will flirt with her to my heart's content, if only to spite what's his name, the potter."
Perhaps it was in virtue of this resolution that he was so amiable and pleased with every thing on the widow's supper-table. What bread, and what delicious butter! and did Miss Mary really and truly make that cake! He had tasted nothing like it in New York, nor in Paris either. And this must be caravan tea; it could be no other.
The tea was some Mrs. J.'s brother, Captain Bluff, in the East-Indian trade, had brought home for her; and so was the preserved ginger. He must try some; it was the best thing in the world for a ———
"O ma!" cried Miss Mary here. Indeed the old lady valued it as a stomachic, and never brought it to table even when her best friends supped with her; but who, let it again be asked, could resist the blandishments of so delightful a guest! It almost brought tears to her eyes to see how he ate out of their plated spoons as if they had been the gold ones he was accustomed to, and which she began to think hot Mary would one day have the charge of counting. She longed to tell him he had her consent and blessing beforehand, and took great credit, in secret, for the adroit conversation with poor Thomas Elkhart, which no doubt caused that young gentleman's seat at table to be vacant, the first evening for weeks past. To do her justice, our heroine noticed the empty place too, and with some expressions of regret, at first, which annoyed Mr. Clarence more than he would have chosen to confess; but as the field was his for the evening, and he exerted himself to fascinate, perhaps Elkhart was in the thoughts of none of them long, Mrs. J., who, for the past hour, had been rocking herself in her state mahogany-and-mohair chair, smiling perpetually, listening and castle-building, declared him, when he was gone, to be the most talented young man she had ever laid eyes on; meaning young Van Trump! What beautiful compliments he paid! Who was that he said she was like—the Duchess who? Sweet Mary Jones did not remember the name, but she did the substance of the compliment, and of many others, and wished in her heart Elkhart were as elegant in address. Thomas Elkhart seemed to think her better than she was, she knew, but then why did n't he say
