第26章

It has been already mentioned that the family of Mr.Miller was large; and amid the tumult and confusion of receiving their guests, no opportunity was afforded to the friends for conversation in private.The evening passed swiftly, and the hour for bed arrived without any other communication between Julia and Anna than whisperings and pressures of the hands, together with a thousand glances of peculiar meaning with the eyes.But Julia did not regret this so much as if Antonio had been unknown--she had been in his company for four days, and knew, or thought she knew, already, as much of his history as Anna herself.--But one thought distressed her, and that was, that his residence might be far from the house of her aunt.This reflection gave the tender-hearted girl real pain, and her principal wish to converse with Anna in private was toascertain her future lot on this distressing point.No opportunity, however, offered that night, and Julia saw that in the morning her time would be limited, for Miss Emmerson desired Mr.Miller to order her carriage to be in readiness to start so soon as they had breakfasted.

"When, dear aunt, am I to give Anna the invitation," said Julia, when they were left alone, "if you start so early in the morning?""The proper time will be, my child, immediately before we get into the carriage," said Miss Emmerson, with a sigh of regret at the determination of her niece; "it will then be more pointed, and call for an immediate answer."This satisfied Julia, who knew that it would be accepted by her friend, and she soon fell asleep, to dream a little of Anna, and a great deal of Antonio.

The following morning Julia arose with the sun, and her first employment was to seek her friend.Anna had also risen, and was waiting impatiently for the other's appearance, in the vacant parlour.

"Ah! dear Julia," said she, catching her arm and dragging her to a window, "I thought you would never come.--Well, are we to spend the winter together--have you spoken to your dear, dear aunt, about it?""You shall know in good time, my Anna," said Julia, mindful of the wishes of her aunt, and speaking with a smile that gave Anna an assurance of her success.

"Oh! what a delightful winter we will have!" cried Anna, in rapture.

"I am tongue-tied at present," said Julia, laughing; "but not on every subject," she continued, blushing to the eyes; "do tell me of St.Albans--of Regulus-- who is he?""Who is he?" echoed Anna--"why, nobody!--one must have something to write about, you know, to a friend."Julia felt sick and faint--her colour left her cheeks as she forced a smile, and uttered, in a low voice-- "But Antonio--Stanley?""A man of straw," cried Anna, with unfeeling levity; "no such creature in the world, I do assure you!"Julia made a mighty effort to conquer her emotion, and wildly seizing Anna by the arm, she pointed to her aunt's coachman, who was at work onhis carriage at no great distance, and uttered--"For God's sake, who is HE?""He!" cried Anna, in surprise, "why, your driver--and an ugly wretch he is!--don't you know your own driver yet?"Julia burst from her treacherous friend--rushed into the room of her aunt-and throwing herself into the arms of Miss Emmerson, wept for an hour as if her heart would break.Miss Emmerson saw that something had hurt her feelings excessively, and that it was something she would not reveal.Believing that it was a quarrel with her friend, and hoping at all events that it would interrupt their intercourse, Miss Emmerson, instead of trying to discover her niece's secret, employed herself in persuading her to appear before the family with composure, and to take leave of them with decency and respect.In this she succeeded, and the happy moment arrived.Anna in vain pressed near her friend to receive the invitation--and her mother more than once hinted at the thousand pities it was to separate two that loved one another so fondly.No invitation was given--and although Anna spent half a day in searching for a letter, that she insisted must be left in some romantic place, none was ever found, nor did any ever arrive.

While resting with her foot on the step of the carriage, about to enter it, Julia, whose looks were depressed from shame, saw a fluid that was discoloured with tobacco fall on her shoe and soil her stocking.Raising her eyes with disgust, she perceived that the wind had wafted it from the mouth of Antonio, as he held open the door--and the same blast throwing aside his screen of silk, discovered a face that was deformed with disease, and wanting of an eye!

Our travellers returned to the city by the way of Montreal and Lake Champlain; nor was it until Julia had been the happy wife of Charles Weston for more than a year, that she could summon resolution to own that she had once been in love, like thousands of her sex, "with a man of straw!"