in society, or how he employed himself. Without employment, in
solitude, he was happy: only he felt out of humour with himself at his
own bashfulness, which withheld him from trying to become nearer
acquainted with this beauteous being, notwithstanding the friendliness
with which she had several times greeted and thankt him. He knew not
that she would often gaze over at him with eyes no less lovesick than
his own: he guessed not what wishes were forming in her heart, of what
an effort, what a sacrifice she felt herself capable, so she might but
attain the possession of his love.

After walking a few times up and down the room, the light having gone
away again with the child, he suddenly made up his mind, in spite of
all his feelings and inclinations, to go to the ball; for it struck
him that his unknown might have made an exception for once to her
usual secluded habits, for the sake of enjoying the world and its
gaieties.

The streets were brilliantly lighted up; the snow crackled under his
feet; carriages rolled by him; and masks in every variety of dress
whistled and twittered as they passed him. Many of the houses
resounded with the dancing music which he so much abhorred; and he
could not bring himself to take the nearest way to the ballroom, to
which people from all quarters were streaming and flocking.

He walkt round the old church, gazed at its high tower rising
majestically into the dark sky, and enjoyed the stillness and solitude
of this deserted place. Within the recess of a large doorway, the
varied sculptures of which he had often contemplated with pleasure,
while calling up visions of the olden times and the arts that adorned
them, he now again took his stand, to give himself up for a few
moments to his musings.

He had not been there long, when his attention was attracted by a
figure that was pacing restlessly to and fro, and seemed to be waiting
for somebody. By the light of a lamp burning before an image of the
Virgin, he distinctly made out the face, as well as the strange dress.
It was an old woman of the uttermost hideousness, which struck the eye
the more from her being grotesquely clad in a scarlet bodice
embroidered with gold. Emilius fancied at first it must be some
extravagant mask that had lost its way: but the bright light soon
convinced him that the old brown wrinkled face was one of Nature's
ploughing, and no mimic exaggeration.

In a few minutes two men made their appearance, wrapt up