Theimpressionthatwasmadeuponmebytheincidentsofthatnightisindelible。Thewindgraduallyroseintoanhurricane；thelargestbranchesweretornfromthetrees，andwhirledaloftintotheair；otherswereuprootedandlaidprostrateontheground。
Thebarnwasaspaciousedifice，consistingwhollyofwood，andfilledwithaplenteousharvest。Thussuppliedwithfuel，andfannedbythewind，thefireragedwithincrediblefury；meanwhilecloudsrolledabove，whoseblacknesswasrenderedmoreconspicuousbyreflectionfromtheflames；thevastvolumesofsmokeweredissipatedinamomentbythestorm，whileglowingfragmentsandcinderswerebornetoanimmensehight，andtossedeverywhereinwildconfusion。Everandanonthesablecanopythathungarounduswasstreakedwithlightning，andthepeals，bywhichitwasaccompanied，weredeafning，andwithscarcelyanyintermission。
Itwas，doubtless，absurdtoimagineanyconnexionbetweenthisportentoussceneandthepurposethatIhadmeditated，yetabeliefofthisconnexion，thoughwaveringandobscure，lurkedinmymind；somethingmorethanacoincidencemerelycasual，appearedtohavesubsistedbetweenmysituation，atmyfather\'sbedside，andtheflashthatdartedthroughthewindow，anddivertedmefrommydesign。Itpalsiedmycourage，andstrengthenedmyconviction，thatmyschemewascriminal。
Aftersometimehadelapsed，andtranquilitywas，insomedegree，restoredinthefamily，myfatherrevertedtothecircumstancesinwhichIhadbeendiscoveredonthefirstalarmofthisevent。Thetruthwasimpossibletobetold。Ifelttheutmostreluctancetobeguiltyofafalsehood，butbyfalsehoodonlycouldIeludedetection。Thatmyguiltwastheoffspringofafatalnecessity，thattheinjusticeofothersgaveitbirthandmadeitunavoidable，affordedmeslightconsolation。Nothingcanbemoreinjuriousthanalie，butitseviltendencychieflyrespectsourfutureconduct。Itsdirectconsequencesmaybetransientandfew，butitfacilitatesarepetition，strengthenstemptation，andgrowsintohabit。Ipretendedsomenecessityhaddrawnmefrommybed，andthatdiscoveringtheconditionofthebarn，Ihastenedtoinformmyfather。
Sometimeafterthis，myfathersummonedmetohispresence。