midnight
She hastened to the couch , gave one glance , and found , alas ! that her fears were but too true . She gazed a moment on the pale and emaciated countenance of Lewis Mortimer , and clasping her hands in agony , she uttered a piercing shriek ! * * * * * The violence of her grief caused her suddenly to awake , and to her great surprise , she found herself alone , surrounded by midnight darkness . After a few moments had elapsed , Fostina recalled to her memory where she was , and discovered that she had fallen asleep , and had been visited with a most frightful dream . She stood a moment in a listening attitude , thinking that she heard the sound of approaching footsteps ; she then turned , and beheld a dark figure standing by her side , and supposing it to be some one from the cottage in request for her , she made an effort to speak without betraying any emotion caused by her frightful dream . At that instant the dark clouds which had passed over the moon suddenly disappeared , causing it to shine upon the form which now stood before the lonely maiden , revealing to her the well known features of Rineldo Aubrey .