The Mysteries of Udolpho

At length, she found herself near the avenue, which, on the night of her

father's arrival, Michael had attempted to pass in search of a house,

which was still nearly as wild and desolate as it had then appeared; for

the Count had been so much engaged in directing other improvements, that

he had neglected to give orders, concerning this extensive approach,

and the road was yet broken, and the trees overloaded with their own

luxuriance.

As she stood surveying it, and remembering the emotions, which she had

formerly suffered there, she suddenly recollected the figure, that had

been seen stealing among the trees, and which had returned no answer to

Michael's repeated calls; and she experienced somewhat of the fear, that

had then assailed her, for it did not appear improbable, that these deep

woods were occasionally the haunt of banditti. She, therefore, turned

back, and was hastily pursuing her way to the dancers, when she heard

steps approaching from the avenue; and, being still beyond the call of

the peasants on the green, for she could neither hear their voices, or

their music, she quickened her pace; but the persons following gained

fast upon her, and, at length, distinguishing the voice of Henri, she

walked leisurely, till he came up. He expressed some surprise at meeting

her so far from the company; and, on her saying, that the pleasant

moon-light had beguiled her to walk farther than she intended, an

exclamation burst from the lips of his companion, and she thought she

heard Valancourt speak!

It was, indeed, he! and the meeting was such as

may be imagined, between persons so affectionate, and so long separated

as they had been. In the joy of these moments, Emily forgot all her past sufferings, and

Valancourt seemed to have forgotten, that any person but Emily existed;

while Henri was a silent and astonished spectator of the scene.

Valancourt asked a thousand questions, concerning herself and Montoni,

which there was now no time to answer; but she learned, that her letter

had been forwarded to him, at Paris, which he had previously quitted,

and was returning to Gascony, whither the letter also returned, which,

at length, informed him of Emily's arrival, and on the receipt of which

he had immediately set out for Languedoc. On reaching the

monastery, whence she had dated her letter, he found, to his extreme

disappointment, that the gates were already closed for the night;

and believing, that he should not see Emily, till the morrow, he was

returning to his little inn, with the intention of writing to her, when

he was overtaken by Henri, with whom he had been intimate at Paris, and

was led to her, whom he was secretly lamenting that he should not see,

till the following day.