Alonzo was about twenty one years old; he had been esteemed an excellent student. His appearance was manly, open and free--His eye indicated a nobleness of soul; although his aspect was tinged with melancholy, yet he was naturally cheerful. His disposition was of the romantic cast....] The spring was advancing, and already began to shed its cheering influences over the face of nature, when, after a long period of clouds and darkness, the sun, with his illuminating beams, was chasing away the gloomy remains of winter, and recalling again to life and animation the innumerable beauties of creation. The day was fixed on when Alida was to return to her native residence. Albert was to attend her home, and he invited his friend Theodore to accompany him. It was evening when they arrived at the house of Albert's father, where they found considerable company collected, as was customary on the celebration of his birth-day. [_A&M_ (second paragraph): Edgar had a sister who, for some time had resided with her cousin at New-London. She was now about to return, and it was designed that Edgar should go and attend her home: previous to the day on which he was to set out, he was unfortunately thrown from his horse, which so much injured him as to prevent his prosecuting his intended journey; he therefore invited Alonzo to supply his place.... ... It was evening when Alonzo arrived at the house of Edgar's cousin.] He received his children with gladness and joy, and Theodore with friendly politeness. [_A&M_: Her cousin waited on Alonzo to the ball, and introduced him to Melissa, who received him with politeness.] "This meeting must be highly pleasing to you, miss," said Theodore to Alida, "after your long absence from home." "It is so, indeed," replied she, "and highly gratifying to my father, to meet here his children, and relations, on the annual occasion of celebrating his birth-day, when we are honoured with so numerous a company of uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, and nieces, that one would suppose we were connected with half the families in the state. And sometimes they do not all leave us, in several weeks afterwards, and regale themselves in riding about the country and visiting the neighbours in the vicinity." [_A&M_: "We have been thronged with company for several days, [said Melissa] once a year my father celebrates his birth day, when we are honored with so numerous a company of uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews and nieces, that were you present, you would suppose we were connected with half the families in Connecticut.] In the course of the evening they were joined by a number from the neighbouring villages, and among the rest was the son of a gentleman who had been long acquainted with the family. He was a gay young man; his address was easy; his manners rather voluptuous than refined; confident, but not ungraceful. [_A&M_: