Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/160

 vain pursuit is justly stigmatized as a social treachery, utterly unworthy of a high-minded maiden.

Fully aware of the power of mere proximity in such matters, the mother finds many pretexts for affording her son this advantage. As far, that is, as she may deem advisable. For, with the intuitive ability of her sex to read the signs of feeling, she may soon deem it necessary to warn her son of the probable failure of his suit. In such a case the mother would probably urge her son to put her judgment to the test by inviting the fair one to a seat in his curricle. It is considered but proper, it may be remarked, to give the maiden an opportunity of saying "no," even when this answer is an almost foregone conclusion. It is frequently advantageous, also, to afford the maiden an opportunity of speaking. Though politely excusing herself, the fair one may give her rejected suitor a valuable hint of a quarter in which his attentions may be more acceptable,—a hint often acted on with the happiest results.

It was somewhat in this way that Utis was first drawn to Ulmene. His youthful affections had first been given to Osna Diotha, and the flower language had led him to entertain some hopes. It was he that introduced to her house his friend, Eured Thiusen; nor was it long before he observed, with secret dismay, the strong mutual attraction between the two.

His mother, whose quick eyes had observed the same thing, advised him of this. Perhaps, too, she may have thought him too young for Osna, who was of the same age as himself. In some way an inkling of the state of matters reached Eured. Filled with dismay at the thought