THE FOREBODING.

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the morning ride, and joined her husband in thelibrary.

That the exercise might be more efficacious, SirHenry extended the drive farther than he had atfirst contemplated, and, when about ten miles fromhome, called at the house of a friend, with whomhe and his lady were prevailed on to partake of anearly dinner. The jaunt and the cheerful societyseemed to have a beneficial influence on thespirits of the hypochondriac.

They returned in the evening. Twilight wascoming on, and, as it deepened, gigantic cloudswere observed lifting themselves uncouthly abovethe horizon, and congregating in sullen masses.This was succeeded by weak flashes of lightning,accompanied by heavy sultriness, and an unna-tural quiet. The leaves of the trees, which hadrustled pleasantly during the day, were now still;the shallow brooks, which had made music with theirfresh rippling, seemed now like stagnant pools;the cattle crouched together and became mute.Meanwhile the lightning grew stronger, though

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