tales for fifteen-第7部分

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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　faultperhaps　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
herselfmy　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　remarknow
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
elseI　will　go　this　instant　and　ask　her。〃

〃Butstop　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。〃

〃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