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〃In what manner did you lose your eye； Tony；〃 said
Charles； in a tone of sympathy that Julia blessed
him for in her heart； although she knew that the
member was uninjured； and only hidden to favour
his disguise。 Antonio hesitated a little in his
answer； and stammered while giving it〃It was in
the wars；〃 at length he got out； and Julia admired
the noble magnanimity which would not allow him；
even in imagination； to suffer in a less glorious
mannernotwithstanding his eye is safe and as
beautiful as the other； he has suffered in the wars；
thought our heroine； and it is pardonable for him to
use the deception； situated as he isit is nothing
more than an equivoque。 But this was touching
Charles on a favourite chord。 Little of a hero as
Julia fancied him to be； he delighted in conversing
about the war with those men； who； having acted in
subordinate stations； would give a different view of
the subject from the official accounts； in which he
was deeply read。 It was no wonder； therefore； that
he eagerly seized on the present opportunity to
relieve the tedium of a ride between Albany and
Schenectady。
｛equivoque = double meaning； a pun｝
〃In what battle；〃 asked Charles； quickly； 〃by sea or
by land？〃
〃By sea；〃 said Antonio； speaking to his horses； with
an evident unwillingness to say any more on the
subject。
Ah！ the deception； and the idea of his friend
Lawrence； are too much for his sensibility； thought
Julia； and to relieve him she addressed Charles
herself。
〃How far are we from Schenectady； cousin Charles？〃
Antonio； certainly； was not her cousin Charles； but
as if he thought the answering such questions to be
his peculiar province； he replied immediately
〃Four miles； ma'am； there's the stone。〃
There was nothing in the answer itself； or the
manner of its delivery； to attract notice in an
unsuspecting listener； but by Julia it was well
understoodit was the first time he had ever
spoken directly to herselfit was a new era in their
livesand his body turned half round toward her as
he spoke； showed his manly form to great
advantage； but the impressive and dignified
manner in which he dropped his whip towards the
mile…stone； Julia felt that she never could forgetit
was intended to mark the spot where he had first
addressed her。 He had chosen it with taste。 The
stone stood under the shade of a solitary oak； and
might easily be fancied to be a monument erected
to commemorate some important event in the lives
of our lovers。 Julia ran over in her mind the time
when she should pay an annual visit to that
hallowed place； and leaning on the arm of her
majestic husband； murmur in his ear； 〃Here； on this
loved spot； did Antonio first address his happy；
thrice happy Julia。〃
〃Well； Tony；〃 said the mild voice of Miss Emmerson；
〃the sun is near setting； let us go the four miles as
fast as you please。〃
〃I'm sure； ma'am；〃 said Antonio； with profound
respect； 〃you don't want to get in more than I do；
for I had no sleep all last night； I'll not keep you
out one minute after night〃so saying； he urged his
horses to a fast trot； and was quite us good as his
word。 How delicate in his attentions； and yet how
artfully has he concealed his anxiety on my account
under a feigned desire for sleep； thought Julia。
If any thing had been wanting either to convince
Julia of the truth of her conjecture； or to secure the
conquest of Antonio； our heroine felt that this short
ride had abundantly supplied it。
CHAPTER VI。
THE following day our travellers were on the road
before the sun； and busily pursued their route
through the delightful valley of the Mohawk。 It was
now that Julia； in some measure accustomed to her
proximity to her hero； began to enjoy the beauties
of the scenery； her eye dwelt with rapture on each
opening glimpse that they caught of the river； and
took in its gaze meadows of never…failing verdure；
which were beautifully interspersed with elms that
seemed coeval with the country itself。 Occasionally
she would draw the attention of her aunt to some
view of particular interest； and if her eager voice
caught the attention of Antonio； and he turned to
gaze； to ponder； and to admirethen Julia felt
happy indeed； for then it was that she felt the
indescribable bliss of sharing our pleasures with
those we love。 What heart of sensibility has stood
and coldly gazed on a scene over which the eye；
that it loves to admire； is roving with delight？ Who
is there that has yet to learn； that if the strongest
bond to love is propinquity； so is its tenderest tie；
sympathy？ In this manner did our lovely heroine
pass a day of hitherto untasted bliss。 Antonio
would frequently stop his horses on the summit of
a hill； and Julia understood the motive； turning her
looks in the direction in which she saw the eye of
her lover bent； she would sit in silent and secret
communion with his feelings。 In vain Charles
endeavoured to catch her attentionhis remarks
were unnoticed； and his simple efforts to please
disregarded。 At length； as they advanced towards
the close of their day's ride； Charles； observing a
mountain obtruding itself directly across their path；
and meeting the river； which swept with great
velocity around its base； cried aloud with a laugh
〃Anthony； I wish you would remove your nose！〃
〃Charles！〃 exclaimed Julia； shocked at his rude
familiarities with a man of Antonio's elevated
character。
〃Poh！〃 said the young man； in an under tone；
conceiving her surprise to be occasioned by his
lowering himself to joke with an inferior； 〃he is a
good； honest fellow； and don't mind a joke at all； I
assure you。〃
Charles was right； for Antonio； moving his face；
with a laugh cried in his turn〃There； sir； my nose
is moved； but you can't see no better； after all。〃
Julia was amused with his condescension； which
she thought augured perfect good…nature and
affability。 After all； thought Julia； if noble and
commanding qualities are necessary to excite
admiration or to command respect； familiar virtues
induce us to love more tenderly； and good temper
is absolutely necessary to contribute to our
comfort。 On the whole； she was rather pleased than
otherwise； that Antonio could receive and return
what was evidently intended for a witticism；
although as yet she did not comprehend it。 But
Charles did not leave her long in doubt。 On the
north side of the Mohawk； and at about fifty miles
from its mouth； is a mountain which； as we have
already said； juts； in a nearly perpendicular
promontory； into the bed of the river； its inclination
is sufficient to admit of its receiving the name of a
nose。 Without the least intention of alluding to our
hero； the early settlers had affixed the name of St。
Anthony； who appears to have been a kind of Dutch
deity in this state； and to have monopolized all the
natural noses within her boundaries to himself。 The
vulgar idiom made the pronunciation an…TONY's
noseand all this Charles briefly explained to Miss
Emmerson and her niece by way of giving point to
his own wit。 He had hardly made them comprehend
the full brilliancy and beauty of his application of
the mountain to their driver； when they rea