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constant and assiduous attention on the part of the
aunt to the health and attire of her niece。
｛fever of 1805 = New York City had suffered a
major epidemic of yellow fever in the summer of
1805； tambour…frame = a circular frame used to
hold material being embroidered｝
Miss Emmerson had a brother residing in the city of
New…York； who was a man of eminence at the bar；
and who； having been educated fifty years ago；
was； from that circumstance； just so much superior
to his successors of his own sex by twenty years；
as his sisters were the losers from the some cause。
The family of Mr。 Emmerson was large； and； besides
several sons； he had two daughters； one of whom
remained still unmarried in the house of her father。
Katherine Emmerson was but eighteen months the
senior of Julia Warren； but her father had adopted a
different course from that which was ordinarily
pursued with girls of her expectations。 He had
married a woman of sense； and now reaped the
richest blessing of such a connexion in her ability to
superintend the education of her daughter。 A
mother's care was employed to correct errors that a
mother's tenderness could only discover； and in the
place of general systems； and comprehensive
theories； was substituted the close and rigorous
watchfulness which adapted the remedy to the
disease； which studied the disposition； and which
knew the failings or merits of the pupil； and could
best tell when to reward； and how to punish。 The
consequences were easily to be seen in the
manners and character of their daughter。 Her
accomplishments； even where a master had been
employed in their attainment； were naturally
displayed； and suited to her powers。 Her manners；
instead of the artificial movements of prescribed
rules； exhibited the chaste and delicate modesty of
refinement； mingled with good principlessuch as
were not worn in order to be in character as a
woman and a lady； but were deeply seated； and
formed part； not only of her habits； but； if we may
use the expression； of her nature also。 Miss
Emmerson had good sense enough to perceive the
value of such an acquaintance for her ward； but；
unfortunately for her wish to establish an intimacy
between her nieces； Julia had already formed a
friendship at school； and did not conceive her heart
was large enough to admit two at the same time to
its sanctuary。 How much Julia was mistaken the
sequel of our tale will show。
So long as Anna Miller was the inmate of the
school； Julia was satisfied to remain also； but the
father of Anna having determined to remove to an
estate in the interior of the country； his daughter
was taken from school； and while the arrangements
were making for the reception of the family on the
banks of the Gennessee； Anna was permitted to
taste； for a short time； the pleasures of the world；
at the residence of Miss Emmerson on the banks of
the Hudson。
｛Gennessee = Genesee River； which flows north
through central New York State to Lake Ontarioat
the time of Cooper's story it was still on the
frontier of settlement｝
Charles Weston was a distant relative of the good
aunt； and was； like Julia； an orphan； who was
moderately endowed with the goods of fortune。 He
was a student in the office of her uncle； and being
a great favourite with Miss Emmerson； spent many
of his leisure hours； during the heats of the
summer； in the retirement of her country residence。
Whatever might be the composure of the maiden
aunt； while Julia was weeping in her chamber over
the long separation that was now to exist between
herself and her friend； young Weston by no means
displayed the same philosophic indifference。 He
paced the hall of the building with rapid steps； cast
many a longing glance at the door of his cousin's
room； and then rested himself with an apparent
intention to read the volume he held in his hands；
nor did he in any degree recover his composure
until Julia re…appeared on the landing of the stairs；
moving slowly towards their bottom； when； taking
one long look at her lovely face； which was glowing
with youthful beauty； and if possible more charming
from the traces of tears in her eyes； he coolly
pursued his studies。 Julia had recovered her
composure； and Charles Weston felt satisfied。 Miss
Emmerson and her niece took their seats quietly
with their work at an open window of the parlour；
and order appeared to be restored in some measure
to the mansion。 After pursuing their several
occupations for some minutes with a silence that
had lately been a stranger to them； the aunt
observed
〃You appear to have something new in hand； my
love。 Surely you must abound with trimmings； and
yet you are working another already？〃
〃It is for Anna Miller；〃 said Julia with a flush of
feeling。
〃I was in hopes you would perform your promise to
your cousin Katherine； now Miss Miller is gone； and
make your portion of the garments for the Orphan
Asylum；〃 returned Miss Emmerson gravely。
〃Oh！ cousin Katherine must wait。 I promised this
trimming to Anna to remember me by； and I would
not disappoint the dear girl for the world。〃
〃It is not your cousin Katherine； but the Orphans；
who will have to wait； and surely a promise to a
relation is as sacred as one to an acquaintance。〃
〃Acquaintance； aunt！〃 echoed the niece with
displeasure。 〃Do not； I entreat you； call Anna an
acquaintance merely。 She is my friendmy very
best friend； and I love her as such。〃
〃Thank you； my dear；〃 said the aunt dryly。
〃Oh！ I mean nothing disrespectful to yourself； dear
aunt；〃 continued Julia。 〃You know how much I owe
to you； and ought to know that I love you as a
mother。〃
〃And would you prefer Miss Miller to a mother；
then？〃
〃Surely not in respect； in gratitude； in obedience；
but still I may love her； you know。 Indeed； the
feelings are so very different； that they do not at
all interfere with each otherin my heart at least。〃
〃No！〃 said Miss Emmerson； with a little curiosity〃I
wish you would try and explain this difference to
me； that I may comprehend the distinctions that
you are fond of making。〃
〃Why； nothing is easier； dear aunt！〃 said Julia with
animation。 〃You I love because you are kind to me；
attentive to my wants； considerate for my good；
affectionate； andandfrom habitand you are my
aunt； and take care of me。〃
〃Admirable reasons！〃 exclaimed Charles Weston；
who had laid aside his book to listen to this
conversation。
〃They are forcible ones I must admit；〃 said Miss
Emmerson； smiling affectionately on her niece； 〃but
now for the other kind of love。〃
〃Why； Anna is my friend； you know；〃 cried Julia；
with eyes sparkling with enthusiasm。 〃I love her；
because she has feelings congenial with my own；
she has so much wit； is so amusing； so frank； so
like a girl of talentsso likelike every thing I
admire myself。〃
〃It is a pity that one so highly gifted cannot furnish
herself with frocks；〃 said the aunt； with a little
more than her ordinary dryness of manner； 〃and
suffer you to work for those who want them more。〃
〃You forget it is in order to remember me；〃 said
Julia； in a manner that spoke her own ideas of the
value of the gift。
〃One would think such a friendship would not
require any thing to remind one of its existence；〃
returned the aunt。
〃Why！ it is not that she will forget me without it；
but that she may have something by her to remind
her of me…〃 said Julia rapidly； but pausing as the
contradiction struck even herself。
〃I understand you perfectly； my child；〃 interrupted
the aunt； 〃merely as an unnecessary security； you
mean。〃
〃To make assurance doubly sure；〃 cried Charles
Weston with a laugh。
〃Oh！ you laugh； Mr。 Weston；〃 said Julia with a little
anger； 〃but I have often said； you were incapable of
friendship。〃
〃Try me！〃 exclaimed the youth fervently。 〃Do not
condemn me without a trial。〃
〃How can I？〃 said Julia； laughing in her turn。 〃You
are not a girl。〃
〃Can girls then only feel friendship？〃 inquired
Charles； taking the seat which Miss Emmerson had
relinquished。
〃I sometimes think so；〃 said Julia； with her own
good…humoured smile。 〃You are too grosstoo
enviousin short； you never see such friendships
between men as exist between women。〃
〃Between girls； I will readily admit；〃 returned the
youth。 〃But let us examine this question after the
manner of the courts〃
〃Nay； if you talk law I shall quit you；〃 interrupted
the young lady gaily。
〃Certainly one so learned in the subject need not
dread a cross…examination；〃 cried the youth； in her
own manner。
〃Well； proceed；〃 cried the lady。 〃I have driven aunt
Margaret from the field； and you will fare no better；
I can assure you。〃
〃Men； you say； are too gross to feel a pure
friendship； in the first place； please to explain
yourself on this point。〃
〃Why I mean； that your friendships are generally
interested； that it requires services and good
offices to support it。〃
｛interested = not pure； having an ulterior motive｝
〃While that of women depends on〃
〃Feeling alone。〃
〃But what excites this feeling？〃 asked Charles with
a smile。
〃What？ why sympathyand a knowledge of each
other's good qualities。〃
〃Then you think Miss Miller has more g