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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 embarrassing explanation； Julia
received a letter from her friend that was in no way
distinguishable from the rest； except that it
contained the real name of Regulus； which she
declared to be Henry Frederick St。 Albans。 If Charles
was at a loss to discover Julia's hidden love； Julia
herself was equally uncertain how to know who this
Mr。 St。 Albans was。 After a vast deal of musing； she
remembered that Anna was absent from school
without leave one evening； and had returned alone
with a young man who was unknown to the
mistress。 This incident was said； by some； to have
completed her education rather within the usual
time。 Julia had herself thought her friend indiscreet；
but on the whole； hardly treatedand they left the
school together。 This must have been St。 Albans；
and Anna stood fully exculpated in her eyes。 The
letter also announced the flattering fact； that
Antonio had already left the country； ordering his
servants and horses home； and that he had gone to
New…York with the intention of hovering around
Julia； in a mask； that she could not possibly
remove； during the dangers of their expected
journey。 Anna acknowledged that she had betrayed
Antonio's secret； but pleaded her duty to her friend
in justification。 She did not think that Julia would
be able to penetrate his disguise； as he had
declared his intentions so to conceal himself； by
paint and artifice； as to be able to escape
detection。 Here was a new source of pleasure to our
heroine： Antonio was already on the wing for the
city； perhaps arrivednay； might have seen her；
might even now be within a short distance of the
summer…house where she was sitting at the time；
and watching her movements。 As this idea
suggested itself； Julia started； and unconsciously
arranging her hair； by bringing forward a neglected
curl； moved with trembling steps towards the
dwelling。 At each turn of the walk our heroine threw
a timid eye around in quest of an unknown figure；
and more than once fancied she saw the face of the
god of music peering at her from the friendly covert
of her aunt's shrubberyand twice she mistook the
light green of a neighbouring cornfield； waving in
the wind； for the coat of Antonio。 Julia had so long
associated the idea of her hero with the image in
her bosom； that she had given it perfect identity；
but； on more mature reflection； she was convinced
of her error： he would come disguised； Anna had
told her； and had ordered his servants home； where
that home was； Julia was left in ignorancebut she
fervently hoped； not far removed from her beloved
aunt。 The idea of a separation from this
affectionate relative； who had proved a mother to
her in her infancy； gave great pain to her best
feelings； and Julia again internally prayed that the
residence of Antonio might not be far distant。
What the disguise of her lover would be； Julia could
not imagineprobably； that of a wandering harper：
but then she remembered that there were no
harpers in America； and the very singularity might
betray his secret。 Music is the 〃food of love；〃 and
Julia fancied for a moment that Antonio might
appear as an itinerant organistbut it was only for
a moment； for as soon as she figured to herself the
Apollo form； bending under the awkward load of a
music…grinder； she turned in disgust from the
picture。 His taste； thought Julia will protect me
from such a sightshe might have added； his
convenience too。 Various disguises presented
themselves to our heroine； until； on a view of the
whole subject； she concluded that Antonio would
not appear as a musician at all； but in some
capacity in which he might continue unsuspected；
near her person； and execute his project of
shielding her from the dangers of travelling。 It was
then only as a servant that he could appear； and；
after mature reflection； Julia confidently expected
to see him in the character of a coachman。
Willing to spare her own horses； Miss Emmerson
had already sent to the city for the keeper of a
livery…stable； to come out and contract with her f