Delafield, in reflecting that our acquaintance is not a week old.""A week is time enough to learn to adore such a being as you are, Miss Henley, though an age would not suffice to do justice to your merits. Say, have Iyour permission to speak to your father? I do not ask you yet to return my affection--nay, I question if you can ever love as I do.""Perhaps not," said Charlotte; "I can love enough to feel a great and deep interest in those who are dear to me, but I never yet have experienced such emotions, as you describe--I believe, in this particular, you have formed a just opinion of me, Mr. Delafield; I suspect such passions are not in the compass of my feelings.""They are, they must be, Miss Henley: allow me to see you often, to speak to your father, and at least to hope--may I not hope that in time you will learn to think me a man to be trusted with your happiness as your husband?"The quiet which had governed the manner of Charlotte during this dialogue, was sensibly affected by this appeal, and for a short time she appeared too much embarrassed to reply. During this interval, Delafield gazed on her, in delight; for with the sanguine feelings of youth, he interpreted every symptom of emotion in his own favour.
Finding, however, that she was distressed for a reply, he renewed his suit--"Though I have known you but a few days, I feel as if I had known you for years. There are, I believe, Miss Henley, spirits in the world who commune with each other imperceptibly, who seem formed for each other, and who know and love each other as by instinct.""I have no pretensions to belong to that class,"said Charlotte; "I must know well to love a little, but I trust I feel kind sentiments to the whole human race.""Ah, you do not know yourself. You have lived all your life in the neighbourhood of that Mr. Morton who just went out, and you feel pity for his illness.
He does indeed look very ill--but you have yet to learn what it is to love. I ask the high favour of being permitted to attempt the office of--of--of--""Of teaching me!" said Charlotte with a smile."{sic}
"No--that word is too presumptuous--too coarse--""Hear me, Mr. Delafield," said Miss Henley after a short pause, during which she seemed to have experienced some deep and perhaps painful emotions--"I cannot undertake to give you a reason for my conduct--very possibly I have no good one;but I feel that I should be doing you injustice by encouraging what you are pleased to call hopes--Iwish to be understood now, as saying that I cannot 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 offer--I am young, very young--but I know what is due to myself and to my sex--""By heavens! my suspicion is true--you 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. Ihave 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 so--I never can consent to receive your proposals.""I understand you, madam--I understand you," said the young man with an offended air; "you wish my absence--nay, 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.
