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CHAP. IV.
Friendship, of itself a holy tie,
Is made more sacred by adversity. -Dryden
One night in the latter part of spring, as Clermont and Madeline were preparing to retire from the parlour for the night, a loud and violent knocking at the hall-door suddenly startled them: an apprehension of danger however never entered their thoughts; some neighbour taken ill, they supposed, had sent for relief; and, under this idea, Clermont hastened to open the door; but how great was his amazement on doing so to perceive a total stranger.
