listen to a string of
compliments, and a flow of small talk from my right hand
neighbour, which it seemed as if nothing would stop but some
lucky accident, some sudden overthrow of the regular course of
things, so steady and even was the tenor of its gentle
prolixity. He had an eye, the mildness of which was appalling,
and a smile of despairing sweetness. As I looked at him, I
wished (which had never happened to me to wish before in
looking at anybody's face) that he had been very ugly; no ugly
face could have been so hopelessly tiresome. If but for a
moment he could have looked cross or ill-natured, it would
have been the making of him, or rather of me, for then I
should have had courage to cut his discourse short, and turn
away; but as it was, dinner was nearly over before I had
another opportunity of speaking to Henry, who at last brought
about the _event_ I had pined for, by overturning a pyramid of
red and white cherries, which went rolling all over the table
in different directions, and for a moment engrossed Sir
Charles's benevolent exertions. Henry immediately seized on
the favourable moment, and resumed our conversation, though in
an altered tone.

"The fact is, dear Ellen, that, on my arrival in London, I
found my solicitor out of town, and my father gone on a visit
to some friends of his in Hertfordshire. I have a general
invitation to this place; and it struck me (I was wrong
perhaps) that it might be, as well as a gratification to
myself, a comfort to you, among a set of strangers, to find a
friend; and I suppose I may call myself one."

He said all this in such a gentle, earnest manner, and in fact
the thought had been such a kind one, that I felt quite
ashamed of myself; and in the reaction of the moment, I turned
to him with some emotion and said,

"You are very kind to me, Henry, and it grieves me to think
that I must have appeared to you ungracious--ungrateful even."

"Only a little capricious," he answered; "and should I prize
as much that bright smile of yours, Ellen, if the transient
cloud had not made its brightness still dearer?"

At this moment Mrs. Brandon gave the signal for withdrawal.
Henry whispered to me, as I was looking for my gloves under
the table,

"Now that I have explained my being here, at the expense of a
fearful havoc among Mr. Brandon's cherries, I shall be at
leisure, when we come to the drawing-room, to give you my
opinion of the society here; pray do not make up yo