　Osgood　so　rigid？〃　returned　the
gentleman；　〃surely　the　gravity　of　her　daughter
should　create　more　confidence〃

〃Most　humbly　I　thank　you；　Sir；｛〃｝　said　Maria；
courtseying　low　before　she　took　the　chair　that　he
handed；　〃but　it　is　not　the　caution　of　Mrs。　Osgood
that　prevents　any　solos　in　her　mansion；　unless　it　be
on　a　harp　or　flute；　or　any　possibility　of　a　tete…a…
tete。〃

〃Now　you　have　excited　my　curiosity　to　a　degree
that　is　painfully　unpleasant；〃　said　Delafield；　〃I
know　you　to　be　too　generous　not　to　allay　it〃

〃Oh！　it　is　nothing　more　than　a　magical　number；　that
frightens　away　all　applicants　for　such　a　favour；
unless　indeed　it　may　be　such　as　would　not　be　very
likely　to　be　successful　were　they　to　apply；　and
which　even　would　render　it　physically　impossible　to
have　a　tender　interview　within　the　four　walls　of　the
mansion〃

〃It　is　a　charmed　number；　indeed！　and　is　it　on　the
door？　is　it　the　number　of　the　house？〃

〃Oh！　not　at　allonly　the　number　of　the　family；　the
baker's　dozen；　that　I　mentioned　last　evening；　now
in　visiting　Miss　Henly　there　is　no　such　interruption
to　be　apprehended。〃

Charlotte　could　not　refrain　from　smiling　at　the
vivacity　of　her　friend；　who；　perceiving　that　her　wish
to　banish　the　look　of　care　that　clouded　the　brow　of
the　other　had　vanished；　changed　the　discourse　as
abruptly　as　she　had　introduced　it。

〃I　met　George　Morton　at　the　door；　and　chatted　with
him　for　several　minutes。　He　appears　quite　ill；　but　I
know　he　has　gone　two　miles　in　the　country　for　his
mother　this　raw　day；　unless　he　is　more　careful　of
himself　he　will　ruin　his　constitution；　which　is　none
of　the　best　now。〃

Maria　spoke　with　feeling；　and　with　a　manner　that
plainly　showed　that　her　ordinary　levity　was
assumed；　and　that　she　had　at　the　bottom；　much
better　feelings　than　the　trifling　intercourse　of　the
world　would　usually　permit　her　to　exhibit。　Charlotte
did　not　reply；　but　her　brightening　looks　once　more
changed　to　that　pensive　softness　which　so　well
became　her　delicate　features；　and　which　gave　to
her　countenance　an　expression　such　as　might　be
supposed　to　shadow　the　glory　of　angels；　when；
from　their　abode　of　purity　and　love；　they　look　down
with　pity　on　the　sorrows　of　man。

The　quick　glance　of　Delafield　not　only　watched；　but
easily　detected；　both　the　rapid　transitions　and　the
character　of　these　opposite　emotions。　Under　the
sudden　influence　of　passions；　that　probably　will　not
escape　our　readers；　he　could　not　forbear　uttering；　in
a　tone　in　which　pique　might　have　been　too
apparent。

〃Really；　Mr。　Morton　is　a　happy　fellow！〃

The　blue　eyes　of　Charlotte　were　turned　to　the
speaker　with　a　look　of　innocent　inquiry；　but　she
continued　silent。　Maria；　however；　not　only　bestowed
a　glance　at　the　youth　from　her　laughing　hazel　ones；
but　found　utterance　for　her　tongue　also。

〃How　so？〃　she　asked〃