"But not to himself," cried Maria; "so, Mr. Delafield, if you wish to apprise him of his good fortune, you have only to attend my music party to-morrow evening, and I will take particular care that you get acquainted with the humane hero."
The invitation was gladly accepted, and the gentleman took his leave at the door of the house.
"Well, Charlotte, you have seen him at last!" cried Maria, the instant the door had closed; "and I am dying to know how you like him!"
"To save your life," said the other, laughing, "I will say a great deal, although you so often accuse me of taciturnity—but who is him?"
"Him! why, Delafield!—Seymour Delafield!—the pattern for all the beaux—the magnet for all the belles—and the delight of all the parents in town!"
"His own, too?" inquired Charlotte, a little archly.
"He has none—they are dead and gone—but their money is left behind, and that brings him fathers and mothers by the dozen!"
"It is fortunate that he can supply their loss in any way," said Charlotte, with emphasis.
"To be sure he can; he can do more than you or I could, my dear; he can pick his parents from the best in the city—and, therefore, he ought to be well provided."
"And could he be better provided, as you call it, in that respect, than ourselves?" asked Miss Henly, a little reproachfully.