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 sh.e.l.l 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 sh.e.l.l 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 sh.e.l.l."
"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 a.s.sure 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 s.e.x 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.
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT; OR, TWO STRINGS TO YOUR BOW.
By Maria Edgeworth.
LAZY LAWRENCE; OR, INDUSTRY AND IDLENESS CONTRASTED.
By Maria Edgeworth.
THE BRACELETS; OR, AMIABILITY AND INDUSTRY REWARDED.
By Maria Edgeworth.
THE FIRESIDE STORY BOOK; CONTAINING "LAZY LAWRENCE" "WASTE NOT, WANT NOT," AND "THE BRACELETS."
Elegantly Ill.u.s.trated.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
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.
Ill.u.s.trated with Numerous Engravings.
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.
CONTENTS.
New Story about Little Tom Thumb and his Mother.
New Little Stories about the Alphabet.
Merry Multiplication.
New Story about Old Daddy Longlegs.