The incoherency of your letters； and certain things
too trifling to mention； had made me suspect that
some unusual calamity had befallen you。 You do
not mention who Regulus is。 I am burning with
curiosity to know； although I doubt not but he is
every way worthy of your choice。
〃I have in vain run over in my mind every young
man that we know； but not one of them that I can
find has any of the qualities of a hero。 Do relieve
my curiosity in your next； and I may have it in my
power to write you something of his movements。
Oh！ Anna； why will you dwell on the name of
AntonioI am sure I ought not to listen as I do to
what he saysand when we meet； I am afraid that
he will not find all the attractions which your too
partial friendship has portrayed。 If he should be
thus disappointed； Oh！ AnnaAnnawhat would
become of your friendBut I will not dwell an the
horrid idea。 Charles Weston is yet here； and
Katherine Emmerson too； so that but for the
thoughts of my absent Anna； and perhaps a little
uneasiness on the subject of Antonio； I might be
perfectly happy。 You know how good and friendly
Katherine is； and really Charles does all in his
power to please。 If he were only a little more
heroical； he would be a charming young man： for
although he is not very handsome； I don't think you
notice it in the least when you are intimate with
him。 Poor Charles； he was terribly mortified about
the flash of lightningbut then all are not brave
alike。 Adieu； my Annaand if you do converse more
with a certain person about； you know whom； let it
be with discretion； or you may raise expectations
she will not equal。 Your own JULIA。〃
〃P。 S。 I had almost forgotten to say that aunt has
promised me that I can ask you to stay with us； if；
after the 20th September； I wish it； as you may be
sure that I will。 Aunt keeps her carriage yet； and I
hope will never want it in her old age。〃
About the time this letter was written； Miss
Emmerson made both of her nieces acquainted with
the promised project that was to give them the
agreeable surprise：she had long contemplated
going to see 〃the Falls；〃 and she now intended
putting her plan into execution。 Katherine was
herself pressed to make one of the party； but the
young lady； at the same time she owned her wish
to see this far…famed cataract； declined the offer
firmly； but gratefully； on account of her desire to
spend the remaining time with her father and
mother； before they went to the south。 Charles
Weston looked from Katherine to Julia during this
dialogue； and for an instant was at a loss to know
which he thought the handsomest of the cousins。
But Julia entered into the feelings of the others so
quickly； and so gracefully offered to give up the
journey； in order that Miss Emmerson might
continue with her brother； that； aided by her
superior beauty； she triumphed。 It was evident；
that consideration for her niece was a strong
inducement with the aunt for making the journey；
and the contest became as disinterested as it was
pleasing to the auditors。 But the authority of Miss
Emmerson prevailed； and Charles was instantly
enlisted as their escort for the journey。 Julia never
looked more beautiful or amiable than during this
short controversy。 It had been mentioned by the
aunt that she should take the house of Mr。 Miller in
her road； and the information excited an emotion
that brought all her lustre to her eyes； and bloom
to her cheeks。 Charles thought it was a burst of
generous friendship； and admired the self…denial
with which she urged her aunt to relinquish the
idea。 But Julia was constitutionally generous； and it
was the excess of the quality that made her
enthusiastic and visionary。 If she did not deserve
all of Charles's admiration； she was entitled to no
small share of it。 As soon as the question was
determined in favour of going； Miss Emmerson and
Katherine withdrew； leaving Charles alone with the
heroine of our tale。 Under the age of five…and…
twenty； men commonly act at the instigation of
sudden impulse； and young Weston was not yet
twenty…one。 He had long admired Julia for her
beauty and good feelings； he did not see one half
of her folly； and he knew all of her worth； her
enthusiastic friendship for Miss Miller was
forgotten； even her mirth at his own want of
heroism had at the moment escaped his memory
and the power of the young lady over him was
never greater。
〃How admirable in you； Julia；〃 he said； seating
himself by her side； 〃to urge what was against your
own wishes； in order to oblige your aunt！〃
〃Do you think so； Charles？〃 said the other simply；
〃but you see I urged it feebly； for I did not prevail。〃
〃No； for you mistook your aunt's wishes； it seems：
she desires to gobut then all the loveliness of the
act was yours。〃
At the word loveliness； Julia raised her eyes to his
face with a slight blushit was new language for
Charles Weston to use； and it was just suited to
her feelings。 After a moment's pause。 however； she
replied
〃You use strong language； cousin Charles； such as
is unusual for you。〃
〃Julia； although I may not often have expressed it；
I have long thought you to be very lovely！〃
exclaimed the young man； borne away with his
ardour at the moment。
〃Upon my word； Charles； you improve；〃 said Julia；
blushing yet more deeply； and； if possible； looking
still handsomer than before。
〃JuliaMiss Warrenyou tear my secret from me
before its timeI love you； Julia； and would wish to
make you my wife。〃
This was certainly very plain English； nor did Julia
misunderstand a syllable of what he saidbut it
was entirely new and unexpected to her； she had
lived with Charles Weston with the confidence of a
kinswoman； but had never dreamt of him as a lover。
Indeed； she saw nothing in him that looked like a
being to excite or to entertain such a passion； and
although from the moment of his declaration she
began insensibly to think differently of him； nothing
was farther from her mind than to return his offered
affection。 But then the opportunity of making a
sacrifice to her secret love was glorious； and her
frankness forbade her to conceal the truth。 Indeed；
what better way was there to destroy the unhappy
passion of Charles； than to convince him of its
hopelessness？ These thoughts flashed through her
mind with the rapidity of lightningand trembling
with the agitation and novelty of her situation； she
answered in a low voice
〃That； Charles； can never be。〃
〃Why never； Julia？〃 cried the youth； giving way at
once to his long…suppressed feelings〃why never？
Try me； prove me！ there is nothing I will not do to
gain your love。〃
Oh！ how seductive to a female ear is the first
declaration of an attachment； especially when
urged by youth and merit！it assails her heart in
the most vulnerable part； and if it be not fortified
unusually well； seldom fails of success。 Happily for
Julia； the image of Antonio presented itself to save
her from infidelity to her old attachment； and she
replied
〃You are kind and good； Charles； and I esteem you
highlybut ask no more； I beg of you。〃
〃Why； if you grant me this； why forbid me to hope
for more？〃 said the youth eagerly； and looking
really handsome。
Julia hesitated a moment； and let her dark eyes fall
before his ardent gaze； at a loss what to saybut
the face of Apollo in the imperial uniform
interposed to save her。
〃I owe it to your candour； Mr。 Weston； to own my
weakness〃 she said； and hesitated。
〃Go on； Juliamy Julia；〃 said Charles； in an
unusually soft voice； 〃kill me at once； or bid me
live！〃
Again Julia paused； and again she looked on her
companion with kinder eyes than usualwhen she
felt the picture which lay next her heart； and
proceeded
〃Yes； Mr。 Weston； this heart； this foolish； weak
heart is no longer my own。〃
〃How！〃 exclaimed Charles； in astonishment； 〃and
have I then a rival； and a successful one too？〃
〃You have；〃 said Julia； burying her face in her hands
to conceal her blushes。〃But； Mr。 Weston； on your
generosity I depend for secrecybe as generous as
myself。〃
〃YesyesI will conceal my misery from others；〃
cried Charles； springing on his feet and rushing
from the room； 〃would to God I could conceal it
from myself！〃
Julia was sensibly touched with his distress； and for
an instant there was some regret mingled with self…
satisfaction at her own candourbut then the
delightful reflection soon presented itself of the
gratitude of Antonio when he learnt her generous
conduct； and her self…denial in favour of a man
whom she had as yet never seen。At the same
time she was resolutely determined never to
mention the occurrence herselfnot even to her
Anna。
Miss Emmerson was enabled to discover some
secret uneasiness between Charles and Julia；
although she was by no means able to penetrate
the secret。 The good aunt had long anxiously
wished for just such a declaration as had been
made to her niece； and it was one of the last of her
apprehensions that it would not have been
favourably received。 Of simple and plain habits
herself； Miss Emmerson was but little versed in the
human heart； she thought that Julia was evidently
happy and pleased with her young kinsman； and
she considered him in every respect a most eligible
connexion for her charge： their joint fortunes would
make an ample estate； and they were alike
affectionate and good…temperedwhat more could
be wanting？ Nothing however passed in the future
intercourse of the young couple to betray their
secrets； and Miss Emmerson soon forgot her
surmises。 Charles was much hurt at Julia's avowal；
and had in vain puzzled his brains to discover who
his rival could be。 No young man that was in the
least （so he thought） suitable to his mistress；
visited her； and he gave up his conjectures in
despair of discovering this unknown lover； until
accident or design should draw him into notice。
Little did he suspect the truth。 On the other hand；
Julia spent her secret hours in the delightful
consciousness of having now done something that
rendered her worthy of Antonio； with occasional
regret that she was compelled by delicacy and love
to refuse Charles so hastily as she had done。
Very soon after this