9

(6)
fatal climate must have dimmed your sight, as well as faded
your complexion--You cannot certainly see distinctly--why I
am an old woman, do you not percieve the wrinkles &
furrows of these odious ten years?"

"Not one," said he smiling, "& yet I assure you I am more
clear sighted than ever."

"Why your eyes do look very bright, & even your
fore head, said Julia, as she pushed aside the thick black
curls that shaded it--"even your forehead has not lost all it fairness
& smoothness--Do you remember, Henry, one day when I
was sitting on your knee, after I had finished my drawing lesson--
the flowers I painted on your forehead?--I told you it would
do better than my pallet, for it was as white & smooth
as ivory--& do you remember too, how I used to pat your
cheeks & call them my pretty red peaches?--Oh Henry how
I used to teaze you, & how patient & good you were,
were not those happy days?--How I wish I was again a child!
Don't you Henry?"

D'Aubigne sighed & checked the words that were rising
to his lips--& said, "in your children Julia, you can live even
again those happy days-"

"Ah true," said she, "my children! how could I so long for
get them?--& away she flew & soon returned leading in one
hand her son, in the other her little girl, both beautiful as angels--

"Here, here," said she, "is another Henry & Julia."

D'Aubigne caught them to his bosom & almost smothered them
with carresses--The boy seemed well pleased, & gazed with a
smiling & confiding countenance on the stranger-friend--But the
little girl struggled to get free & running to her mother
cried "Mama I don't know the gentleman & my name ant
Julia, Mama."

"Yes it is my love--Your papa would have you christened
Julia, tho' I always call you Rosa."

"And your husband?--will you not introduce me to him?"

A slight confusion & embarrassment passed over Julia's countenance,
but her head was bent over Rosa, & D'Aubigne did not percieve
it--"He is absent at present," she replied--but when he
returns he will rejoice to mee the friend & companion
of my childhood."