tales for fifteen-第6部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


king　=　both　the　Senecas　of　antiquity；　the
rhetorician　（54　BC…39　AD）　and　his　son　the
philosopher/statesman　（4　BC…65　AD）；　were；　of
course；　Romansin　any　case；　Lake　Seneca　is　named
after　the　Seneca　nation　of　the　Iroquois　Indians；
Park…Place　=　already　in　1816　a　fashionable　street　in
lower　Manhattan；　Chippewa　=　an　American　army
defeated　the　British　at　Chippewa；　in　Canada　near
Niagara　Falls；　on　July　5；　1814；　Lawrence　=　Captain
James　（〃Don't　give　up　the　ship！〃）　Lawrence　（1781…
1813）　of　the　U。S。　Frigate　Chesapeake　was　killed　on
June　1；　1813；　as　his　ship　was　captured　by　H。M。S。
Shannon　outside　Boston　harbor；　Marengo　=　battle
won　by　Napoleon　against　the　Austrians　on　June　14；
1800〃Antonio's〃　military　career　was　truly　an
amazing　one！；　pluck　honor。。。。　=　slightly　misquoted
from　Shakespeare；　〃King　Henry　IV；　Part　I；〃　Act　I；
Scene　3；　line　202；　chill　penury。。。。　=　slightly
misquoted　from　Thomas　Gray；　〃Elegy　in　a　Country
Churchyard〃　verse　13｝

Julia　fairly　gasped　for　breath　as　she　read　this
epistle：　her　very　soul　was　entranced　by　the　song。
Whatever　of　seeming　contradiction　there　might　be
in　the　letter　of　her　friend；　her　active　mind　soon
reconciled。　She　was　now　really　beloved；　and　in　a
manner　most　grateful　to　her　heartby　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　prosperityand　all
this　in　the　short　space　of　one　hour。　Julia　was　yet　in
the　midst　of　this　tumult　of　feeling；　when　another
letter　was　placed　in　her　hands；　and　on　opening　it
she　read　as　follows：

〃Dear　Julia；

〃I　should　have　remembered　my　promise；　and　come
out　and　spent　a　week　with　you；　had　not　one　of
Mary's　little　boys　been　quite　sick；　of　course　I　went
to　her　until　he　recovered。　But　if　you　will　ask　aunt
Margaret　to　send　for　me；　I　will　come　tomorrow　with
great　pleasure；　for　I　am　sure　you　must　find　it
solitary；　now　Miss　Miller　has　left　you。　Tell　aunt　to
send　by　the　servant　a　list　of　such　books　as　she
wants　from　Goodrich's；　and　I　will　get　them　for　her；
or　indeed　any　thing　else　that　I　can　do　for　her　or
you。　Give　my　love　to　aunt；　and　tell　her　that；
knowing　her　eyes　are　beginning　to　fail；　I　have
worked　her　a　cap；　which　I　shall　bring　with　me。
Mamma　desires　her　love　to　you　both；　and　believe
me　to　be　affectionately　your　cousin；
KATHERINE　EMMERSON。〃

This　was　well　enough；　but　as　it　was　merely　a　letter
of　business；　one　perusal；　and　that　a　somewhat
hasty　one；　was　sufficient。　Julia　loved　its　writer
more　than　she　suspected　herself；　but　there　was
nothing　in　her　manner　or　character　that　seemed
calculated　to　excite　strong　emotion。　In　short；　all
her　excellences　were　so　evident　that　nothing　was
left　dependent　on　innate　evidence；　and　our　heroine
seldom　dwelt　with　pleasure　on　any　character　that
did　not　give　a　scope　to　her　imagination。　In
whatever　light　she　viewed　the　conduct　or
disposition　of　her　cousin；　she　was　met　by　obstinate
facts　that　admitted　of　no　cavil　nor　of　any
exaggeration。

Turning　quickly；　therefore；　from　this　barren
contemplation　to　one　better　suited　to　her
inclinations；　Julia's　thoughts　resumed　the　agreeable
reverie　from　which　she　had　been　awakened。　She
also　could　paint；　and　after　twenty　trials　she　at
length　sketched　an　outline　of　the　figure　of　a　man
that　answered　to　Anna's　description；　and　satisfied
her　own　eye。　Without　being　conscious　of　the　theft；
she　had　copied　from　a　print　of　the　Apollo；　and
clothed　it　in　the　uniform　which　Bonaparte　is　said　to
have　worn。　A　small　scar　was　traced　on　the　cheek　in
such　a　manner　that　although　it　might　be　fancied　as
the　ravages　of　a　bullet；　it　admirably　answered　all
the　purposes　of　a　dimple。　Two　epaulettes　graced
the　shoulders　of　the　hero；　and　before　the　picture
was　done；　although　it　was　somewhat　at　variance
with　republican　principles；　an　aristocratical　star
glittered　on　its　breast。　Had　he　his　birth…right；
thought　Julia；　it　would　be　there　in　reality；　and　this
idea　amply　justified　the　innovation。　To　this　image；
which　it　took　several　days　to　complete；　certain
verses　were　addressed　also；　but　they　were　never
submitted　to　the　confidence　of　her　friend。　The
whole　subject　was　now　beginning　to　be　too　sacred
even　for　such　a　communication；　and　as　the　mind　of
Julia　every　hour　became　more　entranced　with　its
new　master；　her　delicacy　shrunk　from　an　exposure
of　her　weakness：　it　was　getting　too　serious　for　the
light　compositions　of　epistolary　correspondence。

We　furnish　a　copy　of　the　lines；　as　they　me　not　only
indicative　of　her　feelings；　but　may　give　the　reader
some　idea　of　the　powers　of　her　imagination。

〃Beloved　image　of　a　god…like　mind；
〃In　sacred　privacy　thy　power　I　feel；
〃What　bright　perfection　in　thy　form's　combin'd！
〃How　sure　to　injure；　and　how　kind　to　heal。

〃Thine　eagle　eye　bedazzles　e'en　the　brain；
〃Thy　gallant　brow　bespeaks　the　front　of　Jove；
〃While　smiles　enchant　me；　tears　in　torrents　rain；
〃And　each　seductive　charm　impels　to　love。

〃Ah！　hapless　maid；　why　daring　dost　thou　prove
〃The　hidden　dangers　of　the　urchin's　dart；
〃Why　fix　thine　eye　on　this；　the　god　of　love；
〃And　heedless　think　thee　to　retain　thy　heart！〃

This　was　but　one　of　fifty　similar　effusions；　in　which
Julia　poured　forth　her　soul。　The　flame　was　kept
alive　by　frequent　letters　from　her　friend；　in　all　of
which　she　dwelt　with　rapture　on　the　moment　of
their　re…union；　and　never　failed　to　mention　Antonio
in　a　manner　that　added　new　fuel　to　the　fire　that
already　began　to　consume　Julia；　and；　in　some
degree；　to　undermine　her　health；　at　least　she
thought　so。

In　the　mean　time　Katherine　Emmerson　paid　her
promised　visit　to　her　friends；　and　our　heroine　was
in　some　degree　drawn　from　her　musings　on　love
and　friendship。　The　manners　of　this　young　lady
were　conspicuously　natural；　she　had　a　confirmed
habit　of　calling　things　by　their　right　names；　and
never　dwelt　in　the　least　in　superlatives。　Her
affections　seemed　centered　in　the　members　of　her
own　family；　nor　had　she　ever　given　Julia　the　least
reason　to　believe　she　preferred　her　to　her　own
sister；　notwithstanding　that　sister　was　married；　and
beyond　the　years　of　romance。　Yet　Julia　loved　her
cousin；　and　was　hardly　ever　melancholy　or　out　of
spirits　when　in　her　company。　The　cheerful　and
affectionate　good　humour　of　Katherine　was
catching；　and　all　were　pleased　with　her；　although
but　few　discovered　the　reason。　Charles　Weston
soon　forgot　his　displeasure；　and　with　the　exception
of　Julia's　hidden　uneasiness；　the　house　was　one
quiet　scene　of　peaceful　content。　The　party　were
sitting　at　their　work　the　day　after　the　arrival　of
Katherine；　when　Julia　thought　it　a　good　opportunity
to　intimate　her　wish　to　have　the　society　of　her
friend　during　the　ensuing　winter。

〃Why　did　Mr。　Miller　give　up　his　house　in　town；　I
wonder？〃　said　Julia；　〃I　am　sure　it　was　inconsiderate
to　his　family。〃

〃Rather　say；　my　child；　that　it　was　in　consideration
to　his　children　that　he　did　so；〃　observed　Miss
Emmerson；　〃his　finances　would　not　bear　the
expense；　and　suffer　him　to　provide　for　his　family
after　his　death。〃

〃I　am　sure　a　little　money　might　be　spent　now；　to
indulge　his　children　in　society；　and　they　would　be
satisfied　with　less　hereafter；〃　continued　Julia。　〃Mr。
Miller　must　be　rich；　and　think；　aunt；　he　has　seven
grown　up　daughters　that　he　has　dragged　with　him
into　the　wilderness；　only　think；　Katherine；　how
solitary　they　must　be。〃

〃Had　I　six　sisters　I　could　be　solitary　no　where；〃　said
Katherine；　simply；　〃besides；　I　understand　that　the
country　where　Mr。　Miller　resides　is　beautiful　and
populous。〃

〃Oh！　there　are　men　and　women　enough；　I　dare　say；〃
cried　Julia；　〃and　the　family　is　largeeleven　in　the
whole；　but　they　must　feel　the　want　of　friends　in
such　a　retired　place。〃

〃What；　with　six　sisters！〃　said　Katherine；　laughing
and　shaking　her　head。

〃There　is　a　difference　between　a　sister　end　a　friend；
you　know；〃　said　Julia；　a　little　surprised。

〃Iindeed　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　feelingfriendship　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　confidencethe
familiaritythe　secretswhich　form　the　very
essence　of　friendship。〃　cried　Katherine；　〃at　least　so
I　have　always　heard。〃

〃True；〃　said　Julia；　eagerly；　〃you　speak　truethe
confidence　and　the　secretsbut　not　thetheI　am
not　sure　that　I　express　myself　wellbut　the
intimate　knowledge　that　one　has　of　one's　own
sisterthat　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！　nothat　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　theby　theby　thewhat　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　Ann