diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:12:08 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:12:08 -0700 |
| commit | 294c83297876e78cb25ac2000c2a8bb42d188a38 (patch) | |
| tree | ff6bd75a6dbb7dabaa467aea75038e05c8db9a32 | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39207-8.txt | 5025 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39207-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 97698 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39207-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 99954 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39207-h/39207-h.htm | 5252 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39207.txt | 5025 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39207.zip | bin | 0 -> 97675 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
9 files changed, 15318 insertions, 0 deletions
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/39207-8.txt b/39207-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0bcebfd --- /dev/null +++ b/39207-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5025 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales for Fifteen, by James Fenimore Cooper + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Tales for Fifteen + +Author: James Fenimore Cooper + +Release Date: March 19, 2012 [EBook #39207] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES FOR FIFTEEN *** + + + + +Produced by David Starner, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +book was produced from images made available by the +HathiTrust Digital Library.) + + + + + + + + + + + + TALES FOR FIFTEEN + + BY JAMES FENIMORE COOPER + + (1823) + + + A FACSIMILE REPRODUCTION + WITH AN INTRODUCTION + + BY JAMES FRANKLIN BEARD + _Clark University_ + + GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA + SCHOLARS' FACSIMILES & REPRINTS + 1959 + + SCHOLARS' FACSIMILES & REPRINTS + 118 N.W. 26TH STREET + GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA, U.S.A. + + HARRY R. WARFEL, GENERAL EDITOR + + REPRODUCED FROM A COPY IN + AND WITH THE PERMISSION OF + YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY + + L.C. CATALOG CARD NUMBER: 59-6525 + + MANUFACTURED IN THE U.S.A. + LETTERPRESS BY J. N. ANZEL, INC. + + PHOTOLITHOGRAPHY BY EDWARDS BROTHERS + + BINDING BY UNIVERSAL-DIXIE BINDERY + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +On 1 February 1823 Charles Wiley published in New York _The Pioneers_, a +new book by the author of _The Spy_; by noon he had sold 3,500 copies--a +record-making sale by the bookselling standards of the time. On 26 June, +almost five months later, Wiley quietly offered, as we know from a +notice in The Patriot, a New York newspaper, "_Tales for Fifteen, or +Imagination and Heart_, an original work in one volume, by Jane Morgan, +price 75c." The actual author was the author of _The Spy_; and the two +stories, "Imagination" and "Heart," were obviously imitations of Mrs. +Amelia Opie's popular moral tales, published, as the paper cover noted, +when _The Spy_ was in its fourth edition, _The Pioneers_ in its third, +and _The Pilot_ in press. The sale was so small that only four copies +are known to be extant. Why, one may ask, did James Cooper, who was in +1823 a writer of national and international reputation, publish this +volume of imitative stories for adolescent girls, even though his +identity was carefully concealed? + +According to Cooper's own account, _Tales for Fifteen_ was written and +given to Charles Wiley as a gesture of friendship to help the publisher +out of financial difficulties. This explanation was echoed by the +novelist's daughter Susan in a letter reprinted from the Cooperstown +_Freeman's Journal_ in _The Critic_ on 12 October 1889. It is true that +Wiley was having financial troubles in 1823, and Cooper undoubtedly gave +him the proceeds from _Tales for Fifteen_; but to suppose, as full +acceptance of this explanation requires, that Cooper reverted, even +momentarily, to the repudiated literary models of his first book +_Precaution_ after the phenomenal success of _The Spy_ would be to infer +in him an almost total want of critical judgment and common sense. The +real explanation, which Cooper might have been embarrassed to furnish +and which the chronology of publication has obscured, lies in a hitherto +unsuspected phase of the curious story of Cooper's entrance to +authorship. + +Cooper wrote Andrew Thompson Goodrich, his first publisher, on 31 May +1820, that _Precaution_ had been preceded by an experimental effort to +write a short moral tale. Mrs. Opie's _Simple Tales_ (1807) and _Tales +of Real Life_ (1813) would have been among the obvious models. Finding +the tale "swell to a rather unwieldy size," Cooper explained, "I +destroy'd the manuscript and changed it to a novel." _Precaution_, which +was completed on 12 June 1820, was probably written within a month; and +before the novel had begun its tortuous way through the press, Cooper +commenced the writing of _The Spy_. By 28 June he had completed "about +sixty pages," presumably manuscript pages; and as the writing proceeded +and his enthusiasm for the new work mounted, his expectations for the +success of _Precaution_ diminished. He wrote Goodrich on 12 July: "The +'Spy' goes on slowly and will not be finish'd until late in the fall--I +take more pains with it--as it is to be an American novel professedly." +In fact, The Spy was completed only a short time before its publication +in New York on 22 December 1821. + +During the eighteen months between the inception and publication of _The +Spy_ Cooper saw _Precaution_ through the press, joined the New York +literary circle which frequented Charles Wiley's bookshop, transferred +his publishing business to Wiley, wrote three or four long book reviews +for his friend Charles K. Gardner's _Literary and Scientific +Repository_, finished _The Spy_, and commenced _The Pioneers_. While the +period was, thus, not devoid of literary activity, it was, as the 1831 +Preface to _The Spy_ confessed, a period of acute uncertainty. Having +discovered his literary talent, Cooper had yet to discover how to use it +profitably, had indeed to be reassured of its true direction. He could +not afford to write at all unless he could make his new profession pay +handsomely. _Precaution_ had been a deliberate attempt to produce a +bestseller, and it succeeded only moderately. As the Preface to the +first edition of _The Spy_ indicates, Cooper experienced severe +self-doubts and self-questionings about this experiment. For an extended +period, most probably during the first six months of 1821, he abandoned +work on _The Spy_, which had been noticed as in press in the January +issue of the _Repository_, fearing that the book could not succeed. It +was almost certainly during this time that he conceived and partly +executed another literary project of which _Tales for Fifteen_ is the +abortive remains. + +As Cooper's hopes for _The Spy_ faded, his confidence in the viability +of the type of imitative writing he had attempted in _Precaution_ +appears to have revived. _Precaution_ was reviewed in a most laudatory +manner in the _Repository_ for January 1821, and the comment +accompanying the notice of publication in the _Repository_ was: "We only +regret that the scene of this novel was not laid in America." Whether +Cooper persuaded himself or allowed himself to be persuaded by Wiley, +Gardner, and other friends, he seems to have decided that his mistake in +_Precaution_ was not so much the choice of models as the choice of +setting. Why not employ an American setting and continue his imitation +of the British women? During 1820 Wiley, Goodrich, and William B. Gilley +had jointly published a collection of Mrs. Opie's stories called _Tales +of the Heart_; apparently they found it profitable. Accordingly, Cooper +planned a series of stories which Wiley noticed as in press in the +_Repository_ for May 1822 and which he described as "_American Tales_, +by a Lady, viz. Imagination--Heart--Matter--Manner--Matter and Manner. 2 +vols. 18 mo. Wiley and Halsted, New York." A briefer announcement had +appeared earlier, in the October 1821 issue of the _Repository_, +although _The Spy_, which was certainly in press, was not noticed. In +his letter of 7 January 1822 congratulating Cooper on the great success +of _The Spy_, Wiley observed: "You speak of being engaged about 'the +Pioneer.'--Have you forgotten 'the American Tales,' which were commenced +by a certain lady a long time ago?" + +What happened, evidently, was that Cooper's interest in _The Spy_ had +revived with such force that he had gone on to complete that book and to +begin _The Pioneers_. Wiley's problem was then to persuade his reluctant +author to complete a work in which he had lost interest but which was in +press. Wiley was not successful. The three final tales, "Manner," +"Matter," and "Manner and Matter," were never written. Eventually the +publisher prevailed on Cooper to bring "Heart," the second of the +stories, to a hurried conclusion. The author, probably happy to settle +the matter, then wrote a coy Preface alluding mysteriously to +"unforeseen circumstances" which had prevented the completion of the +series, and gave the two stories to Wiley on the condition that their +authorship be concealed. Thus _The American Tales_ became _Tales for +Fifteen_. A more eloquent criticism by the author could hardly be +wished. + +When Cooper permitted "Imagination" and "Heart" to be reprinted in 1841, +he was again conferring a favor on a publisher. Towards the close of +1840 George Roberts, publisher and proprietor of the _Boston Notion_, +subtitled without exaggeration "The Mammoth Sheet of the World," sent +Cooper a circular letter in the hand of a clerk to request a short +contribution suitable for his new publication, _Roberts' Semi-Monthly +Magazine_. Normally, Cooper refused all such requests: but he was under +the erroneous impression that Roberts had forwarded to him some Danish +translations of his works which Longfellow had sent to America for him a +few years before. Remembering these early stories, he replied to Roberts +on 2 January 1841: "Some fifteen or twenty years since my publisher +became embarrassed, and I wrote two short tales to aid him. He printed +them, under the title of _Tales for Fifteen_, by Jane Morgan. One of +these stories, rather a feeble one I fear, was called Heart--the other +Imagination. This tale was written one rainy day, half asleep and half +awake, but I retain rather a favorable impression of it. If you can find +a copy of the book, you might think Imagination worth reprinting, and I +suppose there can _now_ be no objection to it. It would have the +freshness of novelty, and would be American enough, Heaven knows. It +would fill three or four of your columns." + +Cooper owned no copy of _Tales for Fifteen_; but the resourceful +publisher found a copy in New York, and "Imagination" filled almost the +whole of the front page (approximately 60 by 34-1/2 inches) of the +_Boston Notion_ on 30 January 1841. It was reprinted in what was +apparently a second edition of _Roberts' Semi-Monthly Magazine_ for 1 +and 15 February 1841 and in London in William Hazlitt's _Romanticist and +Novelist's Library_. A subsequent request brought permission for the +reprinting of "Heart," which appeared in the _Boston Notion_ for 13 and +20 March 1841 and in _Roberts' Semi-Monthly Magazine_ for 1 and 15 April +1841. Roberts expressed his gratitude by defending Cooper in his paper +from the charge of aristocratic bias which some New York journalists had +brought against _Home As Found_. Doubtless the publisher would have been +pleased to find other American writers sufficiently democratic to +provide free copy. + +_Tales for Fifteen_ owes most of its interest today to its crucial +position in the Cooper canon. The literary value of "Imagination" and +"Heart," as their author realized, is slight. They were essentially +experiments in which he sought to deploy indigenous materials within the +conventions of British domestic fiction. "Imagination," with its +sprightly observation of American middle-class vulgarities, betrays a +satiric awareness that Cooper did later develop; but "Heart" is a forced +sentimental indulgence of a sort he never permitted by preference in +later works, though he sometimes tolerated it as a concession to +feminine readers. For Cooper the chief significance of these stories was +that they demonstrated forcibly, if demonstration was necessary, that +neither the characteristic materials nor the characteristic forms +employed by the British women were congenial to his imagination. His +failure was altogether fortunate; for had _The American Tales_ been +completed and published instead of _The Spy_, Cooper's career and the +course of much of American literature might have been different. + +First editions of _Tales for Fifteen_ are the rarest of all Cooper +"firsts." The four copies presently known are in the Cooper Collection +of the Yale University Library, the American Antiquarian Society, the J. +K. Lilly Collection of Indiana University, and the New York Society +Library. + + +JAMES FRANKLIN BEARD + +_Clark University_ + + + + + 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._ + + 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 to 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 therein mentioned." And also to an Act, + entitled "an Act, supplementary to an Act, 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 therein 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. + + 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. + + +"Do--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. + +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 same 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. + +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 seated 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." + +"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 love, 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 you. 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 and +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 such an 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." + +"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 heard 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 disappointments, 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 your 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 had 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." + +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 to-morrow 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 are 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 and 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." + +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 + on 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 secresy--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 Mr. 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." + +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 be a +recommendation. + +"Fifty!" exclaimed Julia, in a tone of disappointment. + +"'Tis too old," said Miss Emmerson; "he should be 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 summer-house, 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 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 hand, 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 man 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; 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." + +"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. + +"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 as 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 familiarity 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. + +"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 communications 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 emotions, 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. + + "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 control, 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. + +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 quickness +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." + +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, recognising 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 sight, 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?" + +"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!" + +"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 as 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 surcout." + +"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 sounds 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." + +"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. + +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 listlessness +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 and 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." + +"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 be 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 the 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 Henley 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 feelings 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. + +"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 felt and manifested a deep interest in +the _tête-à-tête_ 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 Osgood. 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 in 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 +feeling, 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 any +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--it 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 be 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 became +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 felt 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 solicitations 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 scenes 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 griefs 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. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Tales for Fifteen, by James Fenimore Cooper + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES FOR FIFTEEN *** + +***** This file should be named 39207-8.txt or 39207-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/2/0/39207/ + +Produced by David Starner, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +book was produced from images made available by the +HathiTrust Digital Library.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/39207-8.zip b/39207-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7043aa2 --- /dev/null +++ b/39207-8.zip diff --git a/39207-h.zip b/39207-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d32e94a --- /dev/null +++ b/39207-h.zip diff --git a/39207-h/39207-h.htm b/39207-h/39207-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d35c387 --- /dev/null +++ b/39207-h/39207-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5252 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<!-- $Id: header.txt 236 2009-12-07 18:57:00Z vlsimpson $ --> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Tales For Fifteen, by James Fenimore Cooper. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +.linenum { + position: absolute; + top: auto; + left: 4%; +} /* poetry number */ + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.sidenote { + width: 20%; + padding-bottom: .5em; + padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; + margin-left: 1em; + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; + color: black; + background: #eeeeee; + border: dashed 1px; +} + +.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + +.bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + +.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + +.br {border-right: solid 2px;} + +.bbox {border: solid 2px;} + +.right {text-align: right;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.u {text-decoration: underline;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 1em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: + 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i4 { + display: block; + margin-left: 4em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i11 { + display: block; + margin-left: 11em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i20 { + display: block; + margin-left: 20em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales for Fifteen, by James Fenimore Cooper + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Tales for Fifteen + +Author: James Fenimore Cooper + +Release Date: March 19, 2012 [EBook #39207] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES FOR FIFTEEN *** + + + + +Produced by David Starner, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +book was produced from images made available by the +HathiTrust Digital Library.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<h1>TALES FOR FIFTEEN</h1> + +<h3>(1823)</h3> + +<h2>BY JAMES FENIMORE COOPER</h2> + + +<p class="center">A FACSIMILE REPRODUCTION<br /> +WITH AN INTRODUCTION</p> + +<p class="center">BY JAMES FRANKLIN BEARD<br /> +<i>Clark University</i></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Gainesville, Florida</span><br /> +SCHOLARS' FACSIMILES & REPRINTS<br /> +1959</p> + +<p class="center">SCHOLARS' FACSIMILES & REPRINTS<br /> +<span class="smcap">118 N.W. 26th Street</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A.</span></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Harry R. Warfel, General Editor</span></p> + +<p class="center">REPRODUCED FROM A COPY IN<br /> +AND WITH THE PERMISSION OF<br /> +YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">L.C. Catalog Card Number</span>: 59-6525</p> + +<p class="center">MANUFACTURED IN THE U.S.A.<br /> +LETTERPRESS BY J. N. ANZEL, INC.</p> + +<p class="center">PHOTOLITHOGRAPHY BY EDWARDS BROTHERS</p> + +<p class="center">BINDING BY UNIVERSAL-DIXIE BINDERY</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>INTRODUCTION</h2> + + +<p>On 1 February 1823 Charles Wiley published in New York <i>The Pioneers</i>, a +new book by the author of <i>The Spy</i>; by noon he had sold 3,500 copies—a +record-making sale by the bookselling standards of the time. On 26 June, +almost five months later, Wiley quietly offered, as we know from a +notice in The Patriot, a New York newspaper, "<i>Tales for Fifteen, or +Imagination and Heart</i>, an original work in one volume, by Jane Morgan, +price 75c." The actual author was the author of <i>The Spy</i>; and the two +stories, "Imagination" and "Heart," were obviously imitations of Mrs. +Amelia Opie's popular moral tales, published, as the paper cover noted, +when <i>The Spy</i> was in its fourth edition, <i>The Pioneers</i> in its third, +and <i>The Pilot</i> in press. The sale was so small that only four copies +are known to be extant. Why, one may ask, did James Cooper, who was in +1823 a writer of national and international reputation, publish this +volume of imitative stories for adolescent girls, even though his +identity was carefully concealed?</p> + +<p>According to Cooper's own account, <i>Tales for Fifteen</i> was written and +given to Charles Wiley as a gesture of friendship to help the publisher +out of financial difficulties. This explanation was echoed by the +novelist's daughter Susan in a letter reprinted from the Cooperstown +<i>Freeman's Journal</i> in <i>The Critic</i> on 12 October 1889. It is true that +Wiley was having financial troubles in 1823, and Cooper undoubtedly gave +him the proceeds from <i>Tales for Fifteen</i>; but to suppose, as full +acceptance of this explanation requires, that Cooper reverted, even +momentarily, to the repudiated literary models of his first book +<i>Precaution</i> after the phenomenal success of <i>The Spy</i> would be to infer +in him an almost total want of critical judgment and common sense. The +real explanation, which Cooper might have been embarrassed to furnish +and which the chronology of publication has obscured, lies in a hitherto +unsuspected phase of the curious story of Cooper's entrance to +authorship.</p> + +<p>Cooper wrote Andrew Thompson Goodrich, his first publisher, on 31 May +1820, that <i>Precaution</i> had been preceded by an experimental effort to +write a short moral tale. Mrs. Opie's <i>Simple Tales</i> (1807) and <i>Tales +of Real Life</i> (1813) would have been among the obvious models. Finding +the tale "swell to a rather unwieldy size," Cooper explained, "I +destroy'd the manuscript and changed it to a novel." <i>Precaution</i>, which +was completed on 12 June 1820, was probably written within a month; and +before the novel had begun its tortuous way through the press, Cooper +commenced the writing of <i>The Spy</i>. By 28 June he had completed "about +sixty pages," presumably manuscript pages; and as the writing proceeded +and his enthusiasm for the new work mounted, his expectations for the +success of <i>Precaution</i> diminished. He wrote Goodrich on 12 July: "The +'Spy' goes on slowly and will not be finish'd until late in the fall—I +take more pains with it—as it is to be an American novel professedly." +In fact, The Spy was completed only a short time before its publication +in New York on 22 December 1821.</p> + +<p>During the eighteen months between the inception and publication of <i>The +Spy</i> Cooper saw <i>Precaution</i> through the press, joined the New York +literary circle which frequented Charles Wiley's bookshop, transferred +his publishing business to Wiley, wrote three or four long book reviews +for his friend Charles K. Gardner's <i>Literary and Scientific +Repository</i>, finished <i>The Spy</i>, and commenced <i>The Pioneers</i>. While the +period was, thus, not devoid of literary activity, it was, as the 1831 +Preface to <i>The Spy</i> confessed, a period of acute uncertainty. Having +discovered his literary talent, Cooper had yet to discover how to use it +profitably, had indeed to be reassured of its true direction. He could +not afford to write at all unless he could make his new profession pay +handsomely. <i>Precaution</i> had been a deliberate attempt to produce a +bestseller, and it succeeded only moderately. As the Preface to the +first edition of <i>The Spy</i> indicates, Cooper experienced severe +self-doubts and self-questionings about this experiment. For an extended +period, most probably during the first six months of 1821, he abandoned +work on <i>The Spy</i>, which had been noticed as in press in the January +issue of the <i>Repository</i>, fearing that the book could not succeed. It +was almost certainly during this time that he conceived and partly +executed another literary project of which <i>Tales for Fifteen</i> is the +abortive remains.</p> + +<p>As Cooper's hopes for <i>The Spy</i> faded, his confidence in the viability +of the type of imitative writing he had attempted in <i>Precaution</i> +appears to have revived. <i>Precaution</i> was reviewed in a most laudatory +manner in the <i>Repository</i> for January 1821, and the comment +accompanying the notice of publication in the <i>Repository</i> was: "We only +regret that the scene of this novel was not laid in America." Whether +Cooper persuaded himself or allowed himself to be persuaded by Wiley, +Gardner, and other friends, he seems to have decided that his mistake in +<i>Precaution</i> was not so much the choice of models as the choice of +setting. Why not employ an American setting and continue his imitation +of the British women? During 1820 Wiley, Goodrich, and William B. Gilley +had jointly published a collection of Mrs. Opie's stories called <i>Tales +of the Heart</i>; apparently they found it profitable. Accordingly, Cooper +planned a series of stories which Wiley noticed as in press in the +<i>Repository</i> for May 1822 and which he described as "<i>American Tales</i>, +by a Lady, viz. Imagination—Heart—Matter—Manner—Matter and Manner. 2 +vols. 18 mo. Wiley and Halsted, New York." A briefer announcement had +appeared earlier, in the October 1821 issue of the <i>Repository</i>, +although <i>The Spy</i>, which was certainly in press, was not noticed. In +his letter of 7 January 1822 congratulating Cooper on the great success +of <i>The Spy</i>, Wiley observed: "You speak of being engaged about 'the +Pioneer.'—Have you forgotten 'the American Tales,' which were commenced +by a certain lady a long time ago?"</p> + +<p>What happened, evidently, was that Cooper's interest in <i>The Spy</i> had +revived with such force that he had gone on to complete that book and to +begin <i>The Pioneers</i>. Wiley's problem was then to persuade his reluctant +author to complete a work in which he had lost interest but which was in +press. Wiley was not successful. The three final tales, "Manner," +"Matter," and "Manner and Matter," were never written. Eventually the +publisher prevailed on Cooper to bring "Heart," the second of the +stories, to a hurried conclusion. The author, probably happy to settle +the matter, then wrote a coy Preface alluding mysteriously to +"unforeseen circumstances" which had prevented the completion of the +series, and gave the two stories to Wiley on the condition that their +authorship be concealed. Thus <i>The American Tales</i> became <i>Tales for +Fifteen</i>. A more eloquent criticism by the author could hardly be +wished.</p> + +<p>When Cooper permitted "Imagination" and "Heart" to be reprinted in 1841, +he was again conferring a favor on a publisher. Towards the close of +1840 George Roberts, publisher and proprietor of the <i>Boston Notion</i>, +subtitled without exaggeration "The Mammoth Sheet of the World," sent +Cooper a circular letter in the hand of a clerk to request a short +contribution suitable for his new publication, <i>Roberts' Semi-Monthly +Magazine</i>. Normally, Cooper refused all such requests: but he was under +the erroneous impression that Roberts had forwarded to him some Danish +translations of his works which Longfellow had sent to America for him a +few years before. Remembering these early stories, he replied to Roberts +on 2 January 1841: "Some fifteen or twenty years since my publisher +became embarrassed, and I wrote two short tales to aid him. He printed +them, under the title of <i>Tales for Fifteen</i>, by Jane Morgan. One of +these stories, rather a feeble one I fear, was called Heart—the other +Imagination. This tale was written one rainy day, half asleep and half +awake, but I retain rather a favorable impression of it. If you can find +a copy of the book, you might think Imagination worth reprinting, and I +suppose there can <i>now</i> be no objection to it. It would have the +freshness of novelty, and would be American enough, Heaven knows. It +would fill three or four of your columns."</p> + +<p>Cooper owned no copy of <i>Tales for Fifteen</i>; but the resourceful +publisher found a copy in New York, and "Imagination" filled almost the +whole of the front page (approximately 60 by 34-1/2 inches) of the +<i>Boston Notion</i> on 30 January 1841. It was reprinted in what was +apparently a second edition of <i>Roberts' Semi-Monthly Magazine</i> for 1 +and 15 February 1841 and in London in William Hazlitt's <i>Romanticist and +Novelist's Library</i>. A subsequent request brought permission for the +reprinting of "Heart," which appeared in the <i>Boston Notion</i> for 13 and +20 March 1841 and in <i>Roberts' Semi-Monthly Magazine</i> for 1 and 15 April +1841. Roberts expressed his gratitude by defending Cooper in his paper +from the charge of aristocratic bias which some New York journalists had +brought against <i>Home As Found</i>. Doubtless the publisher would have been +pleased to find other American writers sufficiently democratic to +provide free copy.</p> + +<p><i>Tales for Fifteen</i> owes most of its interest today to its crucial +position in the Cooper canon. The literary value of "Imagination" and +"Heart," as their author realized, is slight. They were essentially +experiments in which he sought to deploy indigenous materials within the +conventions of British domestic fiction. "Imagination," with its +sprightly observation of American middle-class vulgarities, betrays a +satiric awareness that Cooper did later develop; but "Heart" is a forced +sentimental indulgence of a sort he never permitted by preference in +later works, though he sometimes tolerated it as a concession to +feminine readers. For Cooper the chief significance of these stories was +that they demonstrated forcibly, if demonstration was necessary, that +neither the characteristic materials nor the characteristic forms +employed by the British women were congenial to his imagination. His +failure was altogether fortunate; for had <i>The American Tales</i> been +completed and published instead of <i>The Spy</i>, Cooper's career and the +course of much of American literature might have been different.</p> + +<p>First editions of <i>Tales for Fifteen</i> are the rarest of all Cooper +"firsts." The four copies presently known are in the Cooper Collection +of the Yale University Library, the American Antiquarian Society, the J. +K. Lilly Collection of Indiana University, and the New York Society +Library.</p> + + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">James Franklin Beard</span></p> + +<p><i>Clark University</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>TALES FOR FIFTEEN:</h1> + +<h3>OR</h3> + +<h1>IMAGINATION AND HEART.</h1> + +<h2>BY JANE MORGAN.</h2> + + +<p class="center">NEW-YORK<br /> +C. WILEY, 3 WALL STREET</p> + +<p class="center">J. Seymour, printer</p> + +<p class="center">1823</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><i>Southern District of New-York.</i></p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p class="center">"Tales for Fifteen; or Imagination and Heart.<br /> +By Jane Morgan."</p> + +<p>In conformity to 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 therein mentioned." And also to an Act, entitled "an Act, +supplementary to an Act, 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 therein +mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, +engraving, and etching historical and other prints."</p> + +<p class="right">JAMES DILL,<br /> +<i>Clerk of the Southern District of New-York</i></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>IMAGINATION.</h2> + + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i11">I pray thee, gentle mortal, sing again:<br /></span> +<span class="i11">Mine ear is much enamoured of thy note,<br /></span> +<span class="i11">So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape;<br /></span> +<span class="i11">And thy fair virtue's force perforce doth move me,<br /></span> +<span class="i11">On the first view, to say, to swear, I love thee.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i20"><span class="smcap">Midsummer Night's Dream.</span><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>"Do—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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"As her heart!" cried Charles Weston with emphasis.</p> + +<p>"As her heart, Sir," repeated the young lady coldly.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 same 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 seated 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—</p> + +<p>"You appear to have something new in hand, my love. Surely you must +abound with trimmings, and yet you are working another already?"</p> + +<p>"It is for Anna Miller," said Julia with a flush of feeling.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, my dear," said the aunt dryly.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"And would you prefer Miss Miller to a mother, then?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Admirable reasons!" exclaimed Charles Weston, who had laid aside his +book to listen to this conversation.</p> + +<p>"They are forcible ones I must admit," said Miss Emmerson, smiling +affectionately on her niece; "but now for the other kind of love."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"One would think such a friendship would not require any thing to remind +one of its existence," returned the aunt.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"I understand you perfectly, my child," interrupted the aunt, "merely as +an unnecessary security, you mean."</p> + +<p>"To make assurance doubly sure," cried Charles Weston with a laugh.</p> + +<p>"Oh! you laugh, Mr. Weston," said Julia with a little anger; "but I have +often said, you were incapable of friendship."</p> + +<p>"Try me!" exclaimed the youth fervently. "Do not condemn me without a +trial."</p> + +<p>"How can I?" said Julia, laughing in her turn. "You are not a girl."</p> + +<p>"Can girls then only feel friendship?" inquired Charles, taking the seat +which Miss Emmerson had relinquished.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Between girls, I will readily admit," returned the youth. "But let us +examine this question after the manner of the courts—"</p> + +<p>"Nay, if you talk law I shall quit you," interrupted the young lady +gaily.</p> + +<p>"Certainly one so learned in the subject need not dread a +cross-examination," cried the youth, in her own manner.</p> + +<p>"Well, proceed," cried the lady. "I have driven aunt Margaret from the +field, and you will fare no better, I can assure you."</p> + +<p>"Men, you say, are too gross to feel a pure friendship; in the first +place, please to explain yourself on this point."</p> + +<p>"Why I mean, that your friendships are generally interested; that it +requires services and good offices to support it."</p> + +<p>"While that of women depends on—"</p> + +<p>"Feeling alone."</p> + +<p>"But what excites this feeling?" asked Charles with a smile.</p> + +<p>"What? why sympathy—and a knowledge of each other's good qualities."</p> + +<p>"Then you think Miss Miller has more good qualities than Katherine +Emmerson," said Weston.</p> + +<p>"When did I ever say so?" cried Julia in surprise.</p> + +<p>"I infer it from your loving her better, merely," returned the young man +with a little of Miss Emmerson's dryness.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"One, only one—any more than she could have two lovers," cried Julia +quickly.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"But Anna I know, I feel, is every thing that is good and sincere, and +our sympathies drew us together. Katherine I loved naturally."</p> + +<p>"How naturally?"</p> + +<p>"Is it not natural to love your relatives?" said Julia in surprise.</p> + +<p>"No," was the brief answer.</p> + +<p>"Surely, Charles Weston, you think me a simpleton. Does not every parent +love its child by natural instinct?"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and nature too," said the young lady rather positively; "and I +contend, that natural love, and love from sympathy, are two distinct +things."</p> + +<p>"Very different, I allow," said Charles; "only I very much doubt the +durability of that affection which has no better foundation than fancy."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Now, indeed, your own terms puzzle me," said Charles, smiling. "What is +innate evidence of worth?"</p> + +<p>"Why, a conviction that another possesses all that you esteem yourself, +and is discovered by congenial feelings and natural sympathies."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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 you. Excuse me now. I have this dear letter to +read: another time, I will thank you as I ought."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<blockquote><p>My dearest love,</p> + +<p>"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</p> + +<p class="right">"ANNA.</p> + +<p>"Gennessee, June 15, 1816.</p> + +<p>"P. S. Don't forget to jog aunt Emmerson's memory about asking me +to Park-place.</p> + +<p>"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."</p></blockquote> + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"Young, handsome, rich, and sensible—just as we used to paint in our +conversation. Oh, how delightful!"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You are very good, Charles, but does it lighten?" said Julia in terror, +and hastening her retreat to the dwelling.</p> + +<p>"Your letter must have interested you deeply not to have noticed the +thunder—you, who are so timid and fearful of the flashes."</p> + +<p>"Foolishly fearful, you would say, if you were not afraid of hurting my +feelings, I know," said Julia.</p> + +<p>"It is a natural dread, and therefore not to be laughed at," answered +Charles mildly.</p> + +<p>"Then there is natural fear, but no natural love, Mr. Charles; now you +are finely caught," cried Julia exultingly.</p> + +<p>"Well, be it so. With me fear is very natural, and I can almost persuade +myself love also."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"I don't know whether I am what you call a coward," said Charles +gravely; "but when in danger I am always afraid."</p> + +<p>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 and +attractive; but men are less easy under the imputation of terror, as it +is thought to indicate an absence of manly qualities.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said the youth, a little nettled, "I think I could +muster courage to face a bullet."</p> + +<p>"But remember, that you shut your eyes, and bent nearly double at the +flash—now you owned all this yourself."</p> + +<p>"At least he was candid, and acknowledged his infirmities," said Miss +Emmerson, who had been listening.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"When apprehension for Julia must have increased your terror," said the +aunt kindly.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Do you know any one who would have behaved better, Miss Warren?" said +the young man angrily.</p> + +<p>"Yes—why—I don't know. Yes, I have heard of such an 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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"You have mortified Charles," said Miss Emmerson, so soon as he was out +of hearing.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"No young man of twenty is pleased with being thought no hero," returned +the aunt.</p> + +<p>"And yet all are not so," said Julia.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Then he must be handsome as well as valiant," said Miss Emmerson, with +a smile that was hardly perceptible.</p> + +<p>"Why that is—is—not absolutely material," replied Julia, blushing; +"but one would wish to have him handsome too."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Did I," said Julia, colouring scarlet; "I am sure—I have forgotten—it +must be a mistake, surely, dear aunt."</p> + +<p>"Very possibly I misunderstood you, my dear," said Miss Emmerson, rising +and withdrawing from the room, in apparent indifference to the subject.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"Dearest Anna,</p> + +<p>"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 <i>Antonio</i>. 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 <i>fully</i>, <i>confidingly</i>, and +often.</p> + +<p>"Yours, with all the tenderness of friendship that is founded on +mutual sympathy, congenial souls, and innate evidence of worth.</p> + +<p class="right">"JULIA."</p> + +<p>"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."</p></blockquote> + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"To whom have you been writing, my love?"</p> + +<p>"To my Anna."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"I do not understand you, aunt," cried Julia in surprise.</p> + +<p>"I mean that you should be guarded in your correspondence—tell no +secrets out"—</p> + +<p>"Tell no secrets to my Anna!" exclaimed the niece in a species of +horror. "That would be a death-blow to our friendship indeed."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Why, dear aunt, in destroying confidence of this nature, you destroy +the great object of friendship. Who ever heard of a friendship without +secrets?"</p> + +<p>"I never had a secret in my life," said Miss Emmerson simply, "and yet I +have had many a friend."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Julia, "yours must have been queer friends; pray, dear +aunt, name one or two of them."</p> + +<p>"Your mother was my friend," said Miss Emmerson, with strong emotion, +"and I hope her daughter also is one."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>It was some time before Julia could reply; when, having suppressed the +burst of her feelings, she answered with a smile—</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not: my love to you is natural; but my friendship for Anna +rests on sympathy, and a perfect knowledge of her character."</p> + +<p>"I am glad, however, that you know her so well, since you are so +intimate. What testimony have you of all this excellence?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I know it is pleasing to learn it, come from what it will," said the +aunt, smiling, and rising to withdraw.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + + +<p>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 disappointments, 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:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"My own dear Julia, my Friend,</p> + +<p>"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 your 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 had 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.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Oh! charming image of an artless fair,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">"Whose eyes, with lightning, fire the very soul;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"Whose face portrays the mind, and ebon hair<br /></span> +<span class="i2">"Gives grace and harmony unto the whole.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"In vain I gaze entranc'd, in vain deplore<br /></span> +<span class="i2">"The leagues that roll between the maid and me;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"Lonely I wander on the desert shore,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">"And Julia's lovely form can never see.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"But fly, ye fleeting hours, I beg ye fly,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">"And bring the time when Anna seeks her friend;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"Haste—Oh haste, or Edward sure must die.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">"Arrive—and quickly Edward's sorrows end."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>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</p> + +<p class="right">"ANNA."</p> + +<p>"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."</p></blockquote> + +<p>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:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"Dear Julia,</p> + +<p>"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 to-morrow 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,</p> + +<p class="right">"KATHERINE EMMERSON."</p></blockquote> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>We furnish a copy of the lines, as they are not only indicative of her +feelings, but may give the reader some idea of the powers of her +imagination.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Beloved image of a god-like mind,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">"In sacred privacy thy power I feel;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"What bright perfection in thy form's combin'd!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">"How sure to injure, and how kind to heal.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Thine eagle eye bedazzles e'en the brain,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">"Thy gallant brow bespeaks the front of Jove;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"While smiles enchant me, tears in torrents rain,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">"And each seductive charm impels to love.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Ah! hapless maid, why daring dost thou prove<br /></span> +<span class="i2">"The hidden dangers of the urchin's dart;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"Why fix thine eye on this, the god of love,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">"And heedless think thee to retain thy heart?"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Why did Mr. Miller give up his house in town, I wonder?" said Julia; "I +am sure it was inconsiderate to his family."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"What, with six sisters!" said Katherine, laughing and shaking her head.</p> + +<p>"There is a difference between a sister and a friend, you know," said +Julia, a little surprised.</p> + +<p>"I—indeed I have yet to learn that," exclaimed the other, in a little +more astonishment.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"And cannot one feel this sentiment, as you call it, for a sister?" +asked Katherine, smiling.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Imagination," said Katherine, dryly.</p> + +<p>"Well, by the imagination then: but it is an imagination that is +purified by sentiment, and"—</p> + +<p>"Already rendered partial by the innate evidence of worth," interrupted +Charles.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but she has positively refused to ask the dear girl, I know," said +Julia. "Anna is not a favourite with her sister."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps Mrs. Welton was right then," said Miss Emmerson, "and prudence, +if not some other reason, justified her refusal."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"I understand that your father intends spending his winter in Carolina, +for his health," said Miss Emmerson to Katherine.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"And you are to be left behind?"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid so," was the modest reply.</p> + +<p>"And your brother and sister go to Washington together?"</p> + +<p>"That is the arrangement, I believe."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Ah! it is true," said Julia, re-seating herself in great +disappointment; "where will poor Katherine stay then?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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"—</p> + +<p>"As your own," interrupted the aunt gravely; "you are the daughter of my +sister, and Katherine is the daughter of my brother."</p> + +<p>"True—true—if it be right, lawful right, that is to decide it, then +Katherine must come, I suppose," said Julia, a little piqued.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"My own and beloved Julia,</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Soft as the dews from heaven descend, his gentle accents fell."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>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,</p> + +<p class="right">"ANNA."</p></blockquote> + +<p>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:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"My beloved Anna,</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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 +on 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</p> + +<p class="right">"JULIA."</p> + +<p>"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."</p></blockquote> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"Do you think so, Charles?" said the other simply; "but you see I urged +it feebly, for I did not prevail."</p> + +<p>"No, for you mistook your aunt's wishes, it seems: she desires to +go—but then all the loveliness of the act was yours."</p> + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"You use strong language, cousin Charles, such as is unusual for you."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Upon my word, Charles, you improve," said Julia, blushing yet more +deeply, and, if possible, looking still handsomer than before.</p> + +<p>"Julia—Miss Warren—you tear my secret from me before its time—I love +you, Julia, and would wish to make you my wife."</p> + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"That, Charles, can never be."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"You are kind and good, Charles, and I esteem you highly—but ask no +more, I beg of you."</p> + +<p>"Why, if you grant me this, why forbid me to hope for more?" said the +youth eagerly, and looking really handsome.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"I owe it to your candour, Mr. Weston, to own my weakness—" she said, +and hesitated.</p> + +<p>"Go on, Julia—my Julia," said Charles, in an unusually soft voice; +"kill me at once, or bid me live!"</p> + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mr. Weston, this heart, this foolish, weak heart is no longer my +own."</p> + +<p>"How!" exclaimed Charles, in astonishment, "and have I then a rival, and +a successful one too?"</p> + +<p>"You have," said Julia, burying her face in her hands to conceal her +blushes.—"But, Mr. Weston, on your generosity I depend for secresy—be +as generous as myself."</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 Mr. 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Miss Emmerson ought to know me pretty well by this time," said the man; +"I have driven her enough, I think."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Oh, a driver!" cried the horse-dealer; "I have got you an excellent +driver, one of the first chop in the city."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Of what age is he?" asked Miss Emmerson.</p> + +<p>"About fifty," replied the man, thinking years would be a +recommendation.</p> + +<p>"Fifty!" exclaimed Julia, in a tone of disappointment.</p> + +<p>"'Tis too old," said Miss Emmerson; "he should be able to undergo +fatigue."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Is he strong and active?"</p> + +<p>"I guess he is—he's as strong as an ox, and active as a cat," said the +other, determined he should pass.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The man withdrew.</p> + +<p>Julia had heard enough—for ox she had substituted Hercules, and for +cat, she read the feathered Mercury.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"See, dear Charles," cried Julia, in a burst of what she would call +natural feeling—"there is our house—here the summer-house, 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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Julia thought no more of Antonio; but while her delighted eye rested on +the well-known scenes around their house, and 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—</p> + +<p>"See, madam—see, Julia—there is our travelling equipage on board that +sloop, going up to meet us in Albany."</p> + +<p>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 hand, 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 man 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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"Who!" exclaimed Julia, starting, and trembling like an aspen.</p> + +<p>"He!—Tony," said Charles, in reply.</p> + +<p>Julia was unable to say any more; but her aunt, without noticing her +agitation, asked mildly,</p> + +<p>"And who is Tony?"</p> + +<p>"Why Anthony, the driver—he is here and wishes to see you."</p> + +<p>"Show him up, Charles, and let us learn when he will be ready to go on."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Your name is Anthony?" said Miss Emmerson, as he bowed to her with due +deference.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Are your horses gentle and good, Tony?" adopting the familiar +nomenclature that seemed most to his fancy.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"And the carriage," continued Miss Emmerson, "is it fit to carry us?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Here was another delicate compliment, thought Julia, and so artfully +concealed under brutal indifference that it nearly deceived even +herself.</p> + +<p>"When will you be ready to start?" asked Miss Emmerson.</p> + +<p>"This moment," was the prompt reply—"we can easily reach Schenectady by +sundown."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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; 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"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—</p> + +<p>"Oh! no, Antonio, you are very considerate."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Which do you call the best of your horses?" asked Charles, so soon as +he had got himself comfortably seated.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"My age is very deceiving," said the man; "I have seen great hardships +in my time, both of body and mind."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"The life of a coachman is not hard," said Charles.</p> + +<p>"No, sir, far from it—but I have not been a coachman all my life."</p> + +<p>Nothing could be plainer than this—it was a direct assertion of his +degradation by the business in which he was then engaged.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"In what battle," asked Charles, quickly; "by sea or by land?"</p> + +<p>"By sea," said Antonio, speaking to his horses, with an evident +unwillingness to say any more on the subject.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"How far are we from Schenectady, cousin Charles?"</p> + +<p>Antonio, certainly, was not her cousin Charles; but as if he thought the +answering such questions to be his peculiar province, he replied +immediately—</p> + +<p>"Four miles, ma'am; there's the stone."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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 as 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"Anthony, I wish you would remove your nose!"</p> + +<p>"Charles!" exclaimed Julia, shocked at his rude familiarity with a man +of Antonio's elevated character.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"And mine too, Charles," said Miss Emmerson; "but for you, we should +have all gone off the hill together."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Antonio!" she cried, "poor Antonio!—and where is he?—Why do you +not send for him, dear aunt?"</p> + +<p>"What, my love, into my bed-chamber!" said Miss Emmerson, in surprise; +"fear has made the girl crazy!—But, Charles, where is Anthony?"</p> + +<p>"In the stable, with the horses, I believe," said the youth—"no, here +he is, under the window, leading them to the pump."</p> + +<p>"Give him this money," said Miss Emmerson, "and tell him it is for his +admirable skill in saving my life."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Here, Anthony," said Charles, "Miss Emmerson has sent you ten dollars, +for driving so well, and saving the carriage."</p> + +<p>"Ah! sir, it is no matter—I can ask nothing for that, I'm sure."</p> + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"Take it for my sake, Antonio—if it be unworthy of you, still, take it, +to oblige me."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Ah! I retract my error," cried Julia; "Charles must be brave, or he +never could have acted so coolly, and so well."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"Why did he not, then?—It was his place to stop the carriage—why did +he not?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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—</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Ah! aunt, you may know that now, if I am to decide," said Julia, "it +will be Anna, my Anna, surely."</p> + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 communications 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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Oh! what a delightful winter we will have!" cried Anna, in rapture.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Who is he?" echoed Anna—"why, nobody!—one must have something to +write about, you know, to a friend."</p> + +<p>Julia felt sick and faint—her colour left her cheeks as she forced a +smile, and uttered, in a low voice—"But Antonio—Stanley?"</p> + +<p>"A man of straw," cried Anna, with unfeeling levity; "no such creature +in the world, I do assure you!"</p> + +<p>Julia made a mighty effort to conquer her emotions, 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—</p> + +<p>"For God's sake, who is <i>he</i>?"</p> + +<p>"He!" cried Anna, in surprise, "why, your driver—and an ugly wretch he +is!—don't you know your own driver yet?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>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!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>HEART.</h2> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i11">"Some live in airy fantasies.<br /></span> +<span class="i11">And in the clouds do move,<br /></span> +<span class="i11">And some do burn with inward flames—<br /></span> +<span class="i11">But few know how to love."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i20"><span class="smcap">Anon. Ballad</span><br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"It is nothing, Charlotte, but a drunken man; if people will drink, they +must abide the consequences."</p> + +<p>"He does not seem intoxicated, Maria," replied the other, in a voice +whose tones corresponded with her appearance; "it is some sudden +illness."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>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 control, 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.</p> + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"Ah! there is George Morton coming—he surely will not pass the poor man +without offering to assist him."</p> + +<p>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 quickness +of magic.</p> + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"Bless me! Mr. Delafield—I did not observe you before!—then you think +the poor wretch will not die?"</p> + +<p>"Ah! assuredly not," returned the gentleman, recognising 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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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 sight, had kept her eyes on +the ground, as she walked silently and unobtrusively by the side of her +companion.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The invitation was gladly accepted, and the gentleman took his leave at +the door of the house.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"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 <i>him</i>?"</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"His own, too?" inquired Charlotte, a little archly.</p> + +<p>"He has none—they are dead and gone—but their money is left behind, +and that brings him fathers and mothers by the dozen!"</p> + +<p>"It is fortunate that he can supply their loss in any way," said +Charlotte, with emphasis.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"And could he be better provided, as you call it, in that respect, than +ourselves?" asked Miss Henly, a little reproachfully.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Oh! no one can be miserable that is well married," cried Maria; +"Heigho! the idea of old-maidism is too shocking to think about!"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"It is the difficulty of choosing—there are so many attentive to him—"</p> + +<p>"Maria!"</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Oh! I did, a month since—the moment that he landed."</p> + +<p>"Indeed! and who was it?"</p> + +<p>"Myself."</p> + +<p>"And have you told him of your choice?" asked the other, laughing.</p> + +<p>"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—"</p> + +<p>"You pass him?" interrupted Charlotte, amused with her companion's +humour.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"To me, Maria?" said Charlotte, in surprise.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"Oh! Mrs. Henly, I have to congratulate you on the prospects of your +soon having a son, and one as amiable and attractive as your daughter."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" returned the matron, comprehending the other's meaning +intuitively, "and what may be the young gentleman's name?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"My friendship for you would deter me from the measure, should nothing +else interfere," said Charlotte, good humouredly.</p> + +<p>"Ah! I have already abandoned my pretensions—twelve brothers and +sisters, my dear, are a dreadful addition to bring into a family at +once!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I tell you I have abandoned it, with all thoughts of the youth."</p> + +<p>"And who is the youth?" asked Mrs. Henly, affecting an indifference that +she did not feel.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"To whom does Miss Osgood allude?" asked Mrs. Henly, yielding to a +solicitude that she could no longer controul.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"I know him," said Mr. Henly; "but I did not think you had ever seen +him, Charlotte."</p> + +<p>"We met him in our morning walk, sir, and Maria introduced him."</p> + +<p>"He is thought to be very handsome," continued her father, helping +himself to a glass of wine while speaking.</p> + +<p>"And very justly," returned the daughter; "I think him the handsomest +man that I have ever seen."</p> + +<p>"Have I your permission for telling him so?" cried Maria, with a laugh.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You think him vain, then?" observed her mother.</p> + +<p>"Not in the least; or, rather, he did not exhibit it to me"—was the +answer, with the same open air as before.</p> + +<p>"He has also a great reputation for good sense," continued her father, +avoiding the face of his child.</p> + +<p>"I thought he had wit, sir."</p> + +<p>"And not good sense?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"Sit here, George, you appear chilled—I thought you would miss your +coat."</p> + +<p>"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 surcout."</p> + +<p>"And how was the poor man when you left him?"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mr. Impudence," said Maria, smiling; "but come, fill your mouth +with food, and be silent."</p> + +<p>He did as requested, and the conversation changed.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 sounds 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.</p> + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"I apprehend your flute, which, by the by, I am glad to see you have +brought, will be rather in the <i>penseroso</i> style this evening, Mr. +Delafield."</p> + +<p>"Unless enlivened by the contagious gayety of your smile," returned +Delafield, endeavouring to look excessively unconcerned; "but"—</p> + +<p>"Oh! my very laugh is musical, I know," interrupted Maria; "but then it +is often shockingly out of time."</p> + +<p>"It seldom fails to produce an accompaniment," said the gentleman, now +smiling in reality; "but"—</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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"—</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay," cried the youth, colouring and laughing, "you would not +think of mentioning my remarks to"—</p> + +<p>"At the next meeting of the Dorcas Society, of which I am an unworthy +member," continued Maria, without listening to his remonstrance.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You came here to favour us with your skill on the harp, Miss Henly?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"On the piano?"</p> + +<p>"On neither—I play on nothing."</p> + +<p>"You sing, then?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all."</p> + +<p>"What! not with that voice?" exclaimed the young man, in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Not with this voice, and surely with no other."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"I hope your friend did not suffer yesterday from his humanity?"</p> + +<p>"I sincerely hope so too," said Charlotte, with much simplicity, and yet +with a good deal of feeling.</p> + +<p>"I am fearful that we idle spectators," continued the gentleman, +"suffered in your estimation, in not discovering equal benevolence with +Mr. Morton."</p> + +<p>Charlotte glanced her mild eyes at the speaker, but made no reply.</p> + +<p>"Your silence, Miss Henly, assures me of the truth of my conjecture."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"I am afraid that George has suffered from his exposure. Do not ask him +to play, for he will be sure to comply."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Has Miss Henly ears for no other performer, then?" asked Seymour +Delafield.</p> + +<p>"Miss Henly has as many ears as other people," said Maria, "but she does +not condescend to use them on all occasions."</p> + +<p>"Rather say," cried Charlotte, laughing, "that the want of taste in Miss +Henly renders her ears of but little use to her."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Now Charlotte, you little prude," whispered her friend, the instant he +withdrew, "is he not very, very handsome?"</p> + +<p>"Very," said Charlotte; "more so than any other gentleman I have ever +seen."</p> + +<p>"And engaging, and agreeable, and gentlemanlike?"</p> + +<p>"Agreeable, and gentlemanlike too.</p> + +<p>"And graceful, and loveable?"</p> + +<p>"Graceful, certainly; and, very possible, loveable, to those who know +him."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Certainly, Mr. Delafield," cried Maria Osgood, "you have outdone your +own outdoings."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Delafield, let me make you acquainted with Mr. Morton," said Maria, +glancing her eye at the former in a manner that he understood.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"In what manner, sir?" inquired George, with a little embarrassment and +a conscious blush.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>This agreeable contemplation of Mr. Delafield was soon interrupted by +the cheerful voice of Maria Osgood, who cried—</p> + +<p>"Bless me, George, you really do look ill."</p> + +<p>"It is seldom that I have much health to boast of," replied the youth, +in a feeble voice, and with a still feebler smile.</p> + +<p>"But," said Maria, without reflecting, "you look worse than usual."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"You will not attempt the flute to-night, George?" said Charlotte.</p> + +<p>"I believe I must, or not fulfil my engagement to Mrs. Osgood."</p> + +<p>"Surely," continued Charlotte, in a low tone to her friend, "George had +better not play, looking so ill as he does."</p> + +<p>"Certainly not; besides, his performance would not shine after that of +Mr. Delafield."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 listlessness +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 and 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—</p> + +<p>"Such melody, Miss Henly, captivates the senses."</p> + +<p>"Does it not touch the heart?" asked the young lady, with a little of +unusual animation.</p> + +<p>"The heart too. But Mr. Morton looks exhausted after his labours."</p> + +<p>All the pleasure which had shone in the countenance of Charlotte, +vanished instantly, and gave place to deep concern.</p> + +<p>"Oh! it is unjustifiable, thus to purchase pleasure at the expense of +another," said she, in a tone that Seymour scarcely heard.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Heigho! George," cried Maria, as he approached, "you have given me the +dolefuls."</p> + +<p>"And me both pleasure and pain," said Charlotte.</p> + +<p>"Why the latter?" asked the youth, quickly.</p> + +<p>"Surely it was imprudent in you to play, with such a cold."</p> + +<p>The lip of the youth quivered, and a smile of mournful and indefinable +meaning passed over his features, but he continued silent.</p> + +<p>"It is to be hoped it had one good effect at least," continued Maria.</p> + +<p>"Such as what?"</p> + +<p>"Such as putting the little dears to sleep in the nursery, which is +directly over our heads."</p> + +<p>"It is well if I have done that little good," said George.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"Do go home, George; you are far from being well—to oblige me, go +home."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Your mother's nursery, Miss Osgood," he cried, "ought on such an +occasion to be tenantless."</p> + +<p>"You think there are enough of us here to make it so," returned the +lady, with an affected sigh.</p> + +<p>"I really had not observed the number of your charming family—how many +are there of you?"</p> + +<p>"A baker's dozen."</p> + +<p>Charlotte laughed, and the youth felt mortified. The laugh was natural, +and clearly extorted, without a thought of himself.</p> + +<p>"When you are all married," he said, "you will form a little world in +yourselves."</p> + +<p>"When the sky falls we shall catch larks."</p> + +<p>"Surely, you intend to marry?"</p> + +<p>Maria made no reply, but turned her eyes on Delafield, with an affected +expression of melancholy that excited another laugh in her friend.</p> + +<p>"You certainly have made no rash vow on the subject," continued Seymour, +pretending to a slight interest in her answer.</p> + +<p>"My troth is not yet plighted," said the lady, a little archly.</p> + +<p>"But there is no telling how long it will continue so."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid so—thirteen is a dreadful divisor for a small family +estate."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + + +<p>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 be 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 the conclusion of our tale.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."—</p> + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"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—"</p> + +<p>"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"—</p> + +<p>"There is a warning that I have not disregarded," returned the youth, +endeavouring to smile.</p> + +<p>"And what is it?" asked Charlotte, struck with the melancholy +resignation of his manner.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I shall then know how to understand the servant of Mr. Osgood, when I +inquire for his daughter," cried Seymour gayly.</p> + +<p>"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"—</p> + +<p>"And is Mrs. Osgood so rigid?" returned the gentleman; "surely the +gravity of her daughter should create more confidence"—</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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"—</p> + +<p>"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"—</p> + +<p>"It is a charmed number, indeed! and is it on the door? is it the number +of the house?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Really, Mr. Morton is a happy fellow!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Ah! I have discovered that a man may be happy without one of those +qualifications."</p> + +<p>"And miserable who has them all?"</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, Miss Osgood, my experience does not extend so far—I am not +quite the puppy you think me."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"You have mortified Miss Osgood, Mr. Delafield," said Charlotte; "she is +too good natured to judge any one so harshly."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You are an angel!" said Delafield, with uncontrollable fervour.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Maria!" she cried, "whither in such a hurry? I expected you to pass the +morning with me."</p> + +<p>"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 Henley 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.</p> + +<p>"Maria is not well, Mr. Delafield," Charlotte said hastily. "I know your +goodness will excuse me while I follow her."</p> + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"You appear, Miss Henley," he said, "to be sensitively alive to the +ailings of all you know but me."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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 feelings he actually experienced, while +he replied,—</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Now, Miss Henley, what I most admire in your character is its lovely +ingenuousness, its simplicity, its <i>heart</i>; and I will own I did not +expect such an answer to a question put, like mine, in sincerity and +truth."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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—"</p> + +<p>"Of teaching me!" said Charlotte with a smile.</p> + +<p>"No—that word is too presumptuous—too coarse—"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"If not by you, I am by truth, Mr. Delafield. It would be wrong to lead +you to expect what can never—"</p> + +<p>"Never?" said Delafield—"you cannot speak so decidedly."</p> + +<p>"I do, indeed I do," returned Charlotte firmly.</p> + +<p>"I have not deceived myself in believing you to be disengaged, Miss +Henley?"</p> + +<p>"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—"</p> + +<p>"By heavens! my suspicion is true—you are already betrothed!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + + +<p>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—</p> + +<p>"Well, Charlotte, when is it to be? I think I retired in very good +season."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"What have you suspected, Maria?—what is it you imagine has occurred?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Charlotte smiled, and taking her work, quietly seated herself at her +table before she replied—</p> + +<p>"You go through Cupid's exercise so dexterously, Maria, one is led to +suspect you have seen some service."</p> + +<p>"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—</p> + +<p>"Is it possible that you could have overheard—"</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing—what nonsense!"</p> + +<p>"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 <i>worship</i>—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."</p> + +<p>"All this is very amusing, Maria—but—"</p> + +<p>"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,</p> + +<p>"Which was?"</p> + +<p>"<i>No</i>; irretrievable—unanswerable—unalterable <i>no</i>."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, Miss Henley, you have said all, and Seymour Delafield told +me the same as we passed each other at the street door."</p> + +<p>"Is it possible!"</p> + +<p>"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—"</p> + +<p>"Mingled with what, trifler?"</p> + +<p>"Mingled with a little secret, woman's pride, that you have had an +opportunity of showing your absolute character."</p> + +<p>"You know these feelings from experience, do you?"</p> + +<p>"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—"</p> + +<p>"And if she refused?"</p> + +<p>"Why then I should have said, two negatives make an affirmative."</p> + +<p>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 felt and manifested a deep interest in +the <i>tête-à-tête</i> 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.</p> + +<p>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 Osgood. 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.</p> + +<p>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 in 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:</p> + +<p>"So, Miss Maria, you have just returned from paying another visit to +your beautiful little friend without any heart."</p> + +<p>"My little friend without any heart! Of whom do you speak? and what do +you mean?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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—"</p> + +<p>"No—she never had one. She wants the greatest charm that nature can +give to a woman—a warm, grateful, and affectionate heart."</p> + +<p>"And pray, sir," said Maria, bending her eyes inquisitively toward the +youth, "if she want it, what has she done with it?"</p> + +<p>"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 +feeling, she is as cold as an icicle—in short she is destitute of +<i>heart</i>—the thing of all others I most prize in a woman, and for which +I admire you so much."</p> + +<p>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 any +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—</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"That is because you <i>do</i> 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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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 <i>me</i>, 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—"</p> + +<p>"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—"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"His life!"</p> + +<p>"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—it appears to be less of passion than of +intense affection."</p> + +<p>"Yes, such as she would feel for a brother."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"What! do you think she loves him unasked, and yet refuse me who begged +her hand like her slave."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Then you think I erred in the manner in which I made my advances?"</p> + +<p>"Your advances, as you call them, would have succeeded with nine girls +in ten, though not with Miss Henley—besides, you are too late."</p> + +<p>"Certainly not too late when no declaration had been made by any other."</p> + +<p>"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 be changed and the scene too."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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 became +hourly less pleasant, and in a short time he ceased to dwell on the +subject altogether.</p> + +<p>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 felt 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 solicitations 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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"What mean you, George? feel you any worse? have I disturbed you with my +presence and my thoughtless gaiety?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"No, no, George, this is too melancholy a theme for us both just now; +let us talk of your returning health."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"Surely, George, you are alarming yourself unnecessarily."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The young man started, and fastened his eyes on her face with an +indefinable look of delight mingled with sorrow.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>We shall not dwell on the melancholy scenes 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 griefs 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + +<h3>THE END.</h3> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Tales for Fifteen, by James Fenimore Cooper + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES FOR FIFTEEN *** + +***** This file should be named 39207-h.htm or 39207-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/2/0/39207/ + +Produced by David Starner, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +book was produced from images made available by the +HathiTrust Digital Library.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/39207.txt b/39207.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4c33d99 --- /dev/null +++ b/39207.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5025 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales for Fifteen, by James Fenimore Cooper + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Tales for Fifteen + +Author: James Fenimore Cooper + +Release Date: March 19, 2012 [EBook #39207] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES FOR FIFTEEN *** + + + + +Produced by David Starner, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +book was produced from images made available by the +HathiTrust Digital Library.) + + + + + + + + + + + + TALES FOR FIFTEEN + + BY JAMES FENIMORE COOPER + + (1823) + + + A FACSIMILE REPRODUCTION + WITH AN INTRODUCTION + + BY JAMES FRANKLIN BEARD + _Clark University_ + + GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA + SCHOLARS' FACSIMILES & REPRINTS + 1959 + + SCHOLARS' FACSIMILES & REPRINTS + 118 N.W. 26TH STREET + GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA, U.S.A. + + HARRY R. WARFEL, GENERAL EDITOR + + REPRODUCED FROM A COPY IN + AND WITH THE PERMISSION OF + YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY + + L.C. CATALOG CARD NUMBER: 59-6525 + + MANUFACTURED IN THE U.S.A. + LETTERPRESS BY J. N. ANZEL, INC. + + PHOTOLITHOGRAPHY BY EDWARDS BROTHERS + + BINDING BY UNIVERSAL-DIXIE BINDERY + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +On 1 February 1823 Charles Wiley published in New York _The Pioneers_, a +new book by the author of _The Spy_; by noon he had sold 3,500 copies--a +record-making sale by the bookselling standards of the time. On 26 June, +almost five months later, Wiley quietly offered, as we know from a +notice in The Patriot, a New York newspaper, "_Tales for Fifteen, or +Imagination and Heart_, an original work in one volume, by Jane Morgan, +price 75c." The actual author was the author of _The Spy_; and the two +stories, "Imagination" and "Heart," were obviously imitations of Mrs. +Amelia Opie's popular moral tales, published, as the paper cover noted, +when _The Spy_ was in its fourth edition, _The Pioneers_ in its third, +and _The Pilot_ in press. The sale was so small that only four copies +are known to be extant. Why, one may ask, did James Cooper, who was in +1823 a writer of national and international reputation, publish this +volume of imitative stories for adolescent girls, even though his +identity was carefully concealed? + +According to Cooper's own account, _Tales for Fifteen_ was written and +given to Charles Wiley as a gesture of friendship to help the publisher +out of financial difficulties. This explanation was echoed by the +novelist's daughter Susan in a letter reprinted from the Cooperstown +_Freeman's Journal_ in _The Critic_ on 12 October 1889. It is true that +Wiley was having financial troubles in 1823, and Cooper undoubtedly gave +him the proceeds from _Tales for Fifteen_; but to suppose, as full +acceptance of this explanation requires, that Cooper reverted, even +momentarily, to the repudiated literary models of his first book +_Precaution_ after the phenomenal success of _The Spy_ would be to infer +in him an almost total want of critical judgment and common sense. The +real explanation, which Cooper might have been embarrassed to furnish +and which the chronology of publication has obscured, lies in a hitherto +unsuspected phase of the curious story of Cooper's entrance to +authorship. + +Cooper wrote Andrew Thompson Goodrich, his first publisher, on 31 May +1820, that _Precaution_ had been preceded by an experimental effort to +write a short moral tale. Mrs. Opie's _Simple Tales_ (1807) and _Tales +of Real Life_ (1813) would have been among the obvious models. Finding +the tale "swell to a rather unwieldy size," Cooper explained, "I +destroy'd the manuscript and changed it to a novel." _Precaution_, which +was completed on 12 June 1820, was probably written within a month; and +before the novel had begun its tortuous way through the press, Cooper +commenced the writing of _The Spy_. By 28 June he had completed "about +sixty pages," presumably manuscript pages; and as the writing proceeded +and his enthusiasm for the new work mounted, his expectations for the +success of _Precaution_ diminished. He wrote Goodrich on 12 July: "The +'Spy' goes on slowly and will not be finish'd until late in the fall--I +take more pains with it--as it is to be an American novel professedly." +In fact, The Spy was completed only a short time before its publication +in New York on 22 December 1821. + +During the eighteen months between the inception and publication of _The +Spy_ Cooper saw _Precaution_ through the press, joined the New York +literary circle which frequented Charles Wiley's bookshop, transferred +his publishing business to Wiley, wrote three or four long book reviews +for his friend Charles K. Gardner's _Literary and Scientific +Repository_, finished _The Spy_, and commenced _The Pioneers_. While the +period was, thus, not devoid of literary activity, it was, as the 1831 +Preface to _The Spy_ confessed, a period of acute uncertainty. Having +discovered his literary talent, Cooper had yet to discover how to use it +profitably, had indeed to be reassured of its true direction. He could +not afford to write at all unless he could make his new profession pay +handsomely. _Precaution_ had been a deliberate attempt to produce a +bestseller, and it succeeded only moderately. As the Preface to the +first edition of _The Spy_ indicates, Cooper experienced severe +self-doubts and self-questionings about this experiment. For an extended +period, most probably during the first six months of 1821, he abandoned +work on _The Spy_, which had been noticed as in press in the January +issue of the _Repository_, fearing that the book could not succeed. It +was almost certainly during this time that he conceived and partly +executed another literary project of which _Tales for Fifteen_ is the +abortive remains. + +As Cooper's hopes for _The Spy_ faded, his confidence in the viability +of the type of imitative writing he had attempted in _Precaution_ +appears to have revived. _Precaution_ was reviewed in a most laudatory +manner in the _Repository_ for January 1821, and the comment +accompanying the notice of publication in the _Repository_ was: "We only +regret that the scene of this novel was not laid in America." Whether +Cooper persuaded himself or allowed himself to be persuaded by Wiley, +Gardner, and other friends, he seems to have decided that his mistake in +_Precaution_ was not so much the choice of models as the choice of +setting. Why not employ an American setting and continue his imitation +of the British women? During 1820 Wiley, Goodrich, and William B. Gilley +had jointly published a collection of Mrs. Opie's stories called _Tales +of the Heart_; apparently they found it profitable. Accordingly, Cooper +planned a series of stories which Wiley noticed as in press in the +_Repository_ for May 1822 and which he described as "_American Tales_, +by a Lady, viz. Imagination--Heart--Matter--Manner--Matter and Manner. 2 +vols. 18 mo. Wiley and Halsted, New York." A briefer announcement had +appeared earlier, in the October 1821 issue of the _Repository_, +although _The Spy_, which was certainly in press, was not noticed. In +his letter of 7 January 1822 congratulating Cooper on the great success +of _The Spy_, Wiley observed: "You speak of being engaged about 'the +Pioneer.'--Have you forgotten 'the American Tales,' which were commenced +by a certain lady a long time ago?" + +What happened, evidently, was that Cooper's interest in _The Spy_ had +revived with such force that he had gone on to complete that book and to +begin _The Pioneers_. Wiley's problem was then to persuade his reluctant +author to complete a work in which he had lost interest but which was in +press. Wiley was not successful. The three final tales, "Manner," +"Matter," and "Manner and Matter," were never written. Eventually the +publisher prevailed on Cooper to bring "Heart," the second of the +stories, to a hurried conclusion. The author, probably happy to settle +the matter, then wrote a coy Preface alluding mysteriously to +"unforeseen circumstances" which had prevented the completion of the +series, and gave the two stories to Wiley on the condition that their +authorship be concealed. Thus _The American Tales_ became _Tales for +Fifteen_. A more eloquent criticism by the author could hardly be +wished. + +When Cooper permitted "Imagination" and "Heart" to be reprinted in 1841, +he was again conferring a favor on a publisher. Towards the close of +1840 George Roberts, publisher and proprietor of the _Boston Notion_, +subtitled without exaggeration "The Mammoth Sheet of the World," sent +Cooper a circular letter in the hand of a clerk to request a short +contribution suitable for his new publication, _Roberts' Semi-Monthly +Magazine_. Normally, Cooper refused all such requests: but he was under +the erroneous impression that Roberts had forwarded to him some Danish +translations of his works which Longfellow had sent to America for him a +few years before. Remembering these early stories, he replied to Roberts +on 2 January 1841: "Some fifteen or twenty years since my publisher +became embarrassed, and I wrote two short tales to aid him. He printed +them, under the title of _Tales for Fifteen_, by Jane Morgan. One of +these stories, rather a feeble one I fear, was called Heart--the other +Imagination. This tale was written one rainy day, half asleep and half +awake, but I retain rather a favorable impression of it. If you can find +a copy of the book, you might think Imagination worth reprinting, and I +suppose there can _now_ be no objection to it. It would have the +freshness of novelty, and would be American enough, Heaven knows. It +would fill three or four of your columns." + +Cooper owned no copy of _Tales for Fifteen_; but the resourceful +publisher found a copy in New York, and "Imagination" filled almost the +whole of the front page (approximately 60 by 34-1/2 inches) of the +_Boston Notion_ on 30 January 1841. It was reprinted in what was +apparently a second edition of _Roberts' Semi-Monthly Magazine_ for 1 +and 15 February 1841 and in London in William Hazlitt's _Romanticist and +Novelist's Library_. A subsequent request brought permission for the +reprinting of "Heart," which appeared in the _Boston Notion_ for 13 and +20 March 1841 and in _Roberts' Semi-Monthly Magazine_ for 1 and 15 April +1841. Roberts expressed his gratitude by defending Cooper in his paper +from the charge of aristocratic bias which some New York journalists had +brought against _Home As Found_. Doubtless the publisher would have been +pleased to find other American writers sufficiently democratic to +provide free copy. + +_Tales for Fifteen_ owes most of its interest today to its crucial +position in the Cooper canon. The literary value of "Imagination" and +"Heart," as their author realized, is slight. They were essentially +experiments in which he sought to deploy indigenous materials within the +conventions of British domestic fiction. "Imagination," with its +sprightly observation of American middle-class vulgarities, betrays a +satiric awareness that Cooper did later develop; but "Heart" is a forced +sentimental indulgence of a sort he never permitted by preference in +later works, though he sometimes tolerated it as a concession to +feminine readers. For Cooper the chief significance of these stories was +that they demonstrated forcibly, if demonstration was necessary, that +neither the characteristic materials nor the characteristic forms +employed by the British women were congenial to his imagination. His +failure was altogether fortunate; for had _The American Tales_ been +completed and published instead of _The Spy_, Cooper's career and the +course of much of American literature might have been different. + +First editions of _Tales for Fifteen_ are the rarest of all Cooper +"firsts." The four copies presently known are in the Cooper Collection +of the Yale University Library, the American Antiquarian Society, the J. +K. Lilly Collection of Indiana University, and the New York Society +Library. + + +JAMES FRANKLIN BEARD + +_Clark University_ + + + + + 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._ + + 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 to 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 therein mentioned." And also to an Act, + entitled "an Act, supplementary to an Act, 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 therein 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. + + 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. + + +"Do--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. + +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 same 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. + +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 seated 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." + +"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 love, 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 you. 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 and +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 such an 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." + +"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 heard 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 disappointments, 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 your 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 had 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." + +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 to-morrow 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 are 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 and 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." + +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 + on 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 secresy--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 Mr. 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." + +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 be a +recommendation. + +"Fifty!" exclaimed Julia, in a tone of disappointment. + +"'Tis too old," said Miss Emmerson; "he should be 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 summer-house, 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 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 hand, 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 man 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; 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." + +"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. + +"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 as 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 familiarity 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. + +"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 communications 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 emotions, 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. + + "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 control, 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. + +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 quickness +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." + +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, recognising 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 sight, 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?" + +"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!" + +"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 as 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 surcout." + +"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 sounds 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." + +"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. + +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 listlessness +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 and 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." + +"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 be 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 the 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 Henley 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 feelings 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. + +"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 felt 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 Osgood. 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 in 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 +feeling, 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 any +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--it 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 be 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 became +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 felt 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 solicitations 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 scenes 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 griefs 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. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Tales for Fifteen, by James Fenimore Cooper + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES FOR FIFTEEN *** + +***** This file should be named 39207.txt or 39207.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/2/0/39207/ + +Produced by David Starner, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +book was produced from images made available by the +HathiTrust Digital Library.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/39207.zip b/39207.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..42f9e54 --- /dev/null +++ b/39207.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2068dfa --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #39207 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/39207) |