tales for fifteen-第9章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
are the daughter of my sister； and Katherine is the
daughter of my brother。〃
〃Truetrueif 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 anotherwe select two that
were written late in August。
〃My own and beloved Julia；
〃Your letters are the only consolation that my
anxious heart can know in the dreary solitude of
this place。 Oh！ my friend； how would your tender
heart bleed did you but know the least of my
sufferings； but they are all requited by the
delightful anticipations of Park…Place。 I hope your
dear aunt has not found it necessary to lay down
her carriage in the change of the times： write me in
your next about it。 Antonio has been here again；
and he solicited an audience with me in privateof
course I granted it； for friendship hallows all that is
done under its mantle。 It was a moonlight night
mild Luna shedding a balmy light on surrounding
objects； and； if possible； rendering my heart more
sensitive than ever。 One solitary glimmering star
showed by its paly quiverings the impress of
evening； while not a cloud obscured the vast
firmament of heaven。 On such an evening Antonio
could do nothing but converse of my absent friend；
he dwelt on the indescribable grace of your person；
the lustre of your eye； and the vermilion of your
lips； until exhausted language could furnish no
more epithets of rapture： then the transition to
your mind was natural and easy； and it was while
listening to his honied accents that I thought my
Julia herself was talking。
〃Soft as the dews from heaven descend； his gentle
accents fell。〃
Ah； Julia！ nothing but a strong pre…possession； and
my friendship for you； could remove the danger of
such a scene。 Yes！ friend of my heart； I must
acknowledge my weakness。 There is a youth in
New…York； who has long been master of my too
sensitive heart； and without him life will be a
burthen。 Cruel fate divides us now； but when
invited by your aunt to Park…Place； Oh； rapture
unutterable！ I shall be near my Regulus。 This；
surely； is all that can be wanting to stimulate my
Julia to get the invitation from her aunt。 Antonio
says that if I go to the city this fall； he will hover
near me on the road to guard the friend of Julia；
and that he will eagerly avail himself of my
presence to seek her society。 I am called from my
delightful occupation by one of my troublesome
sisters； who wishes me to assist her in some trifle
or other。 Make my most profound respects to your
dear； good aunt； and believe me your own true
friend；
ANNA。〃
｛Regulus = prince｝
At length Julia thought she had made the discovery
of Anna's reason for her evident desire to spend the
winter in townlike herself； her friend had become
the victim of the soft passion； and from that
moment Julia determined that Katherine Emmerson
must seek another residence； in order that Anna
might breathe love's atmosphere。 How much a
desire to see Antonio governed this decision； we
cannot say； but we are certain that； if in the least；
Julia was herself ignorant of the power。 With her； it
seemed to be the result of pure； disinterested； and
confiding friendship。 In answer； our heroine wrote
as follows：
〃My beloved Anna；
〃Your kind； consolatory letters are certainly the
solace of my life。 Ah！ Anna； I have long thought
that some important secret lay heavy at your heart。
The incoherency of your letters； and certain things
too trifling to mention； had made me suspect that
some unusual calamity had befallen you。 You do
not mention who Regulus is。 I am burning with
curiosity to know； although I doubt not but he is
every way worthy of your choice。
〃I have in vain run over in my mind every young
man that we know； but not one of them that I can
find has any of the qualities of a hero。 Do relieve
my curiosity in your next； and I may have it in my
power to write you something of his movements。
Oh！ Anna； why will you dwell on the name of
AntonioI am sure I ought not to listen as I do to
what he saysand when we meet； I am afraid that
he will not find all the attractions which your too
partial friendship has portrayed。 If he should be
thus disappointed； Oh！ AnnaAnnawhat would
become of your friendBut I will not dwell an the
horrid idea。 Charles Weston is yet here； and
Katherine Emmerson too； so that but for the
thoughts of my absent Anna； and perhaps a little
uneasiness on the subject of Antonio； I might be
perfectly happy。 You know how good and friendly
Katherine is； and really Charles does all in his
power to please。 If he were only a little more
heroical； he would be a charming young man： for
although he is not very handsome； I don't think you
notice it in the least when you are intimate with
him。 Poor Charles； he was terribly mortified about
the flash of lightningbut then all are not brave
alike。 Adieu； my Annaand if you do converse more
with a certain person about； you know whom； let it
be with discretion； or you may raise expectations
she will not equal。 Your own JULIA。〃
〃P。 S。 I had almost forgotten to say that aunt has
promised me that I can ask you to stay with us； if；
after the 20th September； I wish it； as you may be
sure that I will。 Aunt keeps her carriage yet； and I
hope will never want it in her old age。〃
About the time this letter was written； Miss
Emmerson made both of her nieces acquainted with
the promised project that was to give them the
agreeable surprise：she had long contemplated
going to see 〃the
