The wind roared high in the great trees which embowered the gates; but the road as far as I could see，to the right hand and the left，was all still and solitary: save for the shadows of clouds crossing it at intervals as the moon looked out，it was a long pale line，unvaried by one moving speck.

A puerile tear dimmed my eye while I looked- a tear of disappointment and impatience; ashamed of it，I wiped it away. I lingered; the moon shut herself wholly within her chamber，and drew close her curtain of dense cloud: the night grew dark; rain came driving fast on the gale.

"I wish he would e! I wish he would e!" I exclaimed，seized with hypochondriac foreboding. I had expected his arrival before tea; now it was dark: what could keep him? Had an accident happened?

The event of last night again recurred to me. I interpreted it as a warning of disaster. I feared my hopes were too bright to be realised; and I had enjoyed so much bliss lately that I imagined my fortune had passed its meridian，and must now decline.

"Well，I cannot return to the house," I thought; "I cannot sit by the fireside，while he is abroad in inclement weather: better tire my limbs than strain my heart; I will go forward and meet him."

I set out; I walked fast，but not far: ere I had measured a quarter of a mile，I heard the tramp of hoofs; a horseman came on，full gallop; a dog ran by his side. Away with evil presentiment! It was he: here he was，mounted on Mesrour，followed by pilot. He saw me; for the moon had opened a blue field in the sky，and rode in it watery bright: he took his hat off，and waved it round his head. I now ran to meet him.

"There!" he exclaimed，as he stretched out his hand and bent from the saddle: "you can"t do without me，that is evident. Step on my boot-toe; give me both hands: mount!"