"
And to London they went. Juliet was received by her rich aunt with the
most lively demonstrations of regard. She felt proud of introducing to
the notice of the gay world a creature so beautiful. Admired for her
great personal attractions, and courted for her wealth, Juliet soon
found herself the centre of attraction to a large circle of friends. But
ah! how vapid and tasteless to the young lover of nature were the
artificial manners and the unmeaning flatteries of the world.
Professions of attachment, breathed into her ears by interested
admirers, shocked and disgusted her simple taste, and made her thoughts
turn continually to the one adored object, whose candid and honest
bearing had won her heart. His soul had been poured forth at the same
shrine, had drunk inspiration from the same sacred fount, and his
sympathies and feelings were in perfect unison with her own.
How could she forget Anthony whilst mingling in scenes so uncongenial to
her own pursuits? Was he not brought every hour nearer to her thoughts?
Was she not constantly drawing contrasts between him and the worldly
beings by whom she was surrounded! Did not his touching voice thrill
more musically in her mental ear, when the affected ostentatious tones
of the votary of fashion and pleasure tried to attract her attention by
a display of his accomplishments and breeding? There was a want of
reality in all she heard and saw that struck painfully upon her heart;
and after the first novelty of the scene had worn off, she began to pine
for the country.
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