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have a great deal of wisdom, but I cannot think they have much mercy."
"But they have justice," said Julia, sighing; "Yes, tho' that justice decies against
me, I must own Mrs Edwards is right & that I am wrong."
"It will be difficult to convince me of that," said d'Aubigne, "but come
my sweet cousin state the case & allow me to be judge."
"You will be partial," replied she, "even more partial than my own blinded
self-love: from you I have never heard the truth; this is a proof of esteem
I have never recieved from you, or any other friend but my aunt."
"Well, if it will satisfy you, I promise you on my honor Julia, to speak
the truth, & nothing but the truth, & if I think that you are wrong & she is right I
will give the verdict accordingly--so tell me all the charges she has brought
against you."
"Oh!" said Julia sighing--"they are charges I little supposed I merited! how has
my self-love, how have you, how have all my friends decieved me! Little did
I think while so flattered, so caressed, that I was an object of the scorn, contempt, &
reprobation of the wise & good."
"Oh heavens! & did Mrs Edwards say you were were? exclaimed d'Aubigne--
"Yes,"--& more, much more. She said I was vain, triffling, thoughtless, dissipated,
Oh! my cousin, she even said I was unprincipled!"
"Cruel, cruel woman, & unjust as cruel, what could have provoked such
malignity?
"Call it not so, call it rather sincerity--she loves me
and she only did what a wise & kind physician would do, if he saw a patient
in imminent danger."
"Believe me Julia, it is not so. This woman can no more understand
your character than she does Greek; every trait, is written in a language
totaly incomprehensible to one of her disposition. A bind man might
as well pretend to read, as for her to pretend to intepret the emotions
of a soul like yours."
Julia shook her head incredulously.
"Now I'll prove it," said he "We must have light, to see light--now she
has none, her mind is as dark as ignorance & prejudice can make it, how then can she
see the brightness which emanates from yours--how percieve those scintilations
of genius which sparkle round, & charm all who approach you?--
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