in his face, "you are the only
person who understands me; by all others, whatever I do or say is
construed into something bad. I wish you were my brother, for then I might
have been better than I am."

"Oh, I do not wish I was your brother," said Mr. Wilmot, "for then I could
never have claimed a dearer title, which I hope now to do at some future
time."

Then followed a declaration of love, which Julia had long waited most
anxiously for. Most eloquently did Mr. Wilmot pour out the whole tide of
his affection for the beautiful but sinful girl, who, in a very becoming
and appropriate manner, murmured an acknowledgment of requited love. Thus
the two were betrothed.

And truly it was a fitting time for such a betrothal. The air had been hot
and sultry all day, and now the sky was overspread with dark clouds, while
everything indicated an approaching storm. While Mr. Wilmot was yet
speaking, it burst upon them with great violence. Peal after peal of
thunder followed each other, in rapid succession, and just as Julia
whispered a promise to be Mr. Wilmot's forever, a blinding sheet of
lightning lit up for a moment her dark features, and was instantly
succeeded by a crash, which shook the whole house from its foundation, and
drew from Julia a cry of terror, which brought Fanny to see what was the
matter, and made Mr. Middleton swear, "Thar was noise enough from the
tempest outdoors, without the 'Tempest' in the house raising such a devil
of a fuss!"

CHAPTER IV

DR. LACEY APPEARS UPON THE SCENE

When Mr. Middleton was spoken to on the subject of sending Julia to
Frankfort, he at first refused outright. "No," said he, "indeed she shan't
go! What does she want of any more flummerdiddle notions? What she does
know is a damage to her."

"But do you not wish to give your daughters every possible advantage?"
said Mr. Wilmot.

"Who's said anything about my daughters?" said Mr. Middleton. "It's nobody
but Tempest, and she's always kickin' up some boobery. Now if 'twas
Sunshine, why, I might--but no, neither of 'em shall go. It's all stuff,
the whole on't."

So saying, he turned on his heel and walked off, while Julia burst into
tears and repaired to her own room, whither she was soon followed by her
mother, who tried to console her. Said she, "Why, Julia, you don't take
the right course with your father. Why do you not propose having your
sister accompany you