tales for fifteen-第7章

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every　feeling　that　is　dear　to　the　female　breast；　and
violates　all　that　is　delicate　and　sensitive　in　our
nature。　Surely；　where　it　is　necessary　from　any
adventitious　circumstances　to　lay　the　heart　open　in
this　manner；　it　should　only　be　done　to　those　whose
characters　are　connected　with　our　own；　and　who
feel　ridicule　inflicted　on　us；　as　disgrace　heaped　on
themselves。　A　peculiar　evil　of　these　confidential
friendships　is；　that　they　are　most　liable　to　occur；
when；　from　their　youth；　their　victims　are　the　least
guarded；　and；　at　the　same　time；　from　inconstancy；
the　most　liable　to　change。　Happily；　however；　for
Julia's　peace　of　mind；　she　foresaw　no　such　dangers
from　her　intimacy　with　Anna；　and　letter　and　answer
passed　between　them；　at　short　intervals；　during　the
remainder　of　the　summer。　We　shall　give　but　one
more　specimen　of　each；　as　they　have　strong
resemblance　to　one　anotherwe　select　two　that
were　written　late　in　August。

〃My　own　and　beloved　Julia；

〃Your　letters　are　the　only　consolation　that　my
anxious　heart　can　know　in　the　dreary　solitude　of
this　place。　Oh！　my　friend；　how　would　your　tender
heart　bleed　did　you　but　know　the　least　of　my
sufferings；　but　they　are　all　requited　by　the
delightful　anticipations　of　Park…Place。　I　hope　your
dear　aunt　has　not　found　it　necessary　to　lay　down
her　carriage　in　the　change　of　the　times：　write　me　in
your　next　about　it。　Antonio　has　been　here　again；
and　he　solicited　an　audience　with　me　in　privateof
course　I　granted　it；　for　friendship　hallows　all　that　is
done　under　its　mantle。　It　was　a　moonlight　night
mild　Luna　shedding　a　balmy　light　on　surrounding
objects；　and；　if　possible；　rendering　my　heart　more
sensitive　than　ever。　One　solitary　glimmering　star
showed　by　its　paly　quiverings　the　impress　of
evening；　while　not　a　cloud　obscured　the　vast
firmament　of　heaven。　On　such　an　evening　Antonio
could　do　nothing　but　converse　of　my　absent　friend；
he　dwelt　on　the　indescribable　grace　of　your　person；
the　lustre　of　your　eye；　and　the　vermilion　of　your
lips；　until　exhausted　language　could　furnish　no
more　epithets　of　rapture：　then　the　transition　to
your　mind　was　natural　and　easy；　and　it　was　while
listening　to　his　honied　accents　that　I　thought　my
Julia　herself　was　talking。

〃Soft　as　the　dews　from　heaven　descend；　his　gentle
accents　fell。〃

Ah；　Julia！　nothing　but　a　strong　pre…possession；　and
my　friendship　for　you；　could　remove　the　danger　of
such　a　scene。　Yes！　friend　of　my　heart；　I　must
acknowledge　my　weakness。　There　is　a　youth　in
New…York；　who　has　long　been　master　of　my　too
sensitive　heart；　and　without　him　life　will　be　a
burthen。　Cruel　fate　divides　us　now；　but　when
invited　by　your　aunt　to　Park…Place；　Oh；　rapture
unutterable！　I　shall　be　near　my　Regulus。　This；
surely；　is　all　that　can　be　wanting　to　stimulate　my
Julia　to　get　the　invitation　from　her　aunt。　Antonio
says　that　if　I　go　to　the　city　this　fall；　he　will　hover
near　me　on　the　road　to　guard　the　friend　of　Julia；
and　that　he　will　eagerly　avail　himself　of　my
presence　to　seek　her　society。　I　am　called　from　my
delightful　occupation　by　one　of　my　troublesome
sisters；　who　wishes　me　to　assist　her　in　some　trifle
or　other。　Make　my　most　profound　respects　to　your
dear；　good　aunt；　and　believe　me　your　own　true
friend；

ANNA。〃

｛Regulus　=　prince｝

At　length　Julia　thought　she　had　made　the　discovery
of　Anna's　reason　for　her　evident　desire　to　spend　the
winter　in　townlike　herself；　her　friend　had　become
the　victim　of　the　soft　passion；　and　from　that
moment　Julia　determined　that　Katherine　Emmerson
must　seek　another　residence；　in　order　that　Anna
might　breathe　love's　atmosphere。　How　much　a
desire　to　see　Antonio　governed　this　decision；　we
cannot　say；　but　we　are　certain　that；　if　in　the　least；
Julia　was　herself　ignorant　of　the　power。　With　her；　it
seemed　to　be　the　result　of　pure；　disinterested；　and
confiding　friendship。　In　answer；　our　heroine　wrote
as　follows：

〃My　beloved　Anna；

〃Your　kind；　consolatory　letters　are　certainly　the
solace　of　my　life。　Ah！　Anna；　I　have　long　thought
that　some　important　secret　lay　heavy　at　your　heart。
The　incoherency　of　your　letters；　and　certain　things
too　trifling　to　mention；　had　made　me　suspect　that
some　unusual　calamity　had　befallen　you。　You　do
not　mention　who　Regulus　is。　I　am　burning　with
curiosity　to　know；　although　I　doubt　not　but　he　is
every　way　worthy　of　your　choice。

〃I　have　in　vain　run　over　in　my　mind　every　young
man　that　we　know；　but　not　one　of　them　that　I　can
find　has　any　of　the　qualities　of　a　hero。　Do　relieve
my　curiosity　in　your　next；　and　I　may　have　it　in　my
power　to　write　you　something　of　his　movements。
Oh！　Anna；　why　will　you　dwell　on　the　name　of
AntonioI　am　sure　I　ought　not　to　listen　as　I　do　to
what　he　saysand　when　we　meet；　I　am　afraid　that
he　will　not　find　all　the　attractions　which　your　too
partial　friendship　has　portrayed。　If　he　should　be
thus　disappointed；　Oh！　AnnaAnnawhat　would
become　of　your　friendBut　I　will　not　dwell　an　the
horrid　idea。　Charles　Weston　is　yet　here；　and
Katherine　Emmerson　too；　so　that　but　for　the
thoughts　of　my　absent　Anna；　and　perhaps　a　little
uneasiness　on　the　subject　of　Antonio；　I　might　be
perfectly　happy。　You　know　how　good　and　friendly
Katherine　is；　and　really　Charles　does　all　in　his
power　to　please。　If　he　were　only　a　little　more
heroical；　he　would　be　a　charming　young　man：　for
although　he　is　not　very　handsome；　I　don't　think　you
notice　it　in　the　least　when　you　are　intimate　with
him。　Poor　Charles；　he　was　terribly　mortified　about
the　flash　of　lightningbut　then　all　are　not　brave
alike。　Adieu；　my　Annaand　if　you　do　converse　more
with　a　certain　person　about；　you　know　whom；　let　it
be　with　discretion；　or　you　may　raise　expectations
she　will　not　equal。　Your　own　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　JULIA。〃

〃P。　S。　I　had　almost　forgotten　to　say　that　aunt　has
promised　me　that　I　can　ask　you　to　stay　with　us；　if；
after　the　20th　September；　I　wish　it；　as　you　may　be
sure　that　I　will。　Aunt　keeps　her　carriage　yet；　and　I
hope　will　never　want　it　in　her　old　age。〃

About　the　time　this　letter　was　written；　Miss
Emmerson　made　both　of　her　nieces　acquainted　with
the　promised　project　that　was　to　give　them　the
agreeable　surprise：she　had　long　contemplated
going　to　see　〃the　Falls；〃　and　she　now　intended
putting　her　plan　into　execution。　Katherine　was
herself　pressed　to　make　one　of　the　party；　but　the
young　lady；　at　the　same　time　she　owned　her　wish
to　see　this　far…famed　cataract；　declined　the　offer
firmly；　but　gratefully；　on　account　of　her　desire　to
spend　the　remaining　time　with　her　father　and
mother；　before　they　went　to　the　south。　Charles
Weston　looked　from　Katherine　to　Julia　during　this
dialogue；　and　for　an　instant　was　at　a　loss　to　know
which　he　thought　the　handsomest　of　the　cousins。
But　Julia　entered　into　the　feelings　of　the　others　so
quickly；　and　so　gracefully　offered　to　give　up　the
journey；　in　order　that　Miss　Emmerson　might
continue　with　her　brother；　that；　aided　by　her
superior　beauty；　she　triumphed。　It　was　evident；
that　consideration　for　her　niece　was　a　strong
inducement　with　the　aunt　for　making　the　journey；
and　the　contest　became　as　disinterested　as　it　was
pleasing　to　the　auditors。　But　the　authority　of　Miss
Emmerson　prevailed；　and　Charles　was　instantly
enlisted　as　their　escort　for　the　journey。　Julia　never
looked　more　beautiful　or　amiable　than　during　this
short　controversy。　It　had　been　mentioned　by　the
aunt　that　she　should　take　the　house　of　Mr。　Miller　in
her　road；　and　the　information　excited　an　emotion
that　brought　all　her　lustre　to　her　eyes；　and　bloom
to　her　cheeks。　Charles　thought　it　was　a　burst　of
generous　friendship；　and　admired　the　self…denial
with　which　she　urged　her　aunt　to　relinquish　the
idea。　But　Julia　was　constitutionally　generous；　and　it
was　the　excess　of　the　quality　that　made　her
enthusiastic　and　visionary。　If　she　did　not　deserve
all　of　Charles's　admiration；　she　was　entitled　to　no
small　share　of　it。　As　soon　as　the　question　was
determined　in　favour　of　going；　Miss　Emmerson　and
Katherine　withdrew；　leaving　Charles　alone　with　the
heroine　of　our　tale。　Under　the　age　of　five…and…
twenty；　men　commonly　act　at　the　instigation　of
sudden　impulse；　and　young　Weston　was　not　yet
twenty…one。　He　had　long　admired　Julia　for　her
beauty　and　good　feelings；　he　did　not　see　one　half
of　her　folly；　and　he　knew　all　of　her　worth；　her
enthusiastic　friendship　for　Miss　Miller　was
forgotten；　even　her　mirth　at　his　own　want　of
heroism　had　at　the　moment　escaped　his　memory
and　the　power　of　the　young　lady　over　him　was
never　greater。

〃How　admirable　in　you；　Julia；〃　he　said；　seating
himself　by　her　side；　〃to　urge　what　was　against　your
own　wishes；　in　order　to　oblige　your　aunt！〃

〃Do　you　think　so；　Charles？〃　said　the　other　simply；
〃but　you　see　I　urged　it　feebly；　for　I　did　not　prevail。〃

〃No；　for　you　mistook　your　aunt's　wishes；　it　seems：
she　desires　to　gobut　then　all　the　loveliness　of　the
act　was　yours。〃

At　the　word　loveliness；　Julia　raised　her　eyes　to　his
face　with　a　slight　blushit　was　new　language　for
Charles　Weston　to　use；　and　it　was　just　suited　to
her　feelings。　After　a　moment's　pause。　however；　she
replied

〃You　use　strong　language；　cousin　Charles；　such　as
is　unusual　for　you。〃

〃Julia；　although　I　may　not　often　have　expressed　it；
I　have　long　thought　you　to　be　very　lovely！〃
exclaimed　the　young　man；　borne　away　with　his
ardour　at　the　moment。

〃Upon　my　word；　Charles；　you　improve；〃　said　Julia；
blushing　yet　more　deeply；　and；　if　possible；　looking
still　handsomer　than　before。

〃JuliaMiss　Warrenyou　tear　my　secret　from　me
before　its　timeI　love　you；　Julia；　and　would　wish　to
make　you　my　wife。〃

This　was　certainly　very　plain　English；　nor　did　Julia
misunderstand　a　syllable　of　what　he　saidbut　it
was　entirely　new　and　unexpected　to　her；　she　had
lived　with　Charles　Weston　with　the　confidence　of　a
kinswoman；　but　had　never　dreamt　of　him　as　a　lover。
Indeed；　she　saw　nothing　in　him　that　looked　like　a
being　to　excite　or　to　entertain　such　a　passion；　and
although　from　the　moment　of　his　declaration　she
began　insensibly　to　think　differently　of　him；　nothing
was　farther　from　her　mind　than　to　return　his　offered
affection。　But　then　the　opportunity　of　making　a
sacrifice　to　her　secret　love　was　glorious；　and　her
frankness　forbade　her　to　conceal　the　truth。　Indeed；
what　better　way　was　there　to　destroy　the　unhappy
passion　of　Charles；　than　to　convince　him　of　its
hopelessness？　These　thoughts　flashed　through　her
mind　with　the　rapidity　of　lightningand　trembling
with　the　agitation　and　novelty　of　her　situation；　she
answered　in　a　low　voice

〃That；　Charles；　can　never　be。〃

〃Why　never；　Julia？〃　cried　the　youth；　giving　way　at
once　to　his　long…suppressed　feelings〃why　never？
Try　me；　prove　me！　there　is　nothing　I　will　not　do　to
gain　your　love。〃

Oh！　how　seductive　to　a　female　ear　is　the　first
declaration　of　an　attachment；　especially　when
urged　by　youth　and　merit！it　assails　her　heart　in
the　most　vulnerable　part；　and　if　it　be　not　fortified
unusually　well；　seldom　fails　of　success。　Happily　for
Julia；　the　image　of　Antonio　presented　itself　to　save
her　from　infidelity　to　her　old　attachment；　and　she
replied

〃You　are　kind　and　good；　Charles；　and　I　esteem　you
highlybut　ask　no　more；　I　beg　of　you。〃

〃Why；　if　you　grant　me　this；　why　forbid　me　to　hope
for