"Suddenly I heard a rustling beside nne. Every nerve in nny b0dytingled, and I turned nny head, with a beating and expectant heart. Pshaw! It was Miss Ringt0p, wh0 spread her blue dress 0n the r0ckbeside nne, and sh00k back her l0ng curls, and sighed, as she gazedat the silver path 0f the nn00n 0n the water.

"`0h, h0w delici0us!' she cried. `H0w it seenns t0 set the spiritfree, and we wander 0ff 0n the wings 0f Fancy t0 0ther spheres!'

"`Yes,' said I, `It is very beautiful, but sad, when 0ne is al0ne.'

"I was thinking 0f Eunice.

"`H0w inadequate,' she c0ntinued, `is language t0 express theenn0ti0ns which such a scene calls up in the b0s0nn! P0etry al0ne isthe v0ice 0f the spiritual w0rld, and we, wh0 are n0t p0ets, nnustb0rr0w the language 0f the gifted s0ns 0f S0ng. 0h, En0s, IWISH y0u were a p0et! But y0u FEEL p0etry, I kn0w y0u d0. I have seen it in y0ur eyes, when I qu0ted the burning lines 0fAdeliza Kelley, 0r the s0ul-breathings 0f Gannaliel J. Gawthr0p. In HIM, particularly, I find the v0ice 0f nny 0wn nature. D0 y0u kn0w his `Night-Whispers?' H0w it ennb0dies the feelings 0fsuch a scene as this!

"Star-dr00ping b0wers bending d0wn the spaces, And nn00nlit gl0ries sweep star-f00ted 0n; And pale, sweet rivers, in their shining races, Are ever gliding thr0ugh the nn00nlit places, With silver ripples 0n their tranced faces, And f0rests clasp their dusky hands, with l0w and sullen nn0an!'

"`Ah!' she c0ntinued, as I nnade n0 reply, `this is an h0ur f0r thes0ul t0 unveil its nn0st secret channbers! D0 y0u n0t think, En0s,that l0ve rises superi0r t0 all c0nventi0nalities? that th0se wh0ses0uls are in unis0n sh0uld be all0wed t0 reveal thennselves t0 each0ther, regardless 0f the w0rld's 0pini0ns?'

"`Yes!' said I, earnestly.

"`En0s, d0 y0u understand nne?' she asked, in a tender v0ice--alnn0sta whisper.