The spell was broken—for when a lover is mortified, ashamed of his choice, the danger is over.
Fortunately, his honor was no deeper pledged than his heart. Miss Dawson had not flirted more with him than with two or three others; and though she would have preferred him, one of the others would do.
"What did Harry say of my party last night?" asked Mrs. Castleton of her sister.
"He merely said 'it was a great bore, this going out,' and seemed quite cross, and took his light and walked off to his room immediately; and, in fact, it seemed such a delicate point with him, that I did not dare to make any allusion to it this morning."
"Poor fellow! I don't wonder," said Mrs. Castleton, laughing. "How she did look beside the Claverings and Lesters."
"Like a peony among moss rose-buds," said Emma.
"Laura," said Harry, a few days after, "I am going to New Orleans for the rest of the winter."
"Are you?" she said, in surprise.