"
"But what becomes of your innate evidence of worth
in friendship," asked Miss Emmerson; "I thought
that was the most infallible of all kinds of
testimony: surely that must bring you intimately
acquainted with each other's secret foibles too."
"Oh! no--that is a species of sentimental
knowledge," returned Julia; "it only dwells on the
loftier parts of the character, and never descends to
the minute knowledge which makes us suffer so
much in each other's estimation: it leaves all these
to be filled by the--by the--by the--what shall I call
it?"
"Imagination," said Katherine, dryly.
"Well, by the imagination then: but it is an
imagination that is purified by sentiment, and"--
"Already rendered partial by the innate evidence of
worth," interrupted Charles.
Julia had lost herself in the mazes of her own
ideas, and changed the subject under a secret
suspicion that her companions were amusing
themselves at her expense; she, therefore,
proceeded directly to urge the request of Anna
Miller.
"Oh! aunt, now we are on the subject of friends, I
wish to request you would authorize me to invite
my Anna to pass the next winter with us in Park-
Place."
"I confess, my love," said Miss Emmerson, glancing
her eye at Katherine, "that I had different views for
ourselves next winter: has not Miss Miller a married
sister living in town?"
"Yes, but she has positively refused to ask the dear
girl, I know," said Julia.
Pages:
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63