dear Madeline herself, is she so
alarmed?"

And now in spite of all the more wearing and haggard thoughts that
preyed upon his breast, and the dangers by which he conceived himself
beset, the Student's face, as he listened with eager attention to every
word that Lester uttered concerning his niece, testified how alive he
yet was to the least incident that related to Madeline, and how easily
her innocent and peaceful remembrance could allure him from himself.

"This room," said Lester, looking round, "will be, I conclude, after
Madeline's own heart; but will you always suffer her here? students do
not sometimes like even the gentlest interruption."

"I have not forgotten that Madeline's comfort requires some more
cheerful retreat than this," said Aram, with a melancholy expression of
countenance. "Follow me, Lester; I meant this for a little surprise to
her. But Heaven only knows if I shall ever show it to herself?"

"Why? what doubt of that can even your boding temper discover?"

"We are as the wanderers in the desert," answered Aram, "who are taught
wisely to distrust their own senses: that which they gaze upon as the
waters of existence, is often but a faithless vapour that would lure
them to destruction."

In thus speaking he had traversed the room, and, opening a door, showed
a small chamber with which it communicated, and which Aram had fitted up
with evident, and not ungraceful care. Every article of furniture that
Madeline might most fancy, he had sent for from the neighbouring town.
And some of the lighter and more attractive books that he possessed,
were ranged around on shelves, above which were vases, intended for
flowers; the window opened upon a little plot that had been lately
broken up into a small garden, and was already intersected with walks,
and rich with shrubs.

There was something in this chamber that so entirely contrasted the
one it adjoined, something so light, and cheerful, and even gay in its
decoration and its tout ensemble, that Lester uttered an exclamation
of delight and surprise. And indeed it did appear to him touching, that
this austere scholar, so wrapt in thought, and so inattentive to the
common forms of life, should have manifested this tender and delicate
consideration. In another it would have been nothing, but in Aram, it
was a trait, that brought involuntary tears to the eyes of the good
Lester. Aram observed them: he walked hastily away to the window, and
sighed heavil