l purpose by
staying. At length, struggling for composure, I approached her, and,
showing her the card she had given me, said,--

"Agreeably to this direction, I called an hour ago, at your lodgings. I
found you not. I hope you will permit me to call once more. When shall
I expect to meet you at home?"

Her eyes were cast on the floor. A kind of indirect attention was fixed
on Mrs. Wentworth, serving to intimidate and check her. At length she
said, in an irresolute voice, "I shall be at home this evening."

"And this evening," replied I, "I will call to see you." So saying, I
left the house.

This interval was tedious, but was to be endured with equanimity. I was
impatient to be gone to Baltimore, and hoped to be able to set out by
the dawn of next day. Meanwhile, I was necessarily to perform something
with respect to Clemenza.

After dinner I accompanied Mrs. Stevens to visit Miss Carlton. I was
eager to see a woman who could bear adversity in the manner which my
friend had described.

She met us at the door of her apartment. Her seriousness was not abated
by her smiles of affability and welcome. "My friend!" whispered I, "how
truly lovely is this Miss Carlton! Are the heart and the intelligence
within worthy of these features?"

"Yes, they are. The account of her employments, of her resignation to
the ill fate of the brother whom she loves, proves that they are."

My eyes were riveted to her countenance and person. I felt
uncontrollable eagerness to speak to her, and to gain her good opinion.

"You must know this young man, my dear Miss Carlton," said my friend,
looking at me; "he is my husband's friend, and professes a great desire
to be yours. You must not treat him as a mere stranger, for he knows
your character and situation already, as well as that of your brother."

She looked at me with benignity:--"I accept his friendship willingly and
gratefully, and shall endeavour to convince him that his good opinion is
not misplaced."

There now ensued a conversation somewhat general, in which this young
woman showed a mind vigorous from exercise and unembarrassed by care.
She affected no concealment of her own condition, of her wants, or her
comforts. She laid no stress upon misfortunes, but contrived to deduce
some beneficial consequence to herself, and some motive for gratitude to
Heaven, from every wayward incident that had befallen her.

This demeanour emboldened me, at length, to inquire into the cause