Page:Advice to young ladies on their duties and conduct in life - Arthur - 1849.djvu/94

86 whom I can be unreserved, without fear of having my confidence betrayed, or my unguarded words repeated to my own and the injury of others.”

In this decision the lady was firm. When she again met Emily, she was coldly polite to her, and that was all. The young girl, who had been pleased with her character, and strongly drawn towards her, felt this change severely. It was an unexpected repulse from one whose principles she had approved, and whose character had been presented to her as one of no common loveliness. That there was some cause for this chancre she knew; but of its nature she had not even a remote idea.

Months passed, during which period Emily was thrown several times into the company of this lady, who always maintained towards her a coldness and reserve entirely at variance with the cordiality of manner exhibited on the occasion of their introduction to each other. This unaccountable difference caused Emily much pain of mind.

It was, perhaps, a year subsequent to the time this lady had received her impression of Emily’s character, and after her marked coldness towards the latter had caused her to omit the usual word