he awoke, in the morning, as she supposed--for the light of
day never visited the dark recesses of her abode, which were lighted by
artificial means alone--much refreshed, with her spirits quite restored to
their former elasticity.

She went out into the other room, and selected a book for perusal; it
chanced to be a work on metaphysics, and after poring over its abstruse
pages for some time, she became drowsy, and finally fell into a dreamy
sleep. In her fitful slumbers, she was visited by a dream or vision of
extraordinary vividness, which made an indelible impression upon her mind,
because she felt personally interested in the characters that appeared
before her, and by alluding to the scenes, she might alarm the guilty soul
of her persecutor; so, at least, she hoped and believed; with what reason
we shall see hereafter.

* * * * *

After leaving the cave, Duffel hastened back to Mr. Mandeville's as fast as
his fleet steed could bear him. It was after dark before he drew up in
front of that gentleman's house, his horse covered with sweat and foam, and
well-nigh exhausted. It was his wish to be there before the father should
institute any search for his missing daughter, that he might succeed in
throwing the blame upon Hadley, in case the letters dropped for the purpose
of implicating him should not have fallen into the hands of the parent; and
with this view he had a story already made up, to the effect that some one
had seen the fugitives in their flight. As was his custom, he paused on the
outside of the house to listen, hoping by that means to obtain a knowledge
of affairs, and of the feelings of Mr. Mandeville relative to his
daughter's desertion or abduction as the case might be. He soon heard the
hurried footsteps of that gentleman, as, in his deep distress, he paced the
floor--heard, also, his broken exclamations and heavy groans, and the only
sentiment all these things awakened in his callous soul was expressed in
the unfeeling words spoken to himself, in thought:

"The old man takes it hard."

It was a very extraordinary thing for Mr. Mandeville to express his
thoughts aloud, but he did so on this occasion, and Duffel heard his
comments on the letters, and his execration of the writer, as also his
reflections upon his daughter's conduct; then there was a crumpling sound
like that of paper, as though the sheets were crushed in the hand of the
reader. All this was music to th