The lane terminated in the woods, but she looked round in vain for a house, or a human being, and as vainly listened for a sound to guide her.

She hurried on, however, not knowing whither, avoiding the recesses of the woods, and endeavouring to keep along their margin, till a rude kind of avenue, which opened upon a moon-light spot, arrested her attention.

The wildness of this avenue brought to her recollection the one leading to the turreted chateau, and she was inclined to believe, that this was a part of the same domain, and probably led to the same point.

While she hesitated, whether to follow it or not, a sound of many voices in loud merriment burst upon her ear.

It seemed not the laugh of cheerfulness, but of riot, and she stood appalled.