Resulting in A betrothal and A tempest

At the breakfast table next morning Julia’s pale face was noticed and commented upon.

“She had a violent toothache last night, which kept her awake,” said Fanny.

“Now I think of it,” said Mr. Middleton, “I wonder, Tempest, how you can have the toothache, for you are always bragging about your handsome, healthy teeth, and say you hain’t a rotten fang in your head.”

Julia colored, for what her father said was true, neither did she remember of ever having had the toothache in her life; but quickly recovering herself, she said, “Neither have I a decayed tooth.  It was more of a faceache, I suppose, than the genuine toothache.”

“Probably you have taken some cold,” said Mr. Wilmot.

“I think quite likely I have,” retorted Julia, and so the toothache matter was dismissed for the time.  Mr. Miller, however, thought he could see in it a plan of Julia’s to avoid going to school that day and when he heard Mrs. Middleton say, “Julia, as it is so cold and chilly, perhaps you had better not go out,” he was rather surprised to hear her reply, “Oh, no, mother; Mr. Miller is going with us and I would not miss of being there for anything.”

So the party proceeded together to the schoolhouse.  When school commenced Julia took her books and going up to Mr. Wilmot, said, loudly enough for Mr. Miller to hear:  “Mr. Wilmot, do you know that you gave me a very hard lesson for today?”

“Yes, Julia,” said he, “I know it is hard and long, and as you do not seem well, I will excuse you from as much of it as you choose, or from the whole of it, if you like.”

“No, no,” said Julia; “Mr. Miller is here and I would like to show him that I have improved since last winter, when, as I fear, I was often sadly remiss in my studies.  All I want to tell you is that if I do not recite as well as usual, you mustn’t scold me a bit; will you?”

“Oh, certainly not,” said Mr. Wilmot, and then he added in a tone so low that no one heard but Julia, “I could not scold you, dear Julia.”

Thus flattered, the young lady took her seat and for a time seemed very intensely occupied with her lessons.  At last she opened her portfolio and, taking from it a sheet of foolscap, cast an exulting glance toward Fanny and Mr. Miller, the latter of whom was watching her movements.  She then took her gold pencil and commenced scribbling something on the paper.  By the time her lesson was called she laid the paper on the desk, and prepared to do honor to herself and teacher.  The moving of the paper attracted Mr. Wilmot’s notice, and going toward her, he very gently said, “I presume you have no objection to letting me see what you have written here.”

She at first put out her hand as if to prevent him from taking it, but at last she suffered him to do so, but tried to look interestingly confused.  Mr. Wilmot read what was written and then smiling passed it to his friend, who looked at it and saw that it was a piece of tolerably good blank verse.