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.'
"'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.
"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.