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！
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 arrivednay； 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 shrubberyand 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 ignorancebut 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 imagineprobably； 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 organistbut 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 sightshe 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 Albanyremember 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。〃
｛first chop = first rank； highest quality｝
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。
〃Yesyesyesyesyes；〃 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。〃
〃Yesyes； 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
he a recommendation。
〃Fifty！〃 exclaimed Julia； in a tone of
disappointment。
〃'Tis too old；〃 said Miss Emmerson； 〃he should he
able to undergo fatigue。〃
〃Well； I may be mistakenOh； 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 ishe'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 enoughfor 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 summerhouse； 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 ｛as｝ 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 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；