tales for fifteen-第2章

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Emmerson　had　good　sense　enough　to　perceive　the
value　of　such　an　acquaintance　for　her　ward；　but；
unfortunately　for　her　wish　to　establish　an　intimacy
between　her　nieces；　Julia　had　already　formed　a
friendship　at　school；　and　did　not　conceive　her　heart
was　large　enough　to　admit　two　at　the　same　time　to
its　sanctuary。　How　much　Julia　was　mistaken　the
sequel　of　our　tale　will　show。

So　long　as　Anna　Miller　was　the　inmate　of　the
school；　Julia　was　satisfied　to　remain　also；　but　the
father　of　Anna　having　determined　to　remove　to　an
estate　in　the　interior　of　the　country；　his　daughter
was　taken　from　school；　and　while　the　arrangements
were　making　for　the　reception　of　the　family　on　the
banks　of　the　Gennessee；　Anna　was　permitted　to
taste；　for　a　short　time；　the　pleasures　of　the　world；
at　the　residence　of　Miss　Emmerson　on　the　banks　of
the　Hudson。

｛Gennessee　=　Genesee　River；　which　flows　north
through　central　New　York　State　to　Lake　Ontarioat
the　time　of　Cooper's　story　it　was　still　on　the
frontier　of　settlement｝

Charles　Weston　was　a　distant　relative　of　the　good
aunt；　and　was；　like　Julia；　an　orphan；　who　was
moderately　endowed　with　the　goods　of　fortune。　He
was　a　student　in　the　office　of　her　uncle；　and　being
a　great　favourite　with　Miss　Emmerson；　spent　many
of　his　leisure　hours；　during　the　heats　of　the
summer；　in　the　retirement　of　her　country　residence。

Whatever　might　be　the　composure　of　the　maiden
aunt；　while　Julia　was　weeping　in　her　chamber　over
the　long　separation　that　was　now　to　exist　between
herself　and　her　friend；　young　Weston　by　no　means
displayed　the　same　philosophic　indifference。　He
paced　the　hall　of　the　building　with　rapid　steps；　cast
many　a　longing　glance　at　the　door　of　his　cousin's
room；　and　then　rested　himself　with　an　apparent
intention　to　read　the　volume　he　held　in　his　hands；
nor　did　he　in　any　degree　recover　his　composure
until　Julia　re…appeared　on　the　landing　of　the　stairs；
moving　slowly　towards　their　bottom；　when；　taking
one　long　look　at　her　lovely　face；　which　was　glowing
with　youthful　beauty；　and　if　possible　more　charming
from　the　traces　of　tears　in　her　eyes；　he　coolly
pursued　his　studies。　Julia　had　recovered　her
composure；　and　Charles　Weston　felt　satisfied。　Miss
Emmerson　and　her　niece　took　their　seats　quietly
with　their　work　at　an　open　window　of　the　parlour；
and　order　appeared　to　be　restored　in　some　measure
to　the　mansion。　After　pursuing　their　several
occupations　for　some　minutes　with　a　silence　that
had　lately　been　a　stranger　to　them；　the　aunt
observed

〃You　appear　to　have　something　new　in　hand；　my
love。　Surely　you　must　abound　with　trimmings；　and
yet　you　are　working　another　already？〃

〃It　is　for　Anna　Miller；〃　said　Julia　with　a　flush　of
feeling。

〃I　was　in　hopes　you　would　perform　your　promise　to
your　cousin　Katherine；　now　Miss　Miller　is　gone；　and
make　your　portion　of　the　garments　for　the　Orphan
Asylum；〃　returned　Miss　Emmerson　gravely。

〃Oh！　cousin　Katherine　must　wait。　I　promised　this
trimming　to　Anna　to　remember　me　by；　and　I　would
not　disappoint　the　dear　girl　for　the　world。〃

〃It　is　not　your　cousin　Katherine；　but　the　Orphans；
who　will　have　to　wait；　and　surely　a　promise　to　a
relation　is　as　sacred　as　one　to　an　acquaintance。〃

〃Acquaintance；　aunt！〃　echoed　the　niece　with
displeasure。　〃Do　not；　I　entreat　you；　call　Anna　an
acquaintance　merely。　She　is　my　friendmy　very
best　friend；　and　I　love　her　as　such。〃

〃Thank　you；　my　dear；〃　said　the　aunt　dryly。

〃Oh！　I　mean　nothing　disrespectful　to　yourself；　dear
aunt；〃　continued　Julia。　〃You　know　how　much　I　owe
to　you；　and　ought　to　know　that　I　love　you　as　a
mother。〃

〃And　would　you　prefer　Miss　Miller　to　a　mother；
then？〃

〃Surely　not　in　respect；　in　gratitude；　in　obedience；
but　still　I　may　love　her；　you　know。　Indeed；　the
feelings　are　so　very　different；　that　they　do　not　at
all　interfere　with　each　otherin　my　heart　at　least。〃

〃No！〃　said　Miss　Emmerson；　with　a　little　curiosity〃I
wish　you　would　try　and　explain　this　difference　to
me；　that　I　may　comprehend　the　distinctions　that
you　are　fond　of　making。〃

〃Why；　nothing　is　easier；　dear　aunt！〃　said　Julia　with
animation。　〃You　I　love　because　you　are　kind　to　me；
attentive　to　my　wants；　considerate　for　my　good；
affectionate；　andandfrom　habitand　you　are　my
aunt；　and　take　care　of　me。〃

〃Admirable　reasons！〃　exclaimed　Charles　Weston；
who　had　laid　aside　his　book　to　listen　to　this
conversation。

〃They　are　forcible　ones　I　must　admit；〃　said　Miss
Emmerson；　smiling　affectionately　on　her　niece；　〃but
now　for　the　other　kind　of　love。〃

〃Why；　Anna　is　my　friend；　you　know；〃　cried　Julia；
with　eyes　sparkling　with　enthusiasm。　〃I　love　her；
because　she　has　feelings　congenial　with　my　own；
she　has　so　much　wit；　is　so　amusing；　so　frank；　so
like　a　girl　of　talentsso　likelike　every　thing　I
admire　myself。〃

〃It　is　a　pity　that　one　so　highly　gifted　cannot　furnish
herself　with　frocks；〃　said　the　aunt；　with　a　little
more　than　her　ordinary　dryness　of　manner；　〃and
suffer　you　to　work　for　those　who　want　them　more。〃

〃You　forget　it　is　in　order　to　remember　me；〃　said
Julia；　in　a　manner　that　spoke　her　own　ideas　of　the
value　of　the　gift。

〃One　would　think　such　a　friendship　would　not
require　any　thing　to　remind　one　of　its　existence；〃
returned　the　aunt。

〃Why！　it　is　not　that　she　will　forget　me　without　it；
but　that　she　may　have　something　by　her　to　remind
her　of　me…〃　said　Julia　rapidly；　but　pausing　as　the
contradiction　struck　even　herself。

〃I　understand　you　perfectly；　my　child；〃　interrupted
the　aunt；　〃merely　as　an　unnecessary　security；　you
mean。〃

〃To　make　assurance　doubly　sure；〃　cried　Charles
Weston　with　a　laugh。

〃Oh！　you　laugh；　Mr。　Weston；〃　said　Julia　with　a　little
anger；　〃but　I　have　often　said；　you　were　incapable　of
friendship。〃

〃Try　me！〃　exclaimed　the　youth　fervently。　〃Do　not
condemn　me　without　a　trial。〃

〃How　can　I？〃　said　Julia；　laughing　in　her　turn。　〃You
are　not　a　girl。〃

〃Can　girls　then　only　feel　friendship？〃　inquired
Charles；　taking　the　seat　which　Miss　Emmerson　had
relinquished。

〃I　sometimes　think　so；〃　said　Julia；　with　her　own
good…humoured　smile。　〃You　are　too　grosstoo
enviousin　short；　you　never　see　such　friendships
between　men　as　exist　between　women。〃

〃Between　girls；　I　will　readily　admit；〃　returned　the
youth。　〃But　let　us　examine　this　question　after　the
manner　of　the　courts〃

〃Nay；　if　you　talk　law　I　shall　quit　you；〃　interrupted
the　young　lady　gaily。

〃Certainly　one　so　learned　in　the　subject　need　not
dread　a　cross…examination；〃　cried　the　youth；　in　her
own　manner。

〃Well；　proceed；〃　cried　the　lady。　〃I　have　driven　aunt
Margaret　from　the　field；　and　you　will　fare　no　better；
I　can　assure　you。〃

〃Men；　you　say；　are　too　gross　to　feel　a　pure
friendship；　in　the　first　place；　please　to　explain
yourself　on　this　point。〃

〃Why　I　mean；　that　your　friendships　are　generally
interested；　that　it　requires　services　and　good
offices　to　support　it。〃

｛interested　=　not　pure；　having　an　ulterior　motive｝

〃While　that　of　women　depends　on〃

〃Feeling　alone。〃

〃But　what　excites　this　feeling？〃　asked　Charles　with
a　smile。

〃What？　why　sympathyand　a　knowledge　of　each
other's　good　qualities。〃

〃Then　you　think　Miss　Miller　has　more　good　qualities
than　Katherine　Emmerson；〃　said　Weston。

〃When　did　I　ever　say　so？〃　cried　Julia　in　surprise。

〃I　infer　it　from　your　loving　her　better；　merely；〃
returned　the　young　man　with　a　little　of　Miss
Emmerson's　dryness。

〃It　would　be　difficult　to　compare　them；〃　said　Julia
after　a　moment's　pause。　〃Katherine　is　in　the　world；
and　has　had　an　opportunity　of　showing　her　merit；
that　Anna　has　never　enjoyed。　Katherine　is　certainly
a　most　excellent　girl；　and　I　like　her　very　much；　but
there　is　no　reason　to　think　that　Anna　will　not　prove
as　fine　a　young　woman　as　Katherine；　when　put　to
the　trial。〃

〃Pray；〃　said　the　young　lawyer　with　great　gravity；
〃how　many　of　these　bosom；　these　confidential
friends　can　a　young　woman　have　at　the　same
time？〃

〃One；　only　oneany　more　than　she　could　have　two
lovers；〃　cried　Julia　quickly。

〃Why　then　did　you　find　it　necessary　to　take　that
one　from　a　set；　that　was　untried　in　the　practice　of
well…doing；　when　so　excellent　a　subject　as　your
cousin　Katherine　offered？〃

〃But　Anna　I　know；　I　feel；　is　every　thing　that　is　good
and　sincere；　and　our　sympathies　drew　us　together。
Katherine　I　loved　naturally。〃

〃How　naturally？〃

〃Is　it　not　natural　to　love　your　relatives？〃　said　Julia
in　surprise。

〃No；〃　was　the　brief　answer。

〃Surely；　Charles　Weston；　you　think　me　a　simpleton。
Does　not　every　parent　love　its　child　by　natural
instinct？〃

〃No：　no　more　than　you　love　any　of　your
amusements　from　instinct。　If　the　parent　was
present　with　a　child　that　he　did　not　know　to　be　his
own；　would　instinct；　think　you；　discover　their
vicinity？〃

〃Certainly　not；　if　they　had　never　met　before；　but
then；　as　soon　as　he　knew　it　to　be　his；　he　would
love　it　from　nature。〃

〃It　is　a　complicated　question；　and　one　that　involves
a　thousand　connected　feelings；〃　said　Charles。　〃But
all　love；　at　least　all　love　of　the　heart；　springs　from
the　causes　you　mentioned　to　your　auntgood
offices；　a　dependence　on　each　other；　and　habit。〃

〃Yes；　and　nature　too；〃　said　the　young　lady　rather
positively；　〃and　I　contend；　that　natural　lore；　and
love　from　sympathy；　are　two　distinct　things。〃

〃Very　different；　I　allow；〃　said　Charles；　〃only　I　very
much　doubt　the　durability　of　that　affection　which
has　no　better　foundation　than　fancy。〃

〃You　use　such　queer　terms；　Charles；　that　you　do
not　treat　the　subject　fairly。　Calling　innate　evidence
of　worth　by　the　name　of　fancy；　is　not　candid。〃

〃Now；　indeed；　your　own　terms　puzzle　me；〃　said
Charles；　smiling。　〃What　is　innate　evidence　of
worth？〃

〃Why；　a　conviction　that　another　possesses　all　that
you　esteem　yourself；　and　is　discovered　by　congenial
feelings　and　natural　sympathies。〃

〃Upon　my　word；　Julia；　you　are　quite　a　casuist　on
this　subject。　Does　love；　then；　between　the　sexes
depend　on　this　congenial　sympathy　and　innate
evidence？〃

〃Now　you　talk　on　a　subject　that　I　do　not
understand；〃　said　Julia；　blushing；　and；　catching　up
the　highly　prized　work；　she　ran　to　her　own　room；
leaving　the　young　man　in　a　state　of　mingled
admiration　and　pity。



CHAPTER　II。

AN　anxious　fortnight　was　passed　by　Julia　Warren；
after　this　conversation；　without　bringing　any　tidings
from　her　friend。　She　watched；　with　feverish
restlessness；　each　steam…boat　that　passed　the
door　on　its　busy　way　towards　the　metropolis；　and
met　the　servant　each　day　at　the　gate　of　the　lawn
on　his　return　from　the　city；　but　it　was　only　to
receive　added　disappointments。　At　length　Charles
Weston　good…naturedly　offered　his　own　services；
laughingly　declaring；　that　his　luck　was　never　known
to　fail。　Julia　herself　had　written　several　long
epistles　to　Anna；　and　it　was　now　the　proper　time
that　some　of　these　should　be　answered；
independently　of　the　thousand　promises　from　her
friend　of　writing　regularly　from　every　post…office
that　she　might　pass　on　her　route　to　the　Gennessee。
But　the　happy　moment　had　arrived　when
disappointments　were　to　cease。

As　usual；　Julia　was　waiting　with　eager　impatience
at　the　gate；　her　lovely　form　occasionally　gliding
from　the　shrubbery　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　the
passengers　on　the　highway；　wh