Emily gazed long on the plane-tree, and then seated herself, for the

last time, on the bench under its shade, where she had so often sat with

her parents, and where, only a few hours before, she had conversed

with Valancourt, at the remembrance of whom, thus revived, a mingled

sensation of esteem, tenderness and anxiety rose in her breast. With

this remembrance occurred a recollection of his late confession--that he

had often wandered near her habitation in the night, having even passed

the boundary of the garden, and it immediately occurred to her, that

he might be at this moment in the grounds. The fear of meeting him,

particularly after the declaration he had made, and of incurring a

censure, which her aunt might so reasonably bestow, if it was known,

that she was met by her lover, at this hour, made her instantly leave

her beloved plane-tree, and walk towards the chateau. She cast an

anxious eye around, and often stopped for a moment to examine the

shadowy scene before she ventured to proceed, but she passed on without

perceiving any person, till, having reached a clump of almond trees, not

far from the house, she rested to take a retrospect of the garden, and

to sigh forth another adieu.

As her eyes wandered over the landscape she

thought she perceived a person emerge from the groves, and pass slowly

along a moon-light alley that led between them; but the distance, and

the imperfect light would not suffer her to judge with any degree of

certainty whether this was fancy or reality. She continued to gaze for

some time on the spot, till on the dead stillness of the air she heard

a sudden sound, and in the next instant fancied she distinguished

footsteps near her. Wasting not another moment in conjecture, she

hurried to the chateau, and, having reached it, retired to her chamber,

where, as she closed her window she looked upon the garden, and then

again thought she distinguished a figure, gliding between the almond

trees she had just left. She immediately withdrew from the casement,

and, though much agitated, sought in sleep the refreshment of a short

oblivion.




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