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had been made to me； I should have sent the
desponding youth to my father； and if he refused；
to my mother〃
〃And if she refused？〃
〃Why then I should have said； two negatives make
an affirmative。〃
Charlotte laughed； and in this manner the serious
explanation which； between friends so intimate
might have been expected； was avoided。 Maria； at
the same time； that she fell and manifested a deep
interest in the TETE…A…TETE that she had promoted；
always avoided any thing like a grave explanation；
and we have failed in giving the desired view of the
character of Miss Henley； if our readers deem it
probable that she would ever touch on the subject
voluntarily。
The winter passed by in the ordinary manner in
which other winters pass in this climate； being a
mixture of mild； delightful days； clear sky； and
invigorating sun； and of intense； cold； raw winds；
and snow storms。 The two latter seemed to try the
constitution of poor George Morton to the utmost。
The severe cold that he took in his charitable
excursion lingered about him through the cold
months； and before the genial warmth of May
occurred to relieve him； his physicians pronounced
that his lungs were irremediably affected。 During
the period of doubt and apprehension which
preceded the annunciation of this opinion； and of
distress and agony which succeeded it； the family
of Mr。 Henley warmly sympathized in the feelings of
their neighbours。 The long intimacy that had
existed between George and Charlotte and their
parents； removed all superfluous forms； and the
latter passed a great deal of her time with Mrs。
Morton； or by the side of the invalid。 Her presence
gave him such manifest and lively pleasure； that it
would have been cruel to have denied him what the
other appeared to grant spontaneously。 Charlotte
had gradually withdrawn herself from society as the
illness of George increased； and his danger became
more apparent； and at the expiration of the month
of April； she was seldom visible to those who are
called the world； with the exception of the
immediate connexions of her family； and her friend
Maria 0sgood。 In the beginning of May both Mr。
Morton and his neighbour withdrew to their country
houses； and thus the retirement from the world and
the intercourse between the two families became
more complete。
Delafield had made one or two efforts to renew his
addresses to Charlotte； but finding them in every
instance firmly； though mildly rejected； he
endeavoured to discover such imperfections in the
object of his regard as might justify him in disliking
her。 The more he reflected on her conduct； however；
the more he became sensible of the propriety and
simplicity of her deportment； and had not the
impression she had made on the young man
proceeded rather from the effect on his fancy； than
from having touched his heart； the consequences of
his conviction of her purity and truth might have
been more lasting and deplorable。 As it was； his
heated imagination gradually ceased to glow with
the beauties of an image that was； however perfect
in itself； extravagantly coloured by his own youthful
imagination； and in time； if he thought at all of
Charlotte Henley； he thought of her as a beautiful
object； it is true； but as of one that brought
somewhat mortifying reflections along with it。 This
might not have been manly or generous； perhaps；
but we believe it is the manner in nine cases out of
ten in which such sudden emotions expire；
especially if the ardour of the youth has
precipitated a declaration that the more chastened
feelings of the damsel are not yet prepared to
reciprocate。 While the image of Charlotte was still
lingering in his mind； he was in the habit of visiting
Maria Osgood almost daily； to ask questions about
her； and perhaps with a secret expectation of their
meeting her at the house of her friend。 The gay
trifling of Miss Osgood aided greatly both in cooling
his spleen and removing his melancholy； till in the
course of a month he even proceeded so far as to
make her the confidant of what she already knew；
though only by conjecture and inference。 Delafield
at this time was so urgent； and secretly so
determined to prevail； in order that his pride if not
his affections might be soothed； that in an
unguarded moment he induced the inconsiderate
Maria to betray； we will not say the confidence of
her friend； but such facts as could only have come
to her knowledge by the intimacy of unaffected
association。 If there were any thing to extenuate
this breach of decorum by Maria； it was the manner
in which it was effected。 Miss Osgood had just
returned from one of her frequent visits to the villa
of Mr。 Henley； when Delafield made his customary
morning call： the absence of Maria； and the object
of her visit； had been well known to him； and as it
was a time when he began to speak of Miss Henley
without much emotion； and but little love； he could
not avoid yielding so far to his pique as to express
himself as follows：
〃So； Miss Maria； you have just returned from paying
another visit to your beautiful little friend without
any heart。〃
〃My little friend without any heart！ Of whom do you
speak？ and what do you mean！〃
〃I speak of Miss Charlotte Henley； the nun；she
who has all of heaven about her but its lovethat
brilliant casket without its jewelsthat woman
yes； that YOUNG woman without any heart。〃
〃Upon my word； sir； this is a very pretty poem you
have been reciting！ but in my opinion； your
conclusion is wrong。 As she refused to give you her
heart； it is the more probable that she has it yet in
that brilliant casket you speak of〃
〃Noshe never had one。 She wants the greatest
charm that nature can give to a womana warm；
grateful； and affectionate heart。〃
〃And pray； sir；〃 said Maria； bending her eyes
inquisitively toward the youth； 〃if she want it； what
has she done with it！〃
〃She never had one； Miss Osgood。 I will grant you
that she is lovely； exquisitely lovely！ pure； gentle；
amiable； every epithet you may wish to apply； that
indicates nothing but acquired excellence： but as to
natural feelings； she is as cold as an iciclein short
she is destitute of HEARTthe thing of all others I
most prize in a woman； and for which I admire you
so much。〃
Maria laughed； but she coloured also。 It had long
been obvious to herself； and to the world too； that
Delafield sought her society； now that he was not
admitted at Mr。 Henley's； much more than that of
my other young woman in the city； but she thought
that she well understood the secret reason for this
preference； though the world might not。 How
gratifying this speech was to the feelings of the
gay girl； the sequel of our tale must show。 The
young man however did not judge her too
favourably； when he supposed her to possess those
kindred sensations that unite us with our fellow…
beings； and he might have added a good deal of
generosity to the catalogue of her virtues。 After a
pause of a moment she replied
〃I suppose I must thank you； Delafield； for the
pretty compliment you have just paid me； but I am
so unused to this sort of thing； that I really feel as
bashful as sweet fifteen； though I