It will save much trouble, and do away with no little useless mystery, to declare, at the outset, which of these opposite twin-brothers our dark-eyed Emily preferred.  She was only seventeen in years; but an Indian sky had ripened her to full maturity, both of form and feelings:  and having never had any one whom she cared to think upon, and let her heart delight in, till Charles looked first upon her beauty wonderingly, it is no marvel if she unconsciously reciprocated his young heart’s thought—­before ever he had breathed it to himself.  Julian’s admiration she entirely overlooked; she never thought him more than civil—­barely that, perhaps—­however he might flatter himself:  but her heart and eyes were full of his fair contrast, the light seen brighter against darkness; Charles all the dearer for a Julian.  Intensely did she love him, as only tropic blood can love; intently did she gaze on him, when any while he could not see her face, as only those dark eyes could gaze:  and her mind, all too ignorant but greedy of instruction, no less than her heart, rich in sympathies and covetous of love, went forth, and fed deliciously on the intellectual brow, and delicate flushing cheek of her noble-minded Charles.  Not all in a day, nor a week, nor a month, did their loves thus ripen together.  Emily was a simple child of nature, who had every thing to learn; she scarcely knew her Maker’s name, till Charles instructed her in God’s great love:  the stars were to her only shining studs of gold, and the world one mighty plain, and men and women soulless creatures of a day, and the wisdom of creation unconsidered, and the book of natural knowledge close sealed up, till Charles set out before his eager student the mysteries of earth and heaven.  Oh, those blessed hours of sweet teaching! when he led her quick delighted steps up the many avenues of science to the central throne of God!  Oh, those happy moments, never to return, when her eyes in gentle thankfulness for some new truth laid open to them, flashed upon her youthful Mentor, love and intelligence, and pleased admiring wonder!  Sweet spring-tide of their loves, who scarcely knew they loved, yet thought of nothing but each other; who walked hand in hand, as brother and sister, in the flowery ways of mutual blessing, mutual dependence:  alas, alas! how brief a space can love, that guest from heaven, dwell on earth unsullied!

CHAPTER V.

Jealousy.

For Julian soon perceived that Charles was no despicable rival.  At first, self-flattery, and the habitual contempt wherewith he regarded his brother, blinded him to Emily’s attachment:  moreover, in the scenes of gayety and the common social circle, she never gave him cause to complain of undue preferences; readily she leant upon his arm, cheerfully accompanied him in morning-visits, noon-day walks, and evening parties; and if pale Charles (in addition to the more regular masters, dancing and music, and other pieces of accomplishment) thought proper to bore her with his books for sundry hours every day, Julian found no fault with that;—­the girl was getting more a woman of the world, and all for him:  she would like her play-time all the better for such schoolings, and him to be the truant at her side.