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impossible to describe。
It now occurred to Belcour that she might possibly write to
Montraville； and endeavour to convince him of her innocence： he was well
aware of her pathetic remonstrances； and； sensible of the tenderness of
Montraville's heart； resolved to prevent any letters ever reaching him： he
therefore called the servant； and； by the powerful persuasion of a bribe；
prevailed with her to promise whatever letters her mistress might write
should be sent to him。 He then left a polite； tender note for Charlotte； and
returned to New…York。 His first business was to seek Montraville； and
endeavour to convince him that what had happened would ultimately tend
to his happiness： he found him in his apartment； solitary； pensive； and
wrapped in disagreeable reflexions。
〃Why how now； whining； pining lover？〃 said he； clapping him on the
shoulder。 Montraville started； a momentary flush of resentment crossed his
cheek； but instantly gave place to a death…like paleness； occasioned by
painful remembrance remembrance awakened by that monitor； whom；
though we may in vain endeavour； we can never entirely silence。
〃Belcour；〃 said he； 〃you have injured me in a tender point。〃 〃Prithee；
Jack；〃 replied Belcour； 〃do not make a serious matter of it： how could I
refuse the girl's advances？ and thank heaven she is not your wife。〃
〃True；〃 said Montraville； 〃but she was innocent when I first knew her。
It was I seduced her； Belcour。 Had it not been for me； she had still been
virtuous and happy in the affection and protection of her family。〃
〃Pshaw；〃 replied Belcour； laughing； 〃if you had not taken advantage of
her easy nature； some other would； and where is the difference； pray？〃
〃I wish I had never seen her；〃 cried he passionately； and starting from
his seat。 〃Oh that cursed French woman；〃 added he with vehemence； 〃had
it not been for her； I might have been happy〃 He paused。
〃With Julia Franklin；〃 said Belcour。 The name； like a sudden spark of
electric fire； seemed for a moment to suspend his faculties for a moment
he was transfixed； but recovering； he caught Belcour's hand； and cried
'Stop！ stop！ I beseech you； name not the lovely Julia and the wretched
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Montraville in the same breath。 I am a seducer； a mean； ungenerous
seducer of unsuspecting innocence。 I dare not hope that purity like her's
would stoop to unite itself with black； premeditated guilt： yet by heavens I
swear； Belcour； I thought I loved the lost； abandoned Charlotte till I saw
Julia I thought I never could forsake her； but the heart is deceitful； and I
now can plainly discriminate between the impulse of a youthful passion；
and the pure flame of disinterested affection。〃
At that instant Julia Franklin passed the window； leaning on her uncle's
arm。 She curtseyed as she passed； and； with the bewitching smile of
modest chearfulness； cried〃Do you bury yourselves in the house this fine
evening； gents？〃 There was something in the voice！ the manner！ the look！
that was altogether irresistible。 〃Perhaps she wishes my company；〃 said
Montraville mentally； as he snatched up his hat： 〃if I thought she loved me；
I would confess my errors； and trust to her generosity to pity and pardon
me。〃 He soon overtook her； and offering her his arm； they sauntered to
pleasant but unfrequented walks。 Belcour drew Mr。 Franklin on one side
and entered into a political discourse： they walked faster than the young
people； and Belcour by some means contrived entirely to lose sight of
them。 It was a fine evening in the beginning of autumn； the last remains of
day…light faintly streaked the western sky； while the moon； with pale and
virgin lustre in the room of gorgeous gold and purple； ornamented the
canopy of heaven with silver； fleecy clouds； which now and then half hid
her lovely face； and； by partly concealing； heightened every beauty； the
zephyrs whispered softly through the trees； which now began to shed their
leafy honours； a solemn silence reigned： and to a happy mind an evening
such as this would give serenity； and calm； unruffled pleasure； but to
Montraville； while it soothed the turbulence of his passions； it brought
increase of melancholy reflections。 Julia was leaning on his arm： he took
her hand in his； and pressing it tenderly； sighed deeply； but continued
silent。 Julia was embarrassed； she wished to break a silence so
unaccountable； but was unable； she loved Montraville； she saw he was
unhappy； and wished to know the cause of his uneasiness； but that innate
modesty； which nature has implanted in the female breast； prevented her
enquiring。 〃I am bad company； Miss Franklin；〃 said he； at last recollecting
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himself； 〃but I have met with something to…day that has greatly distressed
me； and I cannot shake off the disagreeable impression it has made on my
mind。 〃
〃I am sorry；〃 she replied； 〃that you have any cause of inquietude。 I am
sure if you were as happy as you deserve； and as all your friends wish you…
…〃 She hesitated。 〃And might l；〃 replied he with some animation； 〃presume
to rank the amiable Julia in that number？〃
〃Certainly；〃 said she； 〃the service you have rendered me； the
knowledge of your worth； all combine to make me esteem you。〃
〃Esteem； my lovely Julia；〃 said he passionately； 〃is but a poor cold
word。 I would if I dared； if I thought I merited your attentionbut no； I
must nothonour forbids。 I am beneath your notice； Julia； I am miserable
and cannot hope to be otherwise。〃 〃Alas！〃 said Julia； 〃I pity you。〃
〃Oh thou condescending charmer；〃 said he； 'how that sweet word
chears my sad heart。 Indeed if you knew all； you would pity； but at the
same time I fear you would despise me。〃
Just then they were again joined by Mr。 Franklin and Belcour。 It had
interrupted an interesting discourse。 They found it impossible to converse
on indifferent subjects； and proceeded home in silence。 At Mr。 Franklin's
door Montraville again pressed Julia's hand； and faintly articulating 'good
night；〃 retired to his lodgings dispirited and wretched； from a
consciousness that