Beadle's Dime Novels No. 14 — page 71: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

~< ROSALIE’S ATTENTIONS. 69 diverted by occasional inquiries or remarks from his friend Noyse, who was reading a book by a window. Noyse was not quite so rollicking as when he left Lake George, and had grown a little thinner; otherwise he seemed contented and tranquil. Grateful as Mr. Percy felt for the attentions of Miss Sloane to his daughter, he could not help smiling at the friendship which had blossomed into full flower so quickly. Men, slow to make up their minds, acting from prudence or reason, and not from impulse, reserved if not cold, self-possessed and con- servative, laugh at the sudden and ardent friendships which spring up between women—especially young women, who have not yet grown to lavishing all the ‘wealth of their natures upon husbands and children. They do not under- stand it, and are apt to think it weak or ridiculous; but, in fact, it is rather admirable. The want of worldly wisdom, of fear and suspicion, the gushing out of affection seeking some object, the quick sympathy of kindred emotions, the banish- ment of envy, the confidence, the enthusiasm, are beautiful and becoming to youth and gentleness. So this new intimacy between the young ladies promised well for their hearts, if not their heads. After tea the evening passed rapidly away; Rosalie spend- ing the most of it with her friends in their parlor, where the young gentlemen, Lulu, and all, were congregated. Very early, only a little after nine, she bade them good night, and returned to Clematis’s room. “You must be very weary with your hurried journey, Mrs. Percy, and I have come to send you away for rest. I must stay with Clematis to-night. She does not need any attention now; so I will just take this cot-bed so as to be within call if she should chance to want any thing, and shall sleep just as nicely as if I were in my own room. You must.make no ob- jections, for to-morrow I go away, and this is my last night, you know.” So they left the sweet persuader to have her own way. “Do you feel like sleeping, or are you a to night, darling ?” “Cool and composed, and comfortable as can be” replied Clematis. comlclooks.com