Julia_Chapter_14

and every other resort of idle and listening crowds, for the pleasure of diffusing this new piece of scandal." "What is it you allude to, I heard no scandal, no story--he uttered no columny in my presence." "No, but behind your back; he will retail it at full length." "What will he retail? I really do not comprehend you." And-- never--never dearest Mrs Clifton may you know, much less feel, what it is I mean--Oh Julia, you are too good--too innocent for the wicked world you live in!" "If, as your words imply, any danger threatens me; as a friend, should you not point it out, that I may guard against it?" "It is too late," said Capt Mirvan. "Would to heaven that folks had not met us." "Why so? what harm can result from it? surely there is none, in my riding with you." "None in the world, my amiable friend -- but" "But what? come let me know the wont". "The wont?" --repeated he gazing at her with unrestrained admiration. Heavenly purity!--Oh Julia can any one be near you and be a villian?" "Not you, I am certain," she replied, looking at him with an appealing yet confiding countenance. He turned away his face, and was for some moments silent, with emotions strange and new to his heart, at last looking earnestly at her, he exclaimed. "Can it be a crime to love Julia Clifton? if it is, then am I a criminal indeed.--but no--it cannot be, it is loving virtue itself." "Did you not promise I should never hear such words again? "I did, and for days, weeks, months of torture I have been dumb--but nature must prevail." "No, Captain Mirvan, duty must prevail--if you violate your promises; you annul mine, and you must see me no more, as a friend, and only as a friend can I ever receive Capt Mirvan." "Be it so --I submit. Forgive me purest, best of human beings, forgive me, for believing you were only a woman, and under such a belief having indulged hopes incompatable with such angelic purity. Restore me your confidence; never again will I offend, and thus," said he {taking?} her hand, "let me seal my forgiveness." Julia was not inexorable-- the once more

believed his promise, that he would be her friend--and only her friend and willed into security by this precious epithet, she persuaded herself that there was nothing in such a claim contrary to her duty or her safety. She rejoiced in the explanation that had { ? ?}, as she had of late been often alarmed by the warmth of Capt Mirvan's manner, which his language had been so {governed} that it afforded her no opportunity { ?} or remonstrance and she now yielded to the growing inclination of her heart, under the appearence of its purity. Friendship, she certainly owed her friendship to a man, who for her sake released her husband from a load of debt. While Julia was indulging in such reflections and many more of the same kind, which, while they softened her heart, misled her judgement; Capt Mirvan sat silently by her side, or prey to contradictory and conflicting passions. All that was good and generous in his nature,{ opposed, approved?} his opinions and his wishes. "What," said he "is virtue then something more than a name, is it a reality. and must this conviction be forced when{ one by the only woman I ever really loved and from whom I am separated by a { ?} destiny." " Yet," continued he-- as from time to time he cast an enquiring glance on Julia's expressive face, and beheld her eyes suffused with tears, her cheeks glowing with suppressed emotions--"Yet, it cannot be--even at this moment, the feelings which agitate her bosom prove the { ?} that virtue is but a name. Under the guise of friendship even Julia is indulging feelings, which under a different name would be stigmatized as vice. Absurd-what { ?} can there be in feelings so gentle and so tender? A name is nothing { ?} love is so shocking, friendship, be thou my polar star, my wish to happiness{ and} Julia." A name is nothing? All in a case like this it is every thing,--it is guilt or innonence--it is happiness or misery--every such then credulous and confiding youth the name you give to the passions you admit within your bosom. The self-delusion of Julia Clifton is common to thousands and has betrayed into error, many who could never have been seduced had they recognized things by their true names.