Her lute and favorite airs lost half their power to please;

the day seemed to stand still--she became melancholy, and thought the

breakfast-hour would never arrive. At length the clock struck the

signal, the sound vibrated on every nerve, and trembling she quitted

the closet for her sister's apartment. Love taught her disguise. Till

then Emilia had shared all her thoughts; they now descended to the

breakfast-room in silence, and Julia almost feared to meet her eye. In

the breakfast-room they were alone. Julia found it impossible to

support a conversation with Emilia, whose observations interrupting

the course of her thoughts, became uninteresting and tiresome. She was

therefore about to retire to her closet, when the marquis entered. His

air was haughty, and his look severe. He coldly saluted his daughters,

and they had scarcely time to reply to his general enquiries, when the

marchioness entered, and the company soon after assembled. Julia, who

had awaited with so painful an impatience for the moment which should

present Vereza to her sight, now sighed that it was arrived. She

scarcely dared to lift her timid eyes from the ground, and when by

accident they met his, a soft tremour seized her; and apprehension

lest he should discover her sentiments, served only to render her

confusion conspicuous.

At length, a glance from the marchioness

recalled her bewildered thoughts; and other fears superseding those of

love, her mind, by degrees, recovered its dignity. She could

distinguish in the behaviour of Vereza no symptoms of particular

admiration, and she resolved to conduct herself towards him with the

most scrupulous care.

This day, like the preceding one, was devoted to joy. In the evening

there was a concert, which was chiefly performed by the nobility.

Ferdinand played the violoncello, Vereza the German flute, and Julia

the piana-forte, which she touched with a delicacy and execution that

engaged every auditor. The confusion of Julia may be easily imagined,

when Ferdinand, selecting a beautiful duet, desired Vereza would

accompany his sister. The pride of conscious excellence, however,

quickly overcame her timidity, and enabled her to exert all her

powers. The air was simple and pathetic, and she gave it those charms

of expression so peculiarly her own. She struck the chords of her

piana-forte in beautiful accompaniment, and towards the close of the

second stanza, her voice resting on one note, swelled into a tone so

exquisite, and from thence descended to a few simple notes, which she

touched with such impassioned tenderness that every eye wept to the

sounds. The breath of the flute trembled, and Hippolitus entranced,

forgot to play. A pause of silence ensued at the conclusion of the

piece, and continued till a general sigh seemed to awaken the audience

from their enchantment. Amid the general applause, Hippolitus was

silent. Julia observed his behaviour, and gently raising her eyes to

his, there read the sentiments which she had inspired. An exquisite

emotion thrilled her heart, and she experienced one of those rare

moments which illuminate life with a ray of bliss, by which the

darkness of its general shade is contrasted. Care, doubt, every

disagreeable sensation vanished, and for the remainder of the evening

she was conscious only of delight. A timid respect marked the manner

of Hippolitus, more flattering to Julia than the most ardent

professions. The evening concluded with a ball, and Julia was again

the partner of the count.




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