"Against my will and sober reason, dear Ella, I must own I have. Perchance, however, the feeling was only called up by a train of melancholy meditations. While sitting there to-night, gazing upon the many bounding forms--some full of beauty and grace, and some of strength--noting their joyous faces, and listening occasionally to the lightsome jest, and merry, ringing laugh--I could not avoid contrasting with the present the time when I was as happy and full full of mirth as they. I pictured to myself how they would stare and shudder and draw away from me, did they know my hand was stained with the blood of my own kin. Then I began, involuntarily as it were, to picture to myself the fate of each; and they came up before me in the form of a vision, (though if such, it was a waking one) but in regular order; and I saw them pass on one after another--some gliding smoothly down the stream of time to old age--some wretched and crippled, groping their way along over barren wastes, without water or food, though nearly dying for the want of both--some wading through streams of blood, with fierce and angry looks--and some with pale faces, red eyes, and hollow cheeks, roving amid coffins, sepulchres and bones; but of all, the very fewest number happy." "Oh! it was an awful vision!" exclaimed Ella, with a shudder. "It was awful enough," rejoined Algernon; "and despite of me, it made me more and more sad as I thought upon it. Could it indeed be a dream? But no! I was--seemingly at least--as wide awake and conscious as at the present moment. I saw the dance going on as ever--I saw the merry smiles, and heard the jest and laugh as before. Could it be some strange hallucination of the brain--some wild imagining--caused by my previous exercise and over heat? I pondered upon it long and seriously, but could not determine. Suddenly--I know not how nor why--that ill-looking stranger who lodged one night at your uncle's, and departed so mysteriously, came up in my mind; and almost at the same moment, I fancied myself riding with you, dear Ella, through a dark and lonely wood--when all of a sudden there came a fierce yell--several dark, hideous forms, with him among them, swam around me--I heard you shriek for aid--and then all became darkness and confusion; from which I was aroused by some one inquiring if I were ill? What I answered I know not; but the querist immediately took his leave." "It all seems very strange, Algernon," observed Ella, thoughtfully; "but it was probably nothing more than a feverish dream, brought about by your exercise acting too suddenly and powerfully upon your nervous system, which doubtless has not as yet recovered from the prostration caused by your wound."