Soon was the game begun. In friendly contention

the old men

Laughed at each lucky hit, or unsuccessful ma

nœuvre,

Laughed when a man was crowned, or a breach

was made in the king-row.

Meanwhile apart, in the twilight gloom of a window's embrasure,

Sat the lovers, and whispered together, beholding

the moon rise

Over the pallid sea and the silvery mist of the

meadows.

Silently, one by one, in the infinite meadows of

heaven,

Blossomed the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of the angels.

Thus passed the evening away. Anon the bell

from the belfry

Rang out the hour of nine, the village curfew, and straightway

Rose the guests and departed; and silence reigned

in the household.

Many a farewell word and sweet good-night on

the doorstep

Lingered long in Evangeline's heart, and filled it with gladness.

Carefully then were covered the embers that

glowed on the hearth-stone,

And on the oaken stairs resounded the tread of

the farmer.

Soon with a soundless step the foot of Evangeline

followed.

Up the staircase moved a luminous space in the

darkness,

Lighted less by the lamp than the shining face of

the maiden.

Silent she passed through the hall, and entered

the door of her chamber.

Simple that chamber was, with its curtains of

white, and its clothes-press

Ample and high, on whose spacious shelves were carefully folded

Linen and woollen stuffs, by the hand of Evange

line woven.

This was the precious dower she would bring to her husband in marriage,

Better than flocks and herds, being proofs of her skill as a housewife.

Soon she extinguished her lamp, for the mellow and radiant moonlight

Streamed through the windows, and lighted the room, till the heart of the maiden

Swelled and obeyed its power, like the tremulous tides of the ocean.

Ah! she was fair, exceeding fair to behold, as

she stood with

Naked snow-white feet on the gleaming floor of

her chamber!

Little she dreamed that below, among the trees of

the orchard,

Waited her lover and watched for the gleam of

her lamp and her shadow.

Yet were her thoughts of him, and at times a feeling of sadness

Passed o'er her soul, as the sailing shade of clouds in the moonlight

Flitted across the floor and darkened the room for

a moment.

And as she gazed from the window she saw serenely the moon pass

Forth from the folds of a cloud, and one star

follow her footsteps,

As out of Abraham's tent young Ishmael wan.

dered with Hagar!

IV.

PLEASANTLY rose next morn the sun on the

village of Grand-Pré.

Pleasantly gleamed in the soft, sweet air the Basin

of Minas,

Where the ships, with their wavering shadows, were riding at anchor.

Life had long been astir in the village, and clamorous labor

Knocked with its hundred hands at the golden

gates of the morning.

Now from the country around, from the farms and

the neighboring hamlets,

Came in their holiday dresses the blithe Acadian

peasants.

Many a glad good-morrow and jocund laugh from

the young folk