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〃Take it for my sake； Antonioif it be unworthy of
you； still； take it； to oblige me。〃
The man no longer hesitated； but took the money；
and gave Julia a look and a bow that sunk deep
into the tablet of her memorywhile Charles
thought him extremely well paid for what he had
done； but made due allowances for the excited
state of his cousin's feelings。
〃You perceive；〃 said Miss Emmerson； with a smile；
as Julia withdrew from the window； 〃if Charles be a
little afraid of lightning； he has no dread of the
water。〃
〃Ah！ I retract my error；〃 cried Julia； 〃Charles must
be brave； or he never could have acted so coolly；
and so well。〃
〃Very true； my love；〃 said Miss Emmerson；
excessively gratified to hear her niece praise the
youth； 〃it is the surest test of courage when men
behave with presence of mind in novel situations。
Those accustomed to particular dangers easily
discharge their duties； because they know； as it
were instinctively； what is to be done。 Thus with
Tonyhe did well； but； I doubt not； he was horribly
frightenedand for the world he could not have
done what Charles did。〃
〃Not Antonio！〃 echoed Julia； thrown a little off her
guard〃I would pledge my life； aunt； that Antonio
would have done as much； if not more； than
Charles！〃
〃Why did he not； then？…It was his place to stop
the carriage…why did he not？〃
〃It was his place；〃 said Julia； 〃to manage the
horses； and you acknowledge that he did it well。
Duties incurred； no matter how unworthy of us；
must be discharged； and although we may be
conscious that our merit or our birth entitles us to a
different station from the one we fill； yet a noble
mind will not cease to perform its duty； even in
poverty and disgrace。〃
Miss Emmerson listened in surprise； but as her
niece often talked in a manner that she did not
comprehend； she attributed it to the improvements
in education； and was satisfied。 But Julia had
furnished herself with a clue to what had
occasioned her some uneasiness。 At one time she
thought Antonio ought to have left carriage； horses；
every thing； and flown to her rescue； as Charles had
done； but now she saw that the probity of his soul
forbade it。 He had； doubtless； by secret means；
induced the owner of the horses to entrust them to
his keeping…and could he； a soldier； one used to
trust and responsibility； forget his duty in the
moment of need？ Sooner would the sentinel quit
his post unrelieved…sooner the gallant soldier turn
his back on his enemy…or sooner would Antonio
forget his Julia！
With this view of the propriety of his conduct； Julia
was filled with the desire to let him know that she
approved of what he had done。 Surely； if any thing
can be mortifying to a lover； thought our heroine； it
must be to see a rival save the life of his mistress；
while imperious duty chains him to another task。
Young as Julia was； she had already learnt； that it
is not enough for our happiness that we have the
consciousness of doing right； but it is necessary
that others should think we have done so too。
Accordingly； early the following morning she arose；
and wandered around the house； in hopes that
chance would throw her lover in her way； and give
her an opportunity of relieving his mind from the
load of mortification under which she knew he must
be labouring。 It was seldom that our heroine had
been in the public bar…room of a tavernbut； in
gliding by the door； she caught a glimpse of
Antonio in the bar； and； impelled by her feelings；
she was near him before she had time to collect her
scattered senses。 To be with Antonio； and alone；
Julia felt was dangerous； for his passion might
bring on a declaration； and betray them both to the
public and vulgar notice。Anxious； therefore； to
effect her object at once； she gently laid her hand
on his armAntonio started and turned； while the
glass in his hands fell； with its contents； untasted；
on the floor。
〃Rest easy； Antonio；〃 said Julia； in the gentlest
possible tones； 〃to me your conduct is satisfactory；
and your secret will never be exposed。〃 So saying；
she turned quickly； and glided from the room。
〃As I hope to be saved；〃 said Antonio； 〃I meant
nothing wrongbut should have paid the landlord
the moment he came in〃but Julia heard him not。
Her errand was happily executed； and she was
already by the side of her aunt。 On entering the
carriage； Julia noticed the eye of Antonio fixed on
her with peculiar meaning； and she felt that her
conduct had been appreciated。From this time until
the day of their arrival at the house of Mr。 Miller；
nothing material occurred。 Antonio rose every hour
in the estimation of Julia； and the young lady
noticed a marked difference in her lover's conduct
towards her。 A few miles before they reached the
dwelling； Miss Emmerson observed
〃To…morrow will be the twentieth of September；
when I am to know who will be my companion for
the winter； Miss Miller or Katherine。〃
〃Ah！ aunt； you may know that now； if I am to
decide；〃 said Julia； 〃it will be Anna； my Anna；
surely。〃
Her manner was enthusiastic； and her voice a little
louder than usual。 Antonio turned his head； and
their eyes met。 Julia read in that glance the
approbation of her generous friendship。 Miss
Emmerson was a good deal hurt at this decision of
her niece； who； she thought； knowing her
sentiments； would be induced to have been
satisfied with the visit to Anna； and taken
Katherine for the winter。 It was with reluctance that
the aunt abandoned this wish； and； after a pause；
she continued
〃Remember； Julia； that you have not my permission
to ask your friend until the twentiethwe can stay
but one night at Mr。 Miller's； but if Anna is to spend
the winter in Park Place； we will return this way
from the Falls； and take her with us to the city。〃
〃Thank you； dear aunt；〃 cried Julia； kissing her with
an affection that almost reconciled Miss Emmerson
to the choicewhile Charles Weston whistled 〃Hail；
Columbia！ happy land！〃
Julia saw that Antonio pitied her impatiencefor
the moment he arrived in sight of Mr。 Miller's
house； he put his horses to their speed； and
dashed into the court…yard in the space of a few
minutes。 For a little while all was confusion and
joy。 Anna seemed delighted to see her friend； and
Julia was in rapturesthey flew into each other's
armsand if their parting embrace was embalmed
in tears； their meeting was enlivened with smiles。
With arms interlocked； they went about the house；
the very pictures of joy。Even Antonio； at the
moment； was forgotten； and all devoted to
friendship。 Nay； as if sensible of the impropriety of
his appearance at that critical instant； he withdrew
himself from observationand his delicacy was not
lost on Julia。 Happy are they who can act in
consonance with their own delicate sentiments； and
rest satisfied with the knowledge that their motives
are understood by those whom it is their greatest
desire to please！…Such； too fortunate Antonio； was
thy lotfor no emotion of thy sensitive mind； no act
of thy scrupulously honourable life； passed
unheeded by thy Julia！so thought the maiden。
It has been already mentioned that the family of
Mr。 Miller was large； and amid the tumult and
confusion of receiving their guests； no opportunity
was afforded to the friends for conversation in
private。 The evening passed swiftly； and the hour
for bed arrived without any other communication
between Julia and Anna than whisperings and
pressures of the hands； together with a thousand
glances of peculiar meaning with the eyes。 But Julia
did not regret this so much as if Antonio had been
unknownshe had been in his company for four
days； and knew； or thought she knew； already； as
much of his history as Anna herself。But one
thought distressed her； and that was； that his
residence might be far from the house of her aunt。
This reflection gave the tender…hearted girl real
pain； and her principal wish to converse with Anna
in private was to ascertain her future lot on this
distressing point。 No opportunity； however； offered
that night； and Julia saw that in the morning her
time would be limited； for Miss Emmerson desired
Mr。 Miller to order her carriage to be in readiness to
start so soon as they had breakfasted。
〃When； dear aunt； am I to give Anna the
invitation；〃 said Julia； when they were left alone； 〃if
you start so early in the morning？〃
〃The proper time will be； my child； immediately
before we get into the carriage；〃 said Miss
Emmerson； with a sigh of regret at the
determination of her niece； 〃it will then be more
pointed； and call for an immediate answer。〃
This satisfied Julia； who knew that it would be
accepted by her friend； and she soon fell asleep； to
dream a little of Anna； and a great deal of Antonio。
The following morning Julia arose with the sun； and
her first employment was to seek her friend。 Anna
had also risen； and was waiting impatiently for the
other's appearance； in the vacant parlour。
〃Ah！ dear Julia；〃 said she； catching her arm and
dragging her to a window； 〃I thought you would
never come。Well； are we to spend the winter
togetherhave you spoken to your dear； dear aunt；
about it？〃
〃You shall know in good time； my Anna；〃