登陆注册
5252100000009

第9章

Knowing from any thing but feeling and the innate evidence of our sympathies, seems to me something like heresy in friendship. Oh, Anna! how could you be so cruel as to show my letters to any one, and that to a gentleman and a stranger? Inever would have served you so, not even to good Charles Weston, whom I esteem so highly, and who really wants neither judgment nor good nature, though he is dreadfully deficient in fancy. Yet Charles is a most excellent young man, and I gave him the compliments you desired; he was so much flattered by your notice that he could make no reply, though I doubt not he prized the honour as he ought. We are all very happy here, only for the absence of my Anna; but so long as miles of weary roads and endless rivers run between us, perfect happiness can never reign in the breast of your Julia. Anna, I conjure you by all the sacred delicacy that consecrates our friendship, never to show this letter, unless you would break my heart: you never will, I am certain, and therefore I will write to my Anna in the unreserved manner in which we conversed, when fate, less cruel than at present, suffered us to live in the sunshine of each other's smiles. You speak of a certain person in your letter, whom, for obvious reasons, I will in future call ANTONIO. You describe him with the partiality of a friend; but how can I doubt his being worthy of all that you say, and more--sensible, brave, rich, and handsome. From his name, I suppose, of course, he is well connected. What a constellation of attractions to centre in one man! But you have not told me all--his age, his family, his profession;though I presume he has borne arms in the service of his country, and that his manly breast is already covered with the scars of honour. Ah! Anna, "he jests at scars who never felt a wound." But, my dear creature, you say that he talks of me: what under the sun can you find to say of such a poor girl as myself? Though I suppose you have, in the fondness of affection, described my person to him already. I wonder if he likes black eyes and fair complexion. You can't conceive what a bloom the country has given me; I really begin to look more like a milk-maid than a lady. Dear, good aunt Margaret has been quite sick since you left us, and for two days I was hardly out of her room; this has put me back a little in colour, or I should be as ruddy as the morn. But nothing ought ever to tempt me to neglect my aunt, and I hope nothing ever will. Be assured that I shall beg her to write you to spend the winter with us, for I feel already that without you life is a perfect blank. You indeed must have something to enliven it with a little in your new companions, but here is nobody, just now, but Charles Weston. Yet he is an excellent companion, and does every thing he can to make us all happy and comfortable. Heigho! how I do wish I could see you, my Anna, and spend one sweet half hour in the dear confidence of mutual sympathy. But lie quiet, my throbbing heart, the day approaches when I shall meet my friend again, and more than receive a reward for all our griefs. Ah! Anna, never betray your Julia, and write to me FULLY, CONFIDINGLY, and often.

"Yours, with all the tenderness of friendship that is founded on mutual sympathy, congenial souls, and innate evidence of worth.

JULIA."

"P.S. I should like to know whether Antonio has any scars in his face, and what battles he was in. Only think, my dear, poor Charles Weston was frightened by a clap of thunder--but Charles has an excellent heart."This letter was written and read, sealed and kissed, when Miss Emmerson tapped gently at the door of her niece and begged admission. Julia flew to open it, and received her aunt with the guileless pleasure her presence ever gave her. A few words of introductory matter were exchanged, when, being both seated at their needles again, Miss Emmerson asked--"To whom have you been writing, my love?"

"To my Anna."

"Do you recollect, my child, that in writing to Miss Miller, you are writing to one out of your own family, and whose interests are different from yours?""I do not understand you, aunt," cried Julia in surprise.

"I mean that you should be guarded in your correspondence--tell no secrets out"--"Tell no secrets to my Anna!" exclaimed the niece in a species of horror. "That would be a death-blow to our friendship indeed.""Then let it die," said Miss Emmerson, coolly; "the affection that cannot survive the loss of such an excitement, had better be suffered to expire as soon as possible, or it may raise false expectations.""Why, dear aunt, in destroying confidence of this nature, you destroy the great object of friendship.

Who ever beard of a friendship without secrets?""I never had a secret in my life," said Miss Emmerson simply, "and yet I have had many a friend.""Well," said Julia, "yours must have been queer friends; pray, dear aunt, name one or two of them.""Your mother was my friend," said Miss Emmerson, with strong emotion, "and I hope her daughter also is one.""Me, my beloved aunt!" cried Julia, throwing herself into the arms of Miss Emmerson and bursting into tears; "I am more than a friend, I am your child--your daughter."

"Whatever be the name you give it, Julia, you are very near and dear to me," said the aunt, tenderly kissing her charge: "but tell me, my love, did you ever feel such emotion in your intercourse with Miss Miller?"It was some time before Julia could reply; when, having suppressed the burst of her feelings, she answered with a smile--"Oh! that question is not fair. You have brought me up; nursed me in sickness; are kind and good to me; and the idea that you should suppose I did not love you, was dreadful--But you know I do.""I firmly believe so, my child; it is you that I would have know what it is that you love: I am satisfied for myself. I repeat, did Anna Miller ever excite such emotions?""Certainly not: my love to you is natural; but my friendship for Anna rests on sympathy, and a perfect knowledge of her character.""I am glad, however, that you know her so well, since you are so intimate. What testimony have you of all this excellence?""Innate evidence. I see it--I feel it--Yes, that is the best testimony--I feel her good qualities. Yes, my friendship for Anna forms the spring of my existence; while any accident or evil to you would afflict me the same as if done to myself--this is pure nature, you know.""I know it is pleasing to learn it, come from what it will," said the aunt, smiling, and rising to withdraw.

同类推荐
  • 华严圣可禅师语录

    华严圣可禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 诗纪匡谬

    诗纪匡谬

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Nicomachean Ethics

    Nicomachean Ethics

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Elements of Political Economy

    Elements of Political Economy

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Formation of Vegetable Mould

    The Formation of Vegetable Mould

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 无量寿经优婆提舍愿生偈婆薮槃头菩萨造(并)

    无量寿经优婆提舍愿生偈婆薮槃头菩萨造(并)

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 香·谋

    香·谋

    每一次精心策划的谋杀,都有难言的杀意。日本的佛家高僧一休大师曾经说过一句禅语:“入佛界易,入魔界难。”这句话什么意思?我可以在这个故事开始之前,将凶手的名字告诉你。可是,凶手的心里到底暗藏着怎样的“杀意”,我们暂且不得而知。俗语说,放下屠刀立地成佛。有时候,举起屠刀比放下屠刀还难。人之所以举刀是因为放不下心头的“杀意”。在侦探的世界里,将一个案情解析得纹理清晰并不困难,但是,要探潜凶手的杀意,好比探索世界上最为深不可测的海峡。因为,你是在探索人心。在这个故事里,这个放不下杀意的人叫“林夕”。
  • 蓝海传奇

    蓝海传奇

    穿越类爽文,没有无脑的爽,也没有揪心难受的剧情,以轻松的冒险故事为主。男主是个普通人,不是科学家也不是医生,没有投胎转世,就是开车不小心就穿越了。穿越后没有显赫的身世,没有掌握四大发明,没有得到公主的青睐,也没有得到神兽的蛋蛋,他穿越后很快就融入了当地生活,如果不是一时兴的决定,也许平平静静的在一个小镇做个公务员就结束人生了。他的传奇不是掠夺了多少资源,杀了多少人,他甚至没有亲手杀过人。被刀砍死的那你怪刀好吗?他只是个冒险者,虽然有点腹黑,但是很多人都评价——他是个好人!兄弟能把刀放下了么?
  • 洪荒之太冥

    洪荒之太冥

    一位现代道人李元,穿越到诸天之首,星辰万界洪荒时代,在这个诸神并起,圣人至上的时代,李元拜师道祖,俯视群雄,创立无上大教,成就了万劫不灭;与道同存的混元至尊。谈笑之间诸天磨灭,一念之动无量掀起!
  • 石屋余渖

    石屋余渖

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 三天读懂金融学

    三天读懂金融学

    本书以简洁的语言、图文并茂的形式,向读者呈现了金融学复杂而清晰的世界版图,兼顾了“快速学习”和“深入了解”两个方面。书中提供了活生生的行业数据,并以统计图表的形式直观地呈现出来,让人无须分析对比,就能迅速掌握金融行业的真实情况。
  • 蓝莲花

    蓝莲花

    早晨八点,杜律师和小冯在天信大厦门前碰面,搭乘205路公交车赶往南山看守所。车上的乘客不多,车厢里流动着一股淡淡的水腥气,大概刚刚打扫过。两个人在司机后面的位置坐下来,透过前挡风玻璃,能看到站前大厦顶层圆形的旋转餐厅和雾霾笼罩下的一小块铅灰色天空。距离开庭还有一周时间,这是他们第一次去见董小桃。一年多前,案件刚发生时,受到了全国多家媒体的关注,很多市民都去看过那幢被烧得焦黑的三层别墅。不过,直到事情渐渐平息下来,杜律师才有所耳闻。当时,他正在整理妻子的遗物,试图找到她决然告别人世的原因,对外界还处于不闻不问的状态。
  • 雷军:世界需要我的突围

    雷军:世界需要我的突围

    《雷军:世界需要我的突围》记录了雷军从大学时期,到毕业后参加工作,一直到小米手机成功的历程,揭露了雷军很多不为人知的秘密,他的每次转折的心路,最真实的呈现在读者面前。让读者了解雷军及其团队。从带金山打市场到创立卓越网,到投资凡客诚品和乐淘,投资YY语音,到亲自创立小米手机并获得成功。雷军一路走来所经历的困惑、喜悦等心路。雷军创业的迷茫,成功的激情,压力下的坚持,理想的牵引,全书淋漓尽致地展现了雷军和他团队的风采。
  • 鬼谷子注

    鬼谷子注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 幽荒绝

    幽荒绝

    “公子没听过一句话吗?有钱能使鬼推磨,既然我荀药谷被人称为江湖鬼谷,那我,便是那个能从阎王手里抢命的小鬼!”——她,是江湖传闻中的鬼谷主人,古灵精怪,身怀绝世医术。前世落水,让她穿越到幽荒之上,遁入这乱世之局中。她带着她的绝世医术,踏入这四圣王族执掌的乱世风云之中,翻手渡人生死,覆手谋局乱政。尔虞我诈、阴谋阳谋,到底谁才能洞悉这一切看似命运的轮转?把汝的灵魂交于吾——吾召唤汝而来,在这幻世之中,替吾续写这幽荒大陆的绝唱!【剧情向正剧——主打权谋智斗、法术打怪】窥探局中局、破解谜中谜。走入这幽荒之中,拨开这层层迷雾,去揭发这幽荒幻世里背后的真相!【洛少出品,必属精品,欢迎跳坑】