hold it; Leonora caught it.
"O, madam! O, Leonora!" exclaimed Cecilia; "now I have no hope left. Iintended, I was just going to tell----"
"Dear Cecilia," said Leonora, "you need not tell it me; I know italready, and I forgive you with all my heart."
"Yes, I can prove to you," said Mrs. Villars, "that Leonora has forgivenyou: it is she who has given you the prize; it was she who persuadedLouisa to give you her vote. I went to see her a little while ago, andperceiving, by her countenance, that something was the matter, I pressedher to tell me what it was.
"'Why, madam,' said she, 'Leonora has made me promise to give my shellto 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 gaveme a Flora.' Whilst Louisa was speaking," continued Mrs. Villars, "I sawthe silver box lying on the bed; I took it up, and asked if it was notyours, and how she came by it.
"'Indeed, madam,' said Louisa, 'I could have been almost certain thatit was Cecilia's; but Leonora gave it me, and she said that she boughtit of the pedlar this morning. If any body else had told me so, I couldnot have believed them, because I remembered the box so well; but Ican'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 willcarry your shell in it to Cecilia.'
"'Then, madam,' said she, 'if I must give it her, pray do take theFlora, and return it to her first, that she may not think it is for thatI do it.'"
"O, generous Leonora!" exclaimed Cecilia; "but indeed, Louisa, I cannottake your shell."
"Then, dear Cecilia, accept of mine instead of it; you cannot refuseit--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 respectfuland affectionate admiration.
"O, Leonora, how I love you! and how I wish to be like you!" exclaimedCecilia; "to be as good, as generous!"
"Rather wish, Cecilia," interrupted Mrs. Villars, "to be as just; to beas strictly honourable, and as invariably consistent.
"Remember that many of our sex are capable of great efforts, of makingwhat they call great sacrifices to virtue or to friendship; but fewtreat their friends with habitual gentleness, or uniformly conductthemselves with prudence and good sense."
THE END.