The blood returned to the cheeks of Mildred, too, and she again found a portion of her natural spirit raising her courage.
"Stop, father," she said, hastily; "you are infirm, and are in a tremour at this moment.

My head is steadier--let me go to the verge of the hill, and learn what has happened." This was uttered with a forced calmness that deceived her auditors, both of whom, the one from age, and the other from shattered nerves, were certainly in no condition to assume the same office.

It required the all-seeing eye, which alone can scan the heart, to read all the agonized suspense with which that young and beautiful creature approached the spot, where she might command a view of the whole of the side of the fearful declivity, from its giddy summit to the base, where it was washed by the sea.

The latter, indeed, could not literally be seen from above, the waves having so far undermined the cliff, as to leave a projection that concealed the point where the rocks and the water came absolutely in contact; the upper portion of the weather-worn rocks falling a little inwards, so as to leave a ragged surface that was sufficiently broken to contain patches of earth, and verdure, sprinkled with the flowers peculiar to such an exposure.

The fog, also, intercepted the sight, giving to the descent the appearance of a fathomless abyss.