A PAGE FJtOM A CANTAB*S NOTE-BOOK. 



unobserved, stationed myself in such a situation as to command a view 

 of her movements, without the slightest chance of being detected in my 

 purpose. With breathless anxiety I awaited the result of my fears, but 

 the moon alone appeared to be the object of her search and contempla- 

 tion, and she looked upon it with such a fixed, wild, and unnatural gaze, 

 as plainly told me, that those who believed her mind restored and at rest, 

 had sadly overrated the effects of her care, or strangely underrated the 

 extent of her malady. The fire the vivid and horrible fire of the ma- 

 niac was in her eye ! the expression of every feature was altered the 

 lovely being I had contemplated as possessing the beauty of an angel, 

 was suddenly transformed I dare not say how awfully ! The wild and 

 irregular snatches of song came not from the lips of reason. 



" Constantia !" exclaimed a voice, apparently of one suddenly roused 

 from slumber, and which I immediately recognized as that of my friend's 

 sister " Constantia ! how is it that you are up ?" No answer was re- 

 turned ; indeed, her companion seemed unconscious that she was ad- 

 dressed. " Constantia !" continued her cousin, in the quick tones of 

 alarm, " how often have you been warned never to expose yourself to 

 the night ajr !" In a moment Cecilia herself had risen, and her hand 

 was laid gently on the shoulder of the poor maniac. " Constantia my 

 dear, dear Constantia !" she said, in a subdued and soothing voice, " I 

 thought you were still by my side, sleeping as sweetly and as calmly as 

 when I came to bed. Why, dearest, have you risen ? You forget that 

 you are an invalid, and that the night air is cold." "Ah !" exclaimed 

 Constantia, suddenly leaping up and seizing her cousin with frantic 

 energy "' Ah ! I have you at last ! you have escaped me too long 



already ! you murdered my poor Frederick, and now" Here 



she fastened on the terrified Cecilia by the throat, and throwing her 

 vehemently on the ground, nailed her down with the force and energy 

 of a savage. The sound of the death-gurgle was in my ear but for 

 the moment I was as one petrified and spell-bound. I had neither 

 power to speak nor to move, till by a violent effort I roused myself 

 from the effects of the sudden blow which had fallen, as it were, with 

 benumbing force upon my senses, and rushed madty to her assistance. 

 But alas ! it was all too late for the last quiver of life had passed away 

 from the limbs of the hapless Cecilia ! and Constantia, the lunatic Con- 

 stantia, stood unabashed, alone, unconscious of the world on which she 

 trod ! For myself, I lost all recollection ; but how long I remained 

 insensible, I know not. I was aroused by some one who grasped me 

 tightly by the shoulder, exclaiming, " Well, my gallant knight, how 

 long is my fair cousin to wait for your hand in the dance ?" I started 

 up aghast my friend and the lovely Constantia stood before me ! " Why 

 you rogue," continued he, " you've been sleeping, and have lost my 

 cousin's beautiful song." " No, no," I quickly replied, endeavouring 

 to collect myself, the reality of that portion of my dream flashing across 

 me, f< do not think I was so lost to good taste : she sang two I heard 

 them both ;" and, bowing low to my sweet partner, I added, " but the 

 last was exquisitely beautiful." She smiled. Her cousin was less par- 

 ticular he laughed aloud. " That's good," said he, " it was an encore!" 



P, 

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M. M. No. 84. 2 X 



