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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/2282.txt b/2282.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5415956 --- /dev/null +++ b/2282.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6156 @@ +Project Gutenberg Etext of Tales for Fifteen, by James F. Cooper +#4 in our series by James Fenimore Cooper [this as "Jane Morgan"] + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. 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If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Association/Carnegie-Mellon + University" within the 60 days following each + date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) + your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, +scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty +free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution +you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg +Association / Carnegie-Mellon University". + +*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +Tales for Fifteen: or, Imagination and Heart. +by James Fenimore Cooper (writing under the +pseudonym of "Jane Morgan") + + + + + +{This text has been transcribed and annotated from +a facsimile of the original edition (New York: C. +Wiley, iv, 223 pp., 1823) by Hugh C. MacDougall, +Secretary of the James Fenimore Cooper Society +<jfcooper@wpe.com>, who welcomes corrections or +emendations. Only a handful of copies of the +original edition have survived. The standard Cooper +bibliography makes brief mention of an edition +published in Guernsey, Maryland (n.d.), but I have +never seen any further reference to it. Forty years +ago a facsimile of the Wiley edition was published +(Delmar, NY: Scholar's Facsimiles and Reprints, +1959, reprinted 1977), with an introduction by +James Franklin Beard. At least one microfilm +version is also available, but "Tales for Fifteen" +remains one of James Fenimore Cooper's least read +and least known writings.} + +{In 1840, when the Boston publisher George +Roberts asked Cooper for a contribution to a new +magazine, Cooper responded that he could reprint +"Tales for Fifteen" if he could find a copy--Cooper +himself didn't have one. Roberts found a copy in +New York, and "Imagination" was reprinted in his +"Boston Notion" (January 30, 1841), and in his +"Roberts' Semi-Monthly Magazine" (Boston, +February 1 and 15, 1841). Shortly thereafer, he also +reprinted "Heart", in the "Boston Notion" (March 13 +and 20, 1841) and in "Roberts' Semi-Monthly +Magazine" (April 1 and 15, 1841).} + +{George Roberts' reprint of "Imagination" was +pirated in England, and included in "Imagination; A +Tale for Young Women. With Other Tales by +American Authors" which also included "The Block- +House", by William Leggett and "The Country +Cousin". (London: John Cunningham, 72 pp., 1841 +[Series: The Novel Newspaper, 143]) and (London: +N. Bruce, 72 pp., 1842 (Series: Standard Novels, +5]). It also appeared by itself as "Imagination: A +Tale for Young Women" (London: J. Clements, 31 +pp., 1841 [for the Romanticist and Novelist's +Library]). There may well exist other pirated +periodical versions.} + +{Introductory Note: "Tales for Fifteen" was +apparently written in 1821, when Cooper became +afflicted with writer's block while composing his +first best-selling novel, "The Spy". Cooper had +envisaged a series of five stories, to be called +"American Tales," and which were to deal +respectively with "Imagination", "Heart", "Matter", +"Manner", and "Matter and Manner". Only +"Imagination" was completed; the half-written +"Heart" was given a sudden and half-hearted +ending; Cooper later asserted that he had allowed +Charles Wiley to publish "Tales for Fifteen to help +him out of some financial difficulties. In a letter to +George Roberts in 1840, Cooper said of +"Imagination" that "this tale was written on rainy +day, half asleep and half awake, but I retain rather +a favorable impression of it."} + +{"Imagination", remains an amusing and cleverly- +plotted story of a young girl whose imagination +gets the better of her, presumably because of +reading romantic novels. This, of course, was a +commonplace notion in the 1820s, except that +Cooper's heroine, misled by circumstances, comes +to believe that her romantic fantasies are +happening. This Don Quixote-like twist is less +common, though Jane Austen's famous "Northanger +Abbey" and Eaton Stannard Barrett's little-known +but very funny "The Heroine; or, Adventures of +Cherubina" (1813) fall within the genre. "Heart", a +slim (indeed, truncated) account of faithful love, +sinks into bathos; it is, perhaps, most interesting +for its opening scene of a blase New York City +crowd gathering around a fallen man -- and doing +nothing to help him.} + +{Spelling and punctuation are as in the 1823 +original, including inconsistent spellings (e.g., +gaiety and gayety, Henly and Henley) except that, +because of the typographical limitations of the +Gutenberg system, the few words italicized in the +original are represented by ALL CAPITALS. +Annotations by the transcriber are enclosed in +{curly brackets}. A very few obvious typographical +errors have been marked by {sic}.} + + + +TALES FOR FIFTEEN: +OR +IMAGINATION AND HEART. + +BY JANE MORGAN. +================ + +NEW-YORK +C. WILEY, 3 WALL STREET +J. Seymour, printer +1823 + + + +Southern District of New-York ss. +BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the thirteenth day of +June, in the forty-seventh year of the Independence +of the United States of America, Charles Wiley, of +the said District, hath deposited in this office the +title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as +proprietor, in the words and figures following, to +wit: + +"Tales for Fifteen; or Imagination and Heart. +By Jane Morgan." + +In conformity with the Act of Congress of the +United States entitled, "An Act for the +encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies +of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and +proprietors of such copies, during the times herein +mentioned." And also to an Act, entitled, "an Act, +supplementary to an Act, for the encouragement of +Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, +and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such +copies, during the times herein mentioned, and +extending the benefits thereof to the arts of +designing, engraving, and etching historical and +other prints." +JAMES DILL, +Clerk of the Southern District of New-York + + + +PREFACE + +WHEN the author of these little tales commenced +them, it was her intention to form a short series of +such stories as, it was hoped, might not be entirely +without moral advantage; but unforeseen +circumstances have prevented their completion, +and, unwilling to delay the publication any longer, +she commits them to the world in their present +unfinished state, without any flattering +anticipations of their reception. They are intended +for the perusal of young women, at that tender age +when the feelings of their nature begin to act on +them most insidiously, and when their minds are +least prepared by reason and experience to contend +with their passions. + +"Heart" was intended for a much longer tale, and is +unavoidably incomplete; but it is unnecessary to +point out defects that even the juvenile reader will +soon detect. The author only hopes that if they do +no good, her tales will, at least, do no harm. + + + +IMAGINATION. +---oOo--- + +I pray thee, gentle mortal, sing again: +Mine ear is much enamoured of thy note, +So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape; +And thy fair virtue's force perforce doth move me, +On the first view, to say, to swear, I love thee. +MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM + +{Shakespeare, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" Act +III, Scene 1, lines 137-141} + +"DO--write to me often, my dear Anna!" said the +weeping Julia Warren, on parting, for the first time +since their acquaintance, with the young lady whom +she had honoured with the highest place in her +affections. "Think how dreadfully solitary and +miserable I shall be here, without a single +companion, or a soul to converse with, now you are +to be removed two hundred miles into the +wilderness." + +"Oh! trust me, my love, I shall not forget you now +or ever," replied her friend, embracing the other +slightly, and, perhaps, rather hastily for so tender +an adieu; at the same time glancing her eye on the +figure of a youth, who stood in silent contemplation +of the scene. "And doubt not but I shall soon tire +you with my correspondence, especially as I more +than suspect it will be subjected to the criticisms of +Mr. Charles Weston." As she concluded, the young +lady curtisied to the youth in a manner that +contradicted, by its flattery, the forced irony of her +remark. + +"Never, my dear girl!" exclaimed Miss Warren with +extreme fervour. "The confidence of our friendship +is sacred with me, and nothing, no, nothing, could +ever tempt me to violate such a trust. Charles is +very kind and very indulgent to all my whims, but +he never could obtain such an influence over me as +to become the depositary of my secrets. Nothing +but a friend, like yourself, can do that, my dear +Anna." + +"Never! Miss Warren," said the youth with a lip that +betrayed by its tremulous motion the interest he +took in her speech--"never includes a long period of +time. But," he added with a smile of good- +humoured pleasantry, "if admitted to such a +distinction, I should not feel myself competent to +the task of commenting on so much innocence and +purity, as I know I should find in your +correspondence." + +"Yes," said Anna, with a little of the energy of her +friend's manner, "you may with truth say so, Mr. +Weston. The imagination of my Julia is as pure as-- +as-----" but turning her eyes from the countenance +of Julia to that of the youth, rather suddenly, the +animated pleasure she saw delineated in his +expressive, though plain features, drove the +remainder of the speech from her recollection. + +"As her heart!" cried Charles Weston with +emphasis. + +"As her heart, Sir," repeated the young lady coldly. + +The last adieus were hastily exchanged, and Anna +Miller was handed into her father's gig by Charles +Weston in profound silence. Miss Emmerson, the +maiden aunt of Julia, withdrew from the door, +where she had been conversing with Mr. Miller, and +the travellers departed. Julia followed the vehicle +with her eyes until it was hid by the trees and +shrubbery that covered the lawn, and then withdrew +to her room to give vent to a sorrow that had +sensibly touched her affectionate heart, and in no +trifling degree haunted her lively imagination. + +As Miss Emmerson by no means held the good +qualities of the guest, who had just left them, in so +high an estimation as did her niece, she proceeded +quietly and with great composure in the exercise of +her daily duties; not in the least suspecting the +real distress that, from a variety of causes, this +sudden separation had caused to her ward. + +The only sister of this good lady had died in giving +birth to a female infant, and the fever of 1805 had, +within a very few years of the death of the mother, +deprived the youthful orphan of her remaining +parent. Her father was a merchant, just +commencing the foundations of what would, in +time, have been a large estate; and as both Miss +Emmerson and her sister were possessed of genteel +independencies, and the aunt had long declared her +intention of remaining single, the fortune of Julia, if +not brilliant, was thought rather large than +otherwise. Miss Emmerson had been educated +immediately after the war of the revolution, and at +a time when the intellect of the women of this +country by no means received that attention it is +thought necessary to bestow on the minds of the +future mothers of our families at the present hour; +and when, indeed, the country itself required too +much of the care of her rulers and patriots to admit +of the consideration of lesser objects. With the +best of hearts and affections devoted to the +welfare of her niece, Miss Emmerson had early +discovered her own incompetency to the labour of +fitting Julia for the world in which she was to live, +and shrunk with timid modesty from the arduous +task of preparing herself, by application and study, +for this sacred duty. The fashions of the day were +rapidly running into the attainment of +accomplishments among the young of her own sex, +and the piano forte was already sending forth its +sonorous harmony from one end of the Union to the +other, while the glittering usefulness of the +tambour-frame was discarded for the pallet and +brush. The walls of our mansions were beginning to +groan with the sickly green of imaginary fields, that +caricatured the beauties of nature; and skies of +sunny brightness, that mocked the golden hues of +even an American sun. The experience of Miss +Emmerson went no further than the simple +evolutions of the country dance, or the deliberate +and dignified procession of the minuet. No wonder, +therefore, that her faculties were bewildered by the +complex movements of the cotillion: and, in short, +as the good lady daily contemplated the +improvements of the female youth around her, she +became each hour more convinced of her own +inability to control, or in any manner to +superintend, the education of her orphan niece. +Julia was, consequently, entrusted to the +government of a select boarding-school; and, as +even the morals of the day were, in some degree, +tinctured with the existing fashions, her mind as +well as her manners were absolutely submitted to +the discretion of an hireling. Notwithstanding this +willing concession of power on the part of Miss +Emmerson, there was no deficiency in ability to +judge between right and wrong in her character; but +the homely nature of her good sense, unassisted by +any confidence in her own powers, was unable to +compete with the dazzling display of +accomplishments which met her in every house +where she visited; and if she sometimes thought +that she could not always discover much of the +useful amid this excess of the agreeable, she rather +attributed the deficiency to her own ignorance than +to any error in the new system of instruction. From +the age of six to that of sixteen, Julia had no other +communications with Miss Emmerson than those +endearments which neither could suppress, and a +constant and assiduous attention on the part of the +aunt to the health and attire of her niece. + +{fever of 1805 = New York City had suffered a +major epidemic of yellow fever in the summer of +1805; tambour-frame = a circular frame used to +hold material being embroidered} + +Miss Emmerson had a brother residing in the city of +New-York, who was a man of eminence at the bar, +and who, having been educated fifty years ago, +was, from that circumstance, just so much superior +to his successors of his own sex by twenty years, +as his sisters were the losers from the some cause. +The family of Mr. Emmerson was large, and, besides +several sons, he had two daughters, one of whom +remained still unmarried in the house of her father. +Katherine Emmerson was but eighteen months the +senior of Julia Warren; but her father had adopted a +different course from that which was ordinarily +pursued with girls of her expectations. He had +married a woman of sense, and now reaped the +richest blessing of such a connexion in her ability to +superintend the education of her daughter. A +mother's care was employed to correct errors that a +mother's tenderness could only discover; and in the +place of general systems, and comprehensive +theories, was substituted the close and rigorous +watchfulness which adapted the remedy to the +disease; which studied the disposition; and which +knew the failings or merits of the pupil, and could +best tell when to reward, and how to punish. The +consequences were easily to be seen in the +manners and character of their daughter. Her +accomplishments, even where a master had been +employed in their attainment, were naturally +displayed, and suited to her powers. Her manners, +instead of the artificial movements of prescribed +rules, exhibited the chaste and delicate modesty of +refinement, mingled with good principles--such as +were not worn in order to be in character as a +woman and a lady, but were deeply seated, and +formed part, not only of her habits, but, if we may +use the expression, of her nature also. Miss +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 Ontario--at +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 friend--my 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 other--in 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, and--and--from habit--and 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 talents--so like--like 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 gross--too +envious--in 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 sympathy--and 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 one--any 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 aunt--good +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, when Charles appeared +riding at a full gallop towards the house; his whole +manner announced success, and Julia sprang into +the middle of the road to take the letter which he +extended towards her. + +"I knew I should be successful, and it gives me +almost as much pleasure as yourself that I have +been so," said the youth, dismounting from his +horse and opening the gate that his companion +might pass. + +"Thank you--thank you, dear Charles," said Julia +kindly. "I never can forget how good you are to me- +-how much you love to oblige not only me, but +every one around. Excuse me now, I have this dear +letter to read another time, I will thank you as I +ought." + +So saying, Julia ran into the summer-house, and +fastening its door, gave herself up to the pleasure +of reading a first letter. Notes and short epistles +from her aunt, with divers letters from Anna written +slyly in the school-room and slipped into her lap, +she was already well acquainted with; but of real, +genuine letters, stamped by the post-office, +rumpled by the mail-bags, consecrated by the +steam-boat, this was certainly the first. This, +indeed, was a real letter: rivers rolled, and vast +tracts of country lay, between herself and its writer, +and that writer was a friend selected on the +testimony of innate evidence. It was necessary for +Julia to pause and breathe before she could open +her letter; and by the time this was done, her busy +fancy had clothed both epistle and writer with so +much excellence, that she was prepared to peruse +the contents with a respect bordering on +enthusiasm: every word must be true--every idea +purity itself. That our readers may know how +accurately sixteen and a brilliant fancy had qualified +her to judge, we shall give them the letter entire. + +"My dearest love, + +"Oh, Julia! here I am, and such a place!--no town, +no churches, no Broadway, nothing that can make +life desirable; and, I may add, no friend--nobody to +see and talk with, but papa and mamma, and a +house full of brothers and sisters. You can't think +how I miss you, every minute more and more; but I +am not without hopes of persuading pa to let me +spend the winter with your aunt in town. I declare +it makes me sick every time I think of her sweet +house in Park-place. If ever I marry, and be sure I +will, it shall be a man who lives in the city, and +next door to my Julia. Oh! how charming that would +be. Each of us to have one of those delightful new +houses, with the new-fashioned basement stories; +we would run in and out at all hours of the day, and +it would be so convenient to lend and borrow each +other's things. I do think there is no pleasure under +heaven equal to that of wearing things that belong +to your friend. Don't you remember how fond I was +of wearing your clothes at school, though you were +not so fond of changing as myself; but that was no +wonder, for pa's stinginess kept me so shabbily +dressed, that I was ashamed to let you be seen in +them. Oh, Julia! I shall never forget those happy +hours; nor you neither. Apropos--I hope you have +not forgot the frock you promised to work for me, to +remember you by. I long for it dreadfully, and hope +you will send it before the river shuts. I suppose +you and Charles Weston do nothing but ride round +among those beautiful villas on the island, and +take comfort. I do envy you your happiness, I can +tell you; for I think any beau better than none, +though Mr. Weston is not to my taste. I am going +to write you six sheets of paper, for there is +nothing that I so delight in as communing with a +friend at a distance, especially situated as I am +without a soul to say a word to, unless it be my +own sisters. Adieu, my ever, ever beloved Julia--be +to me as I am to you, a friend indeed, one tried +and not found wanting. In haste, your + +"ANNA. + +"Gennessee, June 15, 1816. + +"P. S. Don't forget to jog aunt Emmerson's memory +about asking me to Park-place. + +"P. S. June 25th. Not having yet sent my letter, +although I am sure you must be dying with anxiety +to hear how we get on, I must add, that we have a +companion here that would delight you--a Mr. +Edward Stanley. What a delightful name! and he is +as delightful as his name: his eye, his nose, his +whole countenance, are perfect. In short, Julia, he +is just such a man as we used to draw in our +conversation at school. He is rich, and brave, and +sensible, and I do nothing but talk to him of you. +He says, he longs to see you; knows you must be +handsome; is sure you are sensible; and feels that +you are good. Oh! he is worth a dozen Charles +Westons. But you may give my compliments to Mr. +Weston, though I don't suppose he ever thinks it +worth his while to remember such a chick as me. I +should like to hear what he says about me, and I +will tell you all Edward Stanley says of you. Once +more, adieu. Your letters got here safe and in due +season. I let Edward take a peep at them." + +The first time Julia read this letter she was +certainly disappointed. It contained no descriptions +of the lovely scenery of the west. The moon had +risen and the sun had set on the lakes of the +interior, and Anna had said not one word of either. +But the third and fourth time of reading began to +afford more pleasure, and at the thirteenth perusal +she pronounced it charming. There was evidently +much to be understood; vacuums that the fancy +could easily fill; and, before Julia had left the +summer-house, the letter was extended, in her +imagination, to the promised six sheets. She +walked slowly through the shrubbery towards the +house, musing on the contents of her letter, or +rather what it might be supposed to contain, and +unconsciously repeating to herself in a low tone-- + +"Young, handsome, rich, and sensible--just as we +used to paint in our conversation. Oh, how +delightful!" + +"Delightful indeed, to possess all those fine +qualities; and who is the happy individual that is so +blessed?" asked Charles Weston, who had been +lingering in the walks with an umbrella to shield her +on her return from an approaching shower. + +"Oh!" said Julia, starting, "I did not know you were +near me. I have been reading Anna's sweet letter," +pressing the paper to her bosom as she spoke. + +"Doubtless you must be done by this time, Julia, +and," pointing to the clouds, "you had better hasten +to the house. I knew you would be terrified at the +lightning all alone by yourself in that summer- +house, so I came to protect you." + +"You are very good, Charles, but does it lighten?" +said Julia in terror, and hastening her retreat to the +dwelling. + +"Your letter must have interested you deeply not to +have noticed the thunder--you, who are so timid +and fearful of the flashes." + +"Foolishly fearful, you would say, if you were not +afraid of hurting my feelings, I know," said Julia. + +"It is a natural dread, and therefore not to be +laughed at," answered Charles mildly. + +"Then there is natural fear, but no natural love, Mr. +Charles; now you are finely caught," cried Julia +exultingly. + +"Well, be it so. With me fear is very natural, and I +can almost persuade myself love also." + +"I hope you are not a coward, Charles Weston. A +cowardly man is very despicable. I could never love +a cowardly man," said Julia, laughing. + +"I don't know whether I am what you call a coward," +said Charles gravely; "but when in danger I am +always afraid." + +The words were hardly uttered before a flash of +lightning, followed instantly by a tremendously +heavy clap of thunder, nearly stupified them both. +The suddenness of the shock had, for a moment, +paralyzed the energy of the youth, while Julia was +nearly insensible. Soon recovering himself, +however, Charles drew her after him into the house, +in time to escape a torrent of rain. The storm was +soon over, and their natural fear and surprise were +a source of mirth for Julia. Women are seldom +ashamed of their fears, for their fright is thought to +be feminine end attractive; but men are less easy +under the imputation of terror, as it is thought to +indicate an absence of manly qualities. + +"Oh! you will never make a hero, Charles," cried +Julia, laughing heartily. "It is well you chose the +law instead of the army as a profession." + +"I don't know," said the youth, a little nettled," I +think I could muster courage to face a bullet." + +"But remember, that you shut your eyes, and bent +nearly double at the flash--now you owned all this +yourself." + +"At least he was candid, and acknowledged his +infirmities," said Miss Emmerson, who had been +listening. + +"I think most men would have done as I did, at so +heavy and so sudden a clap of thunder, and so very +near too," said Charles, striving to conceal the +uneasiness he felt. + +"When apprehension for Julia must have increased +your terror," said the aunt kindly. + +"Why, no--I rather believe I thought only of myself +at the moment," returned Charles; "but then, Julia, +you must do me the justice to say, that instantly I +thought of the danger of your taking cold and drew +you into the house." + +"Oh! you ran from another clap," said Julia, laughing +till her dark eyes flashed with pleasure, and +shaking her head until her glossy hair fell in ringlets +over her shoulders; "you will never make a hero, +Charles." + +"Do you know any one who would have behaved +better, Miss Warren?" said the young man angrily. + +"Yes--why--I don't know. Yes, I have heard of one, +I think," answered Julia, slightly colouring; "but, +dear Charles, excuse my laughter," she continued, +holding out her hand; "if you are not a hero, you +are very, very, good." + +But Charles Weston, at the moment, would rather +be thought a hero than very, very, good; he, +therefore, rose, and affecting a smile, endeavoured +to say something trifling as he retired. + +"You have mortified Charles," said Miss Emmerson, +so soon as he was out of hearing. + +"I am sure I hope not," said Julia, with a good deal +of anxiety; "he is the last person I would wish to +offend, he is so very kind." + +"No young man of twenty is pleased with being +thought no hero," returned the aunt. + +"And yet all are not so," said Julia, "I hardly know +what you mean by a hero; if you mean such men as +Washington, Greene, or Warren, all are surely not +so. These were heroes in deeds, but others may be +equally brave." + +{Greene = Nathanael Greene (1742-1786), +Revolutionary General; Warren = Joseph Warren +(1741-1775), Revolutionary war hero, killed at the +Battle of Bunker Hill} + +"I mean by a hero, a man whose character is +unstained by any low or degenerate vices, or even +feelings," said Julia, with a little more than her +ordinary enthusiasm; "whose courage is as natural +as it is daring; who is above fear, except of doing +wrong; whose person is an index of his mind, and +whose mind is filled with images of glory; that's +what I call a hero, aunt." + +"Then he must be handsome as well as valiant," +said Miss Emmerson, with a smile that was hardly +perceptible. + +"Why that is--is--not absolutely material," replied +Julia, blushing; "but one would wish to have him +handsome too." + +"Oh! by all means; it would render his virtues more +striking. But I think you intimated that you knew +such a being," returned Miss Emmerson, fixing her +mild eyes on Julia in a manner that denoted great +interest. + +"Did I," said Julia, colouring scarlet; "I am sure--I +have forgotten--it must be a mistake, surely, dear +aunt." + +"Very possibly I misunderstood you, my dear," said +Miss Emmerson, rising and withdrawing from the +room, in apparent indifference to the subject. + +Julia continued musing on the dialogue which had +passed, and soon had recourse to the letter of her +friend, the postscript of which was all, however, +that she thought necessary to read: on this she +dwelt until the periods were lengthened into +paragraphs, each syllable into words, and each +letter into syllables. Anna Miller had furnished the +outlines of a picture, that the imagination of Julia +had completed. The name of Edward Stanley was +repeated internally so often that she thought it the +sweetest name she had ever heard. His eyes, his +nose, his countenance, were avowed to be +handsome; and her fancy soon gave a colour and +form to each. He was sensible; how sensible, her +friend had not expressly stated; but then the +powers of Anna, great as they undoubtedly were, +could not compass the mighty extent of so gigantic +a mind. Brave, too, Anna had called him. This she +must have learnt from acts of desperate courage +that he had performed in the war which had so +recently terminated; or perhaps he might have even +distinguished himself in the presence of Anna, by +some exploit of cool and determined daring. Her +heart burned to know all the particulars, but how +was she to inquire them. Anna, dear, indiscreet girl, +had already shown her letters, and her delicacy +shrunk from the exposure of her curiosity to its +object. After a multitude of expedients had been +adopted and rejected as impracticable, Julia +resorted to the course of committing her inquiries +to paper, most solemnly enjoining her friend never +to expose her weakness to Mr. Stanley. This, +thought Julia, she never could do; it would be +unjust to me, and indelicate in her. So Julia wrote +as follows, first seeking her own apartment, and +carefully locking the door, that she might devote +her whole attention to friendship, and her letter. + +"Dearest Anna, + +"Your kind letter reach'd me after many an anxious +hour spent in expectation, and repays me ten-fold +for all my uneasiness. Surely, Anna, there is no one +that can write half so agreeably as yourself. I know +there must be a long--long--epistle for me on the +road, containing those descriptions and incidents +you promised to favour me with: how I long to read +them, and to show them to my aunt Margaret, who, +I believe, does not suspect you to be capable of +doing that which I know, or rather feel, you can. +Knowing from any thing but feeling and the innate +evidence of our sympathies, seems to me +something like heresy in friendship. Oh, Anna! how +could you be so cruel as to show my letters to any +one, and that to a gentleman and a stranger? I +never would have served you so, not even to good +Charles Weston, whom I esteem so highly, and who +really wants neither judgment nor good nature, +though he is dreadfully deficient in fancy. Yet +Charles is a most excellent young man, and I gave +him the compliments you desired; he was so much +flattered by your notice that he could make no +reply, though I doubt not he prized the honour as +he ought. We are all very happy here, only for the +absence of my Anna; but so long as miles of weary +roads and endless rivers run between us, perfect +happiness can never reign in the breast of your +Julia. Anna, I conjure you by all the sacred delicacy +that consecrates our friendship, never to show this +letter, unless you would break my heart: you never +will, I am certain, and therefore I will write to my +Anna in the unreserved manner in which we +conversed, when fate, less cruel than at present, +suffered us to live in the sunshine of each other's +smiles. You speak of a certain person in your letter, +whom, for obvious reasons, I will in future call +ANTONIO. You describe him with the partiality of a +friend; but how can I doubt his being worthy of all +that you say, and more--sensible, brave, rich, and +handsome. From his name, I suppose, of course, he +is well connected. What a constellation of +attractions to centre in one man! But you have not +told me all--his age, his family, his profession; +though I presume he has borne arms in the service +of his country, and that his manly breast is already +covered with the scars of honour. Ah! Anna, "he +jests at scars who never felt a wound." But, my +dear creature, you say that he talks of me: what +under the sun can you find to say of such a poor girl +as myself? Though I suppose you have, in the +fondness of affection, described my person to him +already. I wonder if he likes black eyes and fair +complexion. You can't conceive what a bloom the +country has given me; I really begin to look more +like a milk-maid than a lady. Dear, good aunt +Margaret has been quite sick since you left us, and +for two days I was hardly out of her room; this has +put me back a little in colour, or I should be as +ruddy as the morn. But nothing ought ever to tempt +me to neglect my aunt, and I hope nothing ever +will. Be assured that I shall beg her to write you to +spend the winter with us, for I feel already that +without you life is a perfect blank. You indeed must +have something to enliven it with a little in your +new companions, but here is nobody, just now, but +Charles Weston. Yet he is an excellent companion, +and does every thing he can to make us all happy +and comfortable. Heigho! how I do wish I could see +you, my Anna, and spend one sweet half hour in +the dear confidence of mutual sympathy. But lie +quiet, my throbbing heart, the day approaches +when I shall meet my friend again, and more than +receive a reward for all our griefs. Ah! Anna, never +betray your Julia, and write to me FULLY, +CONFIDINGLY, and often. + +"Yours, with all the tenderness of friendship that is +founded on mutual sympathy, congenial souls, and +innate evidence of worth. +JULIA." + +"P.S. I should like to know whether Antonio has any +scars in his face, and what battles he was in. Only +think, my dear, poor Charles Weston was frightened +by a clap of thunder--but Charles has an excellent +heart." + +This letter was written and read, sealed and kissed, +when Miss Emmerson tapped gently at the door of +her niece and begged admission. Julia flew to open +it, and received her aunt with the guileless pleasure +her presence ever gave her. A few words of +introductory matter were exchanged, when, being +both seated at their needles again, Miss Emmerson +asked-- + +"To whom have you been writing, my love?" + +"To my Anna." + +"Do you recollect, my child, that in writing to Miss +Miller, you are writing to one out of your own +family, and whose interests are different from +yours?" + +"I do not understand you, aunt," cried Julia in +surprise. + +"I mean that you should be guarded in your +correspondence--tell no secrets out"-- + +"Tell no secrets to my Anna!" exclaimed the niece in +a species of horror. "That would be a death-blow to +our friendship indeed." + +"Then let it die," said Miss Emmerson, coolly; "the +affection that cannot survive the loss of such an +excitement, had better be suffered to expire as +soon as possible, or it may raise false +expectations." + +"Why, dear aunt, in destroying confidence of this +nature, you destroy the great object of friendship. +Who ever beard of a friendship without secrets?" + +"I never had a secret in my life," said Miss +Emmerson simply, "and yet I have had many a +friend." + +"Well," said Julia, "yours must have been queer +friends; pray, dear aunt, name one or two of them." + +"Your mother was my friend," said Miss Emmerson, +with strong emotion, "and I hope her daughter also +is one." + +"Me, my beloved aunt!" cried Julia, throwing herself +into the arms of Miss Emmerson and bursting into +tears; "I am more than a friend, I am your child-- +your daughter." + +"Whatever be the name you give it, Julia, you are +very near and dear to me," said the aunt, tenderly +kissing her charge: "but tell me, my love, did you +ever feel such emotion in your intercourse with Miss +Miller?" + +It was some time before Julia could reply; when, +having suppressed the burst of her feelings, she +answered with a smile-- + +"Oh! that question is not fair. You have brought me +up; nursed me in sickness; are kind and good to +me; and the idea that you should suppose I did not +love you, was dreadful--But you know I do." + +"I firmly believe so, my child; it is you that I would +have know what it is that you love: I am satisfied +for myself. I repeat, did Anna Miller ever excite +such emotions?" + +"Certainly not: my love to you is natural; but my +friendship for Anna rests on sympathy, and a +perfect knowledge of her character." + +"I am glad, however, that you know her so well, +since you are so intimate. What testimony have +you of all this excellence?" + +"Innate evidence. I see it--I feel it--Yes, that is the +best testimony--I feel her good qualities. Yes, my +friendship for Anna forms the spring of my +existence; while any accident or evil to you would +afflict me the same as if done to myself--this is +pure nature, you know." + +"I know it is pleasing to learn it, come from what it +will," said the aunt, smiling, and rising to withdraw. + + + +CHAPTER III. + +SEVERAL days passed after this conversation, in the +ordinary quiet of a well regulated family. +Notwithstanding the house of Miss Emmerson stood +in the midst of the numberless villas that adorn +Manhattan Island, the habits of its mistress were +retiring and domestic. Julia was not of an age to +mingle much in society, and Anna had furnished her +with a theme for her meditations, that rather +rendered her averse from the confusion of company. +Her mind was constantly employed in canvassing +the qualities of the unseen Antonio. Her friend had +furnished her with a catalogue of his perfections in +gross, which her active thoughts were busily +arranging into form and substance. But little +practised in the world or its disappoinments {sic}, +the visionary girl had already figured to herself a +person to suit these qualities, and the animal was +no less pleasing, than the moral being of her fancy. +What principally delighted Julia in these +contemplations on the acquaintance of Anna, was +the strong inclination he had expressed to know +herself. This flattered her tendency to believe in +the strength of mutual sympathy, and the efficacy +of innate evidence of merit. In the midst of this +pleasing employment of her fancy, she received a +second letter from her friend, in answer to the one +we have already given to our readers; it was +couched in the following words: + +"My own dear Julia, my Friend, + +"I received your letter with the pleasure I shall +always hear from you, and am truly obliged to you +for your kind offer to make interest with year aunt +to have me spend the next winter in town. To be +with you, is the greatest pleasure I have on earth; +besides, as I know I can write to you as freely as I +think, one can readily tell what a tiresome place +this must be to pass a winter in. There are, +absolutely, but three young men in the whole +county who can be thought in any manner as proper +matches for us; and one has no chance here of +forming such an association as to give a girl an +opportunity of meeting with her congenial spirit, so +that I hope and trust your desire to see me will +continue as strong as mine will ever be to see my +Julia. You say that I have forgotten to give you the +description of our journey and of the lakes that I +promised to send you. No, my Julia, I have not +forgotten the promise, nor you; but the thought of +enjoying such happiness without your dear +company, has been too painful to dwell upon. Of +this you may judge for yourself. Our first journey +was made in the steam-boat to Albany; she is a +moving world. The vessel ploughs through the +billowy waters in onward progress, and the soul is +left in silent harmony to enjoy the change. The +passage of the Highlands is most delightful. Figure +to yourself, my Julia, the rushing waters, lessening +from their expanded width to the degeneracy of the +stagnant pool--rocks rise on rocks in overhanging +mountains, until the weary eye, refusing its natural +office, yields to the fancy what its feeble powers +can never conquer. Clouds impend over their +summits, and the thoughts pierce the vast abyss. +Ah! Julia, these are moments of awful romance; +how the soul longs for the consolations of +friendship. Albany is one of the most picturesque +places in the world; situated most delightfully on +the banks of the Hudson, which here meanders in +sylvan beauty through meadows of ever-green and +desert islands. Words are wanting to paint the +melancholy beauties of the ride to Schenectady, +through gloomy forests, where the silvery pine +waves in solemn grandeur to the sighings of Eolus, +while Boreas threatens in vain their firm-rooted +trunks. But the lakes! Ah! Julia--the lakes! The +most beautiful is the Seneca, named after a Grecian +king. The limpid water, ne'er ruffled by the rude +breathings of the wind, shines with golden tints to +the homage of the rising sun, while the light bark +gallantly lashes the surge, rocking before the +propelling gale, and forcibly brings to the appalled +mind the fleeting hours of time. But I must pause-- +my pen refuses to do justice to the subject, and +the remainder will furnish us hours of conversation +during the tedious moments of the delightful visit +to Park-Place. You speak of Antonio--dear girl, with +me the secret is hallowed. He is yet here; his whole +thoughts are of Julia--from my description only, he +has drawn your picture, which is the most striking +in the world; and nothing can tear the dear emblem +from his keeping. He called here yesterday in his +phaeton, and insisted on my riding a few short +miles in his company: I assented, for I knew it was +to talk of my friend. He already feels your worth, +and handed me the following verses, which he +begged me to offer as the sincere homage of his +heart. He intends accompanying my father and me +to town next winter--provided I go. + +"Oh! charming image of an artless fair, +"Whose eyes, with lightning, fire the very soul; +"Whose face portrays the mind, and ebon hair +"Gives grace and harmony unto the whole. + +"In vain I gaze entranc'd, in vain deplore +"The leagues that roll between the maid and me; +"Lonely I wander on the desert shore, +"And Julia's lovely form can never see. + +"But fly, ye fleeting hours, I beg ye fly, +"And bring the time when Anna seeks her friend; +"Haste--Oh haste, or Edward sure must die. +"Arrive--and quickly Edward's sorrows end." + +I know you will think with me, that these lines are +beautiful, and merely a faint image of his manly +heart. In the course of our ride, during which he did +nothing but converse on your beauty and merit, he +gave me a detailed narrative of his life. It was +long, but I can do no less than favour you with an +abridgment of it. Edward Stanley was early left an +orphan: no father's guardian eye directed his +footsteps; no mother's fostering care cherished his +infancy. His estate was princely, and his family +noble, being a wronged branch of an English +potentate. During his early youth he had to contend +against the machinations of a malignant uncle, who +would have robbed him of his large possessions, +and left him in black despair, to have eaten the +bread of penury. His courage and understanding, +however, conquered this difficulty, and at the age +of fourteen he was quietly admitted to an +university. Here he continued peacefully to wander +amid the academic bowers, until the blast of war +rung in his ears, and called him to the field of +honour. Edward was ever foremost in the hour of +danger. It was his fate to meet the enemy often, +and as often did "he pluck honour from the pale- +fac'd moon." He fought at Chippewa--bled at the +side of the gallant Lawrence-and nearly laid down +his life on the ensanguined plains of Marengo. But +it would be a fruitless task to include all the scenes +of his danger and his glory. Thanks to the kind +fates which shield the lives of the brave, he yet +lives to adore my Julia. That you may be as happy +as you deserve, and happier than your heart- +stricken friend, is the constant prayer of your +ANNA." + +"P. S. Write me soon, and make my very best +respects to your excellent aunt. It was laughable +enough that Charles Weston should be afraid of a +flash of lightning. I mentioned it to Antonio, who +cried, while manly indignation clouded his brow, +'chill penury repressed his noble rage, and froze the +genial current of the soul.' However, say nothing to +Charles about it, I charge you." + +{Highlands = the Hudson Highlands, a mountainous +region in Putnam and Dutchess Counties, through +which the Hudson River passes in a deep and +picturesque gorge; Eolus = God of the winds; +Boreas = God of the North wind; Seneca = one of +the Finger Lakes in central New York State; Grecian +king = both the Senecas of antiquity, the +rhetorician (54 BC-39 AD) and his son the +philosopher/statesman (4 BC-65 AD), were, of +course, Romans--in any case, Lake Seneca is named +after the Seneca nation of the Iroquois Indians; +Park-Place = already in 1816 a fashionable street in +lower Manhattan; Chippewa = an American army +defeated the British at Chippewa, in Canada near +Niagara Falls, on July 5, 1814; Lawrence = Captain +James ("Don't give up the ship!") Lawrence (1781- +1813) of the U.S. Frigate Chesapeake was killed on +June 1, 1813, as his ship was captured by H.M.S. +Shannon outside Boston harbor; Marengo = battle +won by Napoleon against the Austrians on June 14, +1800--"Antonio's" military career was truly an +amazing one!; pluck honor.... = slightly misquoted +from Shakespeare, "King Henry IV, Part I," Act I, +Scene 3, line 202; chill penury.... = slightly +misquoted from Thomas Gray, "Elegy in a Country +Churchyard" verse 13} + +Julia fairly gasped for breath as she read this +epistle: her very soul was entranced by the song. +Whatever of seeming contradiction there might be +in the letter of her friend, her active mind soon +reconciled. She was now really beloved, and in a +manner most grateful to her heart--by the sole +power of sympathy and congenial feelings. +Whatever might be the adoration of Edward +Stanley, it was more than equalled by the +admiration of this amiable girl. Her very soul +seemed to her to be devoted to his worship; she +thought of him constantly, and pictured out his +various distresses and dangers; she wept at his +sufferings, and rejoiced in his prosperity--and all +this in the short space of one hour. Julia was yet in +the midst of this tumult of feeling, when another +letter was placed in her hands, and on opening it +she read as follows: + +"Dear Julia, + +"I should have remembered my promise, and come +out and spent a week with you, had not one of +Mary's little boys been quite sick; of course I went +to her until he recovered. But if you will ask aunt +Margaret to send for me, I will come tomorrow with +great pleasure, for I am sure you must find it +solitary, now Miss Miller has left you. Tell aunt to +send by the servant a list of such books as she +wants from Goodrich's, and I will get them for her, +or indeed any thing else that I can do for her or +you. Give my love to aunt, and tell her that, +knowing her eyes are beginning to fail, I have +worked her a cap, which I shall bring with me. +Mamma desires her love to you both, and believe +me to be affectionately your cousin, +KATHERINE EMMERSON." + +This was well enough; but as it was merely a letter +of business, one perusal, and that a somewhat +hasty one, was sufficient. Julia loved its writer +more than she suspected herself, but there was +nothing in her manner or character that seemed +calculated to excite strong emotion. In short, all +her excellences were so evident that nothing was +left dependent on innate evidence; and our heroine +seldom dwelt with pleasure on any character that +did not give a scope to her imagination. In +whatever light she viewed the conduct or +disposition of her cousin, she was met by obstinate +facts that admitted of no cavil nor of any +exaggeration. + +Turning quickly, therefore, from this barren +contemplation to one better suited to her +inclinations, Julia's thoughts resumed the agreeable +reverie from which she had been awakened. She +also could paint, and after twenty trials she at +length sketched an outline of the figure of a man +that answered to Anna's description, and satisfied +her own eye. Without being conscious of the theft, +she had copied from a print of the Apollo, and +clothed it in the uniform which Bonaparte is said to +have worn. A small scar was traced on the cheek in +such a manner that although it might be fancied as +the ravages of a bullet, it admirably answered all +the purposes of a dimple. Two epaulettes graced +the shoulders of the hero; and before the picture +was done, although it was somewhat at variance +with republican principles, an aristocratical star +glittered on its breast. Had he his birth-right, +thought Julia, it would be there in reality; and this +idea amply justified the innovation. To this image, +which it took several days to complete, certain +verses were addressed also, but they were never +submitted to the confidence of her friend. The +whole subject was now beginning to be too sacred +even for such a communication; and as the mind of +Julia every hour became more entranced with its +new master, her delicacy shrunk from an exposure +of her weakness: it was getting too serious for the +light compositions of epistolary correspondence. + +We furnish a copy of the lines, as they me not only +indicative of her feelings, but may give the reader +some idea of the powers of her imagination. + +"Beloved image of a god-like mind, +"In sacred privacy thy power I feel; +"What bright perfection in thy form's combin'd! +"How sure to injure, and how kind to heal. + +"Thine eagle eye bedazzles e'en the brain, +"Thy gallant brow bespeaks the front of Jove; +"While smiles enchant me, tears in torrents rain, +"And each seductive charm impels to love. + +"Ah! hapless maid, why daring dost thou prove +"The hidden dangers of the urchin's dart; +"Why fix thine eye on this, the god of love, +"And heedless think thee to retain thy heart!" + +This was but one of fifty similar effusions, in which +Julia poured forth her soul. The flame was kept +alive by frequent letters from her friend, in all of +which she dwelt with rapture on the moment of +their re-union, and never failed to mention Antonio +in a manner that added new fuel to the fire that +already began to consume Julia, and, in some +degree, to undermine her health, at least she +thought so. + +In the mean time Katherine Emmerson paid her +promised visit to her friends, and our heroine was +in some degree drawn from her musings on love +and friendship. The manners of this young lady +were conspicuously natural; she had a confirmed +habit of calling things by their right names, and +never dwelt in the least in superlatives. Her +affections seemed centered in the members of her +own family; nor had she ever given Julia the least +reason to believe she preferred her to her own +sister, notwithstanding that sister was married, and +beyond the years of romance. Yet Julia loved her +cousin, and was hardly ever melancholy or out of +spirits when in her company. The cheerful and +affectionate good humour of Katherine was +catching, and all were pleased with her, although +but few discovered the reason. Charles Weston +soon forgot his displeasure, and with the exception +of Julia's hidden uneasiness, the house was one +quiet scene of peaceful content. The party were +sitting at their work the day after the arrival of +Katherine, when Julia thought it a good opportunity +to intimate her wish to have the society of her +friend during the ensuing winter. + +"Why did Mr. Miller give up his house in town, I +wonder?" said Julia; "I am sure it was inconsiderate +to his family." + +"Rather say, my child, that it was in consideration +to his children that he did so," observed Miss +Emmerson; "his finances would not bear the +expense, and suffer him to provide for his family +after his death." + +"I am sure a little money might be spent now, to +indulge his children in society, and they would be +satisfied with less hereafter," continued Julia. "Mr. +Miller must be rich; and think, aunt, he has seven +grown up daughters that he has dragged with him +into the wilderness; only think, Katherine, how +solitary they must be." + +"Had I six sisters I could be solitary no where," said +Katherine, simply; "besides, I understand that the +country where Mr. Miller resides is beautiful and +populous." + +"Oh! there are men and women enough, I dare say," +cried Julia; "and the family is large--eleven in the +whole; but they must feel the want of friends in +such a retired place." + +"What, with six sisters!" said Katherine, laughing +and shaking her head. + +"There is a difference between a sister end a friend, +you know," said Julia, a little surprised. + +"I--indeed I have yet to learn that," exclaimed the +other, in a little more astonishment. + +"Why you feel affection for your sisters from nature +and habit; but friendship is voluntary, spontaneous, +and a much stronger feeling--friendship is a +sentiment." + +"And cannot one feel this sentiment, as you call it, +for a sister?" asked Katherine, smiling. + +"I should think not," returned Julia, musing; "I +never had a sister; but it appears to me that the +very familiarity of sisters would be destructive to +friendship." + +"Why I thought it was the confidence--the +familiarity--the secrets--which form the very +essence of friendship." cried Katherine; "at least so +I have always heard." + +"True," said Julia, eagerly, "you speak true--the +confidence and the secrets--but not the--the--I am +not sure that I express myself well--but the +intimate knowledge that one has of one's own +sister--that I should think would be destructive to +the delicacy of friendship." + +"Julia means that a prophet has never honour in his +own country," cried Charles with a laugh--"a +somewhat doubtful compliment to your sex, ladies, +under her application of it." + +"But what becomes of your innate evidence of worth +in friendship," asked Miss Emmerson; "I thought +that was the most infallible of all kinds of +testimony: surely that must bring you intimately +acquainted with each other's secret foibles too." + +"Oh! no--that is a species of sentimental +knowledge," returned Julia; "it only dwells on the +loftier parts of the character, and never descends to +the minute knowledge which makes us suffer so +much in each other's estimation: it leaves all these +to be filled by the--by the--by the--what shall I call +it?" + +"Imagination," said Katherine, dryly. + +"Well, by the imagination then: but it is an +imagination that is purified by sentiment, and"-- + +"Already rendered partial by the innate evidence of +worth," interrupted Charles. + +Julia had lost herself in the mazes of her own +ideas, and changed the subject under a secret +suspicion that her companions were amusing +themselves at her expense; she, therefore, +proceeded directly to urge the request of Anna +Miller. + +"Oh! aunt, now we are on the subject of friends, I +wish to request you would authorize me to invite +my Anna to pass the next winter with us in Park- +Place." + +"I confess, my love," said Miss Emmerson, glancing +her eye at Katherine, "that I had different views for +ourselves next winter: has not Miss Miller a married +sister living in town?" + +"Yes, but she has positively refused to ask the dear +girl, I know," said Julia. "Anna is not a favourite +with her sister." + +"Very odd that," said the aunt gravely; "there must +be a reason for her dislike then: what can be the +cause of this unusual distaste for each other?" + +"Oh!" cried Julia, "it is all the fault of Mrs. Welton; +they quarrelled about something, I don't know +what, but Anna assures me Mrs. Welton is entirely +in fault." + +"Indeed!--and you are perfectly sure that Mrs. +Welton is in fault--perhaps Anna has, however, laid +too strong a stress upon the error of her sister," +observed the aunt. + +"Oh! not at all, dear aunt. I can assure you, on my +own knowledge," continued Julia, "Anna was +anxious for a reconciliation, and offered to come +and spend the winter with her sister, but Mrs. +Welton declared positively that she would not have +so selfish a creature round her children: now this +Anna told me herself one day, and wept nearly to +break her heart at the time." + +"Perhaps Mrs. Welton was right then," said Miss +Emmerson, "and prudence, if not some other +reason, justified her refusal." + +"How can you say so, dear aunt?" interrupted Julia, +with a little impatience, "when I tell you that Anna +herself--my Anna, told me with her own lips, here in +this very house, that Mrs. Welton was entirely to +blame, and that she had never done any thing in +her life to justify the treatment or the remark--now +Anna told me this with her own mouth." + +As Julia spoke, the ardour of her feelings brought +the colour to her cheeks and an animation to her +eyes that rendered her doubly handsome; and +Charles Weston, who had watched her varying +countenance with delight, sighed as she concluded, +and rising, left the room. + +"I understand that your father intends spending his +winter in Carolina, for his health," said Miss +Emmerson to Katherine. + +"Yes," returned the other in a low tone, and +bending over her work to conceal her feelings; +"mother has persuaded him to avoid our winter." + +"And you are to be left behind?" + +"I am afraid so," was the modest reply. + +"And your brother and sister go to Washington +together?" + +"That is the arrangement, I believe." + +Miss Emmerson said no more, but she turned an +expressive look on her ward, which Julia was too +much occupied with her thoughts to notice. The +illness of her father, and the prospect of a long +separation from her sister, were too much for the +fortitude of Katherine at any time, and hastily +gathering her work in her hand, she left the room +just in time to prevent the tears which streamed +down her cheeks from meeting the eyes of her +companions. + +"We ought to ask Katherine to make one of our +family, in the absence of her mother and sister," +said Miss Emmerson, as soon as the door was +closed. + +"Ah! yes," cried Julia, fervently, "by all means: poor +Katherine, how solitary she would be any where +else--I will go this instant and ask her." + +"But--stop a moment, my love; you will remember +that we have not room for more than one guest. If +Katherine is asked, Miss Miller cannot be invited. +Let us look at what we are about, and leave +nothing to repent of hereafter." + +"Ah! it is true," said Julia, re-seating herself in +great disappointment; "where will poor Katherine +stay then?" + +"I know my brother expects that I will take her +under my charge; and, indeed, I think he has right +to ask it of me." + +"But she has no such right as my Anna, who is my +bosom friend, you know. Katherine has a right here, +it is true, but it is only such a right"-- + +"As your own," interrupted the aunt gravely; "you +are the daughter of my sister, and Katherine is the +daughter of my brother." + +"True--true--if it be right, lawful right, that is to +decide it, then Katherine must come, I suppose," +said Julia, a little piqued. + +"Let us proceed with caution, my love," said Miss +Emmerson, kissing her niece--"Do you postpone +your invitation until September, when, if you +continue of the same mind, we will give Anna the +desired invitation: in the mean while prepare +yourself for what I know will be a most agreeable +surprise." + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +ALTHOUGH Julia spent most of her time with her +aunt and cousin, opportunities for meditation were +not wanting: in the retirement of her closet she +perused and re-perused the frequent letters of her +friend. The modesty of Julia, or rather shame, +would have prevented her from making Anna +acquainted with all her feelings, but it would have +been treason to her friendship not to have poured +out a little of her soul at the feet of Miss Miller. +Accordingly, in her letters, Julia did not avoid the +name of Antonio. She mentioned it often, but with +womanly delicacy, if not with discretion. The seeds +of constant association had, unknown to herself, +taken deep root, and it was not in the power of +Anna Miller to eradicate impressions which had +been fastened by the example of the aunt, and +cherished by the society of her cousin. Although +deluded, weak, and even indiscreet, Julia was not +indelicate. Yet enough escaped her to have given +any experienced eye an insight into the condition of +her mind, had Anna chosen to have exposed her +letters to any one. The danger of such a +correspondence should alone deter any prudent +female from its indulgence. Society has branded the +man with scorn who dares abuse the confidence of +a woman in this manner; and the dread of the +indignation of his associates makes it an offence +which is rarely committed by the other sex: but +there is no such obligation imposed on women, and +that frequently passes for a joke which harrows +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 another--we 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 private--of +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 town--like 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 +Antonio--I am sure I ought not to listen as I do to +what he says--and 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! Anna--Anna--what would +become of your friend--But 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 lightning--but then all are not brave +alike. Adieu, my Anna--and 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 go--but then all the loveliness of the +act was yours." + +At the word loveliness, Julia raised her eyes to his +face with a slight blush--it 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. + +"Julia--Miss Warren--you tear my secret from me +before its time--I 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 said--but 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 lightning--and 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 +highly--but ask no more, I beg of you." + +"Why, if you grant me this, why forbid me to hope +for more?" said the youth eagerly, and looking +really handsome. + +Julia hesitated a moment, and let her dark eyes fall +before his ardent gaze, at a loss what to say--but +the face of Apollo in the imperial uniform +interposed to save her. + +"I owe it to your candour, Mr. Weston, to own my +weakness--" she said, and hesitated. + +"Go on, Julia--my Julia," said Charles, in an +unusually soft voice; "kill me at once, or bid me +live!" + +Again Julia paused, and again she looked on her +companion with kinder eyes than usual--when she +felt the picture which lay next her heart, and +proceeded-- + +"Yes, Mr. Weston, this heart, this foolish, weak +heart is no longer my own." + +"How!" exclaimed Charles, in astonishment, "and +have I then a rival, and a successful one too?" + +"You have," said Julia, burying her face in her hands +to conceal her blushes.--"But, Mr. Weston, on your +generosity I depend for secrecy--be as generous as +myself." + +"Yes--yes--I will conceal my misery from others," +cried Charles, springing on his feet and rushing +from the room; "would to God I could conceal it +from myself!" + +Julia was sensibly touched with his distress, and for +an instant there was some regret mingled with self- +satisfaction at her own candour--but then the +delightful reflection soon presented itself of the +gratitude of Antonio when he learnt her generous +conduct, and her self-denial in favour of a man +whom she had as yet never seen.--At the same +time she was resolutely determined never to +mention the occurrence herself--not even to her +Anna. + +Miss Emmerson was enabled to discover some +secret uneasiness between Charles and Julia, +although she was by no means able to penetrate +the secret. The good aunt had long anxiously +wished for just such a declaration as had been +made to her niece, and it was one of the last of her +apprehensions that it would not have been +favourably received. Of simple and plain habits +herself, Miss Emmerson was but little versed in the +human heart; she thought that Julia was evidently +happy and pleased with her young kinsman, and +she considered him in every respect a most eligible +connexion for her charge: their joint fortunes would +make an ample estate, and they were alike +affectionate and good-tempered--what more could +be wanting? Nothing however passed in the future +intercourse of the young couple to betray their +secrets, and Miss Emmerson soon forgot her +surmises. Charles was much hurt at Julia's avowal, +and had in vain puzzled his brains to discover who +his rival could be. No young man that was in the +least (so he thought) suitable to his mistress, +visited her, and he gave up his conjectures in +despair of discovering this unknown lover, until +accident or design should draw him into notice. +Little did he suspect the truth. On the other hand, +Julia spent her secret hours in the delightful +consciousness of having now done something that +rendered her worthy of Antonio, with occasional +regret that she was compelled by delicacy and love +to refuse Charles so hastily as she had done. + +Very soon after this embarrassing explanation, Julia +received a letter from her friend that was in no way +distinguishable from the rest, except that it +contained the real name of Regulus, which she +declared to be Henry Frederick St. Albans. If Charles +was at a loss to discover Julia's hidden love, Julia +herself was equally uncertain how to know who this +Mr. St. Albans was. After a vast deal of musing, she +remembered that Anna was absent from school +without leave one evening, and had returned alone +with a young man who was unknown to the +mistress. This incident was said, by some, to have +completed her education rather within the usual +time. Julia had herself thought her friend indiscreet, +but on the whole, hardly treated--and they left the +school together. This must have been St. Albans, +and Anna stood fully exculpated in her eyes. The +letter also announced the flattering fact, that +Antonio had already left the country, ordering his +servants and horses home, and that he had gone to +New-York with the intention of hovering around +Julia, in a mask, that she could not possibly +remove, during the dangers of their expected +journey. Anna acknowledged that she had betrayed +Antonio's secret, but pleaded her duty to her friend +in justification. She did not think that Julia would +be able to penetrate his disguise, as he had +declared his intentions so to conceal himself, by +paint and artifice, as to be able to escape +detection. Here was a new source of pleasure to our +heroine: Antonio was already on the wing for the +city, perhaps arrived--nay, might have seen her, +might even now be within a short distance of the +summer-house where she was sitting at the time, +and watching her movements. As this idea +suggested itself, Julia started, and unconsciously +arranging her hair, by bringing forward a neglected +curl, moved with trembling steps towards the +dwelling. At each turn of the walk our heroine threw +a timid eye around in quest of an unknown figure, +and more than once fancied she saw the face of the +god of music peering at her from the friendly covert +of her aunt's shrubbery--and twice she mistook the +light green of a neighbouring cornfield, waving in +the wind, for the coat of Antonio. Julia had so long +associated the idea of her hero with the image in +her bosom, that she had given it perfect identity; +but, on more mature reflection, she was convinced +of her error: he would come disguised, Anna had +told her, and had ordered his servants home; where +that home was, Julia was left in ignorance--but she +fervently hoped, not far removed from her beloved +aunt. The idea of a separation from this +affectionate relative, who had proved a mother to +her in her infancy, gave great pain to her best +feelings; and Julia again internally prayed that the +residence of Antonio might not be far distant.-- +What the disguise of her lover would be, Julia could +not imagine--probably, that of a wandering harper: +but then she remembered that there were no +harpers in America, and the very singularity might +betray his secret. Music is the "food of love," and +Julia fancied for a moment that Antonio might +appear as an itinerant organist--but it was only for +a moment; for as soon as she figured to herself the +Apollo form, bending under the awkward load of a +music-grinder, she turned in disgust from the +picture. His taste, thought Julia will protect me +from such a sight--she might have added, his +convenience too. Various disguises presented +themselves to our heroine, until, on a view of the +whole subject, she concluded that Antonio would +not appear as a musician at all, but in some +capacity in which he might continue unsuspected, +near her person, and execute his project of +shielding her from the dangers of travelling. It was +then only as a servant that he could appear, and, +after mature reflection, Julia confidently expected +to see him in the character of a coachman. + +Willing to spare her own horses, Miss Emmerson +had already sent to the city for the keeper of a +livery-stable, to come out and contract with her for +a travelling carriage, to convey her to the Falls of +Niagara. The man came, and it is no wonder that +Julia, under her impressions, chose to be present at +the conversation. + +"Well then," said Miss Emmerson to the man, "I will +pay you your price, but you must furnish me with +good horses to meet me at Albany--remember that +I take all the useless expense between the two +cities, that I may know whom it is I deal with." + +"Miss Emmerson ought to know me pretty well by +this time," said the man; "I have driven her +enough, I think." + +"And a driver," continued the lady, musing, "who am +I to have for a driver?" Here Julia became all +attention, trembling and blushing with +apprehension. + +"Oh, a driver!" cried the horse-dealer; "I have got +you an excellent driver, one of the first chop in the +city." + +{first chop = first rank, highest quality} + +Although these were not the terms that our heroine +would have used herself in speaking of this +personage, yet she thought they plainly indicated +his superiority, and she waited in feverish suspense +to hear more. + +"He must be steady, and civil, and sober, and +expert, and tender-hearted," said Miss Emmerson, +who thought of any thing but a hero in disguise. + +"Yes--yes--yes--yes--yes," replied the stable- +keeper, nodding his head and speaking at each +requisite, "he is all that, I can engage to Miss +Emmerson." + +"And his eyesight must be good," continued the +lady, deeply intent on providing well for her +journey; "we may ride late in the evening, and it is +particularly requisite that he have good eyes." + +"Yes--yes, ma'am," said the man, in a little +embarrassment that did not escape Julia; "he has +as good an eye as any man in America." + +"Of what age is he?" asked Miss Emmerson. + +"About fifty," replied the man, thinking years would +he a recommendation. + +"Fifty!" exclaimed Julia, in a tone of +disappointment. + +"'Tis too old," said Miss Emmerson; "he should he +able to undergo fatigue." + +"Well, I may be mistaken--Oh, he can't be more +than forty, or thirty," continued the man, watching +the countenance of Julia; "he is a man that looks +much older than he is." + +"Is he strong and active?" + +"I guess he is--he's as strong as an ox, and active +as a cat," said the other, determined he should +pass. + +"Well, then," said the aunt, in her satisfied way, +"let every thing be ready for us in Albany by next +Tuesday. We shall leave home on Monday." + +The man withdrew. + +Julia had heard enough--for ox she had substituted +Hercules, and for cat, she read the feathered +Mercury. + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE long expected Monday at length arrived, and +Miss Emmerson and Julia, taking an affectionate +leave of their relatives in the city, went on board +the steam-boat under the protection of Charles +Weston. Here a new scene indeed opened on our +heroine; for some time she even forgot to look +around her in the throng in quest of Antonio. As the +boat glided along the stream, she stood leaning on +one arm of Charles, while Miss Emmerson held the +other, in delighted gaze at the objects, which they +had scarcely distinguished before they were passed. + +"See, dear Charles," cried Julia, in a burst of what +she would call natural feeling--"there is our house-- +here the summerhouse, and there the little arbour +where you read to us last week Scott's new novel-- +how delightful! every thing now seems and feels +like home." + +"Would it were a home for us all," said Charles, +gently pressing her arm in his own, and speaking +only to be heard by Julia, "then should I be happy +indeed." + +Julia thought no more of Antonio; but while her +delighted eye rested on the well known scenes +around their house, and {as} she stood in the +world, for the first time, leaning on Charles, she +thought him even nearer than their intimacy and +consanguinity made them. But the boat was famous +for her speed, and the house, garden, and every +thing Julia knew, were soon out of sight, and she, +by accident, touching the picture which she had +encased in an old gold setting of her mother's, and +lodged in her bosom, was immediately restored to +her former sense of things. Then her eye glanced +rapidly round the boat, but discovering no face +which in the least resembled disguise, she +abandoned the expectation of meeting her lover +before they reached Albany. Her beauty drew many +an eye on her, however, and catching the steady +and admiring gaze of one or two of the gentlemen, +Julia's heart beat, and her face was covered with +blushes. + +She was by no means sure that Antonio would +appear as a coachman--this was merely a +suggestion of her own; and the idea that he might +possibly be one of the gazers, covered her with +confusion: her blushes drew still more attention +and admiration upon her; and we cannot say what +might have been the result of her fascinations, had +not Charles at this instant approached them, and +pointing to a sloop they were passing at the time, +exclaimed-- + +"See, madam--see, Julia--there is our travelling +equipage on board that sloop, going up to meet us +in Albany." + +Our heroine looked as directed, and saw a vessel +moving with tolerable rapidity up the river, within a +short distance from them. On its deck were a +travelling carriage and a pair of horses, and by the +latter stood a man who, by the whip in his head, +was evidently the driver. His stature was tall and +athletic; his complexion dark to near blackness; his +face was buried in whiskers; and his employer had +spoken the truth when he said he had as good an +eye as any men in America--it was large, black, and +might be piercing. But then he had but one--at +least the place where the other ought to be, was +covered by an enormous patch of green silk. This +then was Antonio. It is true, he did not resemble +Apollo, but his disguise altered him so that it was +difficult to determine. As they Moved slowly by the +vessel, the driver recognised Charles, having had an +interview with him the day before, and saluted him +with a low bow--his salutation was noticed by the +young man, who slightly touched his hat, and gave +him a familiar nod in return--Julia, unconsciously, +bent her body, and felt her cheeks glow with +confusion as she rose again. She could not muster +resolution to raise her eyes towards the sloop, but +by a kind of instinctive coquetry dragged her +companion to the other side of the boat. As soon +as she was able to recover her composure, Julia +revolved in her mind the scene which had just +occurred. She had seen Antonio--every thing about +him equalled her expectations--even at the +distance, she had easily discerned the noble dignity +of his manners--his eye gave assurance of his +conscious worth--his very attitude was that of a +gentleman. Not to know him for a man of birth, of +education and of fortune, Julia felt to her would be +impossible; and she trembled lest others, as +discerning as herself, should discover his disguise, +and she in consequence be covered with confusion. +She earnestly hoped his incog. would ever remain +unknown, for her delicacy shrunk at the publicity +and notoriety which would then attend his +attachment. It was certainly delightful to be loved, +and so loved--to be attended, and so attended; but +the heart of Julia was too unpractised to relish the +laugh and observations of a malignant world. "No, +my Antonio," she breathed internally, "hover around +me, shield me from impending dangers, delight me +with your presence, and enchant me with your eye; +but claim me in the guise of a gentleman and a +hero, that no envious tongue may probe the secrets +of our love, nor any profane scoffer ridicule those +sensitive pleasures that he is too unsentimental to +enjoy." With these, and similar thoughts, did Julia +occupy herself, until Charles pointed out to her the +majestic entrance to the Highlands. Our heroine, +who was truly alive to all the charms of nature, +gazed with rapture as the boat plunged between +the mountains on either hand, and turned a wistful +gaze down the river, in the vain hope that Antonio +might, at the same moment, be enjoying the +scene--but the sluggish sloop was now far behind, +and the eye of Antonio, bright as it was, could not +pierce the distance. Julia felt rather relieved than +otherwise, when the vessel which contained her +hero was hid from view by a mountain that they +doubled. Her feelings were much like those of a girl +who had long anxiously waited the declaration of a +favourite youth, had received it, and acknowledged +her own partiality. She felt all the assurance of her +conquest, and would gladly, for a time, avoid the +shame of her own acknowledgment. The passage up +the Hudson furnishes in itself so much to charm the +eye of a novice, that none but one under the +extraordinary circumstances of our heroine, could +have beheld the beauties of the river unmoved. If +Julia did not experience quite as much rapture in +the journey as she had anticipated, she attributed +it to the remarkably delicate situation she was in +with her lover, and possibly to a dread of his being +detected. An officer of his rank and reputation must +be well known, thought she, and he may meet with +acquaintances every where. However, by the +attention of Charles, she passed the day with a +very tolerable proportion of pleasure. Their arrival +at Albany was undistinguished by any remarkable +event, though Julia looked in vain through the +darkness of the night, in quest of the fertile +meadows and desert islands which Anna had +mentioned in her letter. Even the river seemed +straight and uninteresting. But Julia was tired--it +was night--and Antonio was absent. + +The following morning Miss Emmerson and her +niece, attended by Charles, took a walk to examine +the beauties of Albany. It did not strike our heroine +as being so picturesque as it had her friend; still it +had novelty, and that lent it many charms it might +have wanted on a more intimate acquaintance. +Their forenoon, however, exhausted the beauties of +this charming town, and they had returned to the +inn, and the ladies were sitting in rather a listless +state when Charles entered the room with a look of +pleasure, and cried "he is here." + +"Who!" exclaimed Julia, starting, and trembling like +an aspen. + +"He!--Tony," said Charles, in reply. + +Julia was unable to say any more; but her aunt, +without noticing her agitation, asked mildly, "And +who is Tony?" + +"Why Anthony, the driver--he is here and wishes to +see you." + +"Show him up, Charles, and let us learn when he +will be ready to go on." + +This was an awful moment to Julia--she was on the +eve of being confronted, in a room, for the first +time, with the man on whom she felt that her +happiness or misery must depend. Although she +knew the vast importance to her of good looks at +such a moment, she looked unusually ill--she was +pale from apprehension, and awkward and +ungraceful from her agitation. She would have given +the world to have got out of the room, but this was +impossible--there was but one door, and through +that he must come. She had just concluded that it +was better to remain in her chair than incur the risk +of fainting in the passage, when he entered, +preceded by Charles. His upper, and part of his +lower lip, were clean shaved; a small part of one +cheek and his nose were to be seen; all the rest of +his face was covered with hair, or hid under the +patch. An enormous coloured handkerchief was tied, +in a particular manner, round his neck; and his coat, +made of plain materials, and somewhat tarnished +with service, was buttoned as close to his throat as +the handkerchief would allow. In short, his whole +attire was that of a common driver of a hack +carriage; and no one who had not previously +received an intimation that his character was +different from his appearance, would at all have +suspected the deception. + +"Your name is Anthony?" said Miss Emmerson, as +he bowed to her with due deference. + +"Yes, ma'am, Anthony--Tony Sandford," was the +reply--it was uttered in a vulgar nasal tone, that +Julia instantly perceived was counterfeited: but +Miss Emmerson, with perfect innocency, proceeded +in her inquiries. + +"Are your horses gentle and good, Tony?" adopting +the familiar nomenclature that seemed most to his +fancy. + +"As gentle as e'er a lady in the land," said Tony, +turning his large black eye round the room, and +letting it dwell a moment on the beautiful face of +Julia--her heart throbbed with tumultuous emotion +at the first sound of his voice, and she was highly +amused at the ingenuity he had displayed, in +paying a characteristic compliment to her +gentleness, in this clandestine manner--if he +preserves his incognito so ingeniously he will never +be detected, thought Julia, and all will be well. + +"And the carriage," continued Miss Emmerson, "is it +fit to carry us?" + +"I can't say how fit it may be to carry sich ladies as +you be, but it is as good a carriage as runs out of +York." + +Here was another delicate compliment, thought +Julia, and so artfully concealed under brutal +indifference that it nearly deceived even herself. + +"When will you be ready to start?" asked Miss +Emmerson. + +"This moment," was the prompt reply--"we can +easily reach Schenectady by sundown." + +Here Julia saw the decision and promptitude of a +soldier used to marches and movements, besides +an eager desire to remove her from the bustle of a +large town and thoroughfare, to a retirement where +she would be more particularly under his protection. +Miss Emmerson, on the other hand, saw nothing but +the anxiety of a careful hireling, willing to promote +the interest of his master, who was to be paid for +his conveyance by the job--so differently do sixty +and sixteen judge the same actions! At all events, +the offer was accepted, and the man ordered to +secure the baggage, and prepare for their +immediate departure. + +"Why don't you help Antonio on with the baggage, +Charles?" said Julia, as she stood looking at the +driver tottering under the weight of the trunks. +Charles stared a moment with surprise--the name +created no astonishment, but the request did. Julia +had a habit of softening names, that were rather +harsh in themselves, to which he was accustomed. +Peter she called Pierre; Robert was Rubert {sic}; +and her aunt's black footman Timothy, she had +designated as Timotheus: but it was not usual for +ladies to request gentlemen to perform menial +offices--until, recollecting that Julia had expressed +unusual solicitude concerning a dressing-box that +contained Anna's letters, he at once supposed it +was to that she wished him to attend. Charles left +the room, and superintended the whole +arrangements, when once enlisted. Julia now felt +that every doubt of the identity of her lover with +this coachman was removed. He had ingeniously +adopted the name of Anthony, as resembling in +sound the one she herself had given him in her +letters. This he undoubtedly had learnt from Anna-- +and then Sandford was very much like Stanley--his +patch, his dress, his air--every thing about him +united to confirm her impressions; and Julia, at the +same time she resolved to conduct herself towards +him in their journey with a proper feminine reserve, +thought she could do no less to a man who +submitted to so much to serve her, than to suffer +him to perceive that she was not entirely insensible +to the obligation. + +Our heroine could not but admire the knowing +manner with which Antonio took his seat on the +carriage, and the dexterity he discovered in the +management of his horses--this was infallible +evidence of his acquaintance with the animal, and a +sure sign that he was the master of many, and had +long been accustomed to their service. Perhaps, +thought Julia, he has been an officer of cavalry. + +In the constant excitement produced by her +situation, Julia could not enter into all the feelings +described by her friend, during the ride to +Schenectady. Its beauties might be melancholy, but +could she be melancholy, and Antonio so near? The +pines might be silvery and lofty, but the proud +stature of majestic man, eclipsed in her eyes all +their beauties. Not so Charles. He early began to +lavish his abuse on the sterile grounds they +passed, and gave any thing but encomiums on the +smoothness of the road they were travelling. In the +latter particular, even the quiet spirit of Miss +Emmerson joined him, and Julia herself was +occasionally made sensible that she was not +reposing "on a bed of roses." + +{sterile grounds = the sandy "pine barrens" +between Albany and Schenectady were notorious for +their lack of scenic beauty} + +"Do I drive too fast for the ladies?" asked Antonio, +on hearing a slight complaint and a faint scream in +the soft voice of Julia. Oh, how considerate he is! +thought our heroine--how tender!--without his care +I certainly should have been killed in this rude +place. It was expected that as she had complained, +she would answer; and after a moment employed in +rallying her senses for the undertaking, she replied +in a voice of breathing melody-- + +"Oh! no, Antonio, you are very considerate." + +For a world Julia could not have said more; and +Miss Emmerson thought that she had said quite as +much as the occasion required; but Miss Emmerson, +it will be remembered, supposed their driver to be +Anthony Sandford. The hero, himself, on hearing +such a gentle voice so softly replying to his +question, could not refrain from turning his face +into the carriage, and Julia felt her own eyes lower +before his earnest gaze, while her cheeks burned +with the blushes that suffused them. But the look +spoke volumes--he understands my "Antonio," +thought Julia, and perceives that, to me, he is no +longer unknown. That expressive glance has opened +between us a communication that will cease but +with our lives. Julia now enjoyed, for the remainder +of their journey to Mr. Miller's, one of the greatest +pleasures of love--unsuspected by others, she could +hold communion with him who had her heart, by the +eyes, and a thousand tender and nameless little +offices which give interest to affection, and zest to +passion. + +They had now got half way between the two cities, +and Charles took a seat by the side of the driver, +with the intention, as he expressed himself, of +stretching his legs: the carriage was open and light, +so that all of the figures of the two young men +could be seen by the ladies, as well as their +conversation heard. Charles never appeared to less +advantage in his person, thought Julia, than now, +seated by the side of the manly and noble Antonio. +The figure of Charles was light, and by no means +without grace; yet it did not strike the fancy of our +heroine as so fit to shield and support her through +life, as the more robust person of his companion. +Julia herself was, in form, the counterpart of her +mind--she was light, airy, and beautifully softened +in all her outlines. It was impossible to mistake her +for any thing but a lady, and one of the gentlest +passions and sentiments. She felt her own +weakness, and would repose it on the manly +strength of Antonio. + +"Which do you call the best of your horses?" asked +Charles, so soon as he had got himself comfortably +seated. + +"The off--but both are true as steel," was the +laconic reply. The comparison was new to Julia, and +it evidently denoted a mind accustomed to the +contemplation of arms. + +"How long have you followed the business of a +driver, Tony?" said Charles, in the careless manner +of a gentleman when he wishes to introduce +familiarity with an inferior, by seeming to take an +interest in the other's affairs. Julia felt indignant at +the freedom of his manner, and particularly at the +epithet of "Tony"--yet her lover did not in the least +regard either--or rather his manner exhibited no +symptoms of displeasure--he has made up his +mind, thought Julia, to support his disguise, and it +is best for us both that he should. + +"Ever since I was sixteen I have been used to +horses," was the reply of Antonio to the question of +Charles--Julia smiled at the ambiguity of the +answer, and was confirmed in her impression that +he had left college at that age to serve in the +cavalry. + +"You must understand them well by this time," +continued Charles, glancing his eye at his +companion as if to judge of his years--"You must be +forty"--Julia fidgeted a little at this guess of +Charles, but soon satisfied herself with the +reflection that his disguise contributed to the error. + +"My age is very deceiving," said the man; "I have +seen great hardships in my time, both of body and +mind." + +Here Julia could scarcely breathe through anxiety. +Every syllable that he uttered was devoured with +eager curiosity by the enamoured girl--he knew that +she was a listener, and that she understood his +disguise; and doubtless meant, in that indirect +manner, to acquaint her with the incidents of his +life. It was clear that he indicated his age to be +less than what his appearance would have led her +to believe--his sufferings, his cruel sufferings had +changed him. + +"The life of a coachman is not hard," said Charles. + +"No, sir, far from it--but I have not been a +coachman all my life." + +Nothing could be plainer than this--it was a direct +assertion of his degradation by the business in +which he was then engaged. + +"In what manner did you lose your eye, Tony," said +Charles, in a tone of sympathy that Julia blessed +him for in her heart, although she knew that the +member was uninjured, and only hidden to favour +his disguise. Antonio hesitated a little in his +answer, and stammered while giving it--"It was in +the wars," at length he got out, and Julia admired +the noble magnanimity which would not allow him, +even in imagination, to suffer in a less glorious +manner--notwithstanding his eye is safe and as +beautiful as the other, he has suffered in the wars, +thought our heroine, and it is pardonable for him to +use the deception, situated as he is--it is nothing +more than an equivoque. But this was touching +Charles on a favourite chord. Little of a hero as +Julia fancied him to be, he delighted in conversing +about the war with those men, who, having acted in +subordinate stations, would give a different view of +the subject from the official accounts, in which he +was deeply read. It was no wonder, therefore, that +he eagerly seized on the present opportunity to +relieve the tedium of a ride between Albany and +Schenectady. + +{equivoque = double meaning, a pun} + +"In what battle," asked Charles, quickly; "by sea or +by land?" + +"By sea," said Antonio, speaking to his horses, with +an evident unwillingness to say any more on the +subject. + +Ah! the deception, and the idea of his friend +Lawrence, are too much for his sensibility, thought +Julia; and to relieve him she addressed Charles +herself. + +"How far are we from Schenectady, cousin Charles?" + +Antonio, certainly, was not her cousin Charles; but +as if he thought the answering such questions to be +his peculiar province, he replied immediately-- + +"Four miles, ma'am; there's the stone." + +There was nothing in the answer itself, or the +manner of its delivery, to attract notice in an +unsuspecting listener; but by Julia it was well +understood--it was the first time he had ever +spoken directly to herself--it was a new era in their +lives--and his body turned half round toward her as +he spoke, showed his manly form to great +advantage; but the impressive and dignified +manner in which he dropped his whip towards the +mile-stone, Julia felt that she never could forget--it +was intended to mark the spot where he had first +addressed her. He had chosen it with taste. The +stone stood under the shade of a solitary oak, and +might easily be fancied to be a monument erected +to commemorate some important event in the lives +of our lovers. Julia ran over in her mind the time +when she should pay an annual visit to that +hallowed place, and leaning on the arm of her +majestic husband, murmur in his ear, "Here, on this +loved spot, did Antonio first address his happy, +thrice happy Julia." + +"Well, Tony," said the mild voice of Miss Emmerson, +"the sun is near setting, let us go the four miles as +fast as you please." + +"I'm sure, ma'am," said Antonio, with profound +respect, "you don't want to get in more than I do, +for I had no sleep all last night; I'll not keep you +out one minute after night"--so saying, he urged his +horses to a fast trot, and was quite us good as his +word. How delicate in his attentions, and yet how +artfully has he concealed his anxiety on my account +under a feigned desire for sleep, thought Julia. + +If any thing had been wanting either to convince +Julia of the truth of her conjecture, or to secure the +conquest of Antonio, our heroine felt that this short +ride had abundantly supplied it. + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE following day our travellers were on the road +before the sun, and busily pursued their route +through the delightful valley of the Mohawk. It was +now that Julia, in some measure accustomed to her +proximity to her hero, began to enjoy the beauties +of the scenery; her eye dwelt with rapture on each +opening glimpse that they caught of the river, and +took in its gaze meadows of never-failing verdure, +which were beautifully interspersed with elms that +seemed coeval with the country itself. Occasionally +she would draw the attention of her aunt to some +view of particular interest; and if her eager voice +caught the attention of Antonio, and he turned to +gaze, to ponder, and to admire--then Julia felt +happy indeed, for then it was that she felt the +indescribable bliss of sharing our pleasures with +those we love. What heart of sensibility has stood +and coldly gazed on a scene over which the eye, +that it loves to admire, is roving with delight? Who +is there that has yet to learn, that if the strongest +bond to love is propinquity, so is its tenderest tie, +sympathy? In this manner did our lovely heroine +pass a day of hitherto untasted bliss. Antonio +would frequently stop his horses on the summit of +a hill, and Julia understood the motive; turning her +looks in the direction in which she saw the eye of +her lover bent, she would sit in silent and secret +communion with his feelings. In vain Charles +endeavoured to catch her attention--his remarks +were unnoticed, and his simple efforts to please +disregarded. At length, as they advanced towards +the close of their day's ride, Charles, observing a +mountain obtruding itself directly across their path, +and meeting the river, which swept with great +velocity around its base, cried aloud with a laugh-- + +"Anthony, I wish you would remove your nose!" + +"Charles!" exclaimed Julia, shocked at his rude +familiarities with a man of Antonio's elevated +character. + +"Poh!" said the young man, in an under tone, +conceiving her surprise to be occasioned by his +lowering himself to joke with an inferior, "he is a +good, honest fellow, and don't mind a joke at all, I +assure you." + +Charles was right, for Antonio, moving his face, +with a laugh cried in his turn--"There, sir, my nose +is moved, but you can't see no better, after all." + +Julia was amused with his condescension, which +she thought augured perfect good-nature and +affability. After all, thought Julia, if noble and +commanding qualities are necessary to excite +admiration or to command respect, familiar virtues +induce us to love more tenderly, and good temper +is absolutely necessary to contribute to our +comfort. On the whole, she was rather pleased than +otherwise, that Antonio could receive and return +what was evidently intended for a witticism, +although as yet she did not comprehend it. But +Charles did not leave her long in doubt. On the +north side of the Mohawk, and at about fifty miles +from its mouth, is a mountain which, as we have +already said, juts, in a nearly perpendicular +promontory, into the bed of the river; its inclination +is sufficient to admit of its receiving the name of a +nose. Without the least intention of alluding to our +hero, the early settlers had affixed the name of St. +Anthony, who appears to have been a kind of Dutch +deity in this state, and to have monopolized all the +natural noses within her boundaries to himself. The +vulgar idiom made the pronunciation an-TONY's +nose--and all this Charles briefly explained to Miss +Emmerson and her niece by way of giving point to +his own wit. He had hardly made them comprehend +the full brilliancy and beauty of his application of +the mountain to their driver, when they reached the +pass itself. The road was barely sufficient to suffer +two carriages to move by each other without +touching, being from necessity dug out of the base +of the mountain; a precipice of many feet led to the +river, which was high and turbulent at the time; +there was no railing nor any protection on the side +next the water--and in endeavouring to avoid the +unprotected side of the road, two wagons had met +a short time before, and one of them lost a wheel +in the encounter--its owner had gone to a distance +for assistance, leaving the vehicle where it had +fallen. The horses of Antonio, unaccustomed to +such a sight, were with some difficulty driven by +the loaded wagon, and when nearly past the object, +took a sudden fright at its top, which was flapping +in the wind. All the skill and exertions of Antonio to +prevent their backing was useless, and carriage and +horses would inevitably have gone off the bank +together, had not Charles, with admirable presence +of mind, opened a door, and springing out, placed a +billet of wood, which had been used as a base for a +lever in lifting the broken wagon, under one of the +wheels. This checked the horses until Antonio had +time to rally them, and, by using the whip with +energy, bring them into the road again. He certainly +showed great dexterity as a coachman. But, +unhappily, the movement of Charles had been +misunderstood by Julia, and, throwing open the +door, with the blindness of fear, she sprang from +the carriage also: it was on the side next the +water, and her first leap was over the bank; the hill +was not perpendicular, but too steep for Julia to +recover her balance--and partly running, and partly +falling, the unfortunate girl was plunged into the +rapid river. Charles heard the screams of Miss +Emmerson, and caught a glimpse of the dress of +Julia as she sprang from the carriage. He ran to the +bank just in time to see her fall into the water. + +{St. Anthony's Nose = this incident probably +occurred at a place on the Mohawk River called +today The Noses, between Fonda and Palatine +Bridge; there is another St. Anthony's Nose on the +Hudson River} + +"Oh, God!" he cried, "Julia!--my Julia!"--and, without +seeming to touch the earth, he flew down the bank, +and threw himself headlong into the stream. His +great exertions and nervous arms soon brought him +alongside of Julia, and, happily for them both, an +eddy in the waters drew them to the land. With +some difficulty Charles was enabled to reach the +shore with his burthen. + +Julia was not insensible, nor in the least injured. +Her aunt was soon by her side, and folding her in +her arms, poured out her feelings in a torrent of +tears. Charles would not, however, suffer any delay, +or expressions of gratitude--but, forcing both aunt +and niece into the carriage, bid Anthony drive +rapidly to a tavern known to be at no great +distance.-- + +On their arrival, both Julia and Charles immediately +clad themselves in dry clothes--when Miss +Emmerson commanded the presence of the young +man in her own room. On entering, Charles found +Julia sitting by a fire, a thousand times handsomer, +if possible, than ever. Her eyes were beaming with +gratitude, and her countenance was glowing with +the excitement produced by the danger that she +had encountered. + +"Ah! Charles, my dear cousin," cried Julia, rising and +meeting him with both hands extended, "I owe my +life to your bravery and presence of mind." + +"And mine too, Charles." said Miss Emmerson; "but +for you, we should have all gone off the hill +together." + +"Yes, if Anthony had not managed the horses +admirably, you might have gone indeed," said +Charles, with a modest wish to get rid of their +praise. But this was an unlucky speech for Charles: +he had, unconsciously presented the image of a +rival, at the moment that he hoped he filled all the +thoughts of Julia. + +"Ah, Antonio!" she cried, "poor Antonio!--and where +is he?--Why do you not send for him, dear aunt?" + +"What, my love, into my bed-chamber!" said Miss +Emmerson, in surprise; "fear has made the girl +crazy!--But, Charles, where is Anthony?" + +"In the stable, with the horses, I believe," said the +youth--"no, here he is, under the window, leading +them to the pump." + +"Give him this money," said Miss Emmerson, "and +tell him it is for his admirable skill in saving my +life." + +Julia saw the danger of an exposure if she +interfered, yet she had the curiosity to go to the +window, and see how Antonio would conduct in the +mortifying dilemma. + +"Here, Anthony," said Charles, "Miss Emmerson has +sent you ten dollars, for driving so well, and saving +the carriage." + +"Ah! sir, it is no matter--I can ask nothing for that, +I'm sure." + +But Charles, accustomed to the backwardness of +the common Americans to receive more than the +price stipulated, still extended his hand towards +the man. Julia saw his embarrassment, and +knowing of no other expedient by which to relieve +him, said, in a voice of persuasion-- + +"Take it for my sake, Antonio--if it be unworthy of +you, still, take it, to oblige me." + +The man no longer hesitated, but took the money, +and gave Julia a look and a bow that sunk deep +into the tablet of her memory--while Charles +thought him extremely well paid for what he had +done, but made due allowances for the excited +state of his cousin's feelings. + +"You perceive," said Miss Emmerson, with a smile, +as Julia withdrew from the window, "if Charles be a +little afraid of lightning, he has no dread of the +water." + +"Ah! I retract my error," cried Julia; "Charles must +be brave, or he never could have acted so coolly, +and so well." + +"Very true, my love," said Miss Emmerson, +excessively gratified to hear her niece praise the +youth; "it is the surest test of courage when men +behave with presence of mind in novel situations. +Those accustomed to particular dangers easily +discharge their duties, because they know, as it +were instinctively, what is to be done. Thus with +Tony--he did well, but, I doubt not, he was horribly +frightened--and for the world he could not have +done what Charles did." + +"Not Antonio!" echoed Julia, thrown a little off her +guard--"I would pledge my life, aunt, that Antonio +would have done as much, if not more, than +Charles!" + +"Why did he not, then?---It was his place to stop +the carriage---why did he not?" + +"It was his place," said Julia, "to manage the +horses, and you acknowledge that he did it well. +Duties incurred, no matter how unworthy of us, +must be discharged; and although we may be +conscious that our merit or our birth entitles us to a +different station from the one we fill, yet a noble +mind will not cease to perform its duty, even in +poverty and disgrace." + +Miss Emmerson listened in surprise; but as her +niece often talked in a manner that she did not +comprehend, she attributed it to the improvements +in education, and was satisfied. But Julia had +furnished herself with a clue to what had +occasioned her some uneasiness. At one time she +thought Antonio ought to have left carriage, horses, +every thing, and flown to her rescue, as Charles had +done; but now she saw that the probity of his soul +forbade it. He had, doubtless, by secret means, +induced the owner of the horses to entrust them to +his keeping---and could he, a soldier, one used to +trust and responsibility, forget his duty in the +moment of need? Sooner would the sentinel quit +his post unrelieved---sooner the gallant soldier turn +his back on his enemy---or sooner would Antonio +forget his Julia! + +With this view of the propriety of his conduct, Julia +was filled with the desire to let him know that she +approved of what he had done. Surely, if any thing +can be mortifying to a lover, thought our heroine, it +must be to see a rival save the life of his mistress, +while imperious duty chains him to another task. + +Young as Julia was, she had already learnt, that it +is not enough for our happiness that we have the +consciousness of doing right, but it is necessary +that others should think we have done so too. + +Accordingly, early the following morning she arose, +and wandered around the house, in hopes that +chance would throw her lover in her way, and give +her an opportunity of relieving his mind from the +load of mortification under which she knew he must +be labouring. It was seldom that our heroine had +been in the public bar-room of a tavern--but, in +gliding by the door, she caught a glimpse of +Antonio in the bar; and, impelled by her feelings, +she was near him before she had time to collect her +scattered senses. To be with Antonio, and alone, +Julia felt was dangerous; for his passion might +bring on a declaration, and betray them both to the +public and vulgar notice.--Anxious, therefore, to +effect her object at once, she gently laid her hand +on his arm--Antonio started and turned, while the +glass in his hands fell, with its contents, untasted, +on the floor. + +"Rest easy, Antonio," said Julia, in the gentlest +possible tones; "to me your conduct is satisfactory, +and your secret will never be exposed." So saying, +she turned quickly, and glided from the room. + +"As I hope to be saved," said Antonio, "I meant +nothing wrong--but should have paid the landlord +the moment he came in"--but Julia heard him not. +Her errand was happily executed, and she was +already by the side of her aunt. On entering the +carriage, Julia noticed the eye of Antonio fixed on +her with peculiar meaning, and she felt that her +conduct had been appreciated.--From this time until +the day of their arrival at the house of Mr. Miller, +nothing material occurred. Antonio rose every hour +in the estimation of Julia, and the young lady +noticed a marked difference in her lover's conduct +towards her. A few miles before they reached the +dwelling, Miss Emmerson observed + +"To-morrow will be the twentieth of September; +when I am to know who will be my companion for +the winter, Miss Miller or Katherine." + +"Ah! aunt, you may know that now, if I am to +decide," said Julia, "it will be Anna, my Anna, +surely." + +Her manner was enthusiastic, and her voice a little +louder than usual. Antonio turned his head, and +their eyes met. Julia read in that glance the +approbation of her generous friendship. Miss +Emmerson was a good deal hurt at this decision of +her niece, who, she thought, knowing her +sentiments, would be induced to have been +satisfied with the visit to Anna, and taken +Katherine for the winter. It was with reluctance that +the aunt abandoned this wish, and, after a pause, +she continued-- + +"Remember, Julia, that you have not my permission +to ask your friend until the twentieth--we can stay +but one night at Mr. Miller's, but if Anna is to spend +the winter in Park Place, we will return this way +from the Falls, and take her with us to the city." + +"Thank you, dear aunt," cried Julia, kissing her with +an affection that almost reconciled Miss Emmerson +to the choice--while Charles Weston whistled "Hail, +Columbia! happy land!" + +Julia saw that Antonio pitied her impatience--for +the moment he arrived in sight of Mr. Miller's +house, he put his horses to their speed, and +dashed into the court-yard in the space of a few +minutes. For a little while all was confusion and +joy. Anna seemed delighted to see her friend, and +Julia was in raptures--they flew into each other's +arms--and if their parting embrace was embalmed +in tears, their meeting was enlivened with smiles. +With arms interlocked, they went about the house, +the very pictures of joy.--Even Antonio, at the +moment, was forgotten, and all devoted to +friendship. Nay, as if sensible of the impropriety of +his appearance at that critical instant, he withdrew +himself from observation--and his delicacy was not +lost on Julia. Happy are they who can act in +consonance with their own delicate sentiments, and +rest satisfied with the knowledge that their motives +are understood by those whom it is their greatest +desire to please!---Such, too fortunate Antonio, was +thy lot--for no emotion of thy sensitive mind, no act +of thy scrupulously honourable life, passed +unheeded by thy Julia!--so thought the maiden. + +It has been already mentioned that the family of +Mr. Miller was large; and amid the tumult and +confusion of receiving their guests, no opportunity +was afforded to the friends for conversation in +private. The evening passed swiftly, and the hour +for bed arrived without any other communication +between Julia and Anna than whisperings and +pressures of the hands, together with a thousand +glances of peculiar meaning with the eyes. But Julia +did not regret this so much as if Antonio had been +unknown--she had been in his company for four +days, and knew, or thought she knew, already, as +much of his history as Anna herself.--But one +thought distressed her, and that was, that his +residence might be far from the house of her aunt. +This reflection gave the tender-hearted girl real +pain, and her principal wish to converse with Anna +in private was to ascertain her future lot on this +distressing point. No opportunity, however, offered +that night, and Julia saw that in the morning her +time would be limited, for Miss Emmerson desired +Mr. Miller to order her carriage to be in readiness to +start so soon as they had breakfasted. + +"When, dear aunt, am I to give Anna the +invitation," said Julia, when they were left alone, "if +you start so early in the morning?" + +"The proper time will be, my child, immediately +before we get into the carriage," said Miss +Emmerson, with a sigh of regret at the +determination of her niece; "it will then be more +pointed, and call for an immediate answer." + +This satisfied Julia, who knew that it would be +accepted by her friend, and she soon fell asleep, to +dream a little of Anna, and a great deal of Antonio. + +The following morning Julia arose with the sun, and +her first employment was to seek her friend. Anna +had also risen, and was waiting impatiently for the +other's appearance, in the vacant parlour. + +"Ah! dear Julia," said she, catching her arm and +dragging her to a window, "I thought you would +never come.--Well, are we to spend the winter +together--have you spoken to your dear, dear aunt, +about it?" + +"You shall know in good time, my Anna," said Julia, +mindful of the wishes of her aunt, and speaking +with a smile that gave Anna an assurance of her +success. + +"Oh! what a delightful winter we will have!" cried +Anna, in rapture. + +"I am tongue-tied at present," said Julia, laughing; +"but not on every subject," she continued, blushing +to the eyes; "do tell me of St. Albans--of Regulus-- +who is he?" + +"Who is he?" echoed Anna--"why, nobody!--one +must have something to write about, you know, to +a friend." + +Julia felt sick and faint--her colour left her cheeks +as she forced a smile, and uttered, in a low voice-- +"But Antonio--Stanley?" + +"A man of straw," cried Anna, with unfeeling levity; +"no such creature in the world, I do assure you!" + +Julia made a mighty effort to conquer her emotion, +and wildly seizing Anna by the arm, she pointed to +her aunt's coachman, who was at work on his +carriage at no great distance, and uttered--"For +God's sake, who is HE?" + +"He!" cried Anna, in surprise, "why, your driver--and +an ugly wretch he is!--don't you know your own +driver yet?" + +Julia burst from her treacherous friend--rushed into +the room of her aunt-and throwing herself into the +arms of Miss Emmerson, wept for an hour as if her +heart would break. Miss Emmerson saw that +something had hurt her feelings excessively, and +that it was something she would not reveal. +Believing that it was a quarrel with her friend, and +hoping at all events that it would interrupt their +intercourse, Miss Emmerson, instead of trying to +discover her niece's secret, employed herself in +persuading her to appear before the family with +composure, and to take leave of them with decency +and respect. In this she succeeded, and the happy +moment arrived. Anna in vain pressed near her +friend to receive the invitation--and her mother +more than once hinted at the thousand pities it was +to separate two that loved one another so fondly. +No invitation was given--and although Anna spent +half a day in searching for a letter, that she +insisted must be left in some romantic place, none +was ever found, nor did any ever arrive. + +While resting with her foot on the step of the +carriage, about to enter it, Julia, whose looks were +depressed from shame, saw a fluid that was +discoloured with tobacco fall on her shoe and soil +her stocking. Raising her eyes with disgust, she +perceived that the wind had wafted it from the +mouth of Antonio, as he held open the door--and +the same blast throwing aside his screen of silk, +discovered a face that was deformed with disease, +and wanting of an eye! + +Our travellers returned to the city by the way of +Montreal and Lake Champlain; nor was it until Julia +had been the happy wife of Charles Weston for +more than a year, that she could summon +resolution to own that she had once been in love, +like thousands of her sex, "with a man of straw!" + + + +================================= += + + + +HEART. +---oOo--- + +"Some live in airy fantasies, +And in the clouds do move, +And some do burn with inward flames-- +But few know how to love." +ANON. BALLAD + +CHAPTER I. + +ON one of those clear, cold days of December, +which so frequently occur in our climate, two very +young women were walking on the fashionable +promenade of New-York. In the person of the elder +of these females there was exhibited nothing more +than the usual indications of youth and health; but +there were a delicacy and an expression of +exquisite feeling in the countenance of her +companion, that caused many a plodding or idle +passenger to turn and renew the gaze, which had +been attracted by so lovely a person. Her figure +was light, and possessed rather a character of +aerial grace, than the usual rounded lines of earthly +beauty; and her face was beaming more with the +sentiments of the soul within, than with the +ordinary charms of complexion and features. It was +precisely that kind of youthful loveliness that a +childless husband would pause to contemplate as +the reality of the visions which his thoughts had +often portrayed, and which his nature coveted as +the only treasure wanting to complete the sum of +his earthly bliss. It truly looked a being to be loved +without the usual alloy of our passions; and there +was a modest ingenuousness which shone in her +air, that gently impelled the hearts of others to +regard its possessor with a species of holy +affection. Amongst the gay throng, however, that +thoughtlessly glided along the Broadway, even this +image of female perfection was suffered to move +unnoticed by hundreds; and it was owing to the +obstruction offered to the passage of the ladies, by +a small crowd that had gathered on the side-walk, +that a gentleman of uncommon personal +endowments enjoyed an opportunity of examining it +with more than ordinary attention. The eldest of +the females drew her companion away from this +impediment to their passage, by moving towards +the opposite side of the street, and observing, as +they crossed, with an indifference in her manner-- + +"It is nothing, Charlotte, but a drunken man; if +people will drink, they must abide the +consequences." + +"He does not seem intoxicated, Maria," replied the +other, in a voice whose tones corresponded with her +appearance; "it is some sudden illness." + +"One that, I dare say, he is accustomed to," said +Maria, without having even taken such a look at the +sufferer as would enable her to identify his colour; +"he will be well enough after he has slept." + +"But is the pavement a place for him to sleep on?" +rejoined her companion, still gazing towards the +miserable object; "and if he should be ill!--why do +they not raise him?--Why do they suffer him to +injure himself as he does?" + +The speaker, at the same time that she shrunk in a +kind of sensitive horror from this exhibition of +human infirmities, now unconsciously stopped, with +an interest in the man that she could not controul, +and thus compelled Maria to pause also. The crowd +had withdrawn from the man, giving him sufficient +room to roll over, in evident pain, while they yet +stood gazing at him, with that indefinable feeling +of curiosity and nerveless sympathy, which +characterises man when not called on to act, by +emulation, vanity, or the practice of well-doing. No +one offered to assist the sufferer, although many +said it ought to be done; some spoke of sending for +those who monopolized the official charity of the +city; many, having satisfied their curiosity, and +finding that the moment for action was arriving, +quietly withdrew from a trouble that would interfere +with their comforts or their business--while a few +felt an impulse to aid the man, but hesitated in +being foremost in doing that which would be +honourable to their feelings, but might not accord +with their condition, or might seem as the +ostentatious display of unusual benevolence. +Where men are congregated, conduct must be +regulated by the touchstone of public opinion; and, +although it is the fashion of New-York to applaud +acts of charity, and to do them too in a particular +manner--it is by no means usual to run to the +assistance of a fellow creature who is lying in +distress on a pavement. + +{those who monopolized the official charity = in +1821 the only officially supported charitable +organization in New York City was the City +Dispensary -- municipal aid to others having been +cut off in 1817 on the grounds that charity to the +poor only made them lazy and improvident} + +Whatever might be the impulses of the gentleman +whom we have mentioned, his attention was too +much absorbed by the conversation and manner of +the two ladies to regard any thing else, and he +followed them across the street, and stopped also +when they paused to view the scene. He was +inwardly and deeply admiring the most youthful of +the females, for the natural and simple display of +those very qualities that he forgot himself to +exercise, when he was roused with a feeling of +something like mortification, by hearing Charlotte +exclaim, with a slight glow on her cheek-- + +"Ah! there is George Morton coming--he surely will +not pass the poor man without offering to assist +him." + +The gentleman turned his head quickly, and noticed +a youth making his way through the crowd, +successfully, to the side of the sufferer. The +distance was too great to hear what passed--but an +empty coach, whose driver had stopped to gaze +with the rest, was instantly drawn up, and the man +lifted in, and followed by the youth, whose +appearance had effected these movements with the +silence and almost with the quietness of magic. + +George Morton was far from possessing the elegant +exterior of the uneasy observer of this scene, yet +were the eyes of the lovely young woman who had +caught his attention, fixed in evident delight on his +person, until it was hid from view in the carriage; +when, drawing a long breath, as if relieved from +great uneasiness, she said, in a low voice-- + +"I knew that George Morton would not pass him so +unfeelingly--but where are they going?--not far, I +hope, on this cold day--and George without his +great coat." + +There was a plaintive and natural melody in the +tones of the speaker's voice, as she thus +unconsciously uttered her concern, that impelled +the listener to advance to the side of the carriage, +where a short conversation passed between the +gentlemen, and the stranger returned to the ladies, +who were yet lingering near the spot, apparently +unwilling to depart from a scene that had so deeply +interested one of them. Raising his hat, the +gentleman, addressing himself to the magnet that +had attracted him, said-- + +"Your friend declines the offer of my coat, and says +that the carriage is quite warm--they are going to +the alms-house, and I am happy to inform you that +the poor man is already much better, and is +recovering from his fit." + +{The New York City Almshouse, at Bellevue on the +East River, housed over 1,500 inmates at a time +(with annual deaths approaching 500), and served +as a last refuge for the destitute of all ages} + +Charlotte now for the first time observed the +speaker, and a blush passed over her face as she +courtesied her thanks in silence. But her +companion, aroused from gazing at the finery of a +shop window, by the voice of the stranger, turned +quickly, and with very manifest satisfaction, +exclaimed-- + +"Bless me! Mr. Delafield--I did not observe you +before!--then you think the poor wretch will not +die?" + +"Ah! assuredly not," returned the gentleman, +recognizing the face of an acquaintance, with an +animation he could not conceal: "but how +inadvertent I have been, not to have noticed Miss +Osgood before!"--While speaking, his eyes rested +on the lovely countenance of her friend, as if, by +their direction, he meant to explain the reason of +his remissness. + +"We were both too much engaged with the +sufferings of the poor man, for until this moment I +did not observe you," said the lady--with that kind +of instinctive quickness that teaches the fair the +importance of an amiable exterior, in the eyes of +the other sex. + +"Doubtless," returned the gentleman, gravely, and +for the first time withdrawing his gaze from the +countenance of Charlotte; but the precaution was +unnecessary:--the young lady had been too much +engrossed with her own sensations to notice the +conduct of others, and from the moment that the +carriage had driven out of right, had kept her eyes +on the ground, as she walked silently and +unobtrusively by the side of her companion. + +"Miss Henly--Mr. Seymour Delafield," said Maria. +The silent bow and courtesy that followed this +introduction was succeeded by an animated +discourse between the gentleman and his old +acquaintance, which was, but seldom interrupted by +any remark from their more retiring companion. +Whenever she did speak, however, the gentleman +listened with the most flattering attention, that +was the more remarkable, from the circumstance of +his talking frequently at the same time with Maria +Osgood. The trio took a long walk together, and +returned to the house of Mr. Henly, in time for the +necessary arrangements for the coming dinner. It +was when within a short distance of the dwelling of +Charlotte that the gentleman ventured to allude to +the event that had made them acquainted. + +"The fearless manner in which you predicted the +humanity of Mr. Morton, would be highly gratifying +to himself, Miss Henly," he observed; "and were I of +his acquaintance, it should be my task to inform +him of your good opinion." + +"I believe Mr. Morton has not now to learn that," +said Charlotte, simply, but dropping her eyes; "I +have been the next door neighbour of George all my +life, and have seen too much of his goodness of +heart not to have expressed the same opinion +often." + +"But not to himself," cried Maria; "so, Mr. Delafield, +if you wish to apprise him of his good fortune, you +have only to attend my music party to-morrow +evening, and I will take particular care that you get +acquainted with the humane hero." + +The invitation was gladly accepted, and the +gentleman took his leave at the door of the house. + +"Well, Charlotte, you have seen him at last!" cried +Maria, the instant the door had closed; "and I am +dying to know how you like him!" + +"To save your life," said the other, laughing, "I will +say a great deal, although you so often accuse me +of taciturnity--but who is HIM?" + +"Him! why, Delafield!--Seymour Delafield!--the +pattern for all the beaux--the magnet for all the +belles--and the delight of all the parents in town!" + +"His own, too?" inquired Charlotte, a little archly. + +"He has none--they are dead and gone--but their +money is left behind, and that brings him fathers +and mothers by the dozen!" + +"It is fortunate that he can supply their loss in any +way," said Charlotte, with emphasis. + +"To be sure he can; he can do more than you or I +could, my dear; he can pick his parents from the +best in the city--and, therefore, he ought to be well +provided." + +"And could he be better provided, as you call it, in +that respect, than ourselves?" asked Miss Henly, a +little reproachfully. + +"Oh no, surely not; now if he were a woman, how +soon would he be married!--why, child, they say he +is worth at least three hundred thousand dollars!-- +he'd be a bride in a month!" + +"And miserable, perhaps, in a year," said Charlotte; +"it is fortunate for him that he is a man, by your +tale, or his wealth might purchase misery for him." + +"Oh! no one can be miserable that is well married," +cried Maria; "Heigho! the idea of old-maidism is too +shocking to think about!" + +"Why does not Mr. Delafield get married, then, if +marriage be so very desirable?" said Miss Henly, +smiling at the customary rattle of her companion: +"he can easily get a wife, you say?" + +{rattle = trivial chatter} + +"It is the difficulty of choosing--there are so many +attentive to him--" + +"Maria!" + +"Mercy! I beg pardon of female delicacy!--but since +the young man has returned from his travels, he +has been so much--much courted--nay, by the old +people, I mean--and the girls beckon him about so- +-and it's Mr. Delafield, have you read Salmagundi?-- +and, Mr. Delafield, have you seen Cooke?--and, Mr. +Delafield, do you think we shall have war?--and +have you seen Bonaparte? And, in short, Mr. +Delafield, with his handsome person, and three +hundred thousand dollars, has been so much of all- +in-all to the ladies, that the man has never time to +choose a wife!" + +{Salmagundi = a series of comic essays (1819- +1820) by New York City writer James Kirke Paulding +(1778-1860), emulating an earlier series by +Washington Irving and others; Cooke = probably +Thomas Potter Cooke (1786-1864), a noted English +actor; Bonaparte = Napoleon Bonaparte died on St. +Helena in 1821} + +"I really wonder that you never took the office upon +yourself," said Charlotte, busied in throwing aside +her coat and gloves; "you appear to have so much +interest in the gentleman." + +"Oh! I did, a month since--the moment that he +landed." + +"Indeed! and who was it?" + +"Myself." + +"And have you told him of your choice?" asked the +other, laughing. + +"Not with my tongue: but with my eyes, a thousand +times--and with all that unspeakable language that +female invention can supply:--I go where he goes-- +if I see him in the street behind me, I move slowly +and with dignity; still he passes me--if before me, I +am in a hurry--but{"}-- + +"You pass him?" interrupted Charlotte, amused with +her companion's humour. + +"Exactly--we never keep an equal pace; this is the +first time that he has walked with me since he +returned from abroad--and for this honour I am +clearly indebted to yourself." + +"To me, Maria?" said Charlotte, in surprise. + +"To none other--he talked to me, but he looked at +you. Ah! he knows by instinct that you are an only +child--and I do believe that the wretch knows that I +have twelve brothers and sisters--but you had +better take him, Charlotte; he is worth twenty +George Mortons--at least, in money." + +"What have the merits of George Morton and Mr. +Delafield to do with each other?" said Charlotte, +removing her hat, and exhibiting a head of hair that +opportunely fell in rich profusion over her shoulders, +so as to conceal the unusual flush on her, +ordinarily, pale cheek. + +This concluded the conversation; for Charlotte +instantly left the room, and was occupied for some +time in giving such orders as her office of assistant +in housekeeping to her mother rendered necessary. + +Charlotte Henly was the only child that had been +left from six who were born to her parents, the +others having died in their infancy. The deaths of +the rest of their children had occasioned the +affection of her parents to center in the last of their +offspring with more than common warmth; and the +tenderness of their love was heightened by the +extraordinary qualities of their child. Possessed of +an abundance of the goods of this world, these +doating parents were looking around with intense +anxiety, among their acquaintance, and watching +for the choice that was to determine the worldly +happiness of their daughter. + +Charlotte was but seventeen, yet the customs of +the country, and the temptations of her expected +wealth, together with her own attractions, had +already placed her within the notice of the world. +But no symptom of that incipient affection which +was to govern her life, could either of her parents +ever discover; and in the exhibitions of her +attachments, there was nothing to be seen but that +quiet and regulated esteem, which grows out of +association and good sense, and which is so +obviously different from the restless and varying +emotions that are said to belong to the passion of +love. + +Maria Osgood was a distant relative, and an early +associate, who, although as different from her +cousin in appearance and character as black is from +white, was still dear to the latter, both from habit +and her unconquerable good nature. + +George Morton, the youth of whom such honourable +mention has been made, was the son of a +gentleman who had long resided in the next +dwelling to Mr. Henly in the city, and who also +possessed a country house near his own villa. +These circumstances had induced an intimacy +between the families that was cemented by the +good opinion each entertained of the qualities of +the other, and which had been so long and so often +tried in scenes of happiness and misery, that were +known to both. Young Morton was a few years the +senior of Charlotte; and, at the time of commencing +our tale, was but lately released from his collegiate +labours. His goodness of heart and simplicity of +manners made him an universal favourite; while the +peculiarity of their situation brought him oftener +before the notice of Charlotte than any other young +man of her acquaintance.--But, notwithstanding the +intimation of Maria Osgood, none of their friends in +the least suspected any other feeling to exist +between the youthful pair than the natural and very +obvious one of disinterested esteem. As the family +seated themselves at the dinner table, their guest +exclaimed, in the heedless way that characterised +her manner-- + +"Oh! Mrs. Henly, I have to congratulate you on the +prospects of your soon having a son, and one so +amiable and attractive as your daughter." + +"Indeed!" returned the matron, comprehending the +other's meaning intuitively, "and what may be the +young gentleman's name?" + +"You will be the envy of all the mothers in town," +continued Maria, "and deservedly so. Two such +children to fall to the lot of one mother!--Nay, do +not shake your head, Charlotte; it must and shall +be a match, I am determined." + +"My friendship for you would deter me from the +measure, should nothing else interfere," said +Charlotte, good humouredly. + +"Ah! I have already abandoned my pretensions-- +twelve brothers and sisters, my dear, are a dreadful +addition to bring into a family at once!" + +"I am sure I do not think so," returned Charlotte, +timidly glancing her eye at her mother; "besides, I +feel bound in honour to remember your original +intention." + +"I tell you I have abandoned it, with all thoughts of +the youth." + +"And who is the youth?" asked Mrs. Henly, affecting +an indifference that she did not feel. + +"You will have the handsomest son in the city, +certainly," said Maria; "and, possibly, the richest-- +and the most learned--and, undeniably, the most +admired!" + +"You quite excite my curiosity to know who this +paragon can be," said the mother, looking at her +husband, who returned the glance with one of equal +solicitude. + +"I do not think he is more than four and twenty," +added Maria; "and his black eyes would form a +charming contrast to your blue ones." + +"To whom does Miss Osgood allude?" asked Mrs. +Henly, yielding to a solicitude that she could no +longer controul. + +"To Mr. Seymour Delafield," said Charlotte, raising +her mild eyes to the face of her mother, and +smiling, as she delicately pared her apple, with a +simple ingenuousness that banished uneasiness +from the breast of her parent in an instant. + +"I know him," said Mr. Henly; "but I did not think +you had ever seen him, Charlotte." + +"We met him in our morning walk, sir, and Maria +introduced him." + +"He is thought to be very handsome," continued her +father, helping himself to a glass of wine while +speaking. + +"And very justly," returned the daughter; "I think +him the handsomest man that I have ever seen." + +"Have I your permission for telling him so?" cried +Maria, with a laugh. + +"I have not the least objection to his knowing it, on +my own account, except from the indelicacy of +complimenting a gentleman," said Charlotte, with +perfect simplicity; "but whether it would be +beneficial to himself or not, you can best judge." + +"You think him vain, then?" observed her mother. + +"Not in the least; or, rather, he did not exhibit it to +me"--was the answer, with the same open air as +before. + +"He has also a great reputation for good sense," +continued her father, avoiding the face of his child. + +"I thought he had wit, sir." + +"And not good sense?" + +"Am I a judge?" asked Charlotte, rising, and holding +a lighted paper to her father, while he took a new +segar. + +Her clear blue eyes resting on him in the fulness of +filial affection, as she performed this office, and the +open air with which she bent forward to receive the +kiss he offered in thanks, removed any +apprehensions which the name of their morning's +companion might have excited. + +Mr. Henly knew nothing concerning this young man +that would induce him at all to avoid the connexion, +but still he had not yet examined his character with +that searching vigilance that he thought due to the +innocence and merit of his child. Determining within +himself, however, that this was a task that should +no longer be neglected, he rose, and telling the +ladies that he left the bottle with them, withdrew +to his study. + +The door had hardly closed behind Mr. Henly, when +George Morton entered the dining parlour, with the +freedom of an old and favourite friend, and telling +Mrs. Henly that, in consequence of his family's +dining out, and his own engagements, he was +fasting, and begged her charity for a meal. From +the instant that he appeared, Charlotte had risen +with alacrity, and was no sooner acquainted with +his wants, than she rung to order what he required. +She brought him a glass of sparkling wine with her +own hands, and pushing a chair nearer to the fire +than the one he occupied, she said-- + +"Sit here, George, you appear chilled--I thought you +would miss your coat." + +"I thank you," returned the youth, turning on her an +eye of the most open affection; "I do feel unusually +cold, and begin to think, that with my weak lungs it +would have been more prudent to have taken a +surtout." + +{surtout = overcoat} + +"And how was the poor man when you left him?" + +"Much better, and in extremely good quarters," said +George; but, turning quickly to Miss Osgood, he +added, "So, Miss Maria, your beau has +condescended to walk with you at last?" + +"Yes, Mr. Impudence," said Maria, smiling; {"}but +come, fill your mouth with food, and be silent." + +He did as requested, and the conversation changed. + + + +CHAPTER II + +NOTWITHSTANDING the plenteous gifts which +Providence had bestowed on the parents of Maria in +the way of descendants, Fortune had sufficiently +smiled on his labours to enable him to educate +them in what is called a genteel manner, and to +support them in a corresponding style. The family +of Mr. Osgood exhibited one of those pictures which +are so frequent in America, where no other artificial +distinctions exist in society than those which are +created by wealth, and where obscurity has no +other foe to contend with than the demon of +poverty. His children were indulged in luxuries that +his death was to dissipate, and enjoyed an +opulence that was only co-existent with the life of +their parent. Accordingly, the music party that +assembled on the following evening at the house of +Mr. Osgood, was brilliant, large, and fashionable. +Seven grown-up daughters was a melancholy sight +for the contemplation of the parents, and they both +felt like venders of goods who were exhibiting their +wares to the best advantage. The splendid +chandeliers and lustres of the drawing-room were +lighted for the same reason as the lamps in the +glittering retail stores of Broadway; and the +brilliant effect of the taste of the young ladies was +intended much like the nightly lustre of the lottery- +offices, to tempt adventurers to try their chances. +>From this premeditated scheme of conquest we +ought, in justice, however, to except Maria herself, +who, from constitutional gayety and +thoughtlessness, seldom planned for the morrow; +and who, perhaps, from her association with +Charlotte, had acquired a degree of +disinterestedness that certainly belonged to no +other member of her family. + +Whatever were the views of the family in collecting +their friends and acquaintances on this important +evening, they were completely successful in one +point at least; for, before nine, half the dilettanti of +the city were assembled in Greenwich-street, in a +most elaborate state of musical excitement. +Charlotte Henly, of course, was of the party, +although she was absolutely ignorant of a single +note, nor knew how to praise a scientific execution, +or to manifest disgust at simple melody. But, her +importance in the world of fashion, and her friend +Maria, obtained her a place. There was a reason +that secretly influenced Charlotte in electing her +evening's amusement, that was not known, +however, even to her friend.--George Morton played +on the German flute in a manner that vibrated on +her nerves with an exquisite thrill that she often +strove to conquer, and yet ever loved to indulge. +His musical powers were far from being generally +applauded, as they were thought to be deficient in +compass and variety; but Charlotte never +descended to criticism in music. She conceived it to +be an enjoyment for the senses only, or, rather, +she thought nothing about it; and if the rounds +failed to delight her, she unhesitatingly attributed +the circumstance to an absence of melody. It was +to listen to the flute of George Morton, then, that +the drawing-room of Mrs. Osgood was adorned with +the speaking countenance of Miss Henly. + +Among the guests who made an early appearance +in this "Temple of Apollo," was the youth who had +attended the ladies in their walk. Seymour Delafield +glanced his eye impatiently around the apartment, +as soon as he had paid the customary compliments +to the mistress of the mansion and her bevy of fair +daughters; but a look of disappointment betrayed +the search to be an unsuccessful one. Both the look +and the result were noticed by Maria; and, turning a +glance of rather saucy meaning on the gentleman, +she said-- + +"I apprehend your flute, which, by the by, I am glad +to see you have brought, will be rather in the +PENSEROSO style this evening, Mr. Delafield." + +{penseroso = melancholy} + +"Unless enlivened by the contagious gayety of your +smile," returned Delafield, endeavouring to look +excessively unconcerned; "but"-- + +"Oh! my very laugh is musical, I know," interrupted +Maria; "but then it is often shockingly out of time." + +"It seldom fails to produce an accompaniment," +said the gentleman, now smiling in reality; "but"-- + +"Where is Charlotte Henley?" said the young lady, +again interrupting him; "she has a perfect horror of +the tuning of fiddles and the preparatory +thrummings on the piano; so endeavour to preserve +the harmony of your temper for the second act." + +"Well! it is some relief to know she is coming at +all," cried Seymour, quickly; and then, recovering +himself with perfect breeding, he added--"for one +would wish to see you as happy as all your friends +can make you, on such an occasion." + +"I am extremely indebted to your unbounded +philanthropy," said Maria, rising and courtseying +with great gravity; "do not doubt of its being +honourably mentioned at"-- + +"Nay, nay," cried the youth, colouring and laughing, +"you would not think of mentioning my remarks to"- +- + +"At the next meeting of the Dorcas Society, of +which I am an unworthy member," continued Maria, +without listening to his remonstrance. + +{Dorcas Society = lady's group at a church, devoted +to making and providing clothes for the poor} + +Seymour Delafield now laughed without any +affectation--and exchanging a look of perfect +consciousness of each other's meaning, they +separated, as the preparations for the business of +the evening were about to commence. For a short +time there was a confusion of sounds that perfectly +justified the absence of Miss Henly, when the music +began in earnest. Within half an hour, Mr. Delafield, +who had suffered himself to be drawn to the back +of the chair of a professed belle, turning his head +to conceal a yawn that neither the lady's skill nor +his good manners could repress, observed Charlotte +sitting quietly by the side of her friend. Her +entrance had been conducted with such tact, that +had she possessed the most musical ear +imaginable, it were impossible to disturb the party +less; a circumstance that did not fail to impress +Seymour agreeably, from its novelty. He moved to +the side of the fair vision that had engrossed all his +thoughts since the moment they had first met, and +took the chair that the good nature of Miss Osgood +offered to his acceptance between them. + +"Thank fortune, Miss Henly," he said, the instant he +was seated, "that bravura has ceased, and I can +now inquire how you recovered from the fatigue of +your walk?" + +"I suffered no fatigue to recover from," replied the +lady, raising her eyes to his with an expression that +told the youth he had better talk straight forward at +once; "I walk too much to be fatigued with so short +an excursion." + +"You came here to favour us with your skill on the +harp, Miss Henly?" + +"No." + +"On the piano?" + +"On neither--I play on nothing." + +"You sing, then?" + +"Not at all." + +"What! not with that voice?" exclaimed the young +man, in surprise. + +"Not with this voice, and surely with no other." + +Seymour felt uneasy, and, perhaps, disappointed. +He did not seem to have roused a single sensation +in the breast of his companion, and it was seldom +that the elegant possessor of three hundred +thousand dollars failed to do so, wherever he went, +or whatever he did. But, in the present instance, +there was nothing to be discerned in the +countenance or manner of Charlotte that indicated +any thing more than the sweetness of her nature +and the polish of her breeding. He changed the +subject. + +"I hope your friend did not suffer yesterday from his +humanity?" + +"I sincerely hope so too," said Charlotte, with much +simplicity, and yet with a good deal of feeling. + +"I am fearful that we idle spectators," continued +the gentleman, "suffered in your estimation, in not +discovering equal benevolence with Mr. Morton." + +Charlotte glanced her mild eyes at the speaker, but +made no reply. + +"Your silence, Miss Henly, assures me of the truth +of my conjecture." + +"You should never put a disagreeable construction +on the acts of another," said Charlotte, with a +sweetness that tended greatly to dissipate the +mortification Mr. Delafield really felt, at the same +time that he was unwilling to acknowledge it, even +to himself. + +They were now again interrupted by the music, +which continued some time, during which George +Morton made his appearance. His coat close +buttoned to his throat, and an extra silk +handkerchief around his neck, which he removed +only after he entered the apartment, immediately +arrested the attention of Charlotte Henly. Turning +to Maria, she said, in those tones of real interest +that never can be mistaken for manner-- + +"I am afraid that George has suffered from his +exposure. Do not ask him to play, for he will be +sure to comply." + +"Oh! the chicken has only taken cold," cried Maria; +"If he does not play, what will you do? you came +here to hear him only." + +"Has Miss Henly ears for no other performer, then?" +asked Seymour Delafield. + +"Miss Henly has as many ears as other people," +said Maria, "but she does not condescend to use +them on all occasions." + +"Rather say," cried Charlotte, laughing, "that the +want of taste in Miss Henly renders her ears of but +little use to her." + +"You are not fond of music, then?" asked the youth, +a little vexed at thinking that an accomplishment +on which he prided himself would fail to make its +usual impression. + +"Passionately!" exclaimed Charlotte; then, colouring +to the eyes, she added, "at least I sometimes think +so, but I believe I am thought to be without taste." + +"Those who think so must want it themselves," said +Seymour, in a low voice; then, obedient to the beck +of one of the presiding nymphs, he hastened to +take his share in the performance. + +"Now Charlotte, you little prude," whispered her +friend, the instant he withdrew, "is he not very, +very handsome?" + +"Very," said Charlotte; "more so than any other +gentleman I have ever seen." + +"And engaging, and agreeable, and gentlemanlike?" + +"Agreeable, and gentlemanlike too." + +"And graceful, and loveable?" + +"Graceful, certainly; and, very possible, loveable, to +those who know him." + +"Know him!--what more would you know of the +man? You see his beauty and elegance--you +witness his breeding--you listen to his sense and +information--what more is necessary to fall in love +with him?" + +"Really, I pretend to no reasoning upon the subject +at all," said Charlotte, smiling; "but if you have +such an intention, indulge in it freely, I beg of you, +for you will not find a rival in me.--But, listen, he is +about to play a solo on his flute." + +A man with three hundred thousand dollars may +play a solo, but he never can be alone where there +are any to listen. The hearts of many throb at the +very breathings of wealth through a flute, who +would remain callous to the bitterest sighs of +poverty. But Delafield possessed other attractions +to catch the attention of the audience: his powers +on the instrument greatly exceeded those of any of +his competitors, and his execution was really +wonderful; every tongue was silent, every ear was +attentive, and every head nodded approbation, +excepting that of our heroine. Delafield, perfectly +master of his instrument and the music, fixed his +eye on the countenance of Charlotte, and he +experienced a thrill at his heart as he witnessed her +lovely face smiling approbation, while his fingers +glided over the flute with a rapidity and skill that +produced an astonishing variety and gradation of +sounds. At length, thought he, I have succeeded, +and have made an impression on this charming girl +that is allied to admiration. The idea gave him +spirits for the task, and his performance exceeded +any thing the company had ever witnessed before. +On laying down the instrument, he approached the +place where the friends were sitting, with an +exultation in his eyes that was inferior only to +modesty in the power to captivate. + +"Certainly, Mr. Delafield," cried Maria Osgood, "you +have outdone your own outdoings." + +"If I have been so fortunate as to please here, then +I am rewarded indeed," said the youth, with a bow +and an expression that rendered it a little doubtful +to which of the ladies the compliment was +addressed. At this instant, George Morton +approached them. + +"Mr. Delafield, let me make you acquainted with Mr. +Morton," said Maria, glancing her eye at the former +in a manner that he understood. + +"I have great pleasure in taking Mr. Morton by the +hand," said Seymour, "if he will excuse the want of +ceremony in this company. The lesson that you +gave to me yesterday, sir, will not soon be +forgotten." + +"In what manner, sir?" inquired George, with a little +embarrassment and a conscious blush. + +"In teaching me, among others, Mr. Morton, the +difference between active and passive humanity-- +between that which is satisfied with feeling, and +that which prompts to serve." + +To this unexpected compliment young Morton could +do no more than bow in silence, for it was too +flattering for a reply--and too true to deny. As +Delafield turned his eye, at a little loss to know +whether to be pleased or not with his own humility, +he met a look from Charlotte that more than +rewarded him for the effort. It was a mild, +benevolent, pure glance, that spoke admiration and +heartfelt pleasure. He forgot his solo, and the +expected compliments; and, for the rest of the +evening, that thrilling expression floated in his +brain, and was present to his thoughts; it was +worth a thousand of the studied glances that were +continually aimed at him from all sides of the room, +and with every variety of eye--from the piercing +black, to the ogling gray. It was a look that came +directly from, and went to, the heart. If young +ladies always knew how nicely nature has qualified +the other sex to judge of their actions, what +multitudes of astonishingly expressive glances, and +artfully contrived gestures and movements, would +sink down into looks, that indicated feelings and +motives, that were adapted to the occasion! What +trouble in creating incidents that might draw out +charms would be avoided! And, in short, how much +extra labour, both of body and mind, would be +spared! + +This agreeable contemplation of Mr. Delafield was +soon interrupted by the cheerful voice of Maria +Osgood, who cried-- + +"Bless me, George, you really do look ill." + +"It is seldom that I have much health to boast of," +replied the youth, in a feeble voice, and with a still +feebler smile. + +"But," said Maria, without reflecting, "you look +worse than usual." + +There was so much truth in this remark, that the +young man could only smile in silence, while +Seymour, surveying the very plain exterior of his +new acquaintance, turned his eyes with additional +satisfaction towards a mirror that reflected his own +form from head to feet. + +"You will not attempt the flute to-night, George?" +said Charlotte. + +"I believe I must, or not fulfil my engagement to +Mrs. Osgood." + +"Surely," continued Charlotte, in a low tone to her +friend, "George had better not play, looking so ill as +he does." + +"Certainly not; besides, his performance would not +shine after that of Mr. Delafield." + +Seymour overheard this speech, which was really +intended only for the ear of Charlotte, and he was +instantly seized with an unaccountable desire to +hear the flute of Mr. Morton. Seymour was +conscious that he played well, and could he have +forgotten the indifference that Miss Henly exhibited +to his performance, would have been abundantly +flattered with the encomiums that were lavished on +his skill. + +A request from the mistress of the mansion now +compelled George to make his appearance among +the musicians, and in a few minutes his flute was +heard alone. There was a vacancy in the looks of +Charlotte, during the scientific execution of the +different individuals who had been labouring at the +several instruments in the course of the evening, +that denoted a total indifference to the display. +But, the moment that George was called on to take +his part in the entertainment, this restlessness +disappeared, and was succeeded by an expression +of intense interest and deep anxiety. The melody of +George was simple and plaintive; he aimed at no +extraordinary exhibition of skill, and it was difficult +to compare his music with that of Seymour. The +latter, however, studied the countenance of the +young lady near him as the best index to their +comparative merit, and he was soon able to read +his own want of success. For the first few minutes, +anxiety was the principal expression portrayed in +her lovely face, but it was soon succeeded by a +deep and powerful emotion. There is something +contagious in the natural expression of our +passions, that insensibly enlists the sympathies of +the beholder--and Seymour felt a soft melancholy +stealing over him as he gazed, that was but a faint +reflection of the tenderness excited in the breast of +Charlotte, while she listened to sounds that +penetrated to her very soul. There is no mistaking +the effect of music that depends only on its +melody. Its appeal to the heart is direct end +unequivocal, and nothing but callous indifference +can resist its power. The most profound silence +pervaded the apartment, and George was enabled +to finish his piece with a spirit that increased with +the attention. As the last breathing notes died on +the ear, Delafield turned to meet those eyes which +had already secured an unconscious victory, and +saw them moistened with a lustre that added to +their natural softness. Beauty in tears is +proverbially irresistible--and the youth, bending +forward, said in a voice that was modulated to the +stillness of the room-- + +"Such melody, Miss Henly, captivates the senses." + +"Does it not touch the heart?" asked the young +lady, with a little of unusual animation. + +"The heart too. But Mr. Morton looks exhausted +after his labours." + +All the pleasure which had shone in the +countenance of Charlotte, vanished instantly, and +gave place to deep concern. + +"Oh! it is unjustifiable, thus to purchase pleasure at +the expense of another," said she, in a tone that +Seymour scarcely heard. + +How tenderly would the man be loved, thought the +youth, who succeeded in engaging the affections of +this young creature! how disinterested is her +regard--and how considerate are her feelings! Here +will I trust my hopes for happiness in this life, and +here will I conquer, or here will I die! + +No two persons could possibly be actuated by +sensations more different than Charlotte and +Seymour Delafield. He had been so long palled with +the attentions of managing mothers and designing +daughters; had seen so much of female +manoeuvring, and had so easily seen through it, +that the natural and inartificial loveliness of +Charlotte touched his senses with a freshness of +delicacy that to him was as captivating as it was +novel. Upon unpractised men, the arts of the sex +are often successful, but generally they are allies +that increase the number of the assailants, without +promoting the victory. It is certain that many a fair +one played that evening in order that Mr. Delafield +might applaud; that some sighed that he might +hear, and others ogled that he might sigh: but not +one made the impression that the quiet, speaking +eye, and artless but peaceful nature of Charlotte +produced on the youth. While this novel feeling was +gaining ground in the bosom of Mr. Delafield, +Charlotte saw nothing in her new acquaintance but +a gentleman of extraordinary personal beauty, +agreeable manners, and graceful address--qualities +that are always sure to please, and, not unusually, +to captivate. But to her he was a stranger; and +Charlotte, who never thought or reasoned on the +subject, would have been astonished had one +seriously spoken of her loving him. The road to +conquest with her lay through her heart, and was +but little connected with her imagination. + +"Heigho! George," cried Maria, as he approached, +"you have given me the dolefuls." + +"And me both pleasure and pain," said Charlotte. + +"Why the latter?" asked the youth, quickly. + +"Surely it was imprudent in you to play, with such a +cold." + +The lip of the youth quivered, and a smile of +mournful and indefinable meaning passed over his +features, but he continued silent. + +"It is to be hoped it had one good effect at least," +continued Maria. + +"Such as what?" + +"Such as putting the little dears to sleep in the +nursery, which is directly over our heads." + +"It is well if I have done that little good," said +George. + +"You have brought tears into eyes that never +should weep," cried Delafield, "and melancholy to a +countenance that seems formed by nature to +convey an idea of peaceful content." + +Morton looked earnestly at the speaker for a +moment, when a painful feeling seemed suddenly +to seize on his heart--for his cheek grew paler, and +his lip quivered with an agitation that apparently he +could not control. Charlotte alone noticed the +alteration, and, speaking in a low tone, she said-- + +"Do go home, George; you are far from being well-- +to oblige me, go home." + +"To oblige you, I would do much more unwelcome +biddings," he replied, with a slight colour; "but I +believe you are right; and, having discharged my +duty here, I will retire." + +He rose, and, paying the customary compliments to +the mistress of the mansion, withdrew. With him +disappeared all the awakened interest of Charlotte +in the scene. + +In vain was Seymour Delafield attentive, polite, and +even particularly so. That devotedness of +admiration for which so many sighed, and which so +many envied, was entirely thrown away upon +Charlotte. She listened, she bowed, and she +smiled--and, sometimes, she answered; but it was +evidently without meaning or interest, until, +wearied with his fruitless efforts to make an +impression, and perhaps with a hope of exciting a +little jealousy, he turned his attention to her more +lively companion. + +"Your mother's nursery, Miss Osgood," he cried, +"ought on such an occasion to be tenantless." + +"You think there are enough of us here to make it +so," returned the lady, with an affected sigh. + +"I really had not observed the number of your +charming family--how many are there of you?" + +"A baker's dozen." Charlotte laughed, and the youth +felt mortified. The laugh was natural, and clearly +extorted, without a thought of himself. + +"When you are all married," he said, "you will form +a little world in yourselves." + +"When the sky falls we shall catch larks." + +{When the sky.... = an old proverb, found in +English, French, and even Latin, meaning that the +idea or proposal is absurd} + +"Surely, you intend to marry?" + +Maria made no reply, but turned her eyes on +Delafield, with an affected expression of +melancholy that excited another laugh in her friend. + +"You certainly have made no rash vow on the +subject," continued Seymour, pretending to a slight +interest in her answer. + +"My troth is not yet plighted," said the lady, a little +archly. + +"But there is no telling how long it will continue +so." + +"I am afraid so--thirteen is a dreadful divisor for a +small family estate." + +A general movement in the party was gladly seized +by Charlotte as an excuse to go, and Delafield +handed her to her carriage, with the mortifying +conviction that she was utterly indifferent to every +thing but the civility of the act. + + + +CHAPTER III. + +IT was quite early on the following morning, when +Mr. Delafield rung at the door of the house in which +the father of Miss Henly resided. The gentleman +had obtained the permission of the young lady, the +preceding evening, to put himself on the list of her +visiting acquaintance, and a casual introduction to +both of Charlotte's parents had smoothed the way +to this intimacy. It is certain, that, much as Mr. and +Mrs. Henly loved their child, neither of them +entertained the selfish wish of monopolizing all of +her affections to themselves during life. It was +natural, and a thing to he expected, that Charlotte +should marry; and among the whole of their +acquaintance there appeared no one so +unobjectionable as her new admirer. He was +agreeable in person, in manners, and in temper; he +was intelligent, witty, and a man of the world; and, +moreover, he was worth--three hundred thousand +dollars! What parent is there whose judgment +would remain unbiassed by these solid reasons in +favour of a candidate for the hand of his child? or +what female is there whose heart could be steeled +against such attractions in her suitor? Many were +the hours of care that had been passed by the +guardians of Charlotte's happiness, in ruminating +on the event that was to yield their charge to the +keeping of another; frequent were their discussions +on this interesting subject, and innumerable their +plans to protect her inexperience against falling +into those errors that had blasted the peace of so +many around them; but the appearance of Seymour +Delafield seemed as the fulfilment of their most +sanguine expectations. To his refinement of +manners, they both thought that they could yield +the sensitive delicacy of their child with confidence; +in his travelled experience they anticipated the +permanency of a corrected taste; nor, was it a +disagreeable consideration to either, that as the +silken cord of paternal discipline was to be +loosened, it was to be succeeded by the fetters of +hymen cast in polished gold. In what manner their +daughter regarded the evident admiration of Mr. +Delafield will appear, by her conclusion of our tale. + +On entering the parlour, Delafield found George +Morton seated in a chair near the fire, with his +person more than usually well guarded against the +cold, as if he were suffering under the effects of a +serious indisposition. The salutations between the +young men were a little embarrassed on both sides; +the face of George growing even paler than before, +while the fine colour on Delafield's cheek mounted +to his very temples. After regarding for a moment, +with much inward dissatisfaction, the apparent +ease with which George was maintaining +possession of the apartment by himself, Mr. +Delafield overcame the sudden emotion created by +the surprise, and spoke. + +"I am sorry that you appear so ill, Mr. Morton, and I +regret that you should have suffered so much in the +cause of humanity, when one so much better able +to undergo the fatigue, by constitution, should have +remained an idle spectator, like myself."-- + +The silent bow of George might be interpreted into +a desire to say nothing of his own conduct, or into +an assent with the self-condemnation of the +speaker. Delafield, however, took the chair which +the other politely placed for him, and continued-- + +"But, Sir, you have your reward. The interest and +admiration excited in Miss Henly, would +compensate me for almost any privation or hardship +that man could undergo." + +"It is no hardship to ride a few miles in a +comfortable coach," said George, with a feeble +smile, "nor can I consider it a privation of +enjoyment, to be able to assist the distressed,"--he +hesitated a moment, and a flush gradually stole +over his features as he continued, "It is true, Sir, +that I prize the good opinion of Miss Henly highly, +but I look to another quarter for approbation on +such a subject." + +"And very justly, George," said the soft voice of +Charlotte, "such applause as mine can be but of +little moment to one who performs such acts as +yours." + +The gentlemen were sitting with their faces towards +the fire, and had not heard the light step of Miss +Henly as she entered the apartment, but both +instantly arose and paid their salutations; the +invalid by a silent bow, and by handing a chair, and +Delafield with many a graceful compliment on her +good looks, and divers protestations concerning the +pleasure he felt at being permitted to visit at her +house. No two things could be more different than +the manners of these gentlemen. That of the latter +was very highly polished, insinuating, and although +far from unpleasantly so, yet slightly artificial; +while that of the former was simple, ingenuous, +and in the presence of Miss Henly was apt to be at +times a little constrained. Charlotte certainly +perceived the difference, and she as certainly +thought that it was not altogether to the advantage +of George Morton. The idea seemed to give her +pain, for she showed several little attentions to her +old friend, that by their flattering, but unstudied +particularity, were adapted to put any man at his +ease and assure him of his welcome, still the +embarrassment of George did not disappear, but he +sat an uneasy listener to the conversation that +occurred, as if reluctant to stay, and yet unwilling +to depart. After a few observations on the +entertainment of the preceding evening, Mr. +Delafield continued-- + +"I was lamenting to Mr. Morton, as you entered, +that he should have suffered so much from my want +of thought, the day before yesterday; it requires a +good constitution to endure exposure--" + +"And such I often tell you, George, you do not +possess," said Charlotte, kindly and with a little +melancholy; "yet you neither seem to regard my +warnings on the subject, nor those of any of your +friends"-- + +"There is a warning that I have not disregarded," +returned the youth, endeavouring to smile. + +"And what is it?" asked Charlotte, struck with the +melancholy resignation of his manner. + +"That I am not fit company, just now, for hearts as +gay as yours and Mr. Delafield's," he returned, and +rising, he made a hasty bow and withdrew. + +"What can he mean!" said Charlotte, in amazement, +"George does not appear well, and latterly his +manner is much altered--what can he mean, Mr. +Delafield?" + +"He is ill," said Delafield, far from feeling quite +easy at the evident interest that the lady +exhibited; "he is ill, and should be in his bed, +instead of attending the morning levees of even +Miss Henly." + +"Indeed, he is too regardless of his health," said +Charlotte in a low tone, fixing her eyes on the +grate, where she continued gazing for some time. +Every effort of Seymour was made to draw off the +attention of the young lady from a subject, that, +however melancholy, seemed to possess peculiar +charms for her. In this undertaking the gentleman +would not have succeeded but for the fortunate +appearance of Miss Osgood, who came into the +room very opportunely to keep alive the discourse. + +"What, tete-a-tete!" exclaimed Maria; "you should +discharge your footman, Charlotte, for saying that +you were at home. A young lady is never supposed +to be at home when she is alone--with a +gentleman." + +"I shall then know how to understand the servant of +Mr. Osgood, when I inquire for his daughter," cried +Seymour gayly. + +"Ah! Mr. Delafield, it is seldom that I have an +opportunity of hearing soft things, for I am never +alone with a gentleman in my father's house"-- + +"And is Mrs. Osgood so rigid?" returned the +gentleman; "surely the gravity of her daughter +should create more confidence"-- + +"Most humbly I thank you, Sir,{"} said Maria, +courtseying low before she took the chair that he +handed; "but it is not the caution of Mrs. Osgood +that prevents any solos in her mansion, unless it be +on a harp or flute, or any possibility of a tete-a- +tete." + +"Now you have excited my curiosity to a degree +that is painfully unpleasant," said Delafield, "I +know you to be too generous not to allay it"-- + +"Oh! it is nothing more than a magical number, that +frightens away all applicants for such a favour, +unless indeed it may be such as would not be very +likely to be successful were they to apply; and +which even would render it physically impossible to +have a tender interview within the four walls of the +mansion"-- + +"It is a charmed number, indeed! and is it on the +door? is it the number of the house?" + +"Oh! not at all--only the number of the family, the +baker's dozen, that I mentioned last evening; now +in visiting Miss Henly there is no such interruption +to be apprehended." + +Charlotte could not refrain from smiling at the +vivacity of her friend, who, perceiving that her wish +to banish the look of care that clouded the brow of +the other had vanished, changed the discourse as +abruptly as she had introduced it. + +"I met George Morton at the door, and chatted with +him for several minutes. He appears quite ill, but I +know he has gone two miles in the country for his +mother this raw day; unless he is more careful of +himself he will ruin his constitution, which is none +of the best now." + +Maria spoke with feeling, and with a manner that +plainly showed that her ordinary levity was +assumed, and that she had at the bottom, much +better feelings than the trifling intercourse of the +world would usually permit her to exhibit. Charlotte +did not reply, but her brightening looks once more +changed to that pensive softness which so well +became her delicate features, and which gave to +her countenance an expression such as might be +supposed to shadow the glory of angels, when, +from their abode of purity and love, they look down +with pity on the sorrows of man. + +The quick glance of Delafield not only watched, but +easily detected, both the rapid transitions and the +character of these opposite emotions. Under the +sudden influence of passions, that probably will not +escape our readers, he could not forbear uttering, in +a tone in which pique might have been too +apparent. + +"Really, Mr. Morton is a happy fellow!" + +The blue eyes of Charlotte were turned to the +speaker with a look of innocent inquiry, but she +continued silent. Maria, however, not only bestowed +a glance at the youth from her laughing hazel ones, +but found utterance for her tongue also. + +"How so?" she asked--"He is not of a strong +constitution, not immensely rich, nor over and +above--that is, not particularly handsome. Why is +he so happy?" + +"Ah! I have discovered that a man may be happy +without one of those qualifications." + +"And miserable who has them all?" + +"Nay, nay, Miss Osgood, my experience does not +extend so far--I am not quite the puppy you think +me." + +Maria, in her turn, was silent; but she arose from +her seat, and moved with an absent air to a distant +part of the room, and for a short time seemed to be +particularly occupied in examining the beauties of a +port-folio of prints, with every one of which she was +perfectly familiar. The conversation was resumed by +her friend. + +"You have mortified Miss Osgood, Mr. Delafield," +said Charlotte; "she is too good natured to judge +any one so harshly." + +"Is her good nature, in this particular, infectious?" +the young man rather whispered than uttered +aloud--"Does her friend feel the same indulgence +for the infirmities of a frail nature to which she +really seems herself hardly to belong?" + +"You compliment me, Mr. Delafield, at the expense +of truth, if it really be a compliment to tell me that +I am not a girl--a female; for if I am not a woman, +I must be something worse." + +"You are an angel!" said Delafield, with +uncontrollable fervour. + +Charlotte was startled by his manner and his words, +and unconsciously turned to her friend, as if to seek +her protecting presence; but to her astonishment, +she beheld Maria in the act of closing the door as +she was leaving the room. + +"Maria!" she cried, "whither in such a hurry? I +expected you to pass the morning with me." + +"I shall see your mother and return," replied Miss +Osgood, closing the door so rapidly as to prevent +further remark. This short speech, however, gave +Charlotte time to observe the change that +something had produced in the countenance of her +old companion, where, in place of the thoughtless +gaiety that usually shone in her features, was to be +seen an expression of painful mortification; and +even the high glow that youth and health had +imparted to her cheeks, was supplanted by a death- +like paleness. Delafield had been endeavouring to +peruse the countenance of Miss Henly in a vain +effort to discover the effect produced by his warm +exclamation; and these observations, which were +made by the quick eye of friendship, entirely +escaped his notice. + +"Maria is not well, Mr. Delafield," Charlotte said +hastily. "I know your goodness will excuse me while +I follow her." + +The young man bowed with a mortified air, and was +somewhat ungraciously beginning to make a polite +reply, when the door opened a short space, and the +voice of Miss Osgood was once more heard, saying +in a forced, but lively manner-- + +"I never was better in my life; I shall run into Mrs. +Morton's for ten minutes; let me find you here, Mr. +Delafield, when I return." Her footstep was heard +tripping along the passage, and in a moment after, +the street door of the house opened and shut. +Charlotte perceiving that her friend was +determined, for some inexplicable reason, to be +alone, quietly resumed her seat. Her musing air +was soon changed to one of surprise, by the +following remark of her companion: + +"You appear, Miss Henley," he said, "to be +sensitively alive to the ailings of all you know but +me." + +"I did not know that you were ill, Mr. Delafield! +Really, sir, I never met with any gentleman's looks +which so belied him, if you are otherwise than both +well and happy." + +As much experience as Delafield possessed in the +trifling manoeuvres of managers, or perhaps in the +manifestations of feelings that are exhibited by +every-day people, he was an absolute novice in the +emotions of a pure, simple, ingenuous female +heart. He was alive to the compliment to his +acknowledged good looks, conveyed in this speech, +but he was not able to appreciate the single- +heartedness that prompted it. Perhaps his +handsome face was as much illuminated by the +consciousness of this emotion as by the deeper +feeling he actually experienced, while he replied,-- + +"I am well, or ill, as you decree. Miss Henley; it is +impossible that you should live in the world, and be +seen, be known as you are, and must have been +seen and known, and not long since learned the +power you possess over the happiness of +hundreds." + +Though Charlotte was simple, unsuspecting, pure, +and extremely modest, she was far from dull--she +was not now to learn the difference between the +language of ordinary trifling and general +compliment, and that to which she now listened, +and which, however vague, was still so particular as +to induce her to remain silent. The looks and +manner of the youthful female, at that moment, +would have been a study to those who love to dwell +on the better and purer beings of creation. She was +silent, as we have already remarked, because she +could make no answer to a speech that either +meant every thing or nothing. The slight tinge that +usually was seated on her cheek spreading over its +whole surface like the faintest glow of sunset +blending, by mellow degrees, with the surrounding +clouds, was heightened to richness, and even +diffused itself like a reflection, across her polished +forehead, because she believed she was about to +listen to a declaration that her years and her +education united to tell her was never to approach +female ears without slightly trespassing on the +delicacy of her sex. Her mild blue eyes, beaming +with the glow on her face, rose and fell from the +carpet to the countenance of Delafield, but chiefly +dwelt in open charity, and possibly in anxiety, on +his own. In fact, there was thrown around her whole +air, such a touch of exquisite and shrinking +delicacy, so blended with feeling benevolence, and +even tender interest, that it was no wonder that a +man, handsome to perfection, young, intelligent, +and rich, mistook her feelings. + +"Pardon me, Miss Henley," he cried, and the +apology was unconsciously paid to the commanding +purity and dignity of her air, "if I overstep the rules +of decorum, and hasten to declare that which I +know years of trial would hardly justify my saying; +but your beauty, your grace, your----your----where +shall I find words to express it?--your loveliness, +yes, that means every thing--your loveliness has +not been seen with impunity." + +This might have done very well for a sudden and +unprepared declaration; but being a little indefinite, +it failed to extract a reply, his listener giving a +respectful, and, at times, a rather embarrassing +attention to what he was to add. After a short +pause, the youth, who found words as he +proceeded, and with whom, as with all others, the +first speech was the most difficult, continued-- + +"I have known you but a short time, Miss Henley; +but to see you once is to see you always. You +smile, Miss Henley, but give me leave to hope that +time and assiduity will enable me to bring you to +such a state of feeling, that in some degree, you +may know how to appreciate my sensations." + +"If I smile, Mr. Delafield," said Charlotte in a low +but distinct voice, "it is not at you, but at myself. I, +who have been for seventeen years constantly with +Charlotte Henley, find each day something new in +her, not to admire, but to reprehend." She paused a +moment, and then added, smiling most sweetly as +she spoke, "I will not affect to misunderstand you, +Mr. Delafield; your language is not very intelligible, +but it is such that I am sure you would not use to +me if you were not serious, and did not feel, or +rather think you feel what you utter." + +"Think I feel?" he echoed. "Don't I know it? Can I +be mistaken in my own sentiments? I may be +misled in yours--may have flattered myself with +being able to accomplish that at some distant day, +which your obduracy may deny me, but in my own +feelings I cannot be mistaken." + +"Not where they are so very new; nay, do not start +so eagerly--where they MUST be so very new. +Surely your fancy only leads you to say so much, +and to-morrow, or next day, your fancy, unless +encouraged by you to dwell on my unworthy self, +will lead you elsewhere." + +"Now, Miss Henley, what I most admire in your +character is its lovely ingenuousness, its simplicity, +its HEART; and I will own I did not expect such an +answer to a question put, like mine, in sincerity and +truth." + +"If I have failed to answer any question you have +put to me, Mr. Delafield, it is because I am +unconscious than any was asked; and if I have +displayed disengenuousness, want of simplicity, or +want of feeling, it has been unintentional, I do +assure you; and only proves that I can be guilty of +errors, without their being detected by one who has +known me so long and so intimately." + +"My impetuosity has deceived me and distressed +you," said Delafield--"I would have said that I love +you ardently, passionately, and constantly, and +shall for ever love you. I should have asked your +permission to say all this to your parents, to +entreat them to permit me to see you often, to +address you; and, if it were not impossible, to hope +that in time they would consent to intrust me with +their greatest treasure, and that you would not +oppose their decree." + +"This is certainly asking many questions in a +breath," said Charlotte smiling, but without either +irony or triumph; "and were it not for that word, +breath, I should experience some uneasiness at +what you say; I find great satisfaction, Mr. +Delafield, in reflecting that our acquaintance is not +a week old." + +"A week is time enough to learn to adore such a +being as you are, Miss Henley, though an age would +not suffice to do justice to your merits. Say, have I +your permission to speak to your father? I do not +ask you yet to return my affection--nay, I question +if you can ever love as I do." + +"Perhaps not," said Charlotte; "I can love enough to +feel a great and deep interest in those who are +dear to me, but I never yet have experienced such +emotions, as you describe--I believe, in this +particular, you have formed a just opinion of me, +Mr. Delafield; I suspect such passions are not in +the compass of my feelings." + +"They are, they must be, Miss Henley: allow me to +see you often, to speak to your father, and at least +to hope--may I not hope that in time you will learn +to think me a man to be trusted with your +happiness as your husband?" + +The quiet which had governed the manner of +Charlotte during this dialogue, was sensibly +affected by this appeal, and for a short time she +appeared too much embarrassed to reply. During +this interval, Delafield gazed on her, in delight; for +with the sanguine feelings of youth, he interpreted +every symptom of emotion in his own favour. +Finding, however, that she was distressed for a +reply, he renewed his suit-- + +"Though I have known you but a few days, I feel as +if I had known you for years. There are, I believe, +Miss Henley, spirits in the world who commune with +each other imperceptibly, who seem formed for +each other, and who know and love each other as +by instinct." + +"I have no pretensions to belong to that class," +said Charlotte; "I must know well to love a little, +but I trust I feel kind sentiments to the whole +human race." + +"Ah, you do not know yourself. You have lived all +your life in the neighbourhood of that Mr. Morton +who just went out, and you feel pity for his illness. +He does indeed look very ill--but you have yet to +learn what it is to love. I ask the high favour of +being permitted to attempt the office of--of--of--" + +"Of teaching me!" said Charlotte with a smile." +{sic} + +"No--that word is too presumptuous--too coarse--" + +"Hear me, Mr. Delafield," said Miss Henley after a +short pause, during which she seemed to have +experienced some deep and perhaps painful +emotions--"I cannot undertake to give you a reason +for my conduct--very possibly I have no good one; +but I feel that I should be doing you injustice by +encouraging what you are pleased to call hopes--I +wish to be understood now, as saying that I cannot +consent to your expecting that I should ever +become your wife." + +Delafield was certainly astonished at this refusal, +which was given in that still, decided manner that +admits of little opposition. He had long been +accustomed to apprehend a sudden acceptance, and +had been in the habit of strictly guarding both his +manner and his language, lest something that he +did or said might justify expectations that would +have been out of his power to fulfil; but now, when, +for the first time, he had ventured a direct offer, he +met with a rejection that possessed all the +characteristics of sincerity, he was, in truth, utterly +astounded. After taking a sufficient time to collect +in some degree his faculties, he came to the +conclusion that he had been too precipitate, and +had urged the suit too far, and too hastily. + +"Such may be your sentiments now, Miss Henley," +he said, "but you may alter them in time: you are +not called on for a definite answer." + +"If not by you, I am by truth, Mr. Delafield. It would +be wrong to lead you to expect what can never--" + +"Never?" said Delafield--"you cannot speak so +decidedly." + +"I do, indeed I do," returned Charlotte firmly. + +"I have not deceived myself in believing you to be +disengaged, Miss Henley?" + +"You have a right to require a definite answer to +your questions, Mr. Delafield; but you have no right +to exact my reasons for declining your very +flattering offer--I am young, very young--but I know +what is due to myself and to my sex--" + +"By heavens! my suspicion is true--you are already +betrothed!" + +"It would be easy to say NO to that assertion, sir," +added Charlotte, rising; "but your right to a reason +in a matter where inclination is so material, is +exactly the same as my right would be to ask you +why you did not address me. I thank you for the +preference you have shown me, Mr. Delafield. I +have not so little of the woman about me, not to +remember it always with gratitude; but I tell you +plainly and firmly, for it is necessary that I should +do so--I never can consent to receive your +proposals." + +"I understand you, madam--I understand you," said +the young man with an offended air; "you wish my +absence--nay, Miss Henley, hear me further." + +"No further, Mr. Delafield," interrupted Charlotte, +advancing to him with a kind, but unembarrassed +air, and offering her hand--"we part friends at least; +but I think, now we know each other's sentiments, +we had better separate." + +The gentleman seized the hand she offered, and +kissed it more with the air of a lover, than of an +offended man, and left the room. A few minutes +after he had gone, Miss Osgood re-appeared. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +NOTWITHSTANDING the earnest injunction that +Maria had given to Mr. Delafield to continue where +she left him, until her return, she expressed no +surprise at not finding him in the room. The +countenance of this young lady exhibited a droll +mixture of playful mirth and sadness; she glanced +her eyes once around the apartment, and perceiving +it was occupied only by her friend, she said, +laughing-- + +"Well, Charlotte, when is it to be? I think I retired +in very good season." + +"Perhaps you did, Maria," returned the other, +without raising her face from the reflecting attitude +in which she stood--"I believe it is all very well." + +"Well! you little philosopher--I should think it was +excellent--that--that is--if I were in your place. I +suspected this from the moment you met." + +"What have you suspected, Maria?--what is it you +imagine has occurred?" + +"What! why Seymour Delafield has been +stammering--then he looked doleful--then he +sighed--then he hemmed--then he said you were an +angel--nay, you need not look prudish, and affect to +deny it; he got as far as that before I left the +room--then he turned to see if I were not coming +back again to surprise him--then he fell on his +knees--then he stretched out his handsome hand-- +it is too handsome for a man's hand!--and said take +it, take me, take my name, and take my three +hundred thousand dollars!--Now don't deny a +syllable of it till I tell your answer." + +Charlotte smiled, and taking her work, quietly +seated herself at her table before she replied-- + +"You go through Cupid's exercise so dexterously, +Maria, one is led to suspect you have seen some +service." + +"Not under such an officer, girl! Ah! Colonel +Delafield, or General--no, Field Marshal Delafield, is +an officer that might teach"--as Miss Osgood spoke +with short interruptions between her epithets, as if +in search of proper terms, she dwelt a moment on +the last word in such a manner as to give it a +particular emphasis--Charlotte started, more +perhaps from the manner than the expression, and +turning her glowing face towards her friend, she +cried involuntarily-- + +"Is it possible that you could have overheard--" + +"What?" + +"Nothing--what nonsense!" + +"Let me tell you, Miss Prude, it is in such nonsense, +however, that the happiness or misery of us poor +sports of fortune, called women, in a great measure +blooms or fades--now that I call poetical!--but for +your answer: first you said--indeed, Mr. Delafield, +this is SO unexpected---though you knew well +enough what was coming--then you blushed as you +did a little while ago, and said I am so young--I-- +am but poor seventeen--then he swore you were +seventy--no, no,--but he said you are old enough to +be his ruling star--his destiny--his idol--his object +of WORSHIP--ha! I do hit the right epithet now and +then. Well--then you said you had parents, as if the +poor man did not know that already, and that they +must be consulted; and he desired you to ask the +whole city--he defied them all to say aught against +him--he was regular at church--subscribed to the +widow's society, and the assembly; and in short, +was called a 'good' young man, even in Wall- +street." + +"All this is very amusing, Maria--but--" + +"It is all very true. Then he was pressing, and you +were coy, until finally he extorted your definitive +answer, which was--" Maria paused, and seemed to +be intensely studying the looks of the other--Miss +Henley smiled as she turned her placid, ingenuous +features to her gaze, and continued the +conversation by repeating, + +"Which was?" + +"NO; irretrievable--unanswerable--unalterable NO." + +"I have not authorized you to suspect any part of +this rhapsody to be true--I have not said you were +right in a single particular." + +"Excuse me, Miss Henley, you have said all, and +Seymour Delafield told me the same as we passed +each other at the street door." + +"Is it possible!" + +"It could not be otherwise. His mouth was shut, it +is true, and his tongue might have been in his +pocket, for any thing I know: but his eyes and his +head, his walk, and even his nose were downcast, +and spoke mortification. On the other hand, your +little body looks an inch higher, your eyes look +resolute, as much as to say, 'Avaunt, false one! +your whole appearance is that of determined denial, +mingled--" + +"Mingled with what, trifler?" + +"Mingled with a little secret, woman's pride, that +you have had an opportunity of showing your +absolute character." + +"You know these feelings from experience, do you?" + +"No child, my very nature is charity; if the request +had been made to me, I should have sent the +desponding youth to my father, and if he refused, +to my mother--" + +"And if she refused?" + +"Why then I should have said, two negatives make +an affirmative." + +Charlotte laughed, and in this manner the serious +explanation which, between friends so intimate +might have been expected, was avoided. Maria, at +the same time, that she fell and manifested a deep +interest in the TETE-A-TETE that she had promoted, +always avoided any thing like a grave explanation, +and we have failed in giving the desired view of the +character of Miss Henley, if our readers deem it +probable that she would ever touch on the subject +voluntarily. + +The winter passed by in the ordinary manner in +which other winters pass in this climate, being a +mixture of mild, delightful days, clear sky, and +invigorating sun, and of intense, cold, raw winds, +and snow storms. The two latter seemed to try the +constitution of poor George Morton to the utmost. +The severe cold that he took in his charitable +excursion lingered about him through the cold +months, and before the genial warmth of May +occurred to relieve him, his physicians pronounced +that his lungs were irremediably affected. During +the period of doubt and apprehension which +preceded the annunciation of this opinion, and of +distress and agony which succeeded it, the family +of Mr. Henley warmly sympathized in the feelings of +their neighbours. The long intimacy that had +existed between George and Charlotte and their +parents, removed all superfluous forms, and the +latter passed a great deal of her time with Mrs. +Morton, or by the side of the invalid. Her presence +gave him such manifest and lively pleasure, that it +would have been cruel to have denied him what the +other appeared to grant spontaneously. Charlotte +had gradually withdrawn herself from society as the +illness of George increased, and his danger became +more apparent; and at the expiration of the month +of April, she was seldom visible to those who are +called the world, with the exception of the +immediate connexions of her family, and her friend +Maria 0sgood. In the beginning of May both Mr. +Morton and his neighbour withdrew to their country +houses, and thus the retirement from the world and +the intercourse between the two families became +more complete. + +Delafield had made one or two efforts to renew his +addresses to Charlotte, but finding them in every +instance firmly, though mildly rejected, he +endeavoured to discover such imperfections in the +object of his regard as might justify him in disliking +her. The more he reflected on her conduct, however, +the more he became sensible of the propriety and +simplicity of her deportment; and had not the +impression she had made on the young man +proceeded rather from the effect on his fancy, than +from having touched his heart, the consequences of +his conviction of her purity and truth might have +been more lasting and deplorable. As it was, his +heated imagination gradually ceased to glow with +the beauties of an image that was, however perfect +in itself, extravagantly coloured by his own youthful +imagination, and in time, if he thought at all of +Charlotte Henley, he thought of her as a beautiful +object, it is true, but as of one that brought +somewhat mortifying reflections along with it. This +might not have been manly or generous, perhaps, +but we believe it is the manner in nine cases out of +ten in which such sudden emotions expire, +especially if the ardour of the youth has +precipitated a declaration that the more chastened +feelings of the damsel are not yet prepared to +reciprocate. While the image of Charlotte was still +lingering in his mind, he was in the habit of visiting +Maria Osgood almost daily, to ask questions about +her, and perhaps with a secret expectation of their +meeting her at the house of her friend. The gay +trifling of Miss Osgood aided greatly both in cooling +his spleen and removing his melancholy, till in the +course of a month he even proceeded so far as to +make her the confidant of what she already knew, +though only by conjecture and inference. Delafield +at this time was so urgent, and secretly so +determined to prevail, in order that his pride if not +his affections might be soothed, that in an +unguarded moment he induced the inconsiderate +Maria to betray, we will not say the confidence of +her friend, but such facts as could only have come +to her knowledge by the intimacy of unaffected +association. If there were any thing to extenuate +this breach of decorum by Maria, it was the manner +in which it was effected. Miss Osgood had just +returned from one of her frequent visits to the villa +of Mr. Henley, when Delafield made his customary +morning call: the absence of Maria, and the object +of her visit, had been well known to him, and as it +was a time when he began to speak of Miss Henley +without much emotion, and but little love, he could +not avoid yielding so far to his pique as to express +himself as follows: + +"So, Miss Maria, you have just returned from paying +another visit to your beautiful little friend without +any heart." + +"My little friend without any heart! Of whom do you +speak? and what do you mean!" + +"I speak of Miss Charlotte Henley, the nun,--she +who has all of heaven about her but its love--that +brilliant casket without its jewels--that woman-- +yes, that YOUNG woman without any heart." + +"Upon my word, sir, this is a very pretty poem you +have been reciting! but in my opinion, your +conclusion is wrong. As she refused to give you her +heart, it is the more probable that she has it yet in +that brilliant casket you speak of--" + +"No--she never had one. She wants the greatest +charm that nature can give to a woman--a warm, +grateful, and affectionate heart." + +"And pray, sir," said Maria, bending her eyes +inquisitively toward the youth, "if she want it, what +has she done with it!" + +"She never had one, Miss Osgood. I will grant you +that she is lovely, exquisitely lovely! pure, gentle, +amiable, every epithet you may wish to apply, that +indicates nothing but acquired excellence: but as to +natural feelings, she is as cold as an icicle--in short +she is destitute of HEART--the thing of all others I +most prize in a woman, and for which I admire you +so much." + +Maria laughed, but she coloured also. It had long +been obvious to herself, and to the world too, that +Delafield sought her society, now that he was not +admitted at Mr. Henley's, much more than that of +my other young woman in the city; but she thought +that she well understood the secret reason for this +preference, though the world might not. How +gratifying this speech was to the feelings of the +gay girl, the sequel of our tale must show. The +young man however did not judge her too +favourably, when he supposed her to possess those +kindred sensations that unite us with our fellow- +beings, and he might have added a good deal of +generosity to the catalogue of her virtues. After a +pause of a moment she replied-- + +"I suppose I must thank you, Delafield, for the +pretty compliment you have just paid me, but I am +so unused to this sort of thing, that I really feel as +bashful as sweet fifteen, though I am at mature +twenty." + +"That is because you DO feel, Miss Osgood; I might +have said as much to Charlotte Henley without +exciting the least emotion in her, or of even +bringing one tinge of that bright blush over her +features which makes you look so handsome." + +"Mercy! mercy! have mercy, I entreat you," cried +Maria, averting her face, "or I shall soon be as red +as the cook. But I cannot, I will not consent to hear +my friend traduced in such a manner; so far from +wanting feeling, Charlotte Henley is all heart. To +use your own language," she added, turning her +eyes towards him archly, "it is for her heart that I +most love her." + +"You deceive yourself. Early attachment, and long +association, and your own generous, warm feelings +deceive you. She is accustomed to show gentle and +kind civilities to all around her, and you mistake +habit for affection." + +"She is accustomed to do all that, I own; but to do +it in a manner that adds to its value by her simple +unaffected feelings. She is not, I must +acknowledge, like certain people of my +acquaintance, a bundle of tinder to take fire at +every spark that approaches, but she loves all she +should love, and I fear she loves one too well that +she should not love." + +"Love one that she should not love?" cried +Delafield: "what, is her heart then engaged to +another! Is it possible that Miss Henley, the cold, +prudish Miss Henley, can indulge an improper +attachment after all?" + +"Mr. Delafield," said Miss Osgood, gravely, "I am +not apt to betray what I ought to conceal, although +I am the giddy creature that I seem. But I have +spoken unguardedly, and must explain: in the first +place, I would not have you suppose that Charlotte +Henley and I talk of our hearts and our lovers to +each other, like two girls at a boarding school. If I +know that she has such a thing as a heart at all, it +is not from herself but from my own observation; +and as for lovers, though she may have had dozens +for any thing I know, to ME they are absolutely +strangers.--Don't interrupt me, I am not begging +one. After this explanation I will say, trusting, +Delafield entirely in your honour, which I do believe +you to possess in a high--" + +"You may--you may," interrupted the young man +eagerly: "I will never betray your confidence--you +might trust yourself to my honour and good faith--" + +"I wish you would not be bringing yourself and +myself constantly into the conversation," said the +lady, compressing her lips to conceal a smile; "we +are talking of Charlotte Henley, and of her only. She +was brought up in the daily habit of seeing much of +George Morton, who, I believe, even you will own +has a heart, for it will cost him his life." + +"His life!" + +"I fear so; nay, it is without hope. The cold he took +in carrying the poor sufferer to the hospital last +winter has thrown him into a decline. I do believe +that Charlotte Henley is fond of him; but mind, I do +not say that she is in love--if appears to be less of +passion than of intense affection." + +"Yes, such as she would feel for a brother." + +"She has no brother. I do not intend to define the +passions: but I do believe that if he were to live +and offer himself, she would marry him, and make +him such a wife as any man might envy." + +"What! do you think she loves him unasked, and +yet refuse me who begged her hand like her slave." + +"It is not unasked; he has known her all her life-- +has ever shown a preference for her--has been kind +to her and to all others in her presence--he has +long anticipated her wishes, in trifles, and--and--in +short, he has done just what he ought to do, to +gain her love." + +"Then you think I erred in the manner in which I +made my advances?" + +"Your advances, as you call them, would have +succeeded with nine girls in ten, though not with +Miss Henley--besides, you are too late." + +"Certainly not too late when no declaration had +been made by any other." + +"I am not about to discuss the proprieties of +courtship with you, Mr. Delafield," cried Maria, +laughing and rising from her chair. "Come, let us +walk; it is a sin to shut ourselves up on such a +morning. The subject must now he changed and the +scene too." + +He accepted her challenge, and they proceeded +through the streets together; but she evaded every +subsequent attempt he made to renew the +discourse. Perhaps she felt that she had gone too +far--perhaps there was something in it that was +painful to her own feelings. + +The explanation, however, had a great tendency to +destroy the remains of what Delafield mistook for +love. Instead of having his affections seriously +engaged in a short intercourse with Miss Henley, +our readers may easily perceive that it was nothing +but his imagination that was excited, and which +had kept his brain filled with images still more +lovely than the original: but now that the wan +features of George Morton were constantly brought +into the picture by the side of the deity he had +worshipped, the contemplation of these fancied +beauties become hourly less pleasant, and in a +short time he ceased to dwell on the subject +altogether. + +A consequence, however, grew out of his short-lived +inclination, that was as unlooked for by himself as +by the others interested in the result. He became +so much accustomed to the society of Maria +Osgood, that at length he fell it was necessary to +his comfort. To the surprise of the whole city, the +handsome, rich, witty, and accomplished Mr. +Seymour Delafield declared himself in form before +the spring had expired to one of the plain +daughters of Mr. Osgood, a man with a large family, +and but little money. Maria had a difficult task to +conceal the pleasure she felt, as she listened to, +not the passionate declaration of her admirer, but +to his warm solicitation that she would unite her +destinies to his own. She did conceal it, however, +and would only consent to receive his visits for a +time, on the condition that he was not to consider +her as at all engaged by the permission. + + + +CHAPTER V. + +WHILE such happy prospects were opening on the +future life of her friend, the time of Charlotte +Henley was very differently occupied in the country. +There is, however, a tendency in youth to rise with +events that does not readily admit of depression, +and the disorder of George Morton was one of all +others the most flattering when near its close. Even +the more mature experience of his parents was +misled by the deceptive symptoms that his +complaint assumed in the commencement of +summer. They who so fondly hoped the result, +began to believe that youth and the bland airs of +June were overcoming the inexorable enemy. That +the strength of the young man lessened with every +succeeding day, was an event to be expected from +his low diet and protracted confinement; but his +brightening eyes, and the flitting colour that would +at times add to their fiery radiance, brought to the +youthful Charlotte the most heartfelt, though +secret, rapture. This state between reviving hope +and momentary despondency had prevailed for +several weeks, when the affectionate girl entered +an apartment that communicated with George's own +room, where she found the invalid reclining on a +settee apparently deeply communing with himself. +He was alone; and his appearance, as well as the +heavens and the earth, united to encourage the +sanguine expectation of the pure heart that +throbbed so ardently when its owner witnessed any +favourable change in the countenance of the young +man. The windows were raised, and the balmy air +of a June morning played through the apartment, +lending in reality an elastic vigour to the decaying +organs of the sick youth. The tinge in his cheeks +was heightened by the mellow glow of the sun's +rays as they shone through the medium of the rose- +coloured curtains of the window, and Charlotte +thought she once more beheld the returning colour +of health where it had been so long absent. + +"How much better you appear this morning, +George," she cried, in a voice whose melody was +even heightened by its gaiety. "We shall soon have +you among us once more, and then, heedless one, +beware how you trifle again with that best of +heaven's gifts, your health. Oh, this is a blessed +climate! our summer atones with its mildness for +the dreariness and perils of our winter; it has even +given me a colour, pale-face as I am--I can feel it +burn on my cheek." + +He raised his head from its musing position at the +first sounds of her voice, and smiled faintly, and +with an expression of anguish, as she proceeded; +but when she had ended, and taken her seat near +him, still keeping her eyes on his varying +countenance, he took her hand into his own before +he replied. A good deal surprised at his manner, +and at this act, which exceeded the usual +familiarity of even their affectionate intercourse, +the colour, of which Miss Henley had been so +playfully boasting, changed once or twice with rapid +transitions. + +"Seem I so well, dear Charlotte?" he at length said +in a low, tremulous, and hollow voice, "seem I so +well? I believe you are right, and that I shall +shortly be better--much better." + +"What mean you, George? feel you any worse? have +I disturbed you with my presence and my +thoughtless gaiety?" + +The young man smiled again, but the expression of +his face was no longer mingled with a look of +anguish; it was a kind benevolent gleam of +gratitude and affection which crossed his ghastly +features, like a ray of sunshine enlivening the +gloom of a day in winter. + +"You disturb me, Charlotte!" he answered, his very +voice trembling as if in sympathy with his frame: "I +do believe but for you I should have been long +since in my grave." + +"No, no, George, this is too melancholy a theme for +us both just now; let us talk of your returning +health." + +He pressed her hand to his heart before he replied-- +"My health will never return; I am lost to this world; +and in fact at this moment I properly belong to +another in my body: would to God that I was purely +so in feelings also." + +"Surely, George, you are alarming yourself +unnecessarily." + +"I am not alarmed," he replied; "I have too long +foreseen this event, to feel alarmed at my +approaching dissolution--no, for that, blessed be +my God and my Redeemer, I am in some degree +prepared; but I feel it impossible to shake off the +feelings of this life while the pulse continues to +beat, and yet the emotions I now experience must +be in some measure allied to heaven; they are not +impure, they are not selfish; nothing can partake of +either, dear Charlotte, where your image is +connected with the thoughts of a future world." + +"Oh, George! talk not so gloomily, so cruelly, this +morning--your whole countenance contradicts your +melancholy speech, and you are better--indeed you +are;--you must be better." + +"Yes, I am better, I am nearly well," returned the +youth, pausing a moment, while a struggle of the +most painful interest seemed to engross his +thoughts. As it passed away, he drew his hand +feebly across his clammy brow, and, smiling faintly, +resumed his speech,--"on the brink of the grave, at +a moment when all thoughts of me must be +connected with the image of death, there can no +longer be any necessity for silence. You have been +kind to us, dear Miss Henley, as you are kind to all; +but to me your sympathy has been trebly dear, for +it has brought with it a consolation and pleasure +that you but little imagine." + +Miss Henley raised her tearful eyes from the floor to +his wan features, that now appeared illumined with +more than human fires, and her pale lips quivered, +but her voice was inaudible. + +"Yes, Charlotte, I may now speak without injustice, +or the fear of being selfish: I have long loved you-- +how tenderly, how purely, none can ever know; but +could I, with a certainty of my fate before my eyes, +with the knowledge that my days were numbered, +and that the sun of my life could never reach its +meridian, woo you to my love, to make you +miserable! No, dearest! your gentle heart will +mourn the brother and the friend too much for its +own peace; it needed not the sting of a stronger +grief." + +"George, George," sobbed the convulsed girl, "think +not of me; speak not of me--if it can cheer you at +such a moment to know how much you are valued +by me, no cold reserve shall be found on my part." + +The young man started, and fastened his eyes on +her face with an indefinable look of delight mingled +with sorrow. + +"Charlotte!" he exclaimed, "do I hear aright? am I +so miserable! am I so happy! repeat those words-- +quick--my eyes grow dim--my senses deceive me." + +"Live, George Morton," said Charlotte firmly: "you +are better--your whole face bespeaks it; and if the +tender care of an affectionate wife can preserve +your health, you shall long live a blessing to all +who love you." + +As Charlotte uttered, thus ingenuously, her pure +attachment, the youth extended his hand towards +her blindly. She gave him her own, which he drew to +his heart, and folded to his bosom with a warm +pressure for an instant, when his hold relaxed, his +form dropping backward on the sofa, and in that +attitude he expired without a struggle. + +We shall not dwell on the melancholy scene that +followed. At the funeral of George Morton Miss +Henley was not to be seen, nor was it generally +understood that the young people had been +connected in the closest ties of feeling. She made +no display of her grief in her dress, unless the +slight testimonials of a few bright ribbands on the +virgin white of her robe could be called such, and +the rumour that was at first propagated of their +being engaged to each other was discredited, +because the traces of sorrow were not particularly +visible in the attire of Miss Henley. When the +season of gaiety returned, she appeared as usual in +her place in society. Though her cheeks were +seldom enriched with the faint glow that once +rendered her so beautiful, and she was less +dazzling in her appearance, yet, if possible, she +was more lovely and attractive. In the course of the +winter, several gentlemen approached her with the +evident intention of offering their hands. Their +advances were received with great urbanity, but in +most instances with that unembarrassed manner +that is fatal to hope. One of her admirers, however, +persevered so far as to solicit her hand: the denial +was mild, but resolute; like most young men who +think their happiness dependent on a lady's smile, +he wished to know if he had a successful rival. He +was assured he had not. His curiosity even went so +far as to inquire if Miss Henley had abjured +matrimony. The answer was a simple, unaffected +negative. Amazed at his own want of success, the +youth then intimated his intention of making a +future application for her favour. + +In the mean time, Seymour Delafield, after casting +one longing, lingering look at Miss Henley, became +the husband of her friend, and made the fourteenth +in the prolific family of the Osgoods, where his +wealth was not less agreeable to the parents, than +his person to the daughter. + +Many years have rolled by since the occurrence of +these events, and Miss Henley continues the same +in every thing but appearance. The freshness of her +beauty has given place to a look of intelligence. +and delicacy that seems gradually fitting her for her +last and most important change. The name of +George Morton is never heard to pass her lips. Mrs. +Delafield declares it to be a subject that she never +dares to approach, nor in her repeated refusals of +matrimonial offers has Charlotte ever been known +to allude to the desolation of her own heart. Her +father is dead; but to her mother Miss Henley has +in a great measure supplied his loss. With her +friends she is always cheerful, and apparently +happy, though the innocent gaiety of her childhood +is sensibly checked, and there are moments that +betray the existence of a grief that is only the more +durable, because it is less violent. In short, she +lives a pattern for her sex, unfettered by any +romantic and foolish pledges, discharging all the +natural duties of her years and station in an +exemplary manner, but unwilling to incur any new +ones, because she has but one heart, and that was +long since given with its purity, sincerity, and truth, +to him who is dead, and can never become the +property of another. + +When Charlotte Henley dies, although she may not +have fulfilled one of the principal objects of her +being, by becoming a mother, her example will +survive her; and those who study her character and +integrity of feeling, will find enough to teach them +what properties are the most valuable in forming +that sacred character--while her own sex can learn +that, though in the case of Miss Henley, Providence +has denied the full exercise of her excellences, it +has at the same time rendered her a striking +instance of female dignity, by exhibiting to the +world the difference between affection and caprice, +and by shewing how much imagination is inferior to +Heart. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg Etext of Tales for Fifteen, by James F. 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