hought they looked well
in such array made little groups, and scattered themselves about the
grounds and in the tents. They, on the contrary, in whom "the purple
light of love" was apt by the frost to be propelled from the cheeks to
the central ornament of the face, or who thought a fire in a room quite
as agreeable as a fire in a tent, remained within, and contemplated the
scene through the open windows.

Lucy longed to return home, nor was the squire reluctant; but,
unhappily, it wanted an hour to the time at which the carriage had been
ordered, and she mechanically joined a group of guests who had persuaded
the good-natured squire to forget his gout and venture forth to look at
the illuminations. Her party was soon joined by others, and the group
gradually thickened into a crowd; the throng was stationary for a few
minutes before a little temple in which fireworks had just commenced an
additional attraction to the scene. Opposite to this temple, as well as
in its rear, the walks and trees had been purposely left in comparative
darkness, in order to heighten the effect of the fireworks.

"I declare," said Lady Simper, glancing down one of the alleys which
seemed to stretch away into blackness,--"I declare it seems quite a
lovers' walk. How kind in Lord Mauleverer!--such a delicate attention--"

"To your ladyship!" added Mr. Shrewd, with a bow. While, one of this
crowd, Lucy was vacantly eying the long trains of light which ever and
anon shot against the sky, she felt her hand suddenly seized, and at the
same time a voice whispered, "For God's sake, read this now and grant my
request!"

The voice, which seemed to rise from the very heart of the speaker, Lucy
knew at once; she trembled violently, and remained for some minutes with
eyes which did not dare to look from the ground. A note she felt had
been left in her hand; and the agonized and earnest tone of that
voice, which was dearer to her than the fulness of all music, made her
impatient yet afraid to read it. As she recovered courage, she
looked around, and seeing that the attention of all was bent upon the
fireworks, and that her father in particular, leaning on his cane,
seemed to enjoy the spectacle with a child's engrossed delight, she
glided softly away, and entering unperceived one of the alleys, she
read, by a solitary lamp that burned at its entrance, the following
lines, written in pencil and in a hurried hand, apparently upon a leaf
torn from a pocket