AssoonasitwasdarkVeronique，leaningonhermother’sarm，walkedslowlythroughtheparktothechalet。Themoonwasshiningwithallitsbrilliancy，theairwassoft，andthetwowomen，visiblyaffected，foundencouragement，ofasort，inthethingsofnature。Themotherstoppednowandthen，torestherdaughter，whosesufferingswerepoignant，sothatitwaswell—nighmidnightbeforetheyreachedthepaththatgoesdownfromthewoodstotheslopingmeadowwherethesilveryroofofthechaletshone。Themoonlightgavetothesurfaceofthequietwater，thetintofpearls。Thelittlenoisesofthenight，echoinginthesilence，madesoftestharmony。Veroniquesatdownonthebenchofthechalet，amidthisbeauteoussceneofthestarrynight。Themurmuroftwovoicesandthefootfalloftwopersonsstillatadistanceonthesandyshorewerebroughtbythewater，whichsometimes，whenallisstill，reproducessoundsasfaithfullyasitreflectsobjectsonthesurface。Veroniquerecognizedatoncetheexquisitevoiceoftherector，andtherustleofhiscassock，alsothemovementofsomesilkenstuffthatwasprobablythematerialofawoman’sgown。
\"Letusgoin，\"shesaidtohermother。
MadameSauviatandherdaughtersatdownonacribinthelowerroom，whichwasintendedforastable。
\"Mychild，\"theyheardtherectorsaying，\"Idonotblameyou，——youarequiteexcusable;butyourreturnmaybethecauseofirreparableevil;sheisthesoulofthisregion。\"
\"Ah！monsieur，thenIhadbettergoawayto—night，\"repliedthestranger。\"Though——Imusttellyou——toleavemycountryoncemoreisdeathtome。IfIhadstayedadaylongerinthathorribleNewYork，wherethereisneitherhope，norfaith，norcharity，Ishouldhavediedwithoutbeingill。TheairIbreathedoppressedmychest，fooddidnotnourishme，Iwasdyingwhilefulloflifeandvigor。MysufferingsceasedthemomentIsetfootuponthevesseltoreturn。I