e rain ceased to fall as suddenly as it had begun; the
thunder was silent, and only a few distant flashes of wide-spread light
broke fitfully above the horizon. The stars soon again shone forth
through a transparent and placid heaven, and the moon sailed in beauty
along a cloudless sea. The frog chirped again from the trees, and the
far-off owl hooted in the wood, resuming his melancholy song, that had
been so briefly intermitted. The foaming river below, swollen by the
recent rain, flung upwards a more lively gush from its rocky bed: the
cock was heard to crow, as if a new day had burst upon his harem; and
the house-dogs barked in sport as they gambolled over the wet grass.

Lindsay looked forth and spoke.

"How beautiful is the change! But a moment since, and the angry elements
were convulsed with the shock of war; and now, how calm! My ancient oaks
have weathered the gale, and not a branch has been torn from their hoary
limbs: not the most delicate of Mildred's flowers; not the tenderest
shrub has been scathed by the threatening fires of heaven! The Dove Cote
and its inmates have seen the storm sweep by without a vestige of harm.
Kind heaven, grant that this may be a portent of our fortune; and that,
when this tempest of human passion has been spent, the Dove Cote and its
inhabitants may come forth as tranquil, as safe, as happy, as
now--more--yes, more happy than now! Our ways are in thy hands; and I
would teach myself to submit to thy providence with patient hope. So,
let it be! I am resigned."

As Lindsay still occupied his position in the porch, Stephen Foster
appeared before him dripping with the rain of the late storm.

"A letter, sir," said Stephen. "I have just rode from the post-office,
and was almost oversot in the gust: it catched me upon the road; and it
was as much as I could do to cross the river. It is a mighty fretful
piece of water after one of these here dashes."

Lindsay took the packet.

"Get your supper, good Stephen," he said. "Order lights for me in the
library! Thank you--thank you!"

When Lindsay opened the letter, he found it to contain tidings of the
victory at Camden, written by Tyrrel. After he had perused the contents,
it was with a triumphant smile that he exclaimed, "And it is come so
soon! Thank God, the omen has proved true! a calmer and a brighter hour
at last opens upon us."

He left the study to communicate the news to his children, and spent the
next hour with Mildred an