tales for fifteen-第11节

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young　man；　who　slightly　touched　his　hat；　and　gave
him　a　familiar　nod　in　returnJulia；　unconsciously；
bent　her　body；　and　felt　her　cheeks　glow　with
confusion　as　she　rose　again。　She　could　not　muster
resolution　to　raise　her　eyes　towards　the　sloop；　but
by　a　kind　of　instinctive　coquetry　dragged　her
companion　to　the　other　side　of　the　boat。　As　soon
as　she　was　able　to　recover　her　composure；　Julia
revolved　in　her　mind　the　scene　which　had　just
occurred。　She　had　seen　Antonioevery　thing　about
him　equalled　her　expectationseven　at　the
distance；　she　had　easily　discerned　the　noble　dignity
of　his　mannershis　eye　gave　assurance　of　his
conscious　worthhis　very　attitude　was　that　of　a
gentleman。　Not　to　know　him　for　a　man　of　birth；　of
education　and　of　fortune；　Julia　felt　to　her　would　be
impossible；　and　she　trembled　lest　others；　as
discerning　as　herself；　should　discover　his　disguise；
and　she　in　consequence　be　covered　with　confusion。
She　earnestly　hoped　his　incog。　would　ever　remain
unknown；　for　her　delicacy　shrunk　at　the　publicity
and　notoriety　which　would　then　attend　his
attachment。　It　was　certainly　delightful　to　be　loved；
and　so　lovedto　be　attended；　and　so　attended；　but
the　heart　of　Julia　was　too　unpractised　to　relish　the
laugh　and　observations　of　a　malignant　world。　〃No；
my　Antonio；〃　she　breathed　internally；　〃hover　around
me；　shield　me　from　impending　dangers；　delight　me
with　your　presence；　and　enchant　me　with　your　eye；
but　claim　me　in　the　guise　of　a　gentleman　and　a
hero；　that　no　envious　tongue　may　probe　the　secrets
of　our　love；　nor　any　profane　scoffer　ridicule　those
sensitive　pleasures　that　he　is　too　unsentimental　to
enjoy。〃　With　these；　and　similar　thoughts；　did　Julia
occupy　herself；　until　Charles　pointed　out　to　her　the
majestic　entrance　to　the　Highlands。　Our　heroine；
who　was　truly　alive　to　all　the　charms　of　nature；
gazed　with　rapture　as　the　boat　plunged　between
the　mountains　on　either　hand；　and　turned　a　wistful
gaze　down　the　river；　in　the　vain　hope　that　Antonio
might；　at　the　same　moment；　be　enjoying　the
scenebut　the　sluggish　sloop　was　now　far　behind；
and　the　eye　of　Antonio；　bright　as　it　was；　could　not
pierce　the　distance。　Julia　felt　rather　relieved　than
otherwise；　when　the　vessel　which　contained　her
hero　was　hid　from　view　by　a　mountain　that　they
doubled。　Her　feelings　were　much　like　those　of　a　girl
who　had　long　anxiously　waited　the　declaration　of　a
favourite　youth；　had　received　it；　and　acknowledged
her　own　partiality。　She　felt　all　the　assurance　of　her
conquest；　and　would　gladly；　for　a　time；　avoid　the
shame　of　her　own　acknowledgment。　The　passage　up
the　Hudson　furnishes　in　itself　so　much　to　charm　the
eye　of　a　novice；　that　none　but　one　under　the
extraordinary　circumstances　of　our　heroine；　could
have　beheld　the　beauties　of　the　river　unmoved。　If
Julia　did　not　experience　quite　as　much　rapture　in
the　journey　as　she　had　anticipated；　she　attributed
it　to　the　remarkably　delicate　situation　she　was　in
with　her　lover；　and　possibly　to　a　dread　of　his　being
detected。　An　officer　of　his　rank　and　reputation　must
be　well　known；　thought　she；　and　he　may　meet　with
acquaintances　every　where。　However；　by　the
attention　of　Charles；　she　passed　the　day　with　a
very　tolerable　proportion　of　pleasure。　Their　arrival
at　Albany　was　undistinguished　by　any　remarkable
event；　though　Julia　looked　in　vain　through　the
darkness　of　the　night；　in　quest　of　the　fertile
meadows　and　desert　islands　which　Anna　had
mentioned　in　her　letter。　Even　the　river　seemed
straight　and　uninteresting。　But　Julia　was　tiredit
was　nightand　Antonio　was　absent。

The　following　morning　Miss　Emmerson　and　her
niece；　attended　by　Charles；　took　a　walk　to　examine
the　beauties　of　Albany。　It　did　not　strike　our　heroine
as　being　so　picturesque　as　it　had　her　friend；　still　it
had　novelty；　and　that　lent　it　many　charms　it　might
have　wanted　on　a　more　intimate　acquaintance。
Their　forenoon；　however；　exhausted　the　beauties　of
this　charming　town；　and　they　had　returned　to　the
inn；　and　the　ladies　were　sitting　in　rather　a　listless
state　when　Charles　entered　the　room　with　a　look　of
pleasure；　and　cried　〃he　is　here。〃

〃Who！〃　exclaimed　Julia；　starting；　and　trembling　like
an　aspen。

〃He！Tony；〃　said　Charles；　in　reply。

Julia　was　unable　to　say　any　more；　but　her　aunt；
without　noticing　her　agitation；　asked　mildly；　〃And
who　is　Tony？〃

〃Why　Anthony；　the　driverhe　is　here　and　wishes　to
see　you。〃

〃Show　him　up；　Charles；　and　let　us　learn　when　he
will　be　ready　to　go　on。〃

This　was　an　awful　moment　to　Juliashe　was　on　the
eve　of　being　confronted；　in　a　room；　for　the　first
time；　with　the　man　on　whom　she　felt　that　her
happiness　or　misery　must　depend。　Although　she
knew　the　vast　importance　to　her　of　good　looks　at
such　a　moment；　she　looked　unusually　illshe　was
pale　from　apprehension；　and　awkward　and
ungraceful　from　her　agitation。　She　would　have　given
the　world　to　have　got　out　of　the　room；　but　this　was
impossiblethere　was　but　one　door；　and　through
that　he　must　come。　She　had　just　concluded　that　it
was　better　to　remain　in　her　chair　than　incur　the　risk
of　fainting　in　the　passage；　when　he　entered；
preceded　by　Charles。　His　upper；　and　part　of　his
lower　lip；　were　clean　shaved；　a　small　part　of　one
cheek　and　his　nose　were　to　be　seen；　all　the　rest　of
his　face　was　covered　with　hair；　or　hid　under　the
patch。　An　enormous　coloured　handkerchief　was　tied；
in　a　particular　manner；　round　his　neck；　and　his　coat；
made　of　plain　materials；　and　somewhat　tarnished
with　service；　was　buttoned　as　close　to　his　throat　as
the　handkerchief　would　allow。　In　short；　his　whole
attire　was　that　of　a　common　driver　of　a　hack
carriage；　and　no　one　who　had　not　previously
received　an　intimation　that　his　character　was
different　from　his　appearance；　would　at　all　have
suspected　the　deception。

〃Your　name　is　Anthony？〃　said　Miss　Emmerson；　as
he　bowed　to　her　with　due　deference。

〃Yes；　ma'am；　AnthonyTony　Sandford；〃　was　the
replyit　was　uttered　in　a　vulgar　nasal　tone；　that
Julia　instantly　perceived　was　counterfeited：　but
Miss　Emmerson；　with　perfect　innocency；　proceeded
in　her　inquiries。

〃Are　your　horses　gentle　and　good；　Tony？〃　adopting
the　familiar　nomenclature　that　seemed　most　to　his
fancy。

〃As　gentle　as　e'er　a　lady　in　the　land；〃　said　Tony；
turning　his　large　black　eye　round　the　room；　and
letting　it　dwell　a　moment　on　the　beautiful　face　of
Juliaher　heart　throbbed　with　tumultuous　emotion
at　the　first　sound　of　his　voice；　and　she　was　highly
amused　at　the　ingenuity　he　had　displayed；　in
paying　a　characteristic　compliment　to　her
gentleness；　in　this　clandestine　mannerif　he
preserves　his　incognito　so　ingeniously　he　will　never
be　detected；　thought　Julia；　and　all　will　be　well。

〃And　the　carriage；〃　continued　Miss　Emmerson；　〃is　it
fit　to　carry　us？〃

〃I　can't　say　how　fit　it　may　be　to　carry　sich　ladies　as
you　be；　but　it　is　as　good　a　carriage　as　runs　out　of
York。〃

Here　was　another　delicate　compliment；　thought
Julia；　and　so　artfully　concealed　under　brutal
indifference　that　it　nearly　deceived　even　herself。

〃When　will　you　be　ready　to　start？〃　asked　Miss
Emmerson。

〃This　moment；〃　was　the　prompt　reply〃we　can
easily　reach　Schenectady　by　sundown。〃

Here　Julia　saw　the　decision　and　promptitude　of　a
soldier　used　to　marches　and　movements；　besides
an　eager　desire　to　remove　her　from　the　bustle　of　a
large　town　and　thoroughfare；　to　a　retirement　where
she　would　be　more　particularly　under　his　protection。
Miss　Emmerson；　on　the　other　hand；　saw　nothing　but
the　anxiety　of　a　careful　hireling；　willing　to　promote
the　interest　of　his　master；　who　was　to　be　paid　for
his　conveyance　by　the　jobso　differently　do　sixty
and　sixteen　judge　the　same　actions！　At　all　events；
the　offer　was　accepted；　and　the　man　ordered　to
secure　the　baggage；　and　prepare　for　their
immediate　departure。

〃Why　don't　you　help　Antonio　on　with　the　baggage；
Charles？〃　said　Julia；　as　she　stood　looking　at　the
driver　tottering　under　the　weight　of　the　trunks。
Charles　stared　a　moment　with　surprisethe　name
created　no　astonishment；　but　the　request　did。　Julia
had　a　habit　of　softening　names；　that　were　rather
harsh　in　themselves；　to　which　he　was　accustomed。
Peter　she　called　Pierre；　Robert　was　Rubert　｛sic｝；
and　her　aunt's　black　footman　Timothy；　she　had
designated　as　Timotheus：　but　it　was　not　usual　for
ladies　to　request　gentlemen　to　perform　menial
officesuntil；　recollecting　that　Julia　had　expressed
unusual　solicitude　concerning　a　dressing…box　that
contained　Anna's　letters；　he　at　once　supposed　it
was　to　that　she　wished　him　to　attend。　Charles　left
the　room；　and　superintended　the　whole
arrangements；　when　once　enlisted。　Julia　now　felt
that　every　doubt　of　the　identity　of　her　lover　with
this　coachman　was　removed。　He　had　ingeniously
adopted　the　name　of　Anthony；　as　resembling　in
sound　the　one　she　herself　had　given　him　in　her
letters。　This　he　undoubtedly　had　learnt　from　Anna
and　then　Sandford　was　very　much　like　Stanleyhis
patch；　his　dress；　his　airevery　thing　about　him
united　to　confirm　her　impressions；　and　Julia；　at　the
same　time　she　resolved　to　conduct　herself　towards
him　in　their　journey　with　a　proper　feminine　reserve；
thought　she　could　do　no　less　to　a　man　who
submitted　to　so　much　to　serve　her；　than　to　suffer
him　to　perceive