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certainly disappointed。 It contained no descriptions
of the lovely scenery of the west。 The moon had
risen and the sun had set on the lakes of the
interior； and Anna had said not one word of either。
But the third and fourth time of reading began to
afford more pleasure； and at the thirteenth perusal
she pronounced it charming。 There was evidently
much to be understood； vacuums that the fancy
could easily fill； and； before Julia had left the
summer…house； the letter was extended； in her
imagination； to the promised six sheets。 She
walked slowly through the shrubbery towards the
house； musing on the contents of her letter； or
rather what it might be supposed to contain； and
unconsciously repeating to herself in a low tone
〃Young； handsome； rich； and sensiblejust as we
used to paint in our conversation。 Oh； how
delightful！〃
〃Delightful indeed； to possess all those fine
qualities； and who is the happy individual that is so
blessed？〃 asked Charles Weston； who had been
lingering in the walks with an umbrella to shield her
on her return from an approaching shower。
〃Oh！〃 said Julia； starting； 〃I did not know you were
near me。 I have been reading Anna's sweet letter；〃
pressing the paper to her bosom as she spoke。
〃Doubtless you must be done by this time； Julia；
and；〃 pointing to the clouds； 〃you had better hasten
to the house。 I knew you would be terrified at the
lightning all alone by yourself in that summer…
house； so I came to protect you。〃
〃You are very good； Charles； but does it lighten？〃
said Julia in terror； and hastening her retreat to the
dwelling。
〃Your letter must have interested you deeply not to
have noticed the thunderyou； who are so timid
and fearful of the flashes。〃
〃Foolishly fearful； you would say； if you were not
afraid of hurting my feelings； I know；〃 said Julia。
〃It is a natural dread； and therefore not to be
laughed at；〃 answered Charles mildly。
〃Then there is natural fear； but no natural love； Mr。
Charles； now you are finely caught；〃 cried Julia
exultingly。
〃Well； be it so。 With me fear is very natural； and I
can almost persuade myself love also。〃
〃I hope you are not a coward； Charles Weston。 A
cowardly man is very despicable。 I could never love
a cowardly man；〃 said Julia； laughing。
〃I don't know whether I am what you call a coward；〃
said Charles gravely； 〃but when in danger I am
always afraid。〃
The words were hardly uttered before a flash of
lightning； followed instantly by a tremendously
heavy clap of thunder； nearly stupified them both。
The suddenness of the shock had； for a moment；
paralyzed the energy of the youth； while Julia was
nearly insensible。 Soon recovering himself；
however； Charles drew her after him into the house；
in time to escape a torrent of rain。 The storm was
soon over； and their natural fear and surprise were
a source of mirth for Julia。 Women are seldom
ashamed of their fears； for their fright is thought to
be feminine end attractive； but men are less easy
under the imputation of terror； as it is thought to
indicate an absence of manly qualities。
〃Oh！ you will never make a hero； Charles；〃 cried
Julia； laughing heartily。 〃It is well you chose the
law instead of the army as a profession。〃
〃I don't know；〃 said the youth； a little nettled；〃 I
think I could muster courage to face a bullet。〃
〃But remember； that you shut your eyes； and bent
nearly double at the flashnow you owned all this
yourself。〃
〃At least he was candid； and acknowledged his
infirmities；〃 said Miss Emmerson； who had been
listening。
〃I think most men would have done as I did； at so
heavy and so sudden a clap of thunder； and so very
near too；〃 said Charles； striving to conceal the
uneasiness he felt。
〃When apprehension for Julia must have increased
your terror；〃 said the aunt kindly。
〃Why； noI rather believe I thought only of myself
at the moment；〃 returned Charles； 〃but then； Julia；
you must do me the justice to say； that instantly I
thought of the danger of your taking cold and drew
you into the house。〃
〃Oh！ you ran from another clap；〃 said Julia； laughing
till her dark eyes flashed with pleasure； and
shaking her head until her glossy hair fell in ringlets
over her shoulders； 〃you will never make a hero；
Charles。〃
〃Do you know any one who would have behaved
better； Miss Warren？〃 said the young man angrily。
〃YeswhyI don't know。 Yes； I have heard of one；
I think；〃 answered Julia； slightly colouring； 〃but；
dear Charles； excuse my laughter；〃 she continued；
holding out her hand； 〃if you are not a hero； you
are very； very； good。〃
But Charles Weston； at the moment； would rather
be thought a hero than very； very； good； he；
therefore； rose； and affecting a smile； endeavoured
to say something trifling as he retired。
〃You have mortified Charles；〃 said Miss Emmerson；
so soon as he was out of hearing。
〃I am sure I hope not；〃 said Julia； with a good deal
of anxiety； 〃he is the last person I would wish to
offend； he is so very kind。〃
〃No young man of twenty is pleased with being
thought no hero；〃 returned the aunt。
〃And yet all are not so；〃 said Julia； 〃I hardly know
what you mean by a hero； if you mean such men as
Washington； Greene； or Warren； all are surely not
so。 These were heroes in deeds； but others may be
equally brave。〃
｛Greene = Nathanael Greene （1742…1786）；
Revolutionary General； Warren = Joseph Warren
（1741…1775）； Revolutionary war hero； killed at the
Battle of Bunker Hill｝
〃I mean by a hero； a man whose character is
unstained by any low or degenerate vices； or even
feelings；〃 said Julia； with a little more than her
ordinary enthusiasm； 〃whose courage is as natural
as it is daring； who is above fear； except of doing
wrong； whose person is an index of his mind； and
whose mind is filled with images of glory； that's
what I call a hero； aunt。〃
〃Then he must be handsome as well as valiant；〃
said Miss Emmerson； with a smile that was hardly
perceptible。
〃Why that isisnot absolutely material；〃 replied
Julia； blushing； 〃but one would wish to have him
handsome too。〃
〃Oh！ by all means； it would render his virtues more
striking。 But I think you intimated that you knew
such a being；〃 returned Miss Emmerson； fixing her
mild eyes on Julia in a manner that denoted great
interest。
〃Did I；〃 said Julia； colouring scarlet； 〃I am sureI
have forgottenit must be a mistake； surely； dear
aunt。〃
〃Very possibly I misunderstood you； my dear；〃 said
Miss Emmerson； rising and withdrawing from the
room； in apparent indifference to the subject。
Julia continued musing on the dialogue which had
passed； and soon had recourse to the letter of her
friend； the postscript of which was all； however；
that she thought necessary to read： on this she
dwelt until the periods were lengthened into
paragraphs； each syllable into words； and each
letter into syllables。 Anna Miller had furnished the
outlines of a picture； that the imagination of Julia
had completed。 The name of Edward Stanley was
repeated internally so often that she thought it the
sweetest name she had ever heard。 His eyes； his
nose； his countenance； were avowed to be
handsome； and her fancy soon gave a colour and
form to each。 He was sensible； how sensible； her
friend had not expressly stated； but then the
powers of Anna； great as they undoubtedly were；
could not compass the mighty extent of so gigantic
a mind。 Brave； too； Anna had called him。 This she
must have learnt from acts of desperate courage
that he had performed in the war which had so
recently terminated； or perhaps he might have even
distinguished himself in the presence of Anna； by
some exploit of cool and determined daring。 Her
heart burned to know all the particulars； but how
was she to inquire them。 Anna； dear； indiscreet girl；
had already shown her letters； and her delicacy
shrunk from the exposure of her curiosity to its
object。 After a multitude of expedients had been
adopted and rejected as impracticable； Julia
resorted to the course of committing her inquiries
to paper； most solemnly enjoining her friend never
to expose her weakness to Mr。 Stanley。 This；
thought Julia； she never could do； it would be
unjust to me； and indelicate in her。 So Julia wrote
as follows； first seeking her own apartment； and
carefully locking the door； that she might devote
her whole attention to friendship； and her letter。
〃Dearest Anna；
〃Your kind letter reach'd me after many an anxious
hour spent in expectation； and repays me ten…fold
for all my uneasiness。 Surely； Anna； there is no one
that can write half so agreeably as yourself。 I know
there must be a longlongepistle for me on the
road； containing those descriptions and incidents
you promised to favour me with： how I long to read
them； and to show them to my aunt Margaret； who；
I believe； does not suspect you to be capable of
doing that which I know； or rather feel； you can。
Knowing from any thing but feeling and the innate
evidence of our sympathies； seems to me
something like heresy in friendship。 Oh； Anna！ how
could you be so cruel as to show my letters to any
one； and that to a gentleman and a stranger？ I
never would have served you so； not even to go