"
How the beauty and grandeur of nature move the heart, as if it
recognized something of its own in every changing aspect. The sun
and moon and stars--the grand old mountains lifting themselves
upwards into serene heights--the limitless expanse of ocean,
girdling the whole earth--rivers, valleys, and plains--trees,
flowers, the infinite forms of life--to all the soul gives some
response, as if they were akin.
I half forgot my interest in old Mrs. Allen, as my heart beat
responsive to the pulsings of nature, and my thoughts flew upwards
and away as on the wings of eagles. But my faithful feet had borne
me steadily onwards, and I was at the gate opening to the grounds of
the Allen House, before I was conscious of having passed over half
the distance that lay between that and my home. I looked up, and saw
a light in the north-west chamber, but the curtains were down.
On entering the house, I was shown by the servant who admitted me,
into the small office or reception room opening from the hall. I had
scarcely seated myself, when a tall woman, dressed in black, came
in, and said, with a graceful, but rather stately manner--
"The Doctor, I believe?"
How familiar the voice sounded! And yet I did not recognise it as
the voice of any one whom I had known, but rather as a voice heard
in dreams.
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