At length Julia thought she had made the discovery of Anna's reason for
her evident desire to spend the winter in town--like herself, her friend
had become the victim of the soft passion, and from that moment Julia
determined that Katherine Emmerson must seek another residence, in order
that Anna might breathe love's atmosphere. How much a desire to see
Antonio governed this decision, we cannot say, but we are certain that,
if in the least, Julia was herself ignorant of the power. With her, it
seemed to be the result of pure, disinterested, and confiding
friendship. In answer, our heroine wrote as follows:
"My beloved Anna,
"Your kind, consolatory letters are certainly the solace of my
life. Ah! Anna, I have long thought that some important secret lay
heavy at your heart. The incoherency of your letters, and certain
things too trifling to mention, had made me suspect that some
unusual calamity had befallen you. You do not mention who Regulus
is. I am burning with curiosity to know, although I doubt not but
he is every way worthy of your choice.
"I have in vain run over in my mind every young man that we know,
but not one of them that I can find has any of the qualities of a
hero. Do relieve my curiosity in your next, and I may have it in my
power to write you something of his movements. Oh! Anna, why will
you dwell on the name of Antonio--I am sure I ought not to listen
as I do to what he says--and when we meet, I am afraid that he
will not find all the attractions which your too partial friendship
has portrayed. If he should be thus disappointed, Oh!
Anna--Anna--what would become of your friend--But I will not dwell
on the horrid idea. Charles Weston is yet here, and Katherine
Emmerson too; so that but for the thoughts of my absent Anna, and
perhaps a little uneasiness on the subject of Antonio, I might be
perfectly happy. You know how good and friendly Katherine is, and
really Charles does all in his power to please. If he were only a
little more heroical, he would be a charming young man: for
although he is not very handsome, I don't think you notice it in
the least when you are intimate with him. Poor Charles, he was
terribly mortified about the flash of lightning--but then all are
not brave alike. Adieu, my Anna--and if you do converse more with a
certain person about, you know whom, let it be with discretion, or
you may raise expectations she will not equal. Your own
"JULIA."
"P. S. I had almost forgotten to say that aunt has promised me that
I can ask you to stay with us, if, after the 20th September, I
wish it, as you may be sure that I will. Aunt keeps her carriage
yet, and I hope will never want it in her old age."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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