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is worth at least three hundred thousand dollars！
he'd be a bride in a month！〃
〃And miserable； perhaps； in a year；〃 said Charlotte；
〃it is fortunate for him that he is a man； by your
tale； or his wealth might purchase misery for him。〃
〃Oh！ no one can be miserable that is well married；〃
cried Maria； 〃Heigho！ the idea of old…maidism is too
shocking to think about！〃
〃Why does not Mr。 Delafield get married； then； if
marriage be so very desirable？〃 said Miss Henly；
smiling at the customary rattle of her companion：
〃he can easily get a wife； you say？〃
｛rattle = trivial chatter｝
〃It is the difficulty of choosingthere are so many
attentive to him〃
〃Maria！〃
〃Mercy！ I beg pardon of female delicacy！but since
the young man has returned from his travels； he
has been so muchmuch courtednay； by the old
people； I meanand the girls beckon him about so…
…and it's Mr。 Delafield； have you read Salmagundi？
and； Mr。 Delafield； have you seen Cooke？and； Mr。
Delafield； do you think we shall have war？and
have you seen Bonaparte？ And； in short； Mr。
Delafield； with his handsome person； and three
hundred thousand dollars； has been so much of all…
in…all to the ladies； that the man has never time to
choose a wife！〃
｛Salmagundi = a series of comic essays （1819…
1820） by New York City writer James Kirke Paulding
（1778…1860）； emulating an earlier series by
Washington Irving and others； Cooke = probably
Thomas Potter Cooke （1786…1864）； a noted English
actor； Bonaparte = Napoleon Bonaparte died on St。
Helena in 1821｝
〃I really wonder that you never took the office upon
yourself；〃 said Charlotte； busied in throwing aside
her coat and gloves； 〃you appear to have so much
interest in the gentleman。〃
〃Oh！ I did； a month sincethe moment that he
landed。〃
〃Indeed！ and who was it？〃
〃Myself。〃
〃And have you told him of your choice？〃 asked the
other； laughing。
〃Not with my tongue： but with my eyes； a thousand
timesand with all that unspeakable language that
female invention can supply：I go where he goes
if I see him in the street behind me； I move slowly
and with dignity； still he passes meif before me； I
am in a hurrybut｛〃｝
〃You pass him？〃 interrupted Charlotte； amused with
her companion's humour。
〃Exactlywe never keep an equal pace； this is the
first time that he has walked with me since he
returned from abroadand for this honour I am
clearly indebted to yourself。〃
〃To me； Maria？〃 said Charlotte； in surprise。
〃To none otherhe talked to me； but he looked at
you。 Ah！ he knows by instinct that you are an only
childand I do believe that the wretch knows that I
have twelve brothers and sistersbut you had
better take him； Charlotte； he is worth twenty
George Mortonsat least； in money。〃
〃What have the merits of George Morton and Mr。
Delafield to do with each other？〃 said Charlotte；
removing her hat； and exhibiting a head of hair that
opportunely fell in rich profusion over her shoulders；
so as to conceal the unusual flush on her；
ordinarily； pale cheek。
This concluded the conversation； for Charlotte
instantly left the room； and was occupied for some
time in giving such orders as her office of assistant
in housekeeping to her mother rendered necessary。
Charlotte Henly was the only child that had been
left from six who were born to her parents； the
others having died in their infancy。 The deaths of
the rest of their children had occasioned the
affection of her parents to center in the last of their
offspring with more than common warmth； and the
tenderness of their love was heightened by the
extraordinary qualities of their child。 Possessed of
an abundance of the goods of this world； these
doating parents were looking around with intense
anxiety； among their acquaintance； and watching
for the choice that was to determine the worldly
happiness of their daughter。
Charlotte was but seventeen； yet the customs of
the country； and the temptations of her expected
wealth； together with her own attractions； had
already placed her within the notice of the world。
But no symptom of that incipient affection which
was to govern her life； could either of her parents
ever discover； and in the exhibitions of her
attachments； there was nothing to be seen but that
quiet and regulated esteem； which grows out of
association and good sense； and which is so
obviously different from the restless and varying
emotions that are said to belong to the passion of
love。
Maria Osgood was a distant relative； and an early
associate； who； although as different from her
cousin in appearance and character as black is from
white； was still dear to the latter； both from habit
and her unconquerable good nature。
George Morton； the youth of whom such honourable
mention has been made； was the son of a
gentleman who had long resided in the next
dwelling to Mr。 Henly in the city； and who also
possessed a country house near his own villa。
These circumstances had induced an intimacy
between the families that was cemented by the
good opinion each entertained of the qualities of
the other； and which had been so long and so often
tried in scenes of happiness and misery； that were
known to both。 Young Morton was a few years the
senior of Charlotte； and； at the time of commencing
our tale； was but lately released from his collegiate
labours。 His goodness of heart and simplicity of
manners made him an universal favourite； while the
peculiarity of their situation brought him oftener
before the notice of Charlotte than any other young
man of her acquaintance。But； notwithstanding the
intimation of Maria Osgood； none of their friends in
the least suspected any other feeling to exist
between the youthful pair than the natural and very
obvious one of disinterested esteem。 As the family
seated themselves at the dinner table； their guest
exclaimed； in the heedless way that characterised
her manner
〃Oh！ Mrs。 Henly； I have to congratulate you on the
prospects of your soon having a son； and one so
amiable and attractive as your daughter。〃
〃Indeed！〃 returned the matron； comprehending the
other's meaning intuitively； 〃and what may be the
young gentleman's name？〃
〃You will be the envy of all the mothers in town；〃
continued Maria； 〃and deservedly so。 Two such
children to fall to the lot of one mother！Nay； do
not shake your head； Charlotte； it must and shall
be a match； I am determined。〃
〃My friendship for you would deter me from the
measure； should nothing else interfere；〃 said
Charlotte； good humouredly。
〃Ah！ I have already abandoned my pretensions
twelve brothers and sisters； my dear； are a dreadful
addition to bring into a family at once！〃
〃I am sure I do not think so；〃 returned Charlotte；
timidly glancing her eye at her mother； 〃besides； I
feel bound in honour to remember your original
intention。〃
〃I tell you I have abandoned it； with all thoughts of
the youth。〃
〃And who is the youth？〃 asked Mrs。 Henly； affecting
an indifference that she did not feel。
〃You will have the handsomest son in the city；
certainly；〃 said Maria； 〃and； possibly； the richest
and the most learnedand； undeniably； the most
admired！〃
〃You quite excite my