, to Mr.
Simpson's."

It was then agreed that Alonzo should proceed to Vincent's, interest
them in the plan, procure a carriage, and return at eleven o'clock the
next night. Melissa was to have the draw-bridge down, and the gate open.
If John should come to the house the succeeding day, she would persuade
him to let her still keep the keys. But it was possible her aunt might
return. This would render the execution of the scheme more hazardous and
difficult. A signal was therefore agreed on; if her aunt should be
there, a candle was to be placed at the window fronting the gate, in the
room above; if not, it was to be placed against a similar window in the
room below. In the first case Alonzo was to rap loudly at the door.
Melissa was to run down, under pretence of seeing who was there, fly
with Alonzo to the carriage, and leave her aunt to scrape acquaintance
with the ghosts and goblins of the old mansion. For even if her aunt
should return, which was extremely doubtful, she thought she could
contrive to let down the bridge and unlock the gate in the evening
without her knowledge. At any rate she was determined not to let the
keys go out of her hands, unless they were forced from her, until she
had escaped from that horrid and dreary place.

Daylight began to break from the east, and Alonzo prepared to depart.
Melissa accompanied him to the gate and the bridge, which was let down:
he passed over, and she slowly withdrew, both frequently turning to look
back. When she came to the gate, she stopped;--Alonzo stopped also. She
waved a white handkerchief she had in her hand, and Alonzo bowed in
answer to the sign. She then leisurely entered and slowly shut the
gate.--Alonzo could not forbear climbing up into a tree to catch another
glimpse of her as she passed up the avenue. With lingering step he saw
her move along, soon receding from his view in the gray twilight of
misty morning. He then descended, and hastily proceeded on his journey.

Traits of glory now painted the eastern skies. The glittering day-star,
having unbarred the portals of light, began to transmit its retrocessive
lustre. Thin scuds flew swiftly over the moon's decrescent form. Low,
hollow winds, murmured among the bushes, or brushed the limpid drops
from intermingling foliage. The fire-fly[A] sunk, feebly twinkling,
amidst the herbage of the fields. The dusky shadows of night fled to the
deep glens, and rocky caverns of the wilderness. The American lark