Page:Peterson's Magazine 1842, Volume I.pdf/49

38 day,” thought she, “and I will send her off as it is; here Letheresy. As that young Jady entered the room, this Mios Benson, take her up stairs and show her her zoom. Jotham can take her trunk up, and she can get her clothes ready to begin school tomorrow.” ‘The woman ‘was not allowed to open the front door while a glimpse of Emme’s dress could be seen on the stairway, and Mrs. Olden remained below, exulting in the success of her stratagem, while the poor girl, whose feclings she had insulted, was shown into a double-bedded room, which she was informed she was to occupy in company. with her three pupils. This last announcement was almost too much for Emma—that even in her chamber She was not to be alone, and every moment was to be subject to the ecrutiny of strangers, was a severe trial. and for a moment she thought of remonstrating, but a A little reflection convinced her that her feelings would not be understood, and as she feared, she might receive many intentional insults, which she would be obliged to notice, she was determined to bear all else in silence. Be- side, this constant companionship would probably crease her influence over her young pupils. Letheresa told Emma that he would help her unpack, and Sarah Rosalinda soon joined Ber. In vain, Emma appeared. them that she needed no assistance and that she would prefer deferring the task till tomorrow, their curiosity ‘was too strong to allow them to take any civil refusal; Tomorrow, she would have to begin school and would not have a moment's time; they took tea at five o'clock. and it was now three; Emma could not unpack without aid, finding it impossible to free herself from their importance, she was obliged to accept their offer, and soon saw her garments unfolded and criticized, her boxes of trifles turned out, and the titles of her books were examined. A splendid diamond ring, the last percent of her father, which he wore on that account, was taken off, and Was questioned as to whether the stones were ail dia Monde, and how she could afford to wear it, At length Her card case came under their scrutiny, and Emma, who was arranging some articles in her drawer. induced to turn around by smothered giggling and exclamation mations of “Oh, dear! Well, I declare! suppose he will Come before  Tong."Her first feeling was mortification. and for a moment her cheek glowed as a card, with the The name Charles Delancey was bestowed upon her. been picked out of her own, but the color soon faded, and her voice was quite calm as she took the card-caso and card from the laughing girls, and quietly putting them away, assured them Mr. Delancey was neither beau nor relative, merely an acquaintance, whose card reminded her of former days, and she chose to keep Even Miss Olilen’s were silenced for the time. and their renewed attacks in a few days, meeting no better success, were at length dropped.

Charles Delancey was, in fact, a very slight acquaintance of Emma, but she knew enough of him to him to any of her professed adorers, and perhaps "her Intereat in him was inercased by the almost unacknowledged ledged consciousness that his cold politeness and unfte Frequent calls were indicative of anything but indifference. on his part She had been, for a long time, surprised. and half offended, at the marked avoidance of one whom She was so well disposed to like, but a partially overheard conversation at a party upon mercenary marriages, in which young Delancey expremed himself with great warmth, and his evident embarrassment when she, having approached unperceived, was called upon for her opinion, she betrayed the cause. She felt a cheek reflect the color of his, but making a gay reply, she passed on, A light shade of embarrassment was Adiled to the previous restraint of their conversation, and Delancey soon ceased calling at the house or visiting where he would meet Emma, and she only occasionally heard of him as entitely absorbed in his profession, until she recovered from her illness, after which father’s death, she found Delancey was frequent in his inquiries after her, but as she admitted no visitors, she Never caw him. Just before she left the house, he took the cards from the basket to destroy them, and placed one of Delancey’s among her own, as a niemento of one who would have been a disinterested friend, saying with a faint emile,

“I am now poorer than he is, for I am obliged to work for my daily bread, while he is rapidly rising in a noble profession, which will not only make him pendent, but distinguished. We will probably never meet again.”

Emma's pupils, Celinda, Octavia, and Delia, were in due time introduced to her, and the routine of daily instruction entered upon. She found them ignorant. and spoiled, though like their elder sisters, good-natured, and many were her trials and disappointments in ‘conscientious endeavors to improve mind, manners, and disposition, but in the course of a few months she had the satisfaction to perceive her efforts were beginning to produce the desired effect, even Mrs. Olden treated better than her first reception promised, for finding Emma is not only willing but also desirous of keeping in the back ground, neither going to parties nor making visits, thus not interfering with the young ladies, while her son having made a run-s-way match, all fears on his account were removed, she began to feel more kindly toward the gentle girl, who was so devoted to her pupils, and so willing to give extra lessons to the grown girl, Mr. Olden has not been mentioned, for though a thriving man of business and of soine consequence abroad from his wealth, at home he was a cipher. He shook hands. with Emma when he first saw her, acknowledged her morning and evening salutations, and occasionally She did not accompany them to the party, and that

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