In the constant excitement produced by her situation, Julia could not enter into all the feelings described by her friend, during the ride to Schenectady.Its beauties might be melancholy, but could she be melancholy, and Antonio so near? The pines might be silvery and lofty, but the proud stature of majestic man, eclipsed in her eyes all their beauties.Not so Charles.He early began to lavish his abuse on the sterile grounds they passed, and gave any thing but encomiums on the smoothness of the road they were travelling.In the latter particular, even the quiet spirit of Miss Emmerson joined him, and Julia herself was occasionally made sensible that she was not reposing "on a bed of roses."{sterile grounds = the sandy "pine barrens" between Albany and Schenectady were notorious for their lack of scenic beauty}
"Do I drive too fast for the ladies?" asked Antonio, on hearing a slight complaint and a faint scream in the soft voice of Julia.Oh, how considerate he is! thought our heroine--how tender!--without his care I certainly should have been killed in this rude place.It was expected that as she had complained, she would answer; and after a moment employed in rallying her senses for the undertaking, she replied in a voice of breathing melody--"Oh! no, Antonio, you are very considerate."For a world Julia could not have said more; and Miss Emmerson thought that she had said quite as much as the occasion required; but Miss Emmerson, it will be remembered, supposed their driver to be Anthony Sandford.The hero, himself, on hearing such a gentle voice so softly replying to his question, could not refrain from turning his face into the carriage, and Julia felt her own eyes lower before his earnest gaze, while her cheeks burned with the blushes that suffused them.But the look spoke volumes--he understands my "Antonio," thought Julia, and perceives that, to me, he is no longer unknown.That expressive glance has opened between us a communication that will cease but with our lives.Julia now enjoyed, for the remainder of their journey to Mr.Miller's, one of the greatest pleasures of love--unsuspected by others, she could hold communion with him who had her heart, by the eyes, and a thousand tender and nameless little offices which give interest to affection, and zest to passion.
They had now got half way between the two cities, and Charles took a seat by the side of the driver, with the intention, as he expressed himself, of stretching his legs: the carriage was open and light, so that all of the figures of the two young men could be seen by the ladies, as well as their conversation heard.Charles never appeared to less advantage in his person, thought Julia, than now, seated by the side of the manly and noble Antonio.The figure of Charles was light, and by no means without grace; yet it did not strike the fancy of our heroine as so fit to shield and support her through life, as the more robust person of his companion.Julia herself was, in form, the counterpart of her mind--she was light, airy, and beautifully softened in all her outlines.It was impossible to mistake her for any thingbut a lady, and one of the gentlest passions and sentiments.She felt her own weakness, and would repose it on the manly strength of Antonio.
"Which do you call the best of your horses?" asked Charles, so soon as he had got himself comfortably seated.
"The off--but both are true as steel," was the laconic reply.The comparison was new to Julia, and it evidently denoted a mind accustomed to the contemplation of arms.
"How long have you followed the business of a driver, Tony?" said Charles, in the careless manner of a gentleman when he wishes to introduce familiarity with an inferior, by seeming to take an interest in the other's affairs.Julia felt indignant at the freedom of his manner, and particularly at the epithet of "Tony"--yet her lover did not in the least regard either--or rather his manner exhibited no symptoms of displeasure-- he has made up his mind, thought Julia, to support his disguise, and it is best for us both that he should.
"Ever since I was sixteen I have been used to horses," was the reply of Antonio to the question of Charles--Julia smiled at the ambiguity of the answer, and was confirmed in her impression that he had left college at that age to serve in the cavalry.
