at the residence of Miss Emmerson on the banks of
the Hudson.

{Gennessee = Genesee River, which flows north
through central New York State to Lake Ontario--at
the time of Cooper's story it was still on the
frontier of settlement}

Charles Weston was a distant relative of the good
aunt, and was, like Julia, an orphan, who was
moderately endowed with the goods of fortune. He
was a student in the office of her uncle, and being
a great favourite with Miss Emmerson, spent many
of his leisure hours, during the heats of the
summer, in the retirement of her country residence.

Whatever might be the composure of the maiden
aunt, while Julia was weeping in her chamber over
the long separation that was now to exist between
herself and her friend, young Weston by no means
displayed the same philosophic indifference. He
paced the hall of the building with rapid steps, cast
many a longing glance at the door of his cousin's
room, and then rested himself with an apparent
intention to read the volume he held in his hands;
nor did he in any degree recover his composure
until Julia re-appeared on the landing of the stairs,
moving slowly towards their bottom, when, taking
one long look at her lovely face, which was glowing
with youthful beauty, and if possible more charming