Page:Storys (sic) of The wild huntsman.pdf/9

9 brought up, who had resided in Italy for many years, who died there, when Juliana was yet quite an infant. From the moment of his death, the Countess secluded herself from society, and appeared to find no pleasure save in the company of her young son Otto, and that of Juliana. These engaging children were with her incessantly, and by their innocent caresses, made her forget half her griefs. Otto, was five years older than Juliana; and when he was fifteen, his partiallity to his youthful playmate became so marked, that the Countess, fearing lest, as they grew older, an attachment might take place between them procured the situation for Francis which he now held.

Poor Juliana bitterly felt the change. She had acquired, under the tuition of the Countess, a softness and delicacy of manners which rendered her quite unfit to associate with the Danish peasants, and her father she had always feared rather than loved. He was, indeed, an object well calculated to inspire fear. His long residence in Italy had bronzed his once fair complexion and hair, whilst thick bushy eyebrows, deep sunken eyes, and a lowering brow, gave a sinister expression to his countenance which made the beholdea turn from him with an indescribable feeling of disdain: added to which, the haughtiness he treated his