"One night I sat up late in my lonely chamber--pondering on the melancholy position in which I was placed,--loving so tenderly, yet not daring to fly to him whom I loved,--and giving way to all the mournful ideas which presented themselves to my imagination. At length my mind grew bewildered by those sad reflections; vague terrors gathered around me--multiplying in number and augmenting in intensity,--until at length the very figures on the tapestry with which the room was hung appeared animated with power to scare and affright me. The wind moaned ominously without, and raised strange echoes within; oppressive feelings crowded on my soul. At length the gale swelled to a hurricane--a whirlwind, seldom experienced in this delicious clime. Howlings in a thousand tones appeared to flit through the air; and piercing lamentations seemed to sound down the black clouds that rolled their mighty volumes together, veiling the moon and stars in thickest gloom. Overcome with terror, I retired to rest--and I slept. But troubled dreams haunted me throughout the night, and I awoke at an early hour in the morning. But--holy angels protect me!--what did I behold? Bending over me, as I lay, was that same countenance which I had seen four months before in the church,--and now, as it was _then_, darting upon me lightning from large black eyes that seemed to send shafts of flame and fire to the inmost recesses of my soul! Yet--distorted as it was with demoniac rage--that face was still endowed with the queen-like beauty--the majesty of loveliness, which had before struck me, and which even lent force to those looks of dreadful menace that were fixed upon me. There were the high forehead--the proud lip, curled in scorn,--the brilliant teeth, glistening between the quivering vermilion,--and the swan-like arching of the dazzling neck; there also was the dark glory of the luxuriant hair!