t, near the Battery.

Alida, after she had thrown off her travelling apparel, seated herself
by the window in silence. Her mind was absorbed in deep reflection and
thoughtfulness. She watched the slow declining sun, as it was sinking
beneath the horizon. Pensive twilight spread her misty mantle over the
landscape. The western sky glowed with the spangles of evening;
deepening glooms advanced. The last beam of day faded from the view, and
all was enveloped in night. Innumerable stars glittered in the
firmament, intermingling their quivering lustre with the pale splendours
of the milky way.

[_A&M_:

She then retired to her chamber, seated herself at the western
window, and watched the slow declining sun, as it leisurely sunk
behind the lofty groves. Pensive twilight spread her misty mantle
over the landscape; the western horizon glowed with the spangles of
evening. Deepening glooms advanced. The last beam of day faded from
the view and the world was enveloped in night. The owl hooted
solemnly in the forest, and the whipperwill sung cheerfully in the
garden. Innumerable stars glittered in the firmament, intermingling
their quivering lustre with the pale splendours of the milky way.]

When Alida was summoned to tea, her parents made various observations to
endeavour to amuse her thoughts, and draw her from her taciturnity.
After tea she again returned to the window, where she sat till a late
hour, apparently in deep meditation, till at length growing weary and
restless, she retired to her room.

As she had for several nights in succession slept but little, she soon
fell into a slumber, and did not awake till near the dawn of day. She
did not close her eyes again to sleep. Daylight soon appeared, and the
cheerful sun darting his enlivening rays through the windows of this
antique mansion, recovered her exhausted spirits, and dissipated, in
some measure, the cheerless reflections that still continued to hover
about her imagination.

[_A&M_:

.... As she, for two nights, had been deprived of her usual rest,
she soon fell into a slumber.
...
Daylight soon appeared, and the cheerful sun darting its enlivening
rays through the crevices and windows of the antique mansion,
recovered her exhausted spirits, and dissipated, in some degree, the
terrors which hovered about her mind.]

She arose, and went down to breakfast with spirits somewhat revived,
and changed to a temporary resig