Page:A New England Tale.djvu/102

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A NEW-ENGLAND TALE.
91

such a girl as Jane Elton walking alone, and not be permitted to join her."

"Sir?" said Jane, confounded by Edward's unexpected gallantry.

Abashed by her simplicity, he replied, "that he was going to walk, and should be very happy to attend her."

Jane felt kindness, though she knew not how to receive gallantry. She thanked him, and they walked on together. When Edward parted from her, he wondered he had never noticed before how very interesting she was, "and what a sweet expression she has when she smiles; and, oh!" added he, with a rapture quite excusable in a young man of twenty, "her eye is in itself a soul."

"Jane," said Mary Hull to her, as she entered her room, "you look as bright as a May morning, and I have that to tell you, that will make you yet brighter. Mr. Evertson has been here, inquiring for Mr. Lloyd. I had my surmises, that it was something about you, and though Mr. Lloyd was gone, I was determined to find out; and so I made bold to break the ice, and say something about the exhibition, and how much Mr. Lloyd was pleased with the school, &c. &c.—and then he said, he was quite disappointed to find Mr. Lloyd gone; he wanted to consult him about a matter of great importance to himself and to you. Mr. Lloyd was so kind, he said, and had shown such an interest in the school, that he did not like to take any important step without consulting him; and then he spoke very handsomely of those elegant globes that