tales for fifteen-第2节

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constant　and　assiduous　attention　on　the　part　of　the
aunt　to　the　health　and　attire　of　her　niece。

｛fever　of　1805　=　New　York　City　had　suffered　a
major　epidemic　of　yellow　fever　in　the　summer　of
1805；　tambour…frame　=　a　circular　frame　used　to
hold　material　being　embroidered｝

Miss　Emmerson　had　a　brother　residing　in　the　city　of
New…York；　who　was　a　man　of　eminence　at　the　bar；
and　who；　having　been　educated　fifty　years　ago；
was；　from　that　circumstance；　just　so　much　superior
to　his　successors　of　his　own　sex　by　twenty　years；
as　his　sisters　were　the　losers　from　the　some　cause。
The　family　of　Mr。　Emmerson　was　large；　and；　besides
several　sons；　he　had　two　daughters；　one　of　whom
remained　still　unmarried　in　the　house　of　her　father。
Katherine　Emmerson　was　but　eighteen　months　the
senior　of　Julia　Warren；　but　her　father　had　adopted　a
different　course　from　that　which　was　ordinarily
pursued　with　girls　of　her　expectations。　He　had
married　a　woman　of　sense；　and　now　reaped　the
richest　blessing　of　such　a　connexion　in　her　ability　to
superintend　the　education　of　her　daughter。　A
mother's　care　was　employed　to　correct　errors　that　a
mother's　tenderness　could　only　discover；　and　in　the
place　of　general　systems；　and　comprehensive
theories；　was　substituted　the　close　and　rigorous
watchfulness　which　adapted　the　remedy　to　the
disease；　which　studied　the　disposition；　and　which
knew　the　failings　or　merits　of　the　pupil；　and　could
best　tell　when　to　reward；　and　how　to　punish。　The
consequences　were　easily　to　be　seen　in　the
manners　and　character　of　their　daughter。　Her
accomplishments；　even　where　a　master　had　been
employed　in　their　attainment；　were　naturally
displayed；　and　suited　to　her　powers。　Her　manners；
instead　of　the　artificial　movements　of　prescribed
rules；　exhibited　the　chaste　and　delicate　modesty　of
refinement；　mingled　with　good　principlessuch　as
were　not　worn　in　order　to　be　in　character　as　a
woman　and　a　lady；　but　were　deeply　seated；　and
formed　part；　not　only　of　her　habits；　but；　if　we　may
use　the　expression；　of　her　nature　also。　Miss
Emmerson　had　good　sense　enough　to　perceive　the
value　of　such　an　acquaintance　for　her　ward；　but；
unfortunately　for　her　wish　to　establish　an　intimacy
between　her　nieces；　Julia　had　already　formed　a
friendship　at　school；　and　did　not　conceive　her　heart
was　large　enough　to　admit　two　at　the　same　time　to
its　sanctuary。　How　much　Julia　was　mistaken　the
sequel　of　our　tale　will　show。

So　long　as　Anna　Miller　was　the　inmate　of　the
school；　Julia　was　satisfied　to　remain　also；　but　the
father　of　Anna　having　determined　to　remove　to　an
estate　in　the　interior　of　the　country；　his　daughter
was　taken　from　school；　and　while　the　arrangements
were　making　for　the　reception　of　the　family　on　the
banks　of　the　Gennessee；　Anna　was　permitted　to
taste；　for　a　short　time；　the　pleasures　of　the　world；
at　the　residence　of　Miss　Emmerson　on　the　banks　of
the　Hudson。

｛Gennessee　=　Genesee　River；　which　flows　north
through　central　New　York　State　to　Lake　Ontarioat
the　time　of　Cooper's　story　it　was　still　on　the
frontier　of　settlement｝

Charles　Weston　was　a　distant　relative　of　the　good
aunt；　and　was；　like　Julia；　an　orphan；　who　was
moderately　endowed　with　the　goods　of　fortune。　He
was　a　student　in　the　office　of　her　uncle；　and　being
a　great　favourite　with　Miss　Emmerson；　spent　many
of　his　leisure　hours；　during　the　heats　of　the
summer；　in　the　retirement　of　her　country　residence。

Whatever　might　be　the　composure　of　the　maiden
aunt；　while　Julia　was　weeping　in　her　chamber　over
the　long　separation　that　was　now　to　exist　between
herself　and　her　friend；　young　Weston　by　no　means
displayed　the　same　philosophic　indifference。　He
paced　the　hall　of　the　building　with　rapid　steps；　cast
many　a　longing　glance　at　the　door　of　his　cousin's
room；　and　then　rested　himself　with　an　apparent
intention　to　read　the　volume　he　held　in　his　hands；
nor　did　he　in　any　degree　recover　his　composure
until　Julia　re…appeared　on　the　landing　of　the　stairs；
moving　slowly　towards　their　bottom；　when；　taking
one　long　look　at　her　lovely　face；　which　was　glowing
with　youthful　beauty；　and　if　possible　more　charming
from　the　traces　of　tears　in　her　eyes；　he　coolly
pursued　his　studies。　Julia　had　recovered　her
composure；　and　Charles　Weston　felt　satisfied。　Miss
Emmerson　and　her　niece　took　their　seats　quietly
with　their　work　at　an　open　window　of　the　parlour；
and　order　appeared　to　be　restored　in　some　measure
to　the　mansion。　After　pursuing　their　several
occupations　for　some　minutes　with　a　silence　that
had　lately　been　a　stranger　to　them；　the　aunt
observed

〃You　appear　to　have　something　new　in　hand；　my
love。　Surely　you　must　abound　with　trimmings；　and
yet　you　are　working　another　already？〃

〃It　is　for　Anna　Miller；〃　said　Julia　with　a　flush　of
feeling。

〃I　was　in　hopes　you　would　perform　your　promise　to
your　cousin　Katherine；　now　Miss　Miller　is　gone；　and
make　your　portion　of　the　garments　for　the　Orphan
Asylum；〃　returned　Miss　Emmerson　gravely。

〃Oh！　cousin　Katherine　must　wait。　I　promised　this
trimming　to　Anna　to　remember　me　by；　and　I　would
not　disappoint　the　dear　girl　for　the　world。〃

〃It　is　not　your　cousin　Katherine；　but　the　Orphans；
who　will　have　to　wait；　and　surely　a　promise　to　a
relation　is　as　sacred　as　one　to　an　acquaintance。〃

〃Acquaintance；　aunt！〃　echoed　the　niece　with
displeasure。　〃Do　not；　I　entreat　you；　call　Anna　an
acquaintance　merely。　She　is　my　friendmy　very
best　friend；　and　I　love　her　as　such。〃

〃Thank　you；　my　dear；〃　said　the　aunt　dryly。

〃Oh！　I　mean　nothing　disrespectful　to　yourself；　dear
aunt；〃　continued　Julia。　〃You　know　how　much　I　owe
to　you；　and　ought　to　know　that　I　love　you　as　a
mother。〃

〃And　would　you　prefer　Miss　Miller　to　a　mother；
then？〃

〃Surely　not　in　respect；　in　gratitude；　in　obedience；
but　still　I　may　love　her；　you　know。　Indeed；　the
feelings　are　so　very　different；　that　they　do　not　at
all　interfere　with　each　otherin　my　heart　at　least。〃

〃No！〃　said　Miss　Emmerson；　with　a　little　curiosity〃I
wish　you　would　try　and　explain　this　difference　to
me；　that　I　may　comprehend　the　distinctions　that
you　are　fond　of　making。〃

〃Why；　nothing　is　easier；　dear　aunt！〃　said　Julia　with
animation。　〃You　I　love　because　you　are　kind　to　me；
attentive　to　my　wants；　considerate　for　my　good；
affectionate；　andandfrom　habitand　you　are　my
aunt；　and　take　care　of　me。〃

〃Admirable　reasons！〃　exclaimed　Charles　Weston；
who　had　laid　aside　his　book　to　listen　to　this
conversation。

〃They　are　forcible　ones　I　must　admit；〃　said　Miss
Emmerson；　smiling　affectionately　on　her　niece；　〃but
now　for　the　other　kind　of　love。〃

〃Why；　Anna　is　my　friend；　you　know；〃　cried　Julia；
with　eyes　sparkling　with　enthusiasm。　〃I　love　her；
because　she　has　feelings　congenial　with　my　own；
she　has　so　much　wit；　is　so　amusing；　so　frank；　so
like　a　girl　of　talentsso　likelike　every　thing　I
admire　myself。〃

〃It　is　a　pity　that　one　so　highly　gifted　cannot　furnish
herself　with　frocks；〃　said　the　aunt；　with　a　little
more　than　her　ordinary　dryness　of　manner；　〃and
suffer　you　to　work　for　those　who　want　them　more。〃

〃You　forget　it　is　in　order　to　remember　me；〃　said
Julia；　in　a　manner　that　spoke　her　own　ideas　of　the
value　of　the　gift。

〃One　would　think　such　a　friendship　would　not
require　any　thing　to　remind　one　of　its　existence；〃
returned　the　aunt。

〃Why！　it　is　not　that　she　will　forget　me　without　it；
but　that　she　may　have　something　by　her　to　remind
her　of　me…〃　said　Julia　rapidly；　but　pausing　as　the
contradiction　struck　even　herself。

〃I　understand　you　perfectly；　my　child；〃　interrupted
the　aunt；　〃merely　as　an　unnecessary　security；　you
mean。〃

〃To　make　assurance　doubly　sure；〃　cried　Charles
Weston　with　a　laugh。

〃Oh！　you　laugh；　Mr。　Weston；〃　said　Julia　with　a　little
anger；　〃but　I　have　often　said；　you　were　incapable　of
friendship。〃

〃Try　me！〃　exclaimed　the　youth　fervently。　〃Do　not
condemn　me　without　a　trial。〃

〃How　can　I？〃　said　Julia；　laughing　in　her　turn。　〃You
are　not　a　girl。〃

〃Can　girls　then　only　feel　friendship？〃　inquired
Charles；　taking　the　seat　which　Miss　Emmerson　had
relinquished。

〃I　sometimes　think　so；〃　said　Julia；　with　her　own
good…humoured　smile。　〃You　are　too　grosstoo
enviousin　short；　you　never　see　such　friendships
between　men　as　exist　between　women。〃

〃Between　girls；　I　will　readily　admit；〃　returned　the
youth。　〃But　let　us　examine　this　question　after　the
manner　of　the　courts〃

〃Nay；　if　you　talk　law　I　shall　quit　you；〃　interrupted
the　young　lady　gaily。

〃Certainly　one　so　learned　in　the　subject　need　not
dread　a　cross…examination；〃　cried　the　youth；　in　her
own　manner。

〃Well；　proceed；〃　cried　the　lady。　〃I　have　driven　aunt
Margaret　from　the　field；　and　you　will　fare　no　better；
I　can　assure　you。〃

〃Men；　you　say；　are　too　gross　to　feel　a　pure
friendship；　in　the　first　place；　please　to　explain
yourself　on　this　point。〃

〃Why　I　mean；　that　your　friendships　are　generally
interested；　that　it　requires　services　and　good
offices　to　support　it。〃

｛interested　=　not　pure；　having　an　ulterior　motive｝

〃While　that　of　women　depends　on〃

〃Feeling　alone。〃

〃But　what　excites　this　feeling？〃　asked　Charles　with
a　smile。

〃What？　why　sympathyand　a　knowledge　of　each
other's　good　qualities。〃

〃Then　you　think　Miss　Miller　has　more　g