ot betray you--at least for a time. However, you had
better proceed as rapidly as possible, and if the means of pursuing your
claim be necessary--I mean in point of money--have no scruple in
applying to me."

Putting on an air of queenly dignity, Mrs. Hazleton proceeded in search
of Emily, as soon as the young man was gone. She found her in tears; and
sitting down by her side, she took her hand in a kindly manner, saying,
"My dear child, I am very sorry for all this, but it is really in some
degree your own fault. Nay, you need not explain any thing. I have just
had young Ayliffe with me. He has told me all, and I have dismissed him
with a sharp rebuke. If you had confided to me last night that he had
proposed to you, and you had rejected him, I would have taken care that
he should not have admittance to you. Indeed, I am surprised that he
should presume to propose at all, without longer acquaintance. But he
seems to have agitated and terrified you much. What did he want?"

"He endeavored to make me promise," replied Emily, "that I would not
tell my father, or any one, of what had occurred."

"Foolish boy! he might have taken that for granted," replied Mrs.
Hazleton, forgetting for an instant what she had just said. "No woman of
any delicacy ever speaks of a matter of this kind, when once she has
taken upon herself to reject a proposal unconditionally. If she wishes
for advice," continued the lady, recollecting herself, "or thinks that
the suit may be pressed improperly, of course she's free to ask counsel
and assistance of some female friend, on whom she can depend. But the
moment the thing is decided, of course, she is silent for ever; for
nothing can be more a matter of honorable confidence than an avowal of
honorable love. I will write him a note, and tell him he is in no
danger, but warn him not to present himself here again, so long as you
are with me."

Emily made no answer, trying to decide in her own mind whether Mrs.
Hazleton's reasoning was right; and that lady, choosing to take her
assent for granted, from her silence, hurried away, to give her no
opportunity for retracting.

FOOTNOTES:

[G] Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1850, by G. P. R.
James, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States
for the Southern District of New-York.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Before the door of a large brick building, with no windows towards the
street, and tall walls rising up till they