the casement,
he exclaims:

"Am I a sickly child, or puny infant, that I awake, frightened by
silly visions which war with sleep, and murder it ere 'tis fairly
born? Troth!" he continued, with knitted brows, "'twas strange my
fancy painted such a picture."

He stood for a moment wrapped in thought, then added, shaking his head
as though unable to thrust aside the memories which troubled him:

"By the blessed Virgin! a most vivid dream. How she held her arms out
to me, yet her lips were mute. Aye, and the eyes--the dumb horror
written in them, as if beholding a specter which blanched the face and
fettered the limbs. I believe," he added with a sudden resolution,
"'tis a woman's trick, but I would fain see her face ere I rest
again."

He stepped out into the corridor, proceeded in the direction of his
daughter's room, and softly entering, advanced toward the bed.

"Not here!" exclaimed he, beholding the empty couch. "Nay, thou canst
not frighten me," he continued with a forced laugh, gazing about.
"Come, show thyself; 'twas a merry jest, but let's have it done."

He paused; still no answer to his summons. "Elinor," he again called,
a shadow of anxiety in his tone. "What means it that she is nowhere
within hearing?"

He quickly retraced his steps, passed down the stairs and tried the
hall door. It was unbarred, and opened to his touch.

"By heaven!" he exclaimed, "I could swear I shot those bolts before
going to rest, and now they are drawn."

He stood anxiously looking out upon the star-lit night. His eyes
wandered to the doorstep, and discerned upon its covering of frost the
imprint of a small foot.

He stooped to examine the impression and hurriedly arose. "She has
indeed left the house," he cried. "What can have taken the maiden out
of doors at this hour of the night?--some secret tryst? Nay, I do but
jest; she's not the kind to go a-courting after the moon is up.
Mayhap," he continued, meditating a moment, "a neighbor was stricken
ill and they have summoned Elinor to lend her gentle aid. Marry,"
added he in a relieved tone, on finding a plausible excuse for his
daughter's absence, "I do recollect Master Carew's woman was soon
expected to add one more trouble to her husband's household. It is
most likely that she went there. 'Tis a dark way to travel, and I will
give her a surprise. While thinking a lonely walk lies before her,
Elinor will find an old but devoted cavalier to keep her company.
First," add