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〃What？ why sympathyand a knowledge of each
other's good qualities。〃
〃Then you think Miss Miller has more good qualities
than Katherine Emmerson；〃 said Weston。
〃When did I ever say so？〃 cried Julia in surprise。
〃I infer it from your loving her better； merely；〃
returned the young man with a little of Miss
Emmerson's dryness。
〃It would be difficult to compare them；〃 said Julia
after a moment's pause。 〃Katherine is in the world；
and has had an opportunity of showing her merit；
that Anna has never enjoyed。 Katherine is certainly
a most excellent girl； and I like her very much； but
there is no reason to think that Anna will not prove
as fine a young woman as Katherine； when put to
the trial。〃
〃Pray；〃 said the young lawyer with great gravity；
〃how many of these bosom； these confidential
friends can a young woman have at the same
time？〃
〃One； only oneany more than she could have two
lovers；〃 cried Julia quickly。
〃Why then did you find it necessary to take that
one from a set； that was untried in the practice of
well…doing； when so excellent a subject as your
cousin Katherine offered？〃
〃But Anna I know； I feel； is every thing that is good
and sincere； and our sympathies drew us together。
Katherine I loved naturally。〃
〃How naturally？〃
〃Is it not natural to love your relatives？〃 said Julia
in surprise。
〃No；〃 was the brief answer。
〃Surely； Charles Weston； you think me a simpleton。
Does not every parent love its child by natural
instinct？〃
〃No： no more than you love any of your
amusements from instinct。 If the parent was
present with a child that he did not know to be his
own； would instinct； think you； discover their
vicinity？〃
〃Certainly not； if they had never met before； but
then； as soon as he knew it to be his； he would
love it from nature。〃
〃It is a complicated question； and one that involves
a thousand connected feelings；〃 said Charles。 〃But
all love； at least all love of the heart； springs from
the causes you mentioned to your auntgood
offices； a dependence on each other； and habit。〃
〃Yes； and nature too；〃 said the young lady rather
positively； 〃and I contend； that natural lore； and
love from sympathy； are two distinct things。〃
〃Very different； I allow；〃 said Charles； 〃only I very
much doubt the durability of that affection which
has no better foundation than fancy。〃
〃You use such queer terms； Charles； that you do
not treat the subject fairly。 Calling innate evidence
of worth by the name of fancy； is not candid。〃
〃Now； indeed； your own terms puzzle me；〃 said
Charles； smiling。 〃What is innate evidence of
worth？〃
〃Why； a conviction that another possesses all that
you esteem yourself； and is discovered by congenial
feelings and natural sympathies。〃
〃Upon my word； Julia； you are quite a casuist on
this subject。 Does love； then； between the sexes
depend on this congenial sympathy and innate
evidence？〃
〃Now you talk on a subject that I do not
understand；〃 said Julia； blushing； and； catching up
the highly prized work； she ran to her own room；
leaving the young man in a state of mingled
admiration and pity。
CHAPTER II。
AN anxious fortnight was passed by Julia Warren；
after this conversation； without bringing any tidings
from her friend。 She watched； with feverish
restlessness； each steam…boat that passed the
door on its busy way towards the metropolis； and
met the servant each day at the gate of the lawn
on his return from the city； but it was only to
receive added disappointments。 At length Charles
Weston good…naturedly offered his own services；
laughingly declaring； that his luck was never known
to fail。 Julia herself had written several long
epistles to Anna； and it was now the proper time
that some of these should be answered；
independently of the thousand promises from her
friend of writing regularly from every post…office
that she might pass on her route to the Gennessee。
But the happy moment had arrived when
disappointments were to cease。
As usual； Julia was waiting with eager impatience
at the gate； her lovely form occasionally gliding
from the shrubbery to catch a glimpse of the
passengers on the highway； when Charles appeared
riding at a full gallop towards the house； his whole
manner announced success； and Julia sprang into
the middle of the road to take the letter which he
extended towards her。
〃I knew I should be successful； and it gives me
almost as much pleasure as yourself that I have
been so；〃 said the youth； dismounting from his
horse and opening the gate that his companion
might pass。
〃Thank youthank you； dear Charles；〃 said Julia
kindly。 〃I never can forget how good you are to me…
…how much you love to oblige not only me； but
every one around。 Excuse me now； I have this dear
letter to read another time； I will thank you as I
ought。〃
So saying； Julia ran into the summer…house； and
fastening its door； gave herself up to the pleasure
of reading a first letter。 Notes and short epistles
from her aunt； with divers letters from Anna written
slyly in the school…room and slipped into her lap；
she was already well acquainted with； but of real；
genuine letters； stamped by the post…office；
rumpled by the mail…bags； consecrated by the
steam…boat； this was certainly the first。 This；
indeed； was a real letter： rivers rolled； and vast
tracts of country lay； between herself and its writer；
and that writer was a friend selected on the
testimony of innate evidence。 It was necessary for
Julia to pause and breathe before she could open
her letter； and by the time this was done； her busy
fancy had clothed both epistle and writer with so
much excellence； that she was prepared to peruse
the contents with a respect bordering on
enthusiasm： every word must be trueevery idea
purity itself。 That our readers may know how
accurately sixteen and a brilliant fancy had qualified
her to judge； we shall give them the letter entire。
〃My dearest love；
〃Oh； Julia！ here I am； and such a place！no town；
no churches； no Broadway； nothing that can make
life desirable； and； I may add； no friendnobody to
see and talk with； but papa and mamma； and a
house full of brothers and sisters。 You can't think
how I miss you； every minute more and more； but I
am not without hopes of persuading pa to let me
spend the winter with your aunt in town。 I declare
it makes me sick every time I think of her sweet
house in Park…place。 If ever I marry； and be sure I
will； it shall be a man who lives in the city； and
next door to my Julia。 Oh！ how charming that would
be。 Each of us to have one of those delightful new
houses； with the new…fashioned basement stories；
we would run in and out at all hours of the day； and
it would be so convenient to lend and borrow each
other's things。 I do think there is no pleasure under
heaven equal to that of wearing things that belong
to your friend。 Don't you remember how fond I was
of wearing your clothes at school； though you were
not so fond of changing as myself； but that was no
wonder； for pa's stinginess kept me so shabbily
dressed； that I was ashamed to let you be seen in
them。 Oh； Julia！ I shall never forget those happy
hours； nor you neither。 AproposI hope you have
not forgot the frock you promised to work for me； to
remember you by。 I long for it dreadfully； and hope
you will send it before the river shuts。 I suppose
you and Charles Weston do nothing but ride round
among those beautiful villas on the island； and
take comfort。 I do envy you your happiness； I can
tell you； for I think any beau better than none；
though Mr。 Weston is not to my taste。 I am going
to write you six sheets of paper； for there is
nothing that I so delight in as communing with a
friend at a distance； especially situated as I am
without a soul to say a word to； unless it be my
own sisters。 Adieu； my ever； ever beloved Juliabe
to me as I am to you； a friend indeed； one tried
and not found wanting。 In haste； your
〃ANNA。
〃Gennessee； June 15； 1816。
〃P。 S。 Don't forget to jog aunt Emmerson's memory
about asking me to Park…place。
〃P。 S。 June 25th。 Not having yet sent my letter；
although I am sure you must be dying with anxiety
to hear how we get on； I must add； that we have a
companion here that would delight youa Mr。
Edward Stanley。 What a delightful name！ and he is
as delightful as his name： his eye； his nose； his
whole countenance； are perfect。 In short； Julia； he
is just such a man as we used to draw in our
conversation at school。 He is rich； and brave； and
sensible； and I do nothing but talk to him of you。
He says； he longs to see you； knows you must be
handsome； is sure you are sensible； and feels that
you are good。 Oh！ he is worth a dozen Charles
Westons。 But you may give my compliments to Mr。
Weston； though I don't suppose he ever thinks it
worth his while to remember such a chick as me。 I
should like to hear what he says about me； and I
will tell you all Edward Stanley says of you。 Once
more； adieu。 Your letters got here safe and in due
season。 I let Edward take a peep at them。〃
The first time Julia read this letter she was
certainly disappointed。 It contained no descriptions
of the lovely scenery of the wes