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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 fire
than the one he occupied； she said
〃Sit here； George； you appear chilledI thought you
would miss your coat。〃
〃I thank you；〃 returned the youth； turning on her an
eye of the most open affection； 〃I do feel unusually
cold； and begin to think； that with my weak lungs it
would have been more prudent to have taken a
surtout。〃
｛surtout = overcoat｝
〃And how was the poor man when you left him？〃
〃Much better； and in extremely good quarters；〃 said
George； but； turning quickly to Miss Osgood； he
added； 〃So； Miss Maria； your beau has
condescended to walk with you at last？〃
〃Yes； Mr。 Impudence；〃 said Maria； smiling； ｛〃｝but
come； fill your mouth with food； and be silent。〃
He did as requested； and the conversation changed。
CHAPTER II
NOTWITHSTANDING the plenteous gifts which
Providence had bestowed on the parents of Maria in
the way of descendants； Fortune had sufficiently
smiled on his labours to enable him to educate
them in what is called a genteel manner； and to
support them in a corresponding style。 The family
of Mr。 Osgood exhibited one of those pictures which
are so frequent in America； where no other artificial
distinctions exist in society than those which are
created by wealth； and where obscurity has no
other foe to contend with than the demon of
poverty。 His children were indulged in luxuries that
his death was to dissipate； and enjoyed an
opulence that was only co…existent with the life of
their parent。 Accordingly； the music party that
assembled on the following evening at the house of
Mr。 Osgood； was brilliant； large； and fashionable。
Seven grown…up daughters was a melancholy sight
for the contemplation of the parents； and they both
felt like venders of goods who were exhibiting their
wares to the best advantage。 The splendid
chandeliers and lustres of the drawing…room were
lighted for the same reason as the lamps in the
glittering retail stores of Broadway； and the
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 a