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thought she could do no less to a man who
submitted to so much to serve her； than to suffer
him to perceive that she was not entirely insensible
to the obligation。
Our heroine could not but admire the knowing
manner with which Antonio took his seat on the
carriage； and the dexterity he discovered in the
management of his horsesthis was infallible
evidence of his acquaintance with the animal； and a
sure sign that he was the master of many； and had
long been accustomed to their service。 Perhaps；
thought Julia； he has been an officer of cavalry。
In the constant excitement produced by her
situation； Julia could not enter into all the feelings
described by her friend； during the ride to
Schenectady。 Its beauties might be melancholy； but
could she be melancholy； and Antonio so near？ The
pines might be silvery and lofty； but the proud
stature of majestic man； eclipsed in her eyes all
their beauties。 Not so Charles。 He early began to
lavish his abuse on the sterile grounds they
passed； and gave any thing but encomiums on the
smoothness of the road they were travelling。 In the
latter particular； even the quiet spirit of Miss
Emmerson joined him； and Julia herself was
occasionally made sensible that she was not
reposing 〃on a bed of roses。〃
｛sterile grounds = the sandy 〃pine barrens〃
between Albany and Schenectady were notorious for
their lack of scenic beauty｝
〃Do I drive too fast for the ladies？〃 asked Antonio；
on hearing a slight complaint and a faint scream in
the soft voice of Julia。 Oh； how considerate he is！
thought our heroinehow tender！without his care
I certainly should have been killed in this rude
place。 It was expected that as she had complained；
she would answer； and after a moment employed in
rallying her senses for the undertaking； she replied
in a voice of breathing melody
〃Oh！ no； Antonio； you are very considerate。〃
For a world Julia could not have said more； and
Miss Emmerson thought that she had said quite as
much as the occasion required； but Miss Emmerson；
it will be remembered； supposed their driver to be
Anthony Sandford。 The hero； himself； on hearing
such a gentle voice so softly replying to his
question； could not refrain from turning his face
into the carriage； and Julia felt her own eyes lower
before his earnest gaze； while her cheeks burned
with the blushes that suffused them。 But the look
spoke volumeshe understands my 〃Antonio；〃
thought Julia； and perceives that； to me； he is no
longer unknown。 That expressive glance has opened
between us a communication that will cease but
with our lives。 Julia now enjoyed； for the remainder
of their journey to Mr。 Miller's； one of the greatest
pleasures of loveunsuspected by others； she could
hold communion with him who had her heart； by the
eyes； and a thousand tender and nameless little
offices which give interest to affection； and zest to
passion。
They had now got half way between the two cities；
and Charles took a seat by the side of the driver；
with the intention； as he expressed himself； of
stretching his legs： the carriage was open and light；
so that all of the figures of the two young men
could be seen by the ladies； as well as their
conversation heard。 Charles never appeared to less
advantage in his person； thought Julia； than now；
seated by the side of the manly and noble Antonio。
The figure of Charles was light； and by no means
without grace； yet it did not strike the fancy of our
heroine as so fit to shield and support her through
life； as the more robust person of his companion。
Julia herself was； in form； the counterpart of her
mindshe was light； airy； and beautifully softened
in all her outlines。 It was impossible to mistake her
for any thing but a lady； and one of the gentlest
passions and sentiments。 She felt her own
weakness； and would repose it on the manly
strength of Antonio。
〃Which do you call the best of your horses？〃 asked
Charles； so soon as he had got himself comfortably
seated。
〃The offbut both are true as steel；〃 was the
laconic reply。 The comparison was new to Julia； and
it evidently denoted a mind accustomed to the
contemplation of arms。
〃How long have you followed the business of a
driver； Tony？〃 said Charles； in the careless manner
of a gentleman when he wishes to introduce
familiarity with an inferior； by seeming to take an
interest in the other's affairs。 Julia felt indignant at
the freedom of his manner； and particularly at the
epithet of 〃Tony〃yet her lover did not in the least
regard eitheror rather his manner exhibited no
symptoms of displeasurehe has made up his
mind； thought Julia； to support his disguise； and it
is best for us both that he should。
〃Ever since I was sixteen I have been used to
horses；〃 was the reply of Antonio to the question of
CharlesJulia smiled at the ambiguity of the
answer； and was confirmed in her impression that
he had left college at that age to serve in the
cavalry。
〃You must understand them well by this time；〃
continued Charles； glancing his eye at his
companion as if to judge of his years〃You must be
forty〃Julia fidgeted a little at this guess of
Charles； but soon satisfied herself with the
reflection that his disguise contributed to the error。
〃My age is very deceiving；〃 said the man； 〃I have
seen great hardships in my time； both of body and
mind。〃
Here Julia could scarcely breathe through anxiety。
Every syllable that he uttered was devoured with
eager curiosity by the enamoured girlhe knew that
she was a listener； and that she understood his
disguise； and doubtless meant； in that indirect
manner； to acquaint her with the incidents of his
life。 It was clear that he indicated his age to be
less than what his appearance would have led her
to believehis sufferings； his cruel sufferings had
changed him。
〃The life of a coachman is not hard；〃 said Charles。
〃No； sir； far from itbut I have not been a
coachman all my life。〃
Nothing could be plainer than thisit was a direct
assertion of his degradation by the business in
which he was then engaged。
〃In what manner did you lose your eye； Tony；〃 said
Charles； in a tone of sympathy that Julia blessed
him for in her heart； although she knew that the
member was uninjured； and only hidden to favour
his disguise。 Antonio hesitated a little in his
answer； and stammered while giving it〃It was in
the wars；〃 at length he got out； and Julia admired
the noble magnanimity which would not allow him；
even in imagination； to suffer in a less glorious
mannernotwithstanding his eye is safe and as
beautiful as the other； he has suffered in the wars；
thought our heroine； and it is pardonable for him to
use the deception； situated as he isit is nothing
more than an equivoque。 But this was touching
Charles on a favourite chord。 Little of a hero as
Julia fancied him to be； he delighted in conversing
about the war with those men； who； having acted in
subordinate stations； would give a different view of
the subject from the official accounts； in which he
was deeply read。 It was no wonder； therefore； that
he eagerly seized on the present opportunity to
relieve the tedium of a ride between Albany and
Schenectady。
｛equivoque = double meaning； a pun｝
〃In what battle；〃 asked Charles； quickly； 〃by sea or
by land？〃
〃By sea；〃 said Antonio； speaking to his horses； with
an evident unwillingness to say any more on the
subject。
Ah！ the deception； and the idea of his friend
Lawrence； are too much for his sensibility； thought
Julia； and to relieve him she addressed Charles
herself。
〃How far are we from Schenectady； cousin Charles？〃
Antonio； certainly； was not her cousin Charles； but
as if he thought the answering such questions to be
his peculiar province； he replied immediately
〃Four miles； ma'am； there's the stone。〃
There was nothing in the answer itself； or the
manner of its delivery； to attract notice in an
unsuspecting listener； but by Julia it was well
understoodit was the first time he had ever
spoken directly to herselfit was a new era in their
livesand his body turned half round toward her as
he spoke； showed his manly form to great
advantage； but the impressive and dignified
manner in which he dropped his whip towards the
mile…stone； Julia felt that she never could forgetit
was intended to mark the spot where he had first
addressed her。 He had chosen it with taste。 The
stone stood under the shade of a solitary oak； and
might easily be fancied to be a monument erected
to commemorate some important event in the lives
of our lovers。 Julia ran over in her mind the time
when she should pay an annual visit to that
hallowed place； and leaning on the arm of her
majestic husband； murmur in his ear； 〃Here； on this
loved spot； did Antonio first address his happy；
thrice happy Julia。〃
〃Well； Tony；〃 said the mild voice of Miss Emmerson；
〃the sun is near setting； let us go the four miles as
fast as you please。〃
〃I'm sure； ma'am；〃 said Antonio； with profound
respect； 〃you don't want to get in more than I do；
for I had no sleep all last night； I'll not keep you
out one minute after night〃so saying； he urged his
horses to a fast trot； and was quite us good as his
word。 How