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consent to your expecting that I should ever
become your wife。〃
Delafield was certainly astonished at this refusal；
which was given in that still； decided manner that
admits of little opposition。 He had long been
accustomed to apprehend a sudden acceptance； and
had been in the habit of strictly guarding both his
manner and his language； lest something that he
did or said might justify expectations that would
have been out of his power to fulfil； but now； when；
for the first time； he had ventured a direct offer； he
met with a rejection that possessed all the
characteristics of sincerity； he was； in truth； utterly
astounded。 After taking a sufficient time to collect
in some degree his faculties； he came to the
conclusion that he had been too precipitate； and
had urged the suit too far； and too hastily。
〃Such may be your sentiments now； Miss Henley；〃
he said； 〃but you may alter them in time： you are
not called on for a definite answer。〃
〃If not by you； I am by truth； Mr。 Delafield。 It would
be wrong to lead you to expect what can never〃
〃Never？〃 said Delafield〃you cannot speak so
decidedly。〃
〃I do； indeed I do；〃 returned Charlotte firmly。
〃I have not deceived myself in believing you to be
disengaged； Miss Henley？〃
〃You have a right to require a definite answer to
your questions； Mr。 Delafield； but you have no right
to exact my reasons for declining your very
flattering offerI am young； very youngbut I know
what is due to myself and to my sex〃
〃By heavens！ my suspicion is trueyou are already
betrothed！〃
〃It would be easy to say NO to that assertion； sir；〃
added Charlotte； rising； 〃but your right to a reason
in a matter where inclination is so material； is
exactly the same as my right would be to ask you
why you did not address me。 I thank you for the
preference you have shown me； Mr。 Delafield。 I
have not so little of the woman about me； not to
remember it always with gratitude； but I tell you
plainly and firmly； for it is necessary that I should
do soI never can consent to receive your
proposals。〃
〃I understand you； madamI understand you；〃 said
the young man with an offended air； 〃you wish my
absencenay； Miss Henley； hear me further。〃
〃No further； Mr。 Delafield；〃 interrupted Charlotte；
advancing to him with a kind； but unembarrassed
air； and offering her hand〃we part friends at least；
but I think； now we know each other's sentiments；
we had better separate。〃
The gentleman seized the hand she offered； and
kissed it more with the air of a lover； than of an
offended man； and left the room。 A few minutes
after he had gone； Miss Osgood re…appeared。
CHAPTER IV。
NOTWITHSTANDING the earnest injunction that
Maria had given to Mr。 Delafield to continue where
she left him； until her return； she expressed no
surprise at not finding him in the room。 The
countenance of this young lady exhibited a droll
mixture of playful mirth and sadness； she glanced
her eyes once around the apartment； and perceiving
it was occupied only by her friend； she said；
laughing
〃Well； Charlotte； when is it to be？ I think I retired
in very good season。〃
〃Perhaps you did； Maria；〃 returned the other；
without raising her face from the reflecting attitude
in which she stood〃I believe it is all very well。〃
〃Well！ you little philosopherI should think it was
excellentthatthat isif I were in your place。 I
suspected this from the moment you met。〃
〃What have you suspected； Maria？what is it you
imagine has occurred？〃
〃What！ why Seymour Delafield has been
stammeringthen he looked dolefulthen he
sighedthen he hemmedthen he said you were an
angelnay； you need not look prudish； and affect to
deny it； he got as far as that before I left the
roomthen he turned to see if I were not coming
back again to surprise himthen he fell on his
kneesthen he stretched out his handsome hand
it is too handsome for a man's hand！and said take
it； take me； take my name； and take my three
hundred thousand dollars！Now don't deny a
syllable of it till I tell your answer。〃
Charlotte smiled； and taking her work； quietly
seated herself at her table before she replied
〃You go through Cupid's exercise so dexterously；
Maria； one is led to suspect you have seen some
service。〃
〃Not under such an officer； girl！ Ah！ Colonel
Delafield； or Generalno； Field Marshal Delafield； is
an officer that might teach〃as Miss Osgood spoke
with short interruptions between her epithets； as if
in search of proper terms； she dwelt a moment on
the last word in such a manner as to give it a
particular emphasisCharlotte started； more
perhaps from the manner than the expression； and
turning her glowing face towards her friend； she
cried involuntarily
〃Is it possible that you could have overheard〃
〃What？〃
〃Nothingwhat nonsense！〃
〃Let me tell you； Miss Prude； it is in such nonsense；
however； that the happiness or misery of us poor
sports of fortune； called women； in a great measure
blooms or fadesnow that I call poetical！but for
your answer： first you saidindeed； Mr。 Delafield；
this is SO unexpected…though you knew well
enough what was comingthen you blushed as you
did a little while ago； and said I am so youngI
am but poor seventeenthen he swore you were
seventyno； no；but he said you are old enough to
be his ruling starhis destinyhis idolhis object
of WORSHIPha！ I do hit the right epithet now and
then。 Wellthen you said you had parents； as if the
poor man did not know that already； and that they
must be consulted； and he desired you to ask the
whole cityhe defied them all to say aught against
himhe was regular at churchsubscribed to the
widow's society； and the assembly； and in short；
was called a 'good' young man； even in Wall…
street。〃
〃All this is very amusing； Mariabut〃
〃It is all very true。 Then he was pressing； and you
were coy； until finally he extorted your definitive
answer； which was〃 Maria paused； and seemed to
be intensely studying the looks of the otherMiss
Henley smiled as she turned her placid； ingenuous
features to her gaze； and continued the
conversation by repeating；
〃Which was？〃
〃NO； irretrievableunanswerableunalterable NO。〃
〃I have not authorized you to suspect any part of
this rhapsody to be trueI have not said you were
right in a single particular。〃
〃Excuse me； Miss Henley； you have said all； and
Seymour Delafield told me the same as we passed
each other at the street door。〃
〃Is it possible！〃
〃It could not be otherwise。 His mouth was shut； it
is true； and his tongue might have been in his
pocket； for any thing I know： but his eyes and his
head； his walk； and even his nose were downcast；
and spoke mortification。 On the other hand； your
little body looks an inch higher； your eyes look
resolute； as much as to say； 'Avaunt； false one！
your whole appearance is that of determined denial；
mingled〃
〃Mingled with what； trifler？〃
〃Mingled with a little secret； woman's pride； that
you have had an opportunity of showing your
absolute character。〃
〃You know these feelings from experience； do you？〃
〃No child； my very nature is charity； if the request
had been made to me； I should have sent the
despo