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to those less versed in studying the secret soul than Captain Mirvan, her pale face and heavy eyes, her frequent sighs and saddened tones would have immediately betrayed the disorder of her spirits. With that art which appears artless, and imperceptively to her, possessed himself of all he wished to know. He then adroitly administered the relief her wounded pride required, in his tenderness more than usually excited by evident depression, influenced his manner, his looks, his voice which all expressed the most soothing sympathy. He expatiated on the ardour and devotedness of his friendship, (carefully avoiding the prohibited { ?} and of the little return it met; gently complained of her coldness and the distance at which she kept him--of her unyielding reserve , which restrained every kind word, or look. he called her an icicle which even the favour of his friendship could make no impression on--"I have known scores of women," said he, "and will not deny that have loved more than one, but never before did I meet with a woman so insensible, so inexorable as you are. It is not because you have so shielded it with your ideas of rigid duty, that it is impenetrable-{-unpalatable?} and any one that would dare, as I once dared, must share my fate and be doomed to dispair." Julia, tho' her own heart belied the justice of these flattering complaints, was gratified in listening to them, and hoping that the weakness of which she was conscious, was not evident to Captain Mirvan, she believed him perfectly sincere in his complaints of her coldness and impenetrability and felt safe and { ?} ed-Like oil poured on troubled waters, his words fell on her troubled spirit and soothed it ino peace. at such moments the heart is peculiarly susceptible of tenderness, it participates in the langour of the { ?} and like it, leans for support, on some kind bosom. There was such a diffusion of soul over Julia's person and manners, that the feelings she inspired ever of a purer and higher order, than beautiful women generally excites. Capt Mirvan even, felt the invisible influence, and intimate as he now was with Mrs Clifton, had seldom ventured even to touch her hand
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And the greatest favours he had ever received from other women gave him less transport, than a kind look from Julia, and tho' he would not own it to Madam Luneville, it was this irresistable respect which Julia's pure and intellectual manners inspired, that restrained alike his feelings and his conduct. How often has he said--"I wish she had more of woman about her, I should then get along, but she is all soul, and there is no laying hold of soul." This evening, there was a certain something, about Julia, a yielding weakness, a tender langour, that came nearer to what the Captain wished--she had to use his expression more of woman, more of humanity about her. Had he known how cruelly her pride was humbled by the reproaches of Mrs Edwards, how still more humbled she was by her own reproaches, for having ungenerously accused her husband, he would have discovered in her mortified self-love, and in her sincere self-condemnation the cause of her present langour and dejection. Never are we so grateful for the good opinion of others, as when we have forfeited our own. The approbation of the whole world is of less importance to our peace, than the approbation of our own minds. while that remains it can hear up the spirit against scorn or contumely; but deprived this support, the spirit falls into that listless, helpless state which too often extinguishes hope and energy. Both these causes of depression were combined, the condemnation of the world, was joined to her own self upbraidness--these ideas were new, as they were painful to Julia, who dazzled and stimulated by universal admiration, had hitherto seen herself through too flattering a medium not to be such satisfied--but now--now bereft of her own and the world's approval, her depression was in proportion to what her confidence had been. No wonder then that the gratitude she felt towards him, who had gradually restored her to self-esteem--who had reconciled her to herself should be { ?} by increased gentleness and tenderness. The evening was delightful--he was sure he said that a walk would benefit her, and altho' she had determined to devote some part of the morning, the afternoon or the evening to Rosa, yet, each { ?} of
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of the day had passed away--Rosa had not been called, and now at the last hour, when her good resolution might have been fulfilled, she was drawn from her purpose, and her proposed reform was procrastinated to another day-"But tomorrow," said Julia to herself, "tomorrow I will positively resume my long neglected duty, and devote a great part of the day to Rosa"s instruction." This new triumph over Julia's{ better, bitter?} feelings,( for she had pleaded her duty as an excuse for not walking) was a confirmation to Captain Mirvan of what he before thought that she had more woman about her this evening than he had seen before and he failed not to turn to his advantages this able weakness, as he called it--Never before had Julia listened with so little displeasure to his professions of fervid regard--never before had she so unresistingly yielded to him her hand, or unhesitantingly leaned on his arm for support. Sometimes Julia caught herself thinking--"well, if my reputation is gone--if the world is so unjust--if appearances are confirmations of error--" and she started from a harsher word "then"--She involuntarily shocked herself-D'aubigne and all he said rushed upon her mind, but again his suggestions were effaced by the plausible and flattering arguments of Capt Mirvan, which placing her conduct such as it was known to him, in opposition to the unjust representations of the world, aroused her pride and confirmed her determination to content herself with what she called conscious rectitude and to disregard the opinion of others. "He at least knows," thought she looking at Capt Mirvan, "he at least acknowledges the steadiness and purity of my conduct," and this dependence on him, as a witness of her rectitude was another and strong tie which bound her to him. It was late at night, before they returned from their star-light ramble, and they had scarcely entered the hall, before they were followed by Clifton, and the looks which passed from one to the other clearly evinced what was the truth, that Clifton tho' unseen had been their companion, at least part of the time. He looked pale and haggard, and darted on Capt Mirvan