and now the moon was high over the woods, touching their summits with yellow light, and darting between the foliage long level beams; while on the rapid garonne below the trembling radiance was faintly obscured by the lightest vapour.emily long watched the playing lustre, listened to the soothing murmur of the current, and the yet lighter sounds of the air, as it stirred, at intervals, the lofty palm-trees.'how delightful is the sweet breath of these groves,'
said she.'this lovely scene!--how often shall i remember and regret it, when i am far away.alas! what events may occur before i see it again! o, peaceful, happy shades!--scenes of my infant delights, of parental tenderness now lost for ever!--why must i leave ye!--in your retreats i should still find safety and repose.sweet hours of my childhood--i am now to leave even your last memorials! no objects, that would revive your impressions, will remain for me!'
then drying her tears and looking up, her thoughts rose again to the sublime subject she had contemplated; the same divine complacency stole over her heart, and, hushing its throbs, inspired hope and confidence and resignation to the will of the deity, whose works filled her mind with adoration.
emily gazed long on the plane-tree, and then seated herself, for the last time, on the bench under its shade, where she had so often sat with her parents, and where, only a few hours before, she had conversed with valancourt, at the remembrance of whom, thus revived, a mingled sensation of esteem, tenderness and anxiety rose in her breast.with this remembrance occurred a recollection of his late confession--that he had often wandered near her habitation in the night, having even passed the boundary of the garden, and it immediately occurred to her, that he might be at this moment in the grounds.the fear of meeting him, particularly after the declaration he had made, and of incurring a censure, which her aunt might so reasonably bestow, if it was known, that she was met by her lover, at this hour, made her instantly leave her beloved plane-tree, and walk towards the chateau.she cast an anxious eye around, and often stopped for a moment to examine the shadowy scene before she ventured to proceed, but she passed on without perceiving any person, till, having reached a clump of almond trees, not far from the house, she rested to take a retrospect of the garden, and to sigh forth another adieu.as her eyes wandered over the landscape she thought she perceived a person emerge from the groves, and pass slowly along a moon-light alley that led between them; but the distance, and the imperfect light would not suffer her to judge with any degree of certainty whether this was fancy or reality.she continued to gaze for some time on the spot, till on the dead stillness of the air she heard a sudden sound, and in the next instant fancied she distinguished footsteps near her.wasting not another moment in conjecture, she hurried to the chateau, and, having reached it, retired to her chamber, where, as she closed her window she looked upon the garden, and then again thought she distinguished a figure, gliding between the almond trees she had just left.she immediately withdrew from the casement, and, though much agitated, sought in sleep the refreshment of a short oblivion.