Chapter 3
Here Leonora heard a number of her companions running along the gallery. They all knocked hastily at the door, calling, "Leonora! Leonora! will you never come? Cecilia has been with us this half hour."
Leonora smiled. "Well, Louisa," said she, smiling, "will you promise me?"
"O, I'm sure, by the way they speak to you, that they won't give you the prize!" said the little Louisa; and the tears started into her eyes.
"They love me though, for all that; and as for the prize, you know whom I wish to have it."
"Leonora! Leonora!" called her impatient companions; "don't you hear us? What are you about?"
"O, she never will take any trouble about any thing," said one of the party; "let's go away."
"O go! go! make haste," cried Louisa; "don't stay, they are so angry--I will, I will, indeed!"
"Remember, then, that you have promised me," said Leonora, and she left the room. During all this time Cecilia had been in the garden with her companions. The ambition which she had felt to win the first prize, the prize of superior talents and superior application, was not to be compared to the absolute anxiety which she now expressed to win this simple testimony of the love and approbation of her equals and rivals.
To employ her exuberant activity, she had been dragging branches of lilacs, and laburnums, roses, and sweet-briar, to ornament the bower in which her fate was to be decided. It was excessively hot, but her mind was engaged, and she was indefatigable. She stood still, at last, to admire her works; her companions all joined in loud applause. They were not a little prejudiced in her favour by the great eagerness which she expressed to win their prize, and by the great importance which she seemed to affix to the preference of each individual. At last, "Where is Leonora?" cried one of them, and immediately, as we have seen, they ran to call her.
Cecilia was left alone. Overcome with heat and too violent exertion, she had hardly strength to support herself; each moment appeared to her intolerably long; she was in a state of the utmost suspense, and all her courage failed her; even hope forsook her, and hope is a cordial which leaves the mind depressed and enfeebled. "The time is now come," said Cecilia; "in a few moments it will be decided. In a few moments! goodness! how much I do hazard! If I should not win the prize, how shall I confess what I have done? How shall I beg Leonora to forgive me? I, who hoped to restore my friendship to her as an honour!--they are gone to seek for her--the moment she appears I shall be forgotten--what shall--what shall I do?" said Cecilia, covering her face with her hands.
Such was her situation, when Leonora, accompanied by her companions, opened the hall-door; they most of them ran forward to Cecilia. As Leonora came into the bower, she held out her hand to Cecilia----"We are not rivals, but friends, I hope," said she. Cecilia clasped her hand, but she was in too great agitation to speak.
The table was now set in the arbour--the vase was now placed in the middle. "Well!" said Cecilia, eagerly, "who begins?" Caroline, one of her friends, came forward first, and then all the others successively. Cecilia's emotion was hardly conceivable.----"Now they are all in. Count them, Caroline!"
"One, two, three, four; the numbers are both equal." There was a dead silence.
"No, they are not," exclaimed Cecilia, pressing forward and putting a shell into the vase----"I have not given mine, and I give it to Leonora." Then snatching the bracelet, "It is yours, Leonora," said she; "take it, and give me back your friendship." The whole assembly gave a universal clap and shout of applause.
"I cannot be surprised at this from you, Cecilia," said Leonora; "and do you then still love me as you used to do?"
"O Leonora! stop! don't praise me; I don't deserve this," said she, turning to her loudly applauding companions; "you will soon despise me--O Leonora, you will never forgive me!--I have deceived you--I have sold----"
At this instant Mrs. Villars appeared--the crowd divided--she had heard all that passed from her window.
"I applaud your generosity, Cecilia," said she, "but I am to tell you that in this instance it is unsuccessful; you have it not in your power to give the prize to Leonora--it is yours--I have another vote to give you--you have forgotten Louisa."
"Louisa! but surely, ma'am, Louisa loves Leonora better than she does me!"
"She commissioned me, however," said Mrs. Villars, "to give you a red shell, and you will find it in this box."
Cecilia started, and turned as pale as death--it was the fatal box.
Mrs. Villars produced another box--she opened it--it contained the Flora--"And Louisa also desired me," said she, "to return you this Flora"--she put it into Cecilia's hand--Cecilia trembled so that she could not hold it; Leonora caught it.
"O, madam! O, Leonora!" exclaimed Cecilia; "now I have no hope left. I intended, I was just going to tell----"
"Dear Cecilia," said Leonora, "you need not tell it me; I know it already, and I forgive you with all my heart."
"Yes, I can prove to you," said Mrs. Villars, "that Leonora has forgiven you: it is she who has given you the prize; it was she who persuaded Louisa to give you her vote. I went to see her a little while ago, and perceiving, by her countenance, that something was the matter, I pressed her to tell me what it was.
"'Why, madam,' said she, 'Leonora has made me promise to give my shell to Cecilia. Now I don't love Cecilia half so well as I do Leonora; besides, I would not have Cecilia think I vote for her because she gave me a Flora.' Whilst Louisa was speaking," continued Mrs. Villars, "I saw the silver box lying on the bed; I took it up, and asked if it was not yours, and how she came by it.
"'Indeed, madam,' said Louisa, 'I could have been almost certain that it was Cecilia's; but Leonora gave it me, and she said that she bought it of the pedlar this morning. If any body else had told me so, I could not have believed them, because I remembered the box so well; but I can't help believing Leonora.'
"'But did you not ask Cecilia about it?' said I.
"'No, madam,' replied Louisa, 'for Leonora forbade me.'
"I guessed her reason. 'Well,' said I, 'give me the box, and I will carry your shell in it to Cecilia.'
"'Then, madam,' said she, 'if I must give it her, pray do take the Flora, and return it to her first, that she may not think it is for that I do it.'"
"O, generous Leonora!" exclaimed Cecilia; "but indeed, Louisa, I cannot take your shell."
"Then, dear Cecilia, accept of mine instead of it; you cannot refuse it--I only follow your example. As for the bracelet," added Leonora, taking Cecilia's hand, "I assure you I don't wish for it, and you do, and you deserve it."
"No," said Cecilia, "indeed I do not deserve it; next to you, surely, Louisa deserves it best."
"Louisa! O yes, Louisa," exclaimed every body with one voice.
"Yes," said Mrs. Villars, "and let Cecilia carry the bracelet to her; she deserves that reward. For one fault I cannot forget all your merits, Cecilia; nor, I am sure, will your companions."
"Then, surely, not your best friend," said Leonora, kissing her.
Every body present was moved--they looked up to Leonora with respectful and affectionate admiration.
"O, Leonora, how I love you! and how I wish to be like you!" exclaimed Cecilia; "to be as good, as generous!"
"Rather wish, Cecilia," interrupted Mrs. Villars, "to be as just; to be as strictly honourable, and as invariably consistent.
"Remember that many of our sex are capable of great efforts, of making what they call great sacrifices to virtue or to friendship; but few treat their friends with habitual gentleness, or uniformly conduct themselves with prudence and good sense."
THE END.
A CATALOGUE OF ILLUSTRATED AND ENTERTAINING JUVENILE WORKS.
LITTLE ANNIE'S FIRST BOOK, CHIEFLY IN WORDS OF THREE LETTERS.
By Her Mother.
Illustrated with Seventy Designs.
One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents.
This little volume will commend itself to parents, as a book for children who have just mastered the alphabet.
* * * * *
THE TRAVELS AND EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF BOB THE SQUIRREL.
Illustrated with Twelve Engravings by Distinguished Artists.
One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents.
Bob's adventures are full of interest, and no child can fail to be amused and permanently benefited by the perusal of them. The book is designed for a child from six to ten years of age.
* * * * *
CLARA'S AMUSEMENTS.
"Oh, happy childhood! whose sweet fruits of pleasure Are plucked in the safe garden of thy home."--M.S.
By Mrs. Anna Bache.
One Volume square 16mo. Illustrated with Original Designs.
Price 50 cents.
* * * * *
THE BLOSSOMS OF MORALITY; INTENDED FOR THE AMUSEMENT AND INSTRUCTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
Illustrated with Twenty-three Designs by Darley.
One Volume 15mo. Price 38 cts.
* * * * *
HOLIDAY HOUSE: A SERIES OF TALES
By Miss Sinclair.
From the third London Edition.
Prettily illustrated by Croome.
One Volume 16mo. Price 75 cents.
"We find in this volume, as in all of Miss Sinclair's other productions, the same lively intellect, the same buoyant good humour, the same easy and vigorous style, the same happy talent for observation and description, the same warfare against the fashionable follies of the day, and the same assiduity in inculcating the lessons of morality and religion."--_Edinburgh Advertiser_.
* * * * *
THE LIFE AND WANDERINGS OF A MOUSE
Illustrated with Ten Designs by Croome.
One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents.
"An instructive and amusing volume, that will be read by every child with pleasure."
* * * * *
THE CHILD'S OWN STORY BOOK; OR, TALES AND DIALOGUES FOR THE NURSERY.
BY Mrs. Jerram.
Illustrated with Numerous Engravings.
One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents.
* * * * *
THE CHILD'S DELIGHT; A GIFT FOR ALL SEASONS.
Edited by a lady.
Prettily Illustrated with Coloured Steel Engravings, Designed by Croome.
One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents.
* * * * *
MARIA EDGEWORTH'S CHEAP JUVENILE WORKS.
* * * * *
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT; OR, TWO STRINGS TO YOUR BOW.
By Maria Edgeworth.
One Volume square 16mo. Price 25 cents.
* * * * *
LAZY LAWRENCE; OR, INDUSTRY AND IDLENESS CONTRASTED.
By Maria Edgeworth.
One Volume square 16mo. Price 25 cents.
* * * * *
THE BRACELETS; OR, AMIABILITY AND INDUSTRY REWARDED.
By Maria Edgeworth.
One Volume square 16mo. Price 25 cents.
* * * * *
THE FIRESIDE STORY BOOK; CONTAINING "LAZY LAWRENCE" "WASTE NOT, WANT NOT," AND "THE BRACELETS."
Elegantly Illustrated.
One Volume 16mo. Price 50 cents.
* * * * *
MAMMA'S BIBLE STORIES FOR HER LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS.
A SERIES OF READING LESSONS TAKEN FROM THE BIBLE, AND ADAPTED TO THE CAPACITIES OF VERY YOUNG CHILDREN.
Illustrated with Numerous Engravings.
One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents
* * * * *
GRANDMAMMA EASY'S BEAUTIFUL TOY BOOKS, FOR ALL GOOD CHILDREN.
Very large size, printed on very large type, and elegantly coloured, with gilt edges.
Put up in wrappers, each containing one dozen.
Price $1.50 per Dozen.
CONTENTS.
New Story about Little Tom Thumb and his Mother. New Little Stories about the Alphabet. Merry Multiplication. New Story about Old Daddy Longlegs. New Story about Little Jack Horner, and of what his Pie was made. Michaelmas Day, or the Fate of poor Molly Goosey. Alderman's Feast: A new Alphabet. New Story about the Queen of Hearts, and the Stolen Tarts. New Pictorial Bible Alphabet. Toy Shop Drolleries, or Wonders of a Toy Shop. Travels of Matty Macaroni, the Little Organ Boy. New Story of Joseph and his Brethren.
* * * * *
VERY LITTLE TALES FOR VERY LITTLE CHILDREN.
In single syllables of three and four letters. Large and bold type.
With Numerous Illustrations.
Two Volumes 32mo. Price 75 cents.
* * * * *
LITTLE LESSONS FOR LITTLE LEARNERS.
In words of one syllable.
By Mrs. Barwell, Author of "Mamma's Bible Stories."
One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents.
* * * * *
POPULAR TALES.
By Maria Edgeworth.
With Original Designs by Croome.
CONTENTS.
MURAD THE UNLUCKY. THE MANUFACTURERS. THE CONTRAST. THE GRATEFUL NEGRO. TO-MORROW.
One Volume 16mo. Price 75 cents.
"The writings of Maria Edgeworth have rarely been approached, and none have excelled her. Her stories are so natural, and are told with such truthfulness, that the reader becomes completely captivated."
* * * * *
MORAL TALES.
By Maria Edgeworth.
Embellished with Original Designs by Darley.
Price 75 cents.
"If we wished to do a young person good while offering amusement, to improve the heart while engaging the attention, and to give him or her little books which convey no false or distorted notions of life--Maria Edgeworth is our author."--_Post_.
* * * * *
DIVINE AND MORAL SONGS, FOR THE USE OF CHILDREN
By Isaac Watts, D.D.
Illustrated with 24 Engravings in the Highest Style of Art.
One elegant Volume, 16mo. Price 75 cts.
"This will be a constant furniture for the minds of children, that they may have something to think of when alone, and sing over to themselves. This may sometimes give their thoughts a divine turn, and raise a young meditation. Thus they will not be forced to seek relief for an emptiness of mind out of the loose and dangerous sonnets of the age."--_Extract from Author's Preface_.
* * * * *
MRS. SHERWOOD'S PRETTILY ILUSTRATED JUVENILES.
* * * * *
DUTY IS SAFETY; OR, TROUBLESOME TOM.
By Mrs. Sherwood.
One Volume square 16mo. Illustrated. Price 25 cents.
* * * * *
THINK BEFORE YOU ACT.
By Mrs. Sherwood.
One Volume square 16mo. Illustrated. Price 25 cents.
* * * * *
JACK, THE SAILOR BOY.
By Mrs. Sherwood.
One Volume square 16mo. Illustrated. Price 25 cents.
* * * * *
CLEVER STORIES FOR CLEVER BOYS AND GIRLS.
Containing
"Think before you Act," "Jack, the Sailor Boy," "Duty is Safety."
One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cts.
* * * * *
THE PRIZE STORY BOOK; CONSISTING CHIEFLY OF TALES TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN, FRENCH, AND ITALIAN, TOGETHER WITH SELECT TALES FROM THE ENGLISH.
Illustrated with Numerous Designs.
One Volume square 16mo. Half cloth 50 cts.; cloth extra 63 cts.
* * * * *
GEORGE'S JOURNEY TO THE LAND OF HAPPINESS.
By a Lady.
Illustrated with Sixteen Coloured Engravings.
One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents.
* * * * *
THE BOOK OF ANIMALS; INTENDED FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT AND INSTRUCTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
By R. Bilby.
Illustrated with Twelve Designs of Animals.
One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cents.
This volume is intended both as a useful and entertaining book for the young, abounding with Anecdotes of the Quadrupeds, and illustrated with numerous well executed designs.
* * * * *
THE HAPPY CHILDREN; A TALE OF HOME FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
Illustrated with Elegant Engravings.
One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cts.
A very interesting volume for children from six to twelve years of age.
* * * * *
RHYMES FOR THE NURSERY.
By the Author of "Original Poems."
Illustrated with Sixteen Designs.
One Volume square 16mo. Price 50 cts. plain; 63 cts. coloured.
* * * * *
HOLIDAY TALES. CONTAINING PLEASING STORIES FOR THE YOUNG.
Prettily Illustrated.
One Volume square 16mo. Price in half cloth, 25 cents; cloth gilt, 38 cents.
* * * * *
UNCLE JOHN'S FANCY PICTURE BOOKS.
In a new and unique style, put up in dozens assorted. Six kinds.
CONTENTS.
UNCLE JOHN'S PICTURE BIBLE ALPHABET. UNCLE JOHN'S STORY OF BOB. UNCLE JOHN'S STORY OF DOWNEY THE MOUSE. UNCLE JOHN'S STORIES OF ANIMALS. UNCLE JOHN'S BIBLE STORIES.