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Show 276 HOEBUCK. At that late hour all ·was silent, but alartns " rero then so frequent, that every f:1.n1ily 'vas alert. As soon as she knocked at the door an upper 'vindow was cautiou. ly opened, and a voi ·e inquired who 'vas there. She gave the necessary explanation, aud 'vas admitted. IIer 1nother, ·who slept but little, recognizcu her voice, and i1nn1ediately called her into her own chamber. The 1neeting between ~hctn coniJ not be without joy, nor yet could it be without sorrow. To be thns uniteJ, afLer such a separation, ·was rapture. To rcrninu each other of the ub ·ence, suffering and dano·cr of another, so dear to both, ,,·as augui. h. In smiles and tear , in e1nbraces and reoTcts, in conver ation about the one on 'vho1n their anxious thono·hts were 0 centred, they spent the hour.·, nn til the sun ·was high in the heavens. It was not until the ilnsh of cxcileIncnt fac1e<l frotn her n1other· s i~tee, and the pitilcst> light of day fcllnpon it, that Julia 'vas fully aware of the ra vagc1:1 that terror and aflliction had n1aclc there. 1Vhen she looked upon that fonn so frail, thoso cheeks so )\'a.n, the pallid lips and the sunken eyes, apprehension for her Jnother's health divided her llCart with anxiety for her f:tther's safety. Julia's Rensibility " 'as both delicate and warm. But no cxce:ss of feeling ever prevailed long ov<•r tho clear judgn1eut and steady seHHe of duty ,vltich habitually regulated her conduct. Un<.ler a delicate Bur: t;Lce of fetninine Leauty, grace and tcndernc . . ', her character contained a streugth of principle whieh 111ade even the play of her c1notious, like the vibratious of a watch-spring, contribute to the praclicat uses of life. Iler RJnlpathy with sickness aud distress did not vanish in sighs. It pron1ptecl her to give relief with quiet and thoughtful encrgr, whilst ROE DUCK. 277 only the extreme gentlenc. s of her n1inir;trations showed how rnnch of another's snfrering she felt as l10r own. Thn:, dnring the next few days, ~h e acvot eel her. elf to the care of her afT1icl <1 n1othcr. J\:nowjng her ta. to anJ habits, anti6pating her w:mts " 'ith qni ·k intelligence, providing for her phy~i cal cornfort with untiring diligence, her daughter a114o endeavored t.o Aoothe her mind. If anything could have ltflc1 that effect, it 'vould hitve been the presence of .Julia. vVithdrawing her thoughts from lter own troubles in order that she 1night win her 1nother from despondency, she became almo t cheerful. IIcr 11oiseless step Ree1netl rather light from hope than stealthy frotn fear. 'Vhen to the loveliness of her person, and the sweetness of her countenance, was added tho tender carne toe'S of filial affection, she looked, ,vhile she hoveretl over her n1othcr's pillow, as if her love alone n1ight t1i. pel all gloon1 from the brow on whjch her Aoft, white hand was fondly laid. She exCited all the charms of her voice and c0nver ation to banish the spectre of despair that haunted her 1nothcr by day and Ly night. Yet, she found tha.t, as tho reader already knows, the delicate Ja?y contuuwd to pine and 'vasto away. Indeed, Julia Lecame conYinced that the life of the wife depended npon tho restoration of the hu band to liberty. Fat~wr n.t:u lnother-thc lives of both, she believed, 'vere 111 pen!, nnd 1night depend on the same co~ltingcncy .. When she had arrived at thu:; conclusion, her thouo·hts naturally reverted to the proposal of Pahner, "' hich as he declared, Jnight have led to the release of her' father. But, even now, she could not. rep~nt that she hacl reJ. ecte d 1· t. She 1· emembered It ·wt1rt h increased disgust, when it appeared to her as a pro L- |
