"
This was certainly very plain English, nor did Julia
misunderstand a syllable of what he said--but it
was entirely new and unexpected to her; she had
lived with Charles Weston with the confidence of a
kinswoman, but had never dreamt of him as a lover.
Indeed, she saw nothing in him that looked like a
being to excite or to entertain such a passion; and
although from the moment of his declaration she
began insensibly to think differently of him, nothing
was farther from her mind than to return his offered
affection. But then the opportunity of making a
sacrifice to her secret love was glorious, and her
frankness forbade her to conceal the truth. Indeed,
what better way was there to destroy the unhappy
passion of Charles, than to convince him of its
hopelessness? These thoughts flashed through her
mind with the rapidity of lightning--and trembling
with the agitation and novelty of her situation, she
answered in a low voice--
"That, Charles, can never be."
"Why never, Julia?" cried the youth, giving way at
once to his long-suppressed feelings--"why never?
Try me, prove me! there is nothing I will not do to
gain your love."
Oh! how seductive to a female ear is the first
declaration of an attachment, especially when
urged by youth and merit!--it assails her heart in
the most vulnerable part, and if it be not fortified
unusually well, seldom fails of success. Happily for
Julia, the image of Antonio presented itself to save
her from infidelity to her old attachment, and she
replied--
"You are kind and good, Charles, and I esteem you
highly--but ask no more, I beg of you.
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