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332 raphina—thou wert so suddenly, so untimely taken from me, before I could prove how much I loved thee!—Oh might it be granted me but to see thee once more!”

Motionless with anxiety and terror, Amelia and Maria gazed on the clock, which now began to strike. The last glimmering flame of the wood-fire died away—and the room was for a moment dark. “Welcome—Oh welcome!” cried Florentine in a tone of rapture, and rose with her arms extended, advancing to the door which then opened. Amidst a radiance like that of the full moon in the midnight sky,—the apparition of Seraphina appeared. Florentine flew into her embrace. “Thine for ever!” These words were heard, but no one knew who had pronounced them, or if both sisters had spoken at one moment.

Immediately the servants rushed into the apartment, for they had been alarmed by a sound as if all the glass and porcelain in the house had been broken with one great crash. They found their beloved mistress lifeless on the threshold, and all attempts to restore her proved in vain. The