第38章

"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 Henlyin 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 extremelymodest, she was far from dull--she 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.