tales for fifteen-第12章

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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　coachmanthis　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；　madamsee；　Juliathere　is　our　travelling
equipage　on　board　that　sloop；　going　up　to　meet　us
in　Albany。〃

Our　heroine　looked　as　directed；　and　saw　a　vessel
moving　with　tolerable　rapidity　up　the　river；　within　a
short　distance　from　them。　On　its　deck　were　a
travelling　carriage　and　a　pair　of　horses；　and　by　the
latter　stood　a　man　who；　by　the　whip　in　his　head；
was　evidently　the　driver。　His　stature　was　tall　and
athletic；　his　complexion　dark　to　near　blackness；　his
face　was　buried　in　whiskers；　and　his　employer　had
spoken　the　truth　when　he　said　he　had　as　good　an
eye　as　any　men　in　Americait　was　large；　black；　and
might　be　piercing。　But　then　he　had　but　oneat
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　bowhis　salutation　was　noticed　by　the
young　man；　who　slightly　touched　his　hat；　and　gave
him　a　familiar　nod　in　returnJulia；　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　Antonioevery　thing　about
him　equalled　her　expectationseven　at　the
distance；　she　had　easily　discerned　the　noble　dignity
of　his　mannershis　eye　gave　assurance　of　his
conscious　worthhis　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　lovedto　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
scenebut　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　tiredit
was　nightand　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　driverhe　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　Juliashe　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　illshe　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
impossiblethere　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；　AnthonyTony　Sandford；〃　was　the
replyit　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。

〃