ed and settled in life;--his name
was Vincent.]

When Theodore arrived at the house of his friend, he was received with
the same disinterested ardour he had ever been before, in the day of his
most unbounded prosperity. After being seated, Raymond told him the
occasion of his sending for him was to propose the adoption of certain
measures which he doubted not might be considered highly beneficial, as
it respected his future peace and happiness. "Your family misfortunes,"
continued he, "have reached the ear of Alida's father. I know old
people, generally speaking, too well to believe he will now consent to
receive you as his son-in-law under your present embarrassments. The
case is difficult, but not insurmountable. You must first see Alida; she
is now in the next room; I will introduce you in; converse with her,
after which I will lay my plan before you."

[_A&M_:

When Alonzo arrived at the house of his friend, he was received with
the same disinterested ardor he ever had been in the day of his most
unbounded prosperity. After being seated, Vincent told him that the
occasion of his sending for him was to propose the adoption of
certain measures which he doubted not might be considered highly
beneficial as it respected his future peace and happiness. "Your
family misfortunes (continued Vincent) have reached the ears of
Melissa's father. I know the old gentleman too well to believe he
will consent to receive you as his son-in-law, under your present
embarrassments. Money is the God to which he implicitly bows. The
case is difficult, but not insurmountable. You must first see
Melissa; she is now in the next room; I will introduce you in;
converse with her, after which I will lay my plan before you."]

Theodore entered the room. Alida was sitting by a window which looked
into a pleasant garden, and over verdant meadows where tall grass waved
to the evening breeze; further on, low valleys spread their umbrageous
thickets where the dusky shadows of night had began to assemble. On the
high hills beyond, the tops of lofty forests, majestically moved by the
billowy gales, caught the sun's last ray. Fleecy summer clouds hovered
around the verge of the western horizon, spangled with silvery tints or
fringed with the gold of evening.

[_A&M_:

Alonzo entered the room; Melissa was sitting by a window which
looked into a pleasant garden, and over verdant meadows, whose tall
grass wav