hing that heart can
desire--handsome, well educated, and generous? and does not my father
love him as a son? But my father may not consent," she continued, again
weeping, "and I must endeavor to conquer an affection that has been
growing silently but rapidly for years; it is impossible, I know, but I
will make the attempt."

The old man, too, could not but notice the different effects of the two
items of intelligence he had that evening communicated. "What could ail
Julia when I told her that George was going to sea again without coming
home? the poor girl was ready to cry: he's a fine young fellow, that's
certain, and they've been brought up together like brother and sister;
so I suppose it is natural that she loves him like a brother: I have
half a mind to write to him to scamper across the country, and see us
for a couple of days; but I dare say he's too busy." With these
reflections the merchant dropped asleep, and dreamed of "Africa and
golden joys."

Upon Captain Allerton's subsequent return, Julia's determination to
avoid him and to stifle her attachment to him vanished, like most
resolutions of the kind that young ladies are in the habit of forming,
and she gave herself up to the illusions of that bewitching passion,
without knowing--and, when enjoying his society, certainly without
thinking--how it would end; and as for her father, he, good easy man,
had done thinking about it altogether: not that his affection for her
was in any wise abated, but his mind was taken up with something else
more engrossing, and, as perhaps he thought, more important, than
watching the actions of two young people.

After tea, Captain Allerton and Julia took a walk upon the banks of the
river, along a secluded green lane, that had often witnessed similar
rambles. After a long pause, during which each seemed too busy with
their own peculiar train of thinking to regard the silence of the other,
they stopped, as if by mutual consent.

"And so, Julia, your father, after losing so much money in South
America, is going there, to see if he can grapple any of it up from the
mines of Mexico, or wherever else it has sunk."

"He is certainly going to South America, but I never knew that he had
lost much money by his speculations there."

"Nor do I say that he has, but as every body else has, I do not see how
he can have escaped;" and then added, after a short pause, and in an
embarrassed and tremulous voice, "are you, tell me, Julia, ar