tales for fifteen-第24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！


a　glance　at　the　youth　from　her　laughing　hazel　ones；
but　found　utterance　for　her　tongue　also。

〃How　so？〃　she　asked〃He　is　not　of　a　strong
constitution；　not　immensely　rich；　nor　over　and
abovethat　is；　not　particularly　handsome。　Why　is
he　so　happy？〃

〃Ah！　I　have　discovered　that　a　man　may　be　happy
without　one　of　those　qualifications。〃

〃And　miserable　who　has　them　all？〃

〃Nay；　nay；　Miss　Osgood；　my　experience　does　not
extend　so　farI　am　not　quite　the　puppy　you　think
me。〃

Maria；　in　her　turn；　was　silent；　but　she　arose　from
her　seat；　and　moved　with　an　absent　air　to　a　distant
part　of　the　room；　and　for　a　short　time　seemed　to　be
particularly　occupied　in　examining　the　beauties　of　a
port…folio　of　prints；　with　every　one　of　which　she　was
perfectly　familiar。　The　conversation　was　resumed　by
her　friend。

〃You　have　mortified　Miss　Osgood；　Mr。　Delafield；〃
said　Charlotte；　〃she　is　too　good　natured　to　judge
any　one　so　harshly。〃

〃Is　her　good　nature；　in　this　particular；　infectious？〃
the　young　man　rather　whispered　than　uttered
aloud〃Does　her　friend　feel　the　same　indulgence
for　the　infirmities　of　a　frail　nature　to　which　she
really　seems　herself　hardly　to　belong？〃

〃You　compliment　me；　Mr。　Delafield；　at　the　expense
of　truth；　if　it　really　be　a　compliment　to　tell　me　that
I　am　not　a　girla　female；　for　if　I　am　not　a　woman；
I　must　be　something　worse。〃

〃You　are　an　angel！〃　said　Delafield；　with
uncontrollable　fervour。

Charlotte　was　startled　by　his　manner　and　his　words；
and　unconsciously　turned　to　her　friend；　as　if　to　seek
her　protecting　presence；　but　to　her　astonishment；
she　beheld　Maria　in　the　act　of　closing　the　door　as
she　was　leaving　the　room。

〃Maria！〃　she　cried；　〃whither　in　such　a　hurry？　I
expected　you　to　pass　the　morning　with　me。〃

〃I　shall　see　your　mother　and　return；〃　replied　Miss
Osgood；　closing　the　door　so　rapidly　as　to　prevent
further　remark。　This　short　speech；　however；　gave
Charlotte　time　to　observe　the　change　that
something　had　produced　in　the　countenance　of　her
old　companion；　where；　in　place　of　the　thoughtless
gaiety　that　usually　shone　in　her　features；　was　to　be
seen　an　expression　of　painful　mortification；　and
even　the　high　glow　that　youth　and　health　had
imparted　to　her　cheeks；　was　supplanted　by　a　death…
like　paleness。　Delafield　had　been　endeavouring　to
peruse　the　countenance　of　Miss　Henly　in　a　vain
effort　to　discover　the　effect　produced　by　his　warm
exclamation；　and　these　observations；　which　were
made　by　the　quick　eye　of　friendship；　entirely
escaped　his　notice。

〃Maria　is　not　well；　Mr。　Delafield；〃　Charlotte　said
hastily。　〃I　know　your　goodness　will　excuse　me　while
I　follow　her。〃

The　young　man　bowed　with　a　mortified　air；　and　was
somewhat　ungraciously　beginning　to　make　a　polite
reply；　when　the　door　opened　a　short　space；　and　the
voice　of　Miss　Osgood　was　once　more　heard；　saying
in　a　forced；　but　lively　manner

〃I　never　was　better　in　my　life；　I　shall　run　into　Mrs。
Morton's　for　ten　minutes；　let　me　find　you　here；　Mr。
Delafield；　when　I　return。〃　Her　footstep　was　heard
tripping　along　the　passage；　and　in　a　moment　after；
the　street　door　of　the　house　opened　and　shut。
Charlotte　perceiving　that　her　friend　was
determined；　for　some　inexplicable　reason；　to　be
alone；　quietly　resumed　her　seat。　Her　musing　air
was　soon　changed　to　one　of　surprise；　by　the
following　remark　of　her　companion：

〃You　appear；　Miss　Henley；〃　he　said；　〃to　be
sensitively　alive　to　the　ailings　of　all　you　know　but
me。〃

〃I　did　not　know　that　you　were　ill；　Mr。　Delafield！
Really；　sir；　I　never　met　with　any　gentleman's　looks
which　so　belied　him；　if　you　are　otherwise　than　both
well　and　happy。〃

As　much　experience　as　Delafield　possessed　in　the
trifling　manoeuvres　of　managers；　or　perhaps　in　the
manifestations　of　feelings　that　are　exhibited　by
every…day　people；　he　was　an　absolute　novice　in　the
emotions　of　a　pure；　simple；　ingenuous　female
heart。　He　was　alive　to　the　compliment　to　his
acknowledged　good　looks；　conveyed　in　this　speech；
but　he　was　not　able　to　appreciate　the　single…
heartedness　that　prompted　it。　Perhaps　his
handsome　face　was　as　much　illuminated　by　the
consciousness　of　this　emotion　as　by　the　deeper
feeling　he　actually　experienced；　while　he　replied；

〃I　am　well；　or　ill；　as　you　decree。　Miss　Henley；　it　is
impossible　that　you　should　live　in　the　world；　and　be
seen；　be　known　as　you　are；　and　must　have　been
seen　and　known；　and　not　long　since　learned　the
power　you　possess　over　the　happiness　of
hundreds。〃

Though　Charlotte　was　simple；　unsuspecting；　pure；
and　extremely　modest；　she　was　far　from　dullshe
was　not　now　to　learn　the　difference　between　the
language　of　ordinary　trifling　and　general
compliment；　and　that　to　which　she　now　listened；
and　which；　however　vague；　was　still　so　particular　as
to　induce　her　to　remain　silent。　The　looks　and
manner　of　the　youthful　female；　at　that　moment；
would　have　been　a　study　to　those　who　love　to　dwell
on　the　better　and　purer　beings　of　creation。　She　was
silent；　as　we　have　already　remarked；　because　she
could　make　no　answer　to　a　speech　that　either
meant　every　thing　or　nothing。　The　slight　tinge　that
usually　was　seated　on　her　cheek　spreading　over　its
whole　surface　like　the　faintest　glow　of　sunset
blending；　by　mellow　degrees；　with　the　surrounding
clouds；　was　heightened　to　richness；　and　even
diffused　itself　like　a　reflection；　across　her　polished
forehead；　because　she　believed　she　was　about　to
listen　to　a　declaration　that　her　years　and　her
education　united　to　tell　her　was　never　to　approach
female　ears　without　slightly　trespassing　on　the
delicacy　of　her　sex。　Her　mild　blue　eyes；　beaming
with　the　glow　on　her　face；　rose　and　fell　from　the
carpet　to　the　countenance　of　Delafield；　but　chiefly
dwelt　in　open　charity；　and　possibly　in　anxiety；　on
his　own。　In　fact；　there　was　thrown　around　her　whole
air；　such　a　touch　of　exquisite　and　shrinking
delicacy；　so　blended　with　feeling　benevolence；　and
even　tender　interest；　that　it　was　no　wonder　that　a
man；　handsome　to　perfection；　young；　intelligent；
and　rich；　mistook　her　feelings。

〃Pardon　me；　Miss　Henley；〃　he　cried；　and　the
apology　was　unconsciously　paid　to　the　commanding
purity　and　dignity　of　her　air；　〃if　I　overstep　the　rules
of　decorum；　and　hasten　to　declare　that　which　I
know　years　of　trial　would　hardly　justify　my　saying；
but　your　beauty；　your　grace；　youryourwhere
shall　I　find　words　to　express　it？your　loveliness；
yes；　that　means　every　thingyour　loveliness　has
not　been　seen　with　impunity。〃

This　might　have　done　very　well　for　a　sudden　and
unprepared　declaration；　but　being　a　little　indefinite；
it　failed　to　extract　a　reply；　his　listener　giving　a
respectful；　and；　at　times；　a　rather　embarrassing
attention　to　what　he　was　to　add。　After　a　short
pause；　the　youth；　who　found　words　as　he
proceeded；　and　with　whom；　as　with　all　others；　the
first　speech　was　the　most　difficult；　continued

〃I　have　known　you　but　a　short　time；　Miss　Henley；
but　to　see　you　once　is　to　see　you　always。　You
smile；　Miss　Henley；　but　give　me　leave　to　hope　that
time　and　assiduity　will　enable　me　to　bring　you　to
such　a　state　of　feeling；　that　in　some　degree；　you
may　know　how　to　appreciate　my　sensations。〃

〃If　I　smile；　Mr。　Delafield；〃　said　Charlotte　in　a　low
but　distinct　voice；　〃it　is　not　at　you；　but　at　myself。　I；
who　have　been　for　seventeen　years　constantly　with
Charlotte　Henley；　find　each　day　something　new　in
her；　not　to　admire；　but　to　reprehend。〃　She　paused　a
moment；　and　then　added；　smiling　most　sweetly　as
she　spoke；　〃I　will　not　affect　to　misunderstand　you；
Mr。　Delafield；　your　language　is　not　very　intelligible；
but　it　is　such　that　I　am　sure　you　would　not　use　to
me　if　you　were　not　serious；　and　did　not　feel；　or
rather　think　you　feel　what　you　utter。〃

〃Think　I　feel？〃　he　echoed。　〃Don't　I　know　it？　Can　I
be　mistaken　in　my　own　sentiments？　I　may　be
misled　in　yoursmay　have　flattered　myself　with
being　able　to　accomplish　that　at　some　distant　day；
which　your　obduracy　may　deny　me；　but　in　my　own
feelings　I　cannot　be　mistaken。〃

〃Not　where　they　are　so　very　new；　nay；　do　not　start
so　eagerlywhere　they　MUST　be　so　very　new。
Surely　your　fancy　only　leads　you　to　say　so　much；
and　to…morrow；　or　next　day；　your　fancy；　unless
encouraged　by　you　to　dwe