vere, he thought he would endeavour to reach the
house.

When he arrived at the moat, he found it impossible to cross it, or
ascend the wall; and he stood in momentary jeopardy of his life, from
the falling timber, some of which was broken and torn up by the tornado,
and some splintered by the fiery bolts of heaven. At length a large
tree, which stood near him, on the verge of the moat, or rather in that
place, was hurled from its foundation, and fell, with a hideous crash,
across the moat, its top lodging on the wall. He scrambled up on the
trunk, and made his way on the wall. By the incessant glare of lightning
he was able to see distinctly. The top of the tree was partly broken by
the force of its fall, and hung down the other side of the wall. By
these branches he let himself down into the yard, proceeded to the
house, found the door open, which Melissa had left in her fright, and
entered into one of the rooms, where he proposed to stay until at least
the shower was over, still supposing the house unoccupied, until the
noise of locking the door, and the light of the candle, drew him from
the room, when, to his infinite surprise, he discovered Melissa, as
before related.

Melissa listened to Alonzo with varied emotion. The fixed obduracy of
her father, the generous conduct of the Simpsons, the constancy of
Alonzo, filled her heart with inexpressible sensations. She foresaw that
her sufferings were not shortly to end--she knew not when her sorrows
were to close.

Alonzo was shocked at the alteration which appeared in the features of
Melissa. The rose had faded from her cheek, except when it was
transiently suffused with a hectic flush. A livid paleness sat upon her
countenance, and her fine form was rapidly wasting. It was easy to be
foreseen that the grief which preyed upon her heart would soon destroy
her, unless speedily allayed.

The storm had now passed into the regions of the east; the wind and rain
had ceased, the lightning more unfrequently flashed, and the thunder
rolled at a distance. The hours passed hastily;--day would soon appear.
Hitherto they had been absorbed in the present moment; it was time to
think of the future. After the troubles they had experienced; after so
fortunate a meeting, they could not endure the idea of another and
immediate separation. And yet immediately separated they must be. It
would not be safe for Alonzo to stay even until the rising sun, unless
he was concealed; and of wha