at has happened? Is anybody sick?"

"All is safe; all are in good health."

"What then do you come hither for at such an hour?"

"I meant not to disturb you; I meant not to be seen."

"Good heavens! How you frighten me! What can be the reason of so
strange----"

"Be not alarmed. I meant to hover near the house till morning, that I
might see you as early as possible."

"For what purpose?"

"I will tell you when we meet, and let that be at five o'clock; the sun
will then be risen; in the cedar-grove under the bank; till when,
farewell."

Having said this, I prevented all expostulation, by turning the angle of
the house, and hastening towards the shore of the river. I roved about
the grove that I have mentioned. In one part of it is a rustic seat and
table, shrouded by trees and shrubs, and an intervening eminence, from
the view of those in the house. This I designed to be the closing scene
of my destiny.

Presently I left this spot, and wandered upward through embarrassed and
obscure paths, starting forward or checking my pace, according as my
wayward meditations governed me. Shall I describe my thoughts?
Impossible! It was certainly a temporary loss of reason; nothing less
than madness could lead into such devious tracks, drag me down to so
hopeless, helpless, panicful a depth, and drag me down so suddenly; lay
waste, as at a signal, all my flourishing structures, and reduce them in
a moment to a scene of confusion and horror.

What did I fear? What did I hope? What did I design? I cannot tell; my
glooms were to retire with the night. The point to which every
tumultuous feeling was linked was the coming interview with Achsa. That
was the boundary of fluctuation and suspense. Here was the sealing and
ratification of my doom.

I rent a passage through the thicket, and struggled upward till I
reached the edge of a considerable precipice; I laid me down at my
length upon the rock, whose cold and hard surface I pressed with my
bared and throbbing breast. I leaned over the edge; fixed my eyes upon
the water and wept--plentifully; but why?

May _this_ be my heart's last beat, if I can tell why?

I had wandered so far from Stedman's, that, when roused by the light, I
had some miles to walk before I could reach the place of meeting. Achsa
was already there. I slid down the rock above, and appeared before her.
Well might she be startled at my wild and abrupt appearance.

I placed myself, without uttering a word,