G. Macdonald - The Portent and Other Stories

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THE PORTENT AND OTHER STORIES

By George MacDonald

THE PORTENT

A STORY OF THE INNER VISION OF THE

HIGHLANDERS,

COMMONLY CALLED THE SECOND SIGHT

DEDICATION.

MY DEAR SIR, KENSINGTON, May, 1864.

Allow me, with the honour due to my father! friend, to in!"ri#e thi! little $olume with your name. The name of one friend i! #etter than tho!e of all the Mu!e!.

And %ermit me to !ay a few word! a#out the !tory.&It i! a Roman"e. I am well aware that,

with many reader!, thi! e%ithet will #e enou'h to en!ure "ondemnation. (ut there ou'ht to #e a

%la"e for any !tory, whi"h, althou'h founded in the mar$ellou!, i! true to human nature and toit!elf. Truth to )umanity, and harmony within it!elf, are almo!t the !ole un$aryin' e!!ential! of a

wor* of art. E$en The Rime of the Ancient Mariner &than whi"h what more mar$ellou!+&i! true

in the!e re!%e"t!. And Sha*e!%ere him!elf will allow any amount of the mar$ellou!, %ro$ided thi!truth i! o#!er$ed. I ho%e my !tory i! thu! true and therefore, while it "laim! !ome %la"e,

unde!er$in' of #ein' "la!!ed with what are "ommonly "alled sensational novels.

I am well aware that !u"h tale! are not of mu"h a""ount, at %re!ent and 'reatly would I re'ret

that they !hould e$er #e"ome the fa!hion of whi"h, howe$er, there i! no dan'er. (ut, !eein' !omu"h of our life mu!t #e !%ent in dreamin', may there not #e a !till noo*, !hadowy, #ut not

mia!mati", in !ome lowly re'ion of literature, where, in the %au!e! of la#our, a man may !it

down, and dream !u"h a day-dream a! I now offer to your a""e%tan"e, and that of tho!e who will ud'e the wor*, in %art at lea!t, #y it! %urely literary "laim!+ If I "onfined my %en to !u"h re!ult!,

you, at lea!t, would ha$e a ri'ht to #lame me. (ut you, for one, will, I am !ure, u!tify an author

in dreamin' sometimes.In offerin' you a !tory, howe$er, founded on The Second Sight , the #elief in whi"h wa!

"ommon to our an"e!tor!, I owe you, at the !ame time, an a%olo'y. /or the tone and "olour of the

!tory are !o different from tho!e naturally #elon'in' to a 0elti" tale, that you mi'ht well #ein"lined to refu!e my re1ue!t, !im%ly on the 'round that your %ure )i'hland #lood re$olted from

the de'enerate em#odiment 'i$en to the an"ient #elief. I "an only !ay that my early edu"ation

wa! not 0elti" enou'h to ena#le me to do #etter in thi! re!%e"t. I #e' that you will a""e%t theofferin' with for'i$ene!!, if you "annot with a%%ro#ation.

Your! affe"tionately,

GEORGE MA0DONA2D.

To DNCAN MCCOLL, E!"#, R#N#, Huntly.



My father #elon'ed to the wide!%read family of the 0am%#ell!, and %o!!e!!ed a !mall landed

%ro%erty in the north of Ar'yll. (ut althou'h of lon' de!"ent and hi'h "onne"tion, he wa! no

ri"her than many a farmer of a few hundred a"re!. /or, with the e8"e%tion of a narrow #elt of ara#le land at it! foot, a #are hill formed almo!t the whole of hi! %o!!e!!ion!. The !hee% ate o$er

it, and no dou#t found it 'ood I #ounded and "lim#ed all o$er it, and thou'ht it a *in'dom. /rom

my $ery "hildhood, I had reoi"ed in #ein' alone. The !en!e of room a#out me had #een one of my 'reate!t deli'ht!. )en"e, when my thou'ht! 'o #a"* to tho!e old year!, it i! not the hou!e,

nor the family room, nor that in whi"h I !le%t, that fir!t of all ri!e! #efore my inward $i!ion, #ut

that de!olate hill, the to% of whi"h wa! only a wide e8%an!e of moorland, ru''ed with hei'ht andhollow, and dan'erou! with dee%, dar* %ool!, #ut in many %ortion! %ur%le with lar'e-#elled

heather, and "rowded with "ran#erry and #lae#erry %lant!. Mo!t of all, I lo$ed it in the !till

autumn mornin', out!tret"hed in !tillne!!, hi'h u%lifted toward! the hea$en. On e$ery !tal* hun'

the dew in tiny dro%!, whi"h, while the ri!in' !un wa! low, !%ar*led and #urned with the hue! of all the 'em!. )ere and there a #ird 'a$e a "ry no other !ound awo*e the !ilen"e. I ne$er !ee the

!tatue of the Roman youth, %rayin' with out!tret"hed arm!, and o%en, em%ty, le$el %alm!, a!

waitin' to re"ei$e and hold the #le!!in' of the 'od!, #ut that out!tret"hed #arren heath ri!e!

#efore me, a! if it meant the !ame thin' a! the !tatue&or were, at lea!t, the fit room in themiddle !%a"e of whi"h to !et the %rayin' and e8%e"tant youth.

There wa! one !%ot u%on the hill, half-way #etween the $alley and the moorland, whi"h wa!my fa$ourite haunt. Thi! %art of the hill wa! "o$ered with 'reat #lo"*! of !tone, of all !ha%e! and

!i9e!&here "rowded to'ether, li*e the !lain where the #attle had #een fier"e!t there %artin'

a!under from !%a"e! of deli"ate 'reen&of !ofte!t 'ra!!. In the "entre of one of the!e 'reen !%ot!,on a !tee% %art of the hill, were three hu'e ro"*!&two %roe"tin' out of the hill, rather than

!tandin' u% from it, and one, li*ewi!e %roe"tin' from the hill, #ut lyin' a"ro!! the to%! of the

two, !o a! to form a little "a$e, the #a"* of whi"h wa! the !ide of the hill. Thi! wa! my refu'e,

my home within a home, my !tudy&and, in the hot noon!, often my !lee%in' "ham#er, and myhou!e of dream!. If the wind #lew "old on the hill!ide, a hollow of lullin' warmth wa! there,

!"oo%ed a! it were out of the #ody of the #la!t, whi"h, !wee%in' around, whi!tled *een and thin

throu'h the "ra"*! and "rannie! of the ro"*y "hao! that lay all a#out in whi"h "onfu!ion of ro"*!the wind %lun'ed, and flowed, and eddied, and withdrew, a! the !ea-wa$e! on the "liffy !hore! or

the un*nown ru''ed #ottom!. )ere I would often lie, a! the !un went down, and wat"h the !ilent

'rowth of another !ea, whi"h the !tormy o"ean of the wind "ould not di!tur#&the !ea of thedar*ne!!. /ir!t it would #e'in to 'ather in the #ottom of hollow %la"e!. Dee% $alley!, and all

little %it! on the hill-!ide!, were well-!%rin'! where it 'athered, and when"e it !eemed to

o$erflow, till it had #uried the earth #eneath it! ma!!, and, ri!in' hi'h into the hea$en!, !we%t

o$er the fa"e! of the !tar!, wa!hed the #lindin' day from them, and let them !hine, down throu'hthe water! of the dar*, to the eye! of men #elow. I would lie till nothin' #ut the !tar! and the dim

outline! of hill! a'ain!t the !*y wa! to #e !een, and then ri!e and 'o home, a! !ure of my %ath a!

if I had #een de!"endin' a dar* !tair"a!e in my father! hou!e.On the o%%o!ite !ide the $alley, another hill lay %arallel to mine and #ehind it, at !ome mile!

di!tan"e, a 'reat mountain. A! often a!, in my hermit! "a$e, I lifted my eye! from the $olume I

wa! readin', I !aw thi! mountain #efore me. 4ery different wa! it! "hara"ter from that of the hillon whi"h I wa! !eated. It wa! a mi'hty thin', a "hieftain of the ra"e, !eamed and !"arred,

featured with "ha!m! and %re"i%i"e! and o$er-leanin' ro"*!, them!el$e! hu'e a! hill! here

#la"*ened with !hade, there o$er!%read with 'lory interla"ed with the !il$ery line! of fallin'

!tream!, whi"h, hurryin' from hea$en to earth, "ared not how they went, !o it were downward!.



dee%ened half-way toward! the ni'ht. (ut the ni'ht had no more terror! for me than the day.

Indeed, in !u"h re'ion! there i! a !olitarine!! for whi"h there !eem! a %e"uliar !en!e, and u%on

whi"h the !hadow! of ni'ht !in* with a !tran'e relief, hidin' from the eye the wide !%a"e whi"hyet they throw more o%en to the ima'ination. 7hen I lifted my head, only a !tar here and there

"au'ht my eye #ut, loo*in' intently into the de%th! of #lue-'rey, I !aw that they were "rowded

with twin*le!. The mountain ro!e #efore me, a hu'e ma!! of 'loom #ut it! !e$eral %ea*! !toodout a'ain!t the !*y with a "lear, %ure, !har% outline, and loo*ed nearer to me than the #ul* from

whi"h they ro!e hea$en-ward!. One !tar trem#led and thro##ed u%on the $ery ti% of the loftie!t,

the "entral %ea*, whi"h !eemed the !%ire of a mi'hty tem%le where the li'ht wa! wor!hi%%ed& "rowned, therefore, in the dar*ne!!, with the em#lem of the day. I wa! lyin', a! I ha$e !aid, with

thi! fan"y !till in my thou'ht, when !uddenly I heard, "lear, thou'h faint and far away, the !ound

a! of the iron-!hod hoof! of a hor!e, in furiou! 'allo% alon' an une$en ro"*y !urfa"e. It wa! more

li*e a di!tant e"ho than an ori'inal !ound. It !eemed to "ome from the fa"e of the mountain,where no hor!e, I *new, "ould 'o at that !%eed, e$en if it! rider "ourted "ertain de!tru"tion. There

wa! a %e"uliarity, too, in the !ound&a "ertain tin*le, or "lan*, whi"h I fan"ied my!elf a#le, #y

auri"ular analy!i!, to di!tin'ui!h from the #ody of the !ound. Su%%o!in' the !ound to #e "au!ed

#y the feet of a hor!e, the %e"uliarity wa! u!t !u"h a! would re!ult from one of the !hoe! #ein'loo!e. A terror&!tran'e e$en to my e8%erien"e&!ei9ed me, and I ha!tened home. The !ound!

'radually died away a! I de!"ended the hill. 0ould they ha$e #een an e"ho from !ome %re"i%i"eof the mountain+ I *new of no road lyin' !o that, if a hor!e were 'allo%in' u%on it, the !ound!

would #e refle"ted from the mountain to me.

The ne8t day, in one of my ram#le!, I found my!elf near the "otta'e of my old fo!ter-mother,who wa! di!tantly related to u!, and wa! a tru!ted !er$ant in the family at the time I wa! #orn. On

the death of my mother, whi"h too* %la"e almo!t immediately after my #irth, !he had ta*en the

entire "har'e of me, and had #rou'ht me u%, thou'h with diffi"ulty for !he u!ed to tell me, I

!hould ne$er #e either fol( or fairy. /or !ome year! !he had li$ed alone in a "otta'e, at the #ottom of a dee% 'reen "ir"ular hollow, u%on whi"h, in wal*in' o$er a healthy ta#le-land, one

"ame with a !udden !ur%ri!e. I wa! her fre1uent $i!itor. She wa! a tall, thin, a'ed woman, with

ea'er eye!, and well-defined "lear-"ut feature!. )er $oi"e wa! har!h, #ut with an undertone of 'reat tenderne!!. She wa! !"ru%ulou!ly "areful in her attire, whi"h wa! rather a#o$e her !tation.

Alto'ether, !he had mu"h the #earin' of a 'entle-woman. )er de$otion to me wa! 1uite

motherly. Ne$er ha$in' had any family of her own, althou'h !he had #een the wife of one of myfather! !he%herd!, !he e8%ended the whole maternity of her nature u%on me. She wa! alway! my

fir!t re!our"e in any %er%le8ity, for I wa! !ure of all the hel% !he "ould 'i$e me. And a! !he had

mu"h influen"e with my father, who wa! rather !e$ere in hi! notion!, I had had o""a!ion to #e'

her interferen"e. No ne"e!!ity of thi! !ort, howe$er, had led to my $i!it on the %re!ent o""a!ion.I ran down the !ide of the #a!in, and entered the little "otta'e. Nur!e wa! !eated on a "hair #y

the wall, with her u!ual *nittin', a !to"*in', in one hand #ut her hand! were motionle!!, and her

eye! wide o%en and fi8ed. I *new that the nei'h#our! !tood rather in awe of her, on the 'roundthat !he had the !e"ond !i'ht #ut, althou'h !he often told u! fri'htful enou'h !torie!, !he had

ne$er alluded to !u"h a 'ift a! #ein' in her %o!!e!!ion. Now I "on"luded at on"e that !he wa!

seeing . I wa! "onfirmed in thi! "on"lu!ion when, !eemin' to "ome to her!elf !uddenly, !he"o$ered her head with her %laid, and !o##ed audi#ly, in !%ite of her effort! to "ommand her!elf.

(ut I did not dare to a!* her any 1ue!tion!, nor did !he attem%t any e8"u!e for her #eha$iour.

After a few moment!, !he un$eiled her!elf, ro!e, and wel"omed me with her u!ual *indne!! then

'ot me !ome refre!hment, and #e'an to 1ue!tion me a#out matter! at home. After a %au!e, !he



!aid !uddenly: ;7hen are you 'oin' to 'et your "ommi!!ion, Dun"an, do you *now+; I re%lied

that I had heard nothin' of it that I did not thin* my father had influen"e or money enou'h to

%ro"ure me one, and that I feared I !hould ha$e no !u"h 'ood "han"e of di!tin'ui!hin' my!elf.She did not an!wer, #ut nodded her head three time!, !lowly and with "om%re!!ed li%!&

a%%arently a! mu"h a! to !ay, ;I *now #etter.;

<u!t a! I wa! lea$in' her, it o""urred to me to mention that I had heard an odd !ound the ni'ht #efore. She turned toward! me, and loo*ed at me fi8edly. ;7hat wa! it li*e, Dun"an, my dear+;

;2i*e a hor!e 'allo%in' with a loo!e !hoe,; I re%lied.

;Dun"an, Dun"an, my darlin'=; !he !aid, in a low, trem#lin' $oi"e, #ut with %a!!ionateearne!tne!!, ;you did not hear it+ Tell me that you did not hear it= You only want to fri'hten %oor

old nur!e: !ome one ha! #een tellin' you the !tory=;

It wa! my turn to #e fri'htened now for the matter #e"ame at on"e a!!o"iated with my fear! a!

to the %o!!i#le nature of my auri"ular %e"uliaritie!. I a!!ured her that nothin' wa! farther frommy intention than to fri'hten her that, on the "ontrary, !he had rather alarmed me and I #e''ed

her to e8%lain. (ut !he !at down white and trem#lin', and did not !%ea*. 3re!ently, howe$er, !he

ro!e a'ain, and !ayin', ;I ha$e *nown it ha%%en !ometime! without anythin' $ery #ad

followin',; #e'an to %ut away the #a!in and %late I had #een u!in', a! if !he would "om%elher!elf to #e "alm #efore me. I renewed my entreatie! for an e8%lanation, #ut without a$ail. She

#e''ed me to #e "ontent for a few day!, a! !he wa! 1uite una#le to tell the !tory at %re!ent. She %romi!ed, howe$er, of her own a""ord, that #efore I left home !he would tell me all !he *new.

The ne8t day a letter arri$ed announ"in' the death of a di!tant relation, throu'h who!e

influen"e my father had had a lin'erin' ho%e of o#tainin' an a%%ointment for me. There wa!nothin' left #ut to loo* out for a !ituation a! tutor.

CHAPTER III# My Old Nurses Story#

I wa! now almo!t nineteen. I had "om%leted the u!ual "urri"ulum of !tudy at one of the S"ot"h

uni$er!itie! and, %o!!e!!ed of a fair *nowled'e of mathemati"! and %hy!i"!, and what I"on!idered rather more than a 'ood foundation for "la!!i"al and meta%hy!i"al a"1uirement, I

re!ol$ed to a%%ly for the fir!t !uita#le !ituation that offered. (ut I wa! !%ared the trou#le. A

"ertain 2ord )ilton, an En'li!h no#leman, re!idin' in one of the midland "ountie!, ha$in' heardthat one of my father! !on! wa! de!irou! of !u"h a !ituation, wrote to him, offerin' me the %o!t

of tutor to hi! two #oy!, of the a'e! of ten and twel$e. )e had #een %artly edu"ated at a S"ot"h

uni$er!ity and thi!, it may #e, had %reudi"ed him in fa$our of a S"ot"h tutor while an an"ient

allian"e of the familie! #y marria'e wa! !u%%o!ed #y my nur!e to #e the rea!on of hi! offerin'me the !ituation. Of thi! "onne"tion, howe$er, my father !aid nothin' to me, and it went for

nothin' in my anti"i%ation!. I wa! to re"ei$e a hundred %ound! a year, and to hold in the family

the %o!ition of a 'entleman, whi"h mi'ht mean anythin' or nothin', a""ordin' to the di!%o!itionof the head! of the family. 3re%aration! for my de%arture were immediately "ommen"ed. I !et out

one e$enin' for the "otta'e of my old nur!e, to #id her 'ood-#ye for many month!, %ro#a#ly

year!. I wa! to lea$e the ne8t day for Edin#ur'h, on my way to 2ondon, when"e I had to re%air #y "oa"h to my new a#ode&almo!t to me li*e the land #eyond the 'ra$e, !o little did I *now

a#out it, and !o wide wa! the !e%aration #etween it and my home. The e$enin' wa! !ultry when I

#e'an my wal*, and #efore I arri$ed at it! end, the "loud! ri!in' from all 1uarter! of the hori9on,

and e!%e"ially 'atherin' around the %ea*! of the mountain, #eto*ened the near a%%roa"h of a



thunder!torm. Thi! wa! a 'reat deli'ht to me. Gladly would I ta*e lea$e of my home with the

memory of a la!t ni'ht of tumultuou! ma'nifi"en"e followed, %ro#a#ly, #y a day of wee%in'

rain, well !uited to the mood of my own heart in #iddin' farewell to the #e!t of %arent! and thedeare!t of home!. (e!ide!, in "ommon with mo!t S"ot"hmen who are youn' and hardy enou'h to

#e una#le to reali!e the e8i!ten"e of "ou'h! and rheumati" fe$er!, it wa! a %o!iti$e %lea!ure to

me to #e out in rain, hail, or !now.;I am "ome to #id you 'ood-#ye, Mar'aret and to hear the !tory whi"h you %romi!ed to tell

me #efore I left home: I 'o to-morrow.;

;Do you 'o !o !oon, my darlin'+ 7ell, it will #e an awful ni'ht to tell it in #ut, a! I %romi!ed,I !u%%o!e I mu!t.;

At the moment, two or three 'reat dro%! of rain, the fir!t of the !torm, fell down the wide

"himney, e8%lodin' in the "lear turf-fire.

;Ye!, indeed you mu!t,; I re%lied.After a !hort %au!e, !he "ommen"ed. Of "our!e !he !%o*e in Gaeli" and I tran!late from my

re"olle"tion of the Gaeli" #ut rather from the im%re!!ion left u%on my mind, than from any

re"olle"tion of the word!. She drew her "hair near the fire, whi"h we had rea!on to fear would

!oon #e %ut out #y the fallin' rain, and #e'an.;)ow old the !tory i!, I do not *now. It ha! "ome down throu'h many 'eneration!. My

'randmother told it to me a! I tell it to you and her mother and my mother !at #e!ide, ne$er interru%tin', #ut noddin' their head! at e$ery turn. Almo!t it ou'ht to #e'in li*e the fairy tale!,

nce "+on a time, &it too* %la"e !o lon' a'o #ut it i! too dreadful and too true to tell li*e a fairy

tale.&There were two #rother!, !on! of the "hief of our "lan, #ut a! different in a%%earan"e anddi!%o!ition a! two men "ould #e. The elder wa! fair-haired and !tron', mu"h 'i$en to huntin'

and fi!hin' fi'htin' too, u%on o""a!ion, I dare !ay, when they made a foray u%on the Sa8on, to

'et #a"* a mouthful of their own. (ut he wa! 'entlene!! it!elf to e$ery one a#out him, and the

$ery !oul of honour in all hi! doin'!. The youn'er wa! $ery dar* in "om%le8ion, and tall and!lender "om%ared to hi! #rother. )e wa! $ery fond of #oo*-learnin', whi"h, they !ay, wa! an

un"ommon ta!te in tho!e time!. )e did not "are for any !%ort! or #odily e8er"i!e! #ut one and

that, too, wa! unu!ual in the!e %art!. It wa! hor!eman!hi%. )e wa! a fier"e rider, and a! mu"h athome in the !addle a! in hi! !tudy-"hair. You may thin* that, !o lon' a'o, there wa! not mu"h fit

room for ridin' herea#out! #ut, fit or not fit, he rode. /rom hi! readin' and ridin', the

nei'h#our! loo*ed dou#tfully u%on him, and whi!%ered a#out the #la"* art. )e u!ually #e!trode a'reat %owerful #la"* hor!e, without a white hair on him and %eo%le !aid it wa! either the de$il

him!elf, or a demon-hor!e from the de$il! own !tud. 7hat fa$oured thi! notion wa!, that, in or

out of the !ta#le, the #rute would let no other than hi! ma!ter 'o near him. Indeed, no one would

$enture, after he had *illed two men, and 'rie$ou!ly maimed a third, tearin' him with hi! teethand hoof! li*e a wild #ea!t. (ut to hi! ma!ter he wa! o#edient a! a hound, and would e$en

trem#le in hi! %re!en"e !ometime!.

;The youth! tem%er "orre!%onded to hi! ha#it!. )e wa! #oth 'loomy and %a!!ionate. 3rone toan'er, he had ne$er #een *nown to for'i$e. De#arred from anythin' on whi"h he had !et hi!

heart, he would ha$e 'one mad with lon'in' if he had not 'one mad with ra'e. )i! !oul wa! li*e

the ni'ht around u! now, dar*, and !ultry, and !ilent, #ut li'hted u% #y the red le$in of wrath andtorn #y the #ellowin'! of thunder-%a!!ion. )e mu!t ha$e hi! will: hell mi'ht ha$e hi! !oul.

Ima'ine, then, the ra'e and mali"e in hi! heart, when he !uddenly #e"ame aware that an or%han

'irl, di!tantly related to them, who had li$ed with them for nearly two year!, and whom he had

lo$ed for almo!t all that %eriod, wa! lo$ed #y hi! elder #rother, and lo$ed him in return. )e flun'



hi! ri'ht hand a#o$e hi! head, !wore a terri#le oath that if he mi'ht not, hi! #rother !hould not,

ru!hed out of the hou!e, and 'allo%ed off amon' the hill!.

;The or%han wa! a #eautiful 'irl, tall, %ale, and !lender, with %lentiful dar* hair, whi"h, whenrelea!ed from the !nood, ri%%led down #elow her *nee!. )er a%%earan"e formed a !tron' "ontra!t

with that of her fa$oured lo$er, while there wa! !ome re!em#lan"e #etween her and the youn'er

#rother. Thi! fa"t !eemed, to hi! fier"e !elfi!hne!!, 'round for a %rior "laim.;It may a%%ear !tran'e that a man li*e him !hould not ha$e had in!tant re"our!e to hi! !u%erior

and hidden *nowled'e, #y mean! of whi"h he mi'ht ha$e 'ot rid of hi! ri$al with far more of

"ertainty and le!! of ri!* #ut I %re!ume that, for the moment, hi! %a!!ion o$erwhelmed hi!"on!"iou!ne!! of !*ill. Yet I do not !u%%o!e that he fore!aw the mode in whi"h hi! hatred wa!

a#out to o%erate. At the moment when he learned their mutual atta"hment, %ro#a#ly throu'h a

dome!ti", the lady wa! on her way to meet her lo$er a! he returned from the day! !%ort. The

a%%ointed %la"e wa! on the ed'e of a dee%, ro"*y ra$ine, down in who!e dar* #o!om #rawledand foamed a little mountain torrent. You *now the %la"e, Dun"an, my dear, I dare !ay.;

>)ere !he 'a$e me a minute de!"ri%tion of the !%ot, with dire"tion! how to find it.?

;7hether any one !aw what I am a#out to relate, or whether it wa! %ut to'ether afterward!, I

"annot tell. The !tory i! li*e an old tree&!o old that it ha! lo!t the mar*! of it! 'rowth. (ut thi! i!how my 'randmother told it to me.&An e$il "han"e led him in the ri'ht dire"tion. The lo$er!,

!tartled #y the !ound of the a%%roa"hin' hor!e, %arted in o%%o!ite dire"tion! alon' a narrowmountain-%ath on the ed'e of the ra$ine. Into thi! %ath he !tru"* at a %oint near where the lo$er!

had met, #ut to o%%o!ite !ide! of whi"h they had now re"eded !o that he wa! #etween them on

the %ath. Turnin' hi! hor!e u% the "our!e of the !tream, he !oon "ame in !i'ht of hi! #rother onthe led'e #efore him. 7ith a !u%%re!!ed !"ream of ra'e, he rode head-lon' at him, and ere he had

time to ma*e the lea!t defen"e, hurled him o$er the %re"i%i"e. The hel%le!!ne!! of the !tron' man

wa! uttered in one !in'le de!%airin' "ry a! he !hot into the a#y!!. Then all wa! !till. The !ound of

hi! fall "ould not rea"h the ed'e of the 'ulf. Di$inin' in a moment that the lady, who!e name wa!El!ie, mu!t ha$e fled in the o%%o!ite dire"tion, he reined hi! !teed on hi! haun"he!. )e "ould

tou"h the %re"i%i"e with hi! #ridle-hand half out!tret"hed hi! !word-hand half out!tret"hed

would ha$e dro%%ed a !tone to the #ottom of the ra$ine. There wa! no room to wheel. Onede!%erate %ra"ti"a#ility alone remained. Turnin' hi! hor!e! head toward! the ed'e, he "om%elled

him, #y mean! of the %owerful #it, to rear till he !tood almo!t ere"t and !o, hi! #ody !wayin'

o$er the 'ulf, with 1ui$erin' and !trainin' mu!"le!, to turn on hi! hind-le'!. )a$in' "om%letedthe half-"ir"le, he let him dro%, and ur'ed him furiou!ly in the o%%o!ite dire"tion. It mu!t ha$e

#een #y the de$il! own "are that he wa! a#le to "ontinue hi! 'allo% alon' that led'e of ro"*.

;)e !oon "au'ht !i'ht of the maiden. She wa! leanin', half faintin', a'ain!t the %re"i%i"e. She

had heard her lo$er! la!t "ry, and althou'h it had "on$eyed no !u''e!tion of hi! $oi"e to her ear,!he trem#led from head to foot, and her lim#! would #ear her no farther. )e "he"*ed hi! !%eed,

rode 'ently u% to her, lifted her unre!i!tin', laid her a"ro!! the !houlder! of hi! hor!e, and, ridin'

"arefully till he rea"hed a more o%en %ath, da!hed a'ain wildly alon' the mountain-!ide. Thelady! lon' hair wa! !ha*en loo!e, and dro%%ed trailin' on the 'round. The hor!e tram%led u%on

it, and !tum#led, half dra''in' her from the !addle-#ow. )e "au'ht her, lifted her u%, and loo*ed

at her fa"e. She wa! dead. I !u%%o!e he went mad. )e laid her a'ain a"ro!! the !addle #eforehim, and rode on, re"*le!! whither. )or!e, and man, and maiden were found the ne8t day, lyin'

at the foot of a "liff, da!hed to %ie"e!. It wa! o#!er$ed that a hind-!hoe of the hor!e wa! loo!e

and #ro*en. 7hether thi! had #een the "au!e of hi! fall, "ould not #e told #ut e$er when he

ra"e!, a! ra"e he will, till the day of doom, alon' that mountain-!ide, hi! 'allo% i! min'led with



the "lan* of the loo!e and #ro*en !hoe. /or, li*e the !in, the %uni!hment i! awful: he !hall "arry

a#out for a'e! the %hantom-#ody of the 'irl, *nowin' that her !oul i! away, !ittin' with the !oul

of hi! #rother, down in the dee% ra$ine, or !"alin' with him the to%mo!t "ra'! of the towerin'mountain-%ea*!. There are !ome who, from time to time, !ee the doomed man "areerin' alon'

the fa"e of the mountain, with the lady han'in' a"ro!! the !teed and they !ay it alway! #eto*en!

a !torm, !u"h a! thi! whi"h i! now ra$in' around u!.;I had not noti"ed till now, !o a#!or#ed had I #een in her tale, that the !torm had ri!en to a $ery

e"!ta!y of fury.

;They !ay, li*ewi!e, that the lady! hair i! !till 'rowin' for, e$ery time they !ee her, it i!lon'er than #efore and that now !u"h i! it! len'th and the head-lon' !%eed of the hor!e, that it

float! and !tream! out #ehind, li*e one of tho!e "ur$ed "loud!, li*e a "omet! tail, far u% in the

!*y only the "loud i! white, and the hair dar* a! ni'ht. And they !ay it will 'o on 'rowin' till the

2a!t Day, when the hor!e will falter and her hair will 'ather in and the hor!e will fall, and thehair will twi!t, and twine, and wreathe it!elf li*e a mi!t of thread! a#out him, and #lind him to

e$erythin' #ut her. Then the #ody will ri!e u% within it, fa"e to fa"e with him, animated #y a

fiend, who, twinin' her arm! around him, will dra' him down to the #ottomle!! %it.;

I may mention !omethin' whi"h now o""urred, and whi"h had a !tran'e effe"t on my oldnur!e. It illu!trate! the a!!ertion that we !ee around u! only what i! within u!: mar$ellou! thin'!

enou'h will !how them!el$e! to the mar$ellou! mood.&Durin' a !hort lull in the !torm, u!t a!!he had fini!hed her !tory, we heard the !ound of iron-!hod hoof! a%%roa"hin' the "otta'e. There

wa! no #ridle-way into the 'len. A *no"* "ame to the door, and, on o%enin' it, we !aw an old

man !eated on a hor!e, with a lon' !lenderly-filled !a"* lyin' a"ro!! the !addle #efore him. )e!aid he had lo!t the %ath in the !torm, and, !eein' the li'ht, had !"ram#led down to in1uire hi!

way. I %er"ei$ed at on"e, from the !"ared and my!teriou! loo* of the old woman! eye!, that !he

wa! %er!uaded that thi! a%%earan"e had more than a little to do with the awful rider, the terrifi"

!torm, and my!elf who had heard the !ound of the %hantom-hoof!. A! he a!"ended the hill, !heloo*ed after him, with wide and %ale #ut un!hrin*in' eye! then turnin' in, !hut and lo"*ed the

door #ehind her, a! #y a natural in!tin"t. After two or three of her !i'nifi"ant nod!, a""om%anied

#y the "om%re!!ion of her li%!, !he !aid:&;)e need not thin* to ta*e me in, wi9ard a! he i!, with hi! di!'ui!e!. I "an !ee him throu'h

them all. Dun"an, my dear, when you !u!%e"t anythin', do not #e too in"redulou!. Thi! human

demon i! of "our!e a wi9ard !till, and *now! how to ma*e him!elf, a! well a! anythin' hetou"he!, ta*e a 1uite different a%%earan"e from the real one only e$ery a%%earan"e mu!t #ear

!ome re!em#lan"e, howe$er di!tant, to the natural form. That man you !aw at the door wa! the

%hantom of whi"h I ha$e #een tellin' you. 7hat he i! after now, of "our!e, I "annot tell #ut you

mu!t *ee% a #old heart, and a firm and wary foot, a! you 'o home to-ni'ht.;I !howed !ome !ur%ri!e, I do not dou#t and, %erha%!, !ome fear a! well #ut I only !aid, ;)ow

do you *now him, Mar'aret+;

;I "an hardly tell you,; !he re%lied ;#ut I do *now him. I thin* he hate! me. Often, of a wildni'ht, when there i! moonli'ht enou'h #y fit!, I !ee him tearin' around thi! little $alley, u!t on

the to% ed'e&all round the lady! hair and the hor!e! mane and tail dri$in' far #ehind, and

min'lin', $a%orou!, with the !tormy "loud!. A#out he 'oe!, in wild "areerin' 'allo% now lo!t a!the moon 'oe! in, then $i!i#le far round when !he loo*! out a'ain&an airy, %ale-'rey !%e"tre,

whi"h few eye! #ut mine "ould !ee for, a! far a! I am aware, no one of the family #ut my!elf ha!

e$er %o!!e!!ed the dou#le 'ift of !eein' and hearin' #oth. In thi! "a!e I hear no !ound, e8"e%t

now and then a "lan* from the #ro*en !hoe. (ut I did not mean to tell you that I had e$er !een



!eemed 1uite un"on!"iou! of my %re!en"e, and my arm! !eemed %owerle!! u%on the fi8ed

mu!"le! of her!. Not that I tried to "on!train her, for I *new that a #attle wa! 'oin' on of !ome

*ind or other, and my interferen"e mi'ht do awful mi!"hief. I only tried to "omfort anden"oura'e her. All the time, I wa! in a !tate of inde!"ri#a#le "old and !ufferin', whether more

#odily or mental I "ould not tell. (ut at len'th I heard yet a'ain the "lan* of the !hoe A !udden

%ea"e !eemed to fall u%on my mind&or wa! it a warm, odorou! wind that filled the room+ Your mother dro%%ed her arm!, and turned fee#ly toward! her #a#y. She !aw that he !le%t a #le!!ed

!lee%. She !miled li*e a 'lorified !%irit, and fell #a"* e8hau!ted on the %illow. I went to the other

!ide of the room to 'et a "ordial. 7hen I returned to the #ed!ide, I !aw at on"e that !he wa! dead.)er fa"e !miled !till, with an e8%re!!ion of the uttermo!t #li!!.;

Nur!e "ea!ed, trem#lin' a! o$er"ome #y the re"olle"tion and I wa! too mu"h mo$ed and

awed to !%ea*. At len'th, re!umin' the "on$er!ation, !he !aid: ;You !ee it i! no wonder, Dun"an,

my dear, if, after all thi!, I !hould find, when I wanted to fi8 the date of your #irth, that I "ouldnot determine the day or the hour when it too* %la"e. All wa! "onfu!ion in my %oor #rain. (ut it

wa! !tran'e that no one el!e "ould, any more than I. One thin' only I "an tell you a#out it. A! I

"arried you a"ro!! the room to lay you down, for I a!!i!ted at your #irth, I ha%%ened to loo* u% to

the window. Then I !aw what I did not for'et, althou'h I did not thin* of it a'ain till many day!after,&a #ri'ht !tar wa! !hinin' on the $ery ti% of the thin "re!"ent moon.;

;Oh, then,; !aid I, ;it i! %o!!i#le to determine the day and the $ery hour when my #irth too* %la"e.;

;See the 'ood of #oo*-learnin'=; re%lied !he. ;7hen you wor* it out, u!t let me *now, my

dear, that I may remem#er it.;;That I will.;

A !ilen"e of !ome moment! followed. Mar'aret re!umed:&

;I am afraid you will lau'h at my fooli!h fan"ie!, Dun"an #ut in thin*in' o$er all the!e thin'!,

a! you may !u%%o!e I often do, lyin' awa*e in my lonely #ed, the notion !ometime! "ome! tome: 7hat if my Dun"an #e the youth whom hi! wi"*ed #rother hurled into the ra$ine, "ome

a'ain in a new #ody, to li$e out hi! life on the earth, "ut !hort #y hi! #rother! hatred+ If !o, hi!

%er!e"ution of you, and of your mother for your !a*e, i! ea!y to under!tand. And if !o, you willne$er #e a#le to re!t till you find your fere, where$er !he may ha$e #een #orn on the fa"e of the

earth. /or #orn !he mu!t #e, lon' ere now, for you to find. I mi!dou#t me mu"h, howe$er, if you

will find her without 'reat "onfli"t and !ufferin' #etween, for the 3ower! of Dar*ne!! will #ea'ain!t you thou'h I ha$e 'ood ho%e that you will o$er"ome at la!t. You mu!t for'i$e the

fan"ie! of a fooli!h old woman, my dear.;

I will not try to de!"ri#e the !tran'e feelin'!, almo!t !en!ation!, that aro!e in me while

li!tenin' to the!e e8traordinary utteran"e!, le!t it !hould #e !u%%o!ed I wa! ready to #elie$e allthat Mar'aret narrated or "on"luded. I "ould not hel% dou#tin' her !anity #ut no more "ould I

hel% feelin' $ery %e"uliarly mo$ed #y her narrati$e.

/ew more word! were !%o*en on either !ide, #ut after re"ei$in' renewed e8hortation! to"arefulne!! on my way home, I !aid 'ood-#ye to dear old nur!e, "on!idera#ly "omforted, I mu!t

"onfe!!, that I wa! not doomed to #e a tutor all my day! for I ne$er 1ue!tioned the truth of that

$i!ion and it! "on!e1uent %ro%he"y.I went out into the mid!t of the !torm, into the alternatin' thro#! of #la"*ne!! and radian"e

now the %o!!e!!or of no more room than what my #ody filled, and now i!olated in world-wide

!%a"e. And the thunder !eemed to follow me, #ellowin' after me a! I went.



A#!or#ed in the !tory I had heard, I too* my way, a! I thou'ht, homeward!. The whole "ountry

wa! well *nown to me. I !hould ha$e !aid, #efore that ni'ht, that I "ould ha$e 'one home

#lindfold. 7hether the li'htnin' #ewildered me and made me ta*e a fal!e turn, I "annot tell for the harde!t thin' to under!tand, in intelle"tual a! well a! moral mi!ta*e!, i!&how we "ame to 'o

wron'. (ut after wanderin' for !ome time, %lun'ed in meditation, and with no warnin' whate$er

of the %re!en"e of inimi"al %ower!, a #rilliant li'htnin'-fla!h !howed me that at lea!t I wa! notnear home. The li'ht wa! %rolon'ed for a !e"ond or two #y a !li'ht ele"tri" %ul!ation and #y that

I di!tin'ui!hed a wide !%a"e of #la"*ne!! on the 'round in front of me. On"e more wra%%ed in

the fold! of a thi"* dar*ne!!, I dared not mo$e. Suddenly it o""urred to me what the #la"*ne!!wa!, and whither I had wandered. It wa! a hu'e 1uarry, of 'reat de%th, lon' di!u!ed, and half

filled with water. I *new the %la"e %erfe"tly. A few more !te%! would ha$e "arried me o$er the

#rin*. I !tood !till, waitin' for the ne8t fla!h, that I mi'ht #e 1uite !ure of the way I wa! a#out to

ta*e #efore I $entured to mo$e. 7hile I !tood, I fan"ied I heard a !in'le hollow %lun'e in the #la"* water far #elow. 7hen the li'htnin' "ame, I turned, and too* my %ath in another dire"tion.

After wal*in' for !ome time a"ro!! the heath, I fell. The fall #e"ame a roll, and down a !tee%

de"li$ity I went, o$er and o$er, arri$in' at the #ottom uninured.

Another fla!h !oon !howed me where I wa!-in the hollow $alley, within a "ou%le of hundredyard! from nur!e! "otta'e. I made my way toward! it. There wa! no li'ht in it, e8"e%t the

fee#le!t 'low from the em#er! of her %eat fire. ;She i! in #ed,; I !aid to my!elf, ;and I will notdi!tur# her.; Yet !omethin' drew me toward! the little window. I loo*ed in. At fir!t I "ould !ee

nothin'. At len'th, a! I *e%t 'a9in', I !aw !omethin', indi!tin"t in the dar*ne!!, li*e an

out!tret"hed human form.(y thi! time the !torm had lulled. The moon had #een u% for !ome time, #ut had #een 1uite

"on"ealed #y tem%e!tuou! "loud!. Now, howe$er, the!e had #e'un to #rea* u% and, while I

!tood loo*in' into the "otta'e, they !"attered away from the fa"e of the moon, and a faint

$a%oury 'leam of her li'ht, enterin' the "otta'e throu'h a window o%%o!ite that at whi"h I !tood,fell dire"tly on the fa"e of my old nur!e, a! !he lay on her #a"*, out!tret"hed u%on "hair!, %ale a!

death, and with her eye! "lo!ed. The li'ht fell nowhere #ut on her fa"e. A !tran'er to her ha#it!

would ha$e thou'ht !he wa! dead #ut !he had !o mu"h of the a%%earan"e !he had had on aformer o""a!ion, that I "on"luded at on"e !he wa! in one of her tran"e!. (ut ha$in' often heard

that %er!on! in !u"h a "ondition ou'ht not to #e di!tur#ed, and feelin' 1uite !ure !he *new #e!t

how to mana'e her!elf, I turned, thou'h relu"tantly, and left the lone "otta'e #ehind me in theni'ht, with the death-li*e woman lyin' motionle!! in the mid!t of it.

I found my way home without any further diffi"ulty, and went to #ed, where I !oon fell a!lee%,

thorou'hly wearied, more #y the mental e8"itement I had #een e8%erien"in' than #y the amount

of #odily e8er"i!e I had 'one throu'h.My !lee% wa! tormented with awful dream! yet, !tran'e to !ay, I awo*e in the mornin'

refre!hed and fearle!!. The !un wa! !hinin' throu'h the "hin*! in my !hutter!, whi"h had #een

"lo!ed #e"au!e of the !torm, and wa! ma*in' !trea*! and #and! of 'olden #rillian"y u%on thewall. I had dre!!ed and "om%leted my %re%aration! lon' #efore I heard the !te%! of the !er$ant

who "ame to "all me.

7hat a wonderful thin' wa*in' i!= The time of the 'ho!tly moon!hine %a!!e! #y, and the 'reat %o!iti$e !unli'ht "ome!. A man who dream!, and *now! that he i! dreamin', thin*! he *now!

what wa*in' i! #ut *now! it !o little, that he mi!ta*e!, one after another, many a $a'ue and dim

"han'e in hi! dream for an awa*in'. 7hen the true wa*in' "ome! at la!t, he i! filled and

o$erflowed with the %ower of it! reality. So, li*ewi!e, one who, in the dar*ne!!, lie! waitin' for



the li'ht a#out to #e !tru"*, and tryin' to "on"ei$e, with all the for"e of hi! ima'ination, what the

li'ht will #e li*e, i! yet, when the reality flame! u% #efore him, !ei9ed a! #y a new and

une8%e"ted thin', different from and #eyond all hi! ima'inin'. )e feel! a! if the dar*ne!! were"a!t to an infinite di!tan"e #ehind him. So !hall it #e with u! when we wa*e from thi! dream of

life into the truer life #eyond, and find all our %re!ent notion! of #ein', thrown #a"* a! into a

dim, $a%oury re'ion of dreamland, where yet we thou'ht we *new, and when"e we loo*edforward into the %re!ent. Thi! mu!t #e what No$ali! mean! when he !ay!: ;Our life i! not a

dream #ut it may #e"ome a dream, and %erha%! ou'ht to #e"ome one.;

And !o I loo*ed #a"* u%on the !tran'e hi!tory of my %a!t !ometime! a!*in' my!elf,&;0an it #e that all thi! realty ha%%ened to the !ame me, who am now thin*in' a#out it in dou#t and

wonder+;

CHAPTER IV# Hilton Hall #

A! my father a""om%anied me to the door, where the 'i', whi"h wa! to "arry me o$er the fir!t

!ta'e of my ourney, wa! in waitin', a lar'e tar'et of hide, well !tudded with #ra!! nail!, whi"hhad hun' in the hall for time un*nown&to me, at lea!t&fell on the floor with a dull #an'. My

father !tarted, #ut !aid nothin' and, a! it !eemed to me, rather %re!!ed my de%arture thanotherwi!e. I would ha$e re%la"ed the old %ie"e of armour #efore I went, #ut he would not allow

me to tou"h it, !ayin', with a 'rim !mile,&

;Ta*e that for an omen, my #oy, that your armour mu!t #e worn o$er the "on!"ien"e, and noto$er the #ody. (e a man, Dun"an, my #oy. /ear nothin', and do your duty.;

A 'ra!% of the hand wa! all the 'ood-#ye I "ould ma*e and I wa! !oon rattlin' away to meet

the "oa"h for 0din%"rgh and #ondon. Seated on the to+, wa! !oon #uried in a re$erie, from

whi"h I wa! !uddenly !tartled #y the !ound of tin*lin' iron. 0ould it #e that my ad$er!ary wa!ridin' un!een alon'!ide of the "oa"h+ 7a! that the "lan* of the ominou! !hoe+ (ut I !oon

di!"o$ered the "au!e of the !ound, and lau'hed at my own a%%rehen!i$ene!!. /or I o#!er$ed that

the !ound wa! re%eated e$ery time that we %a!!ed any tree! #y the way!ide, and that it wa! the %e"uliar e"ho they 'a$e of the loo!e "hain and !teel wor* a#out the harne!!. The !ound wa! 1uite

different from that thrown #a"* #y the hou!e! on the road. I #e"ame %erfe"tly familiar with it

#efore the day wa! o$er.I rea"hed 2ondon in !afety, and !le%t at the hou!e of an old friend of my father, who treated

me with 'reat *indne!!, and !eemed alto'ether to ta*e a li*in' to me. (efore I left he held out a

ho%e of #ein' a#le, !ome day or other, to %ro"ure for me what I !o mu"h de!ired&a "ommi!!ion

in the army.After !%endin' a day or two with him, and !eein' !omethin' of 2ondon, I "lim#ed on"e more

on the roof of a "oa"h and, late in the afternoon, wa! !et down at the 'reat 'ate of )ilton )all. I

wal*ed u% the #road a$enue, throu'h the final ar"h of whi"h, a! throu'h a hu'e Gothi" window, I!aw the hall in the di!tan"e. E$erythin' a#out me loo*ed !tran'e, ri"h, and lo$ely. A""u!tomed to

the !"anty flower! and diminuti$e wood of my own "ountry, what I now !aw 'a$e me a feelin'

of mae!ti" %lenty, whi"h I "an re"all at will, #ut whi"h I ha$e ne$er e8%erien"ed a'ain. (ehindthe tree! whi"h formed the a$enue, I !aw a !hru##ery, "om%o!ed entirely of flowerin' %lant!,

almo!t all un*nown to me. I!!uin' from the a$enue, I found my!elf amid o%en, wide, lawny

!%a"e!, in whi"h the flower-#ed! lay li*e i!land! of "olour. A !tatue on a %ede!tal, the only white

thin' in the !urroundin' 'reen, "au'ht my eye. I had !een !"ar"ely any !"ul%ture and thi!,



attra"tin' my attention #y a fa$ourite "ontra!t of "olour, retained it #y it! own #eauty. It wa! a

Dryad, or !ome nym%h of the wood!, who had u!t 'lided from the !olitude of the tree! #ehind,

and had !%run' u%on the %ede!tal to loo* wonderin'ly around her. A few lar'e #rown lea$e! layat her feet, #orne thither #y !ome eddyin' wind from the tree! #ehind. A! I 'a9ed, filled with a

new %lea!ure, a dro% of rain u%on my fa"e made me loo* u%. /rom a 'rey, flee"y "loud, with

!un-whitened #order, a li'ht, 'ra"iou!, %lentiful rain wa! fallin'. A rain#ow !%ran' a"ro!! the!*y, and the !tatue !tood within the rain#ow. At the !ame moment, from the #a!e of the %ede!tal

ro!e a fi'ure in white, 'ra"eful a! the Dryad a#o$e, and neither runnin', nor a%%earin' to wal*

1ui"*ly, yet fleet a! a 'ho!t, 'lided %a!t me at a few %a"e!, di!tan"e, and, *ee%in' in a !trai'htline for the main entran"e of the hall, entered #y it and $ani!hed.

I followed in the dire"tion of the man!ion, whi"h wa! lar'e, and of !e$eral !tyle! and a'e!.

One win' a%%eared e!%e"ially an"ient. It wa! ne'le"ted and out of re%air, and had in

"on!e1uen"e a de!olate, almo!t !e%ul"hral loo*, an e8%re!!ion hei'htened #y the num#er of lar'e"y%re!!e! whi"h 'rew alon' it! line. I went u% to the "entral door and *no"*ed. It wa! o%ened #y

a 'ra$e, elderly #utler. I %a!!ed under it! flat ar"h, a! if into the mid!t of the waitin' e$ent! of my

!tory. /or, a! I 'lan"ed around the hall, my "on!"iou!ne!! wa! !uddenly !aturated, if I may #e

allowed the e8%re!!ion, with the !tran'e feelin'&*nown to e$eryone, and yet !o !tran'e&that Ihad !een it #efore that, in fa"t, I *new it %erfe"tly. (ut what wa! yet more !tran'e, and far more

un"ommon, wa!, that, althou'h the feelin' with re'ard to the hall faded and $ani!hed in!tantly,and althou'h I "ould not in the lea!t !urmi!e the a%%earan"e of any of the re'ion! into whi"h I

wa! a#out to #e u!hered, I yet followed the #utler with a *ind of indefina#le e8%e"tation of

!eein' !omethin' whi"h I had !een #efore and e$ery room or %a!!a'e in that man!ion affe"tedme, on enterin' it for the fir!t time, with the !ame !en!ation of %re$iou! a"1uaintan"e whi"h I

had e8%erien"ed with re'ard to the hall. Thi! !en!ation, in e$ery "a!e, died away at on"e, lea$in'

that %ortion !u"h a! it mi'ht #e e8%e"ted to loo* to one who had ne$er #efore entered the %la"e.

I wa! re"ei$ed #y the hou!e*ee%er, a little, %rim, #ene$olent old lady, with "olourle!! fa"e andanti1ue head-dre!!, who led me to the room %re%ared for me. To my !ur%ri!e, I found a lar'e

wood-fire #urnin' on the hearth #ut the feelin' of the %la"e re$ealed at on"e the ne"e!!ity for it

and I !"ar"ely needed to #e informed that the room, whi"h wa! u%on the 'round floor, and loo*edout u%on a little !olitary 'ra!!-'rown and i$y-mantled "ourt, had not #een u!ed for year!, and

therefore re1uired to #e thu! %re%ared for an inmate. My #edroom wa! a few %a"e! down a

%a!!a'e to the ri'ht.2eft alone, I %ro"eeded to ma*e a more "riti"al !ur$ey of my room. It! loo* of an"ient my!tery

wa! to me in"om%ara#ly more attra"ti$e than any !how of ele'an"e or "omfort "ould ha$e #een.

It wa! lar'e and low, %anelled throu'hout in oa*, #la"* with a'e, and worm-eaten in many %art!

&otherwi!e entire. (oth the window! loo*ed into the little "ourt or yard #efore mentioned. Allthe hea$ier furniture of the room wa! li*ewi!e of #la"* oa*, #ut the "hair! and "ou"he! were

"o$ered with faded ta%e!try and tarni!hed 'ildin', a%%arently the !u%erannuated mem#er! of the

'eneral hou!ehold of !eat!. I "ould 'i$e an indi$idual de!"ri%tion of ea"h, for e$ery atom in thatroom, lar'e enou'h for di!"erna#le !ha%e or "olour, !eem! #randed into my #rain. If I ha%%en to

ha$e the lea!t fe$eri!hne!! on me, the moment I fall a!lee%, I am in that room.

CHAPTER V# Lady Alice#



7hen the #ell ran' for dinner, I mana'ed to find my way to the drawin'-room, where were

a!!em#led 2ady )ilton, her only dau'hter, a 'irl of a#out thirteen, and the two #oy!, my %u%il!.

2ady )ilton would ha$e #een %lea!ant, "ould !he ha$e #een a! natural a! !he wi!hed to a%%ear.She re"ei$ed me with !ome de'ree of *indne!! #ut the half-"ordiality of her manner toward! me

wa! e$idently founded on the im%a!!a#lene!! of the 'ulf #etween u!. I *new at on"e that we

!hould ne$er #e friend! that !he would ne$er "ome down from the lofty ta#le-land u%on whi"h!he wal*ed and that if, after #ein' year! in the hou!e, I !hould ha%%en to #e dyin', !he would

!end the hou!e*ee%er to me. All ri'ht, no dou#t I only !ay that it wa! !o. She introdu"ed to me

my %u%il! fine, o%en-eyed, manly En'li!h #oy!, with !omethin' a little o$er#earin' in their manner, whi"h !%eedily di!a%%eared in relation to me. 2ord )ilton wa! not at home. 2ady )ilton

led the way to the dinin'-room the elder #oy 'a$e hi! arm to hi! !i!ter, and I wa! a#out to follow

with the youn'er, when from one of the dee% #ay window! 'lided out, !till in white, the !ame

fi'ure whi"h had %a!!ed me u%on the lawn. I !tarted, and drew #a"*. 7ith a !li'ht #ow, !he %re"eded me, and followed the other! down the 'reat !tair"a!e. Seated at ta#le, I had lei!ure to

ma*e my o#!er$ation! u%on them all #ut mo!t of my 'lan"e! found their way to the lady who,

twi"e that day, had affe"ted me li*e an a%%arition. 7hat i! time, #ut the airy o"ean in whi"h

'ho!t! "ome and 'o=She wa! a#out twenty year! of a'e rather a#o$e the middle hei'ht, and rather !li'ht in form

her "om%le8ion white rather than %ale, her fa"e #ein' only le!! white than the dee% mar#lywhitene!! of her arm!. )er eye! were lar'e, and full of li1uid ni'ht&a ni'ht thro##in' with the

li'ht of in$i!i#le !tar!. )er hair !eemed ra$en-#la"*, and in 1uantity %rofu!e. The e8%re!!ion of

her fa"e, howe$er, 'enerally %artoo* more of $a'uene!! than any other "hara"teri!ti". 2ady)ilton "alled her 2ady Ali"e and !he ne$er addre!!ed 2ady )ilton #ut in the !ame "eremoniou!

!tyle.

I afterward! learned from the old hou!e-*ee%er, that 2ady Ali"e! %o!ition in the family wa! a

$ery %e"uliar one. Di!tantly "onne"ted with 2ord )ilton! family on the mother! !ide, !he wa!the dau'hter of the late 2ord Glendarro"h, and !te%-dau'hter to 2ady )ilton, who had #e"ome

2ady )ilton within a year after 2ord Glendarro"h! death. 2ady Ali"e, then 1uite a "hild, had

a""om%anied her !te%mother, to whom !he wa! moderately atta"hed, and who had #een allowedto retain undi!%uted %o!!e!!ion of her. She had no near relati$e!, el!e the fortune I afterward!

found to #e at her di!%o!al would ha$e arou!ed "ontendin' "laim! to the ri'ht of 'uardian!hi%.

Althou'h !he wa! in many re!%e"t! *indly treated #y her !te%mother, "ertain %e"uliaritie!tended to her i!olation from the family %ur!uit! and %lea!ure!. 2ady Ali"e had no

a""om%li!hment!. She "ould neither !%ell her own lan'ua'e, nor e$en read it aloud. Yet !he

deli'hted in readin' to her!elf, thou'h, for the mo!t %art, #oo*! whi"h Mr!. 7il!on "hara"teri!ed

a! $ery odd. )er $oi"e, when !he !%o*e, had a 1uite inde!"ri#a#le mu!i" in it yet !he neither !an' nor %layed. )er ha#itual motion wa! more li*e a rhythmi"al 'lidin' than an ordinary wal*,

yet !he "ould not dan"e. Mr!. 7il!on hinted at other and more !eriou! %e"uliaritie!, whi"h !he

either "ould not, or would not de!"ri#e alway! !ha*in' her head 'ra$ely and !adly, and #e"omin' 1uite !ilent, when I %re!!ed for further e8%lanation !o that, at la!t, I 'a$e u% all

attem%t! to arri$e at an under!tandin' of the my!tery #y her mean!. Not the le!!, howe$er, I

!%e"ulated on the !u#e"t.One thin' !oon #e"ame e$ident to me: that !he wa! "on!idered not merely defi"ient a! to the

%ower of intelle"tual a"1uirement, #ut in a 1uite a#normal intelle"tual "ondition. Of thi!,

howe$er, I "ould my!elf !ee no !i'n. The %e"uliarity, almo!t oddity, of !ome of her remar*!, wa!

e$idently not only mi!under!tood, #ut, with relation to her mental !tate, mi!inter%reted. Su"h



remar*! 2ady )ilton 'enerally an!wered only #y an elon'ation of the li%! intended to re%re!ent a

!mile. To me, they a%%eared to indi"ate a nature "lo!ely allied to 'eniu!, if not identi"al with it-a

%ower of re'ardin' thin'! from an ori'inal %oint of $iew, whi"h %erha%! wa! the more unfetteredin it! o%eration from the fa"t that !he wa! in"a%a#le of loo*in' at them in the ordinary "ommon-

%la"e way. It !eemed to me, !ometime!, a! if her %oint of o#!er$ation wa! out!ide of the !%here

within whi"h the thin' o#!er$ed too* %la"e and a! if what !he !aid, had a relation, o""a!ionally,to thin'! and thou'ht! and mental "ondition! familiar to her, #ut at whi"h not e$en a definite

'ue!! "ould #e made #y me. I am "om%elled to a"*nowled'e, howe$er, that with !u"h utteran"e!

a! the!e min'led now and then other!, !illy enou'h for any drawin'-room youn' lady whi"h!eemed a'ain to #e a""e%ted #y the family a! %roof! that !he wa! not altogether out of her ri'ht

mind. She wa! 'entle and *ind to the "hildren, a! they were !till "alled and they !eemed

rea!ona#ly fond of her.

There wa! !omethin' to me e8"eedin'ly tou"hin' in the !olitarine!! of thi! 'irl for no one!%o*e to her a! if !he were li*e other %eo%le, or a! if any heartine!! were %o!!i#le #etween them.

3erha%! no one "ould ha$e felt 1uite at home with her #ut a mother, who!e heart had #een one

with her! from a !ea!on lon' anterior to the de$elo%ment of any re%ul!i$e oddity. (ut her

%o!ition wa! one of %e"uliar i!olation, for no one really a%%roa"hed her indi$idual #ein' and that!he !hould #e unaware of thi! loneline!!, !eemed to me !adde!t of all. I !oon found, howe$er,

that the mo!t di!tant attem%t on my %art to !how her attention, wa! either re"ei$ed with a#!oluteindifferen"e, or "oldly re%elled without the !li'hte!t a"*nowled'ment.

(ut I return to the fir!t ni'ht of my !oourn at )ilton )all.

CHAPTER VI# My uarters.

After ma*in' arran'ement! for "ommen"in' wor* in the mornin', I too* my lea$e, and retiredto my own room, intent u%on "arryin' out with more minutene!! the !ur$ey I had already

"ommen"ed: !e$eral "u%#oard! in the wall, and one or two door!, a%%arently of "lo!et!, had

e!%e"ially attra"ted my attention. Stran'e wa! it! loo* a! I entered&a! of a room hollowed out of the %a!t, for a memorial of dead time!. The fire had !un* low, and lay !moulderin' #eneath the

white a!he!, li*e the life of the world #eneath the !now, or the heart of a man #eneath "old and

'rey thou'ht!. I li'hted the "andle! whi"h !tood u%on the ta#le, #ut the room, in!tead of #ein' #ri'htened loo*ed #la"*er than #efore, for the li'ht re$ealed it! e!!ential #la"*ne!!.

A! I "a!t my eye! around me, !tandin' with my #a"* to the hearth >on whi"h, for mere

"om%anion!hi%! !a*e, I had u!t hea%ed fre!h wood?, a thrill ran !uddenly throu'hout my frame.

I felt a! if, did it la!t a moment lon'er, I !hould #e"ome aware of another %re!en"e in the room #ut, ha%%ily for me, it "ea!ed #efore it had rea"hed that %oint and I, re"o$erin' my "oura'e,

remained i'norant of the "au!e of my fear, if there were any, other than the nature of the room

it!elf. 7ith a "andle in my hand, I %ro"eeded to o%en the $ariou! "u%#oard! and "lo!et!. At fir!t Ifound nothin' remar*a#le a#out any of them. The latter were 1uite em%ty, e8"e%t the la!t I "ame

to, whi"h had a %ie"e of $ery old ela#orate ta%e!try han'in' at the #a"* of it. 2iftin' thi! u%, I

!aw what !eemed at fir!t to #e %anel!, "orre!%ondin' to tho!e whi"h formed the room #ut onloo*in' more "lo!ely, I di!"o$ered that thi! #a"* of the "lo!et wa!, or had #een, a door. There

wa! nothin' unu!ual in thi!, e!%e"ially in !u"h an old hou!e #ut the di!"o$ery rou!ed in me a

!tron' de!ire to *now what lay #ehind the old door. I found that it wa! !e"ured only #y an

ordinary #olt, from whi"h the handle had #een remo$ed. Soothin' my "on!"ien"e with the



refle"tion that I had a ri'ht to *now what !ort of %la"e had "ommuni"ation with my room, I

!u""eeded, #y the hel% of my deer-*nife, in for"in' #a"* the ru!ty #olt and thou'h, from the

!tiffne!! of the hin'e!, I dreaded a "ra"*, they yielded at la!t with only a "rea*.The o%enin' door re$ealed a lar'e hall, em%ty utterly, !a$e of du!t and "o#we#!, whi"h

fe!tooned it in all 1uarter!, and 'a$e it an a%%earan"e of unuttera#le de!olation. The now familiar

feelin', that I had !een the %la"e #efore, filled my mind the fir!t moment, and %a!!ed away thene8t. A #road, ri'ht-an'led !tair"a!e, with ma!!i$e #ani!ter!, ro!e from the middle of the hall.

Thi! !tair"a!e "ould not ha$e ori'inally #elon'ed to the an"ient win' whi"h I had o#!er$ed on

my fir!t a%%roa"h, #ein' mu"h more modern #ut I wa! "on$in"ed, from the o#!er$ation! I hadmade a! to the !ituation of my room, that I wa! #orderin' u%on, if not within, the olde!t %ortion

of the %ile. In !udden horror, le!t I !hould hear a li'ht footfall u%on the awful !tair, I withdrew

hurriedly, and ha$in' !e"ured #oth the door!, #etoo* my!elf to my #edroom in who!e din'y

four-%o!t #ed, with it! "ar$in' and %lume! remindin' me of a hear!e, I wa! !oon en!"on"edamid!t the !nowie!t linen, with the !weet and "lean odour of la$ender. In !%ite of no$elty,

anti1uity, !%e"ulation, and dread, I wa! !oon fa!t a!lee% #e"omin' there#y a fitter inha#itant of

!u"h re'ion!, than when I mo$ed a#out with re!tle!! and di!tur#in' "urio!ity, throu'h their

an"ient and death-li*e re%o!e.I made no u!e of my di!"o$ered door, althou'h I alway! intended doin' !o e!%e"ially after, in

tal*in' a#out the #uildin' with 2ady )ilton, I found that I wa! at %erfe"t li#erty to ma*e whate8"ur!ion! I %lea!ed into the de!erted %ortion!.

My %u%il! turned out to #e tea"ha#le, and therefore my o""u%ation wa! %lea!ant. Their !i!ter

fre1uently "ame to me for hel%, a! there ha%%ened to #e u!t then an interre'num of 'o$erne!!e!:!oon !he !ettled into a re'ular %u%il.

After a few wee*! 2ord )ilton returned. Thou'h my room wa! !o far from the 'reat hall, I

heard the "lan* of hi! !%ur! on it! %a$ement. I trem#led for it !ounded li*e the #ro*en !hoe. (ut

I !hoo* off the influen"e in a moment, heartily a!hamed of it! %ower o$er me. Soon I #e"amefamiliar enou'h #oth with the !ound and it! "au!e for hi! lord!hi% rarely went anywhere e8"e%t

on hor!e#a"*, and wa! #ooted and !%urred from mornin' till ni'ht.

)e re"ei$ed me with !ome a%%earan"e of intere!t, whi"h immediately !tiffened and fro9e.(e'innin' to !ha*e hand! with me a! if he meant it, he in!tantly dro%%ed my hand, a! if it had

!tun' him.

)i! no#ility wa! of that !ort whi"h !tand! in "on!tant need of re%air. 2i*e a wea*ly"on!titution, it re1uired *ee%in' u%, and hi! lord!hi% "ould not #e !aid to ne'le"t it for he

!eemed to find hi! %rin"i%al em%loyment in admini!terin' "ontinuou! do!e! of o#!e1uiou!ne!! to

hi! own %ride. )i! ran*, li*e a "oat made for !ome lar'e an"e!tor, hun' loo!e u%on him: he wa!

alway! tryin' to %er!uade him!elf that it wa! an e8"ellent fit, #ut e$er with an una"*nowled'edmi!'i$in'. Thi! mi!'i$in' mi'ht ha$e done him 'ood, had he not met it with renewed effort! at

loo*in' that whi"h he feared he wa! not. Yet thi! man wa! "a%a#le of the utmo!t %er!i!ten"y in

"arryin' out any !"heme he had on"e de$i!ed. Enou'h of him for the %re!ent: I !eldom "ame into"onta"t with him.

I !"ar"ely e$er !aw 2ady Ali"e, e8"e%t at dinner, or #y a""idental meetin' in the 'round! and

%a!!a'e! of the hou!e and then !he too* no noti"e of me whate$er.

CHAPTER VII# The Li!rary#



!tory, mo!t of whi"h I for'ot a! !oon a! I heard them, did I li!ten, or !eem to li!ten, while !he

du!ted the !hel$e! and I the #oo*!.

One day I had !ent a !er$ant to a!* Mr!. 7il!on to "ome to me. I had ta*en down all the #oo*!from a hitherto undi!tur#ed "orner, and had !eated my!elf on a hea% of them, no dou#t a $ery

im%er!onation of the 'eniu! of the %la"e for while I waited for the hou!e*ee%er, I wa!

"on!umin' a mor!el of an an"ient metri"al roman"e. After waitin' for !ome time, I 'lan"edtoward! the door, for I had #e'un to 'et im%atient for the entran"e of my hel%er. To my !ur%ri!e,

there !tood 2ady Ali"e, her eye! fi8ed u%on me with an e8%re!!ion I "ould not "om%rehend. )er

fa"e in!tantly altered to it! u!ual loo* of indifferen"e, da!hed with the lea!t %o!!i#le de'ree of !"orn, a! !he turned and wal*ed !lowly away. I ro!e in$oluntarily. An old "a$alry !word, whi"h I

had u!t ta*en down from the wall, and had %la"ed leanin' a'ain!t the #oo*! from whi"h I now

ro!e, fell with a "la!h to the floor. I !tarted for it wa! a !ound that alway! !tartled me and

!too%in' I lifted the wea%on. (ut what wa! my !ur%ri!e when I rai!ed my head, to !ee on"e morethe fa"e of 2ady Ali"e !tarin' in at the door= yet not the !ame fa"e, for it had "han'ed in the

moment that had %a!!ed. It wa! %ale with fear&not fri'ht and her 'reat #la"* eye! were !tarin'

#eyond me a! if !he !aw !omethin' throu'h the wall of the room. On"e more her fa"e altered to

the former !"ornful indifferen"e, and !he $ani!hed. Keen of hearin' a! I wa!, I had ne$er yetheard the foot!te% of 2ady Ali"e.

CHAPTER VIII# The So"na"!ulist.

One ni'ht I wa! !ittin' in my room, de$ourin' an old roman"e whi"h I had #rou'ht from the

li#rary. It wa! late. The fire #la9ed #ri'ht #ut the "andle! were nearly #urnt out, and I 'rew

!lee%y o$er the $olume, roman"e a! it wa!.

Suddenly I found my!elf on my feet, li!tenin' with an a'ony of intention. 7hether I had heardanythin' I "ould not tell #ut I felt a! if I had. Ye! I wa! !ure of it. /ar away, !omewhere in the

la#yrinthine %ile, I heard a faint "ry. Dri$en #y !ome !e"ret im%ul!e, I flew, without a moment!

refle"tion, to the "lo!et door, lifted the ta%e!try within, unfa!tened the !e"ond door, and !tood inthe 'reat wa!te e"hoin' hall, amid the tou"he!, li'ht and 'ho!tly, of the "o#we#! !et afloat in the

eddie! o""a!ioned #y my !udden entran"e.

A faded moon#eam fell on the floor, and filled the %la"e with an an"ient dream-li'ht, whi"hwrou'ht !tran'ely on my #rain, and filled it, a! if it, too, were #ut a de!erted, !lee%y hou!e,

haunted #y old dream! and memorie!. Re"olle"tin' my!elf, I went #a"* for a li'ht #ut the

"andle! were #oth fli"*erin' in the !o"*et!, and I wa! "om%elled to tru!t to the moon. I a!"ended

the !tair"a!e. Old a! it wa!, not a #oard "rea*ed, not a #ani!ter !hoo*&the whole felt !olid a!ro"*. /indin', at len'th, no more !tair to a!"end, I 'ro%ed my way on for here there wa! no

dire"t li'ht from the moon&only the li'ht of the moonlit air. I wa! in !ome tre%idation, I

"onfe!! for how !hould I find my way #a"*+ (ut the wor!t re!ult li*ely to en!ue wa!, that I!hould ha$e to !%end the ni'ht without *nowin' where for with the fir!t 'limmer of mornin', I

!hould #e a#le to return to my room. At len'th, after wanderin' into !e$eral room! and out a'ain,

my hand fell on a lat"hed door. I o%ened it, and entered a lon' "orridor, with many window! onone !ide. (road !tri%! of moonli'ht lay !lantin'ly a"ro!! the narrow floor, di$ided #y re'ular

inter$al! of !hade.

I !tarted, and my heart !welled for I !aw a mo$ement !omewhere&I "ould neither tell where,

nor of what: I wa! only aware of motion. I !tood in the fir!t !hadow, and 'a9ed, #ut !aw nothin'.



I !%ed a"ro!! the li'ht to the ne8t !hadow, and !tood a'ain, loo*in' with fearful fi8edne!! of 'a9e

toward! the far end of the "orridor. Suddenly a white form 'limmered and $ani!hed. I "ro!!ed to

the ne8t !hadow. A'ain a 'limmer and $ani!hin', #ut nearer. Ner$in' my!elf to the utmo!t, I"ea!ed the !tealthine!! of my mo$ement!, and went forward, !lowly and !teadily. A tall form,

a%%arently of a woman, dre!!ed in a lon' white ro#e, a%%eared in one of the !tream! of li'ht,

threw it! arm! o$er it! head, 'a$e a wild "ry&whi"h, notwith!tandin' it! wildne!! and for"e, hada muffled !ound, a! if many fold!, either of matter or of !%a"e, inter$ened&and fell at full len'th

alon' the moonli'ht. Amid!t the thrill of a'ony whi"h !hoo* me at the "ry, I ru!hed forward, and,

*neelin' #e!ide the %ro!trate fi'ure, di!"o$ered that, unearthly a! wa! the !"ream whi"h had %re"eded her fall, it wa! the 2ady Ali"e. I !aw the fa"t in a moment: the 2ady Ali"e wa! a

!omnam#uli!t. Startled #y the noi!e of my ad$an"e, !he had awa*ed and the u!ual terror and

faintin' had followed. She wa! "old and motionle!! a! death. 7hat wa! to #e done+ If I "alled,

the %ro#a#ility wa! that no one would hear me or if any one !hould hear&#ut I need not followthe "our!e of my thou'ht, a! I tried in $ain to re"o$er the %oor 'irl. Suffi"e it to !ay, that #oth for

her !a*e and my own, I "ould not fa"e the "han"e of #ein' found, in the dead of ni'ht, #y

"ommon-minded dome!ti"!, in !u"h a !ituation.

I wa! *neelin' #y her !ide, not *nowin' what to do, when a horror, a! from the %re!en"e of death !uddenly re"o'ni9ed, fell u%on me. I thou'ht !he mu!t #e dead. (ut at the !ame moment, I

hear, or !eemed to hear, >how !hould I *now whi"h+? the ra%id 'allo% of a hor!e, and the "lan* of a loo!e !hoe.

In an a'ony of fear, I "au'ht her u% in my arm!, and, "arryin' her on my arm!, a! one "arrie! a

!lee%in' "hild, hurried #a"* throu'h the "orridor. )er hair, whi"h wa! loo!e, trailed on the'round and, a! I fled, I tram%led on it and !tum#led. She moaned and that in!tant the 'allo%

"ea!ed. I lifted her u% a"ro!! my !houlder, and "arried her more ea!ily. )ow I found my way to

the !tair I "annot tell: I *now that I 'ro%ed a#out for !ome time, li*e one in a dream with a 'ho!t

in hi! arm!. At la!t I rea"hed it, and de!"endin', "ro!!ed the hall, and entered my room. There I %la"ed 2ady Ali"e u%on an old "ou"h, !e"ured the door!, and #e'an to #reathe&and thin*. The

fir!t thin' wa! to 'et her warm, for !he wa! "old a! the dead. I "o$ered her with my %laid and my

dre!!in'-'own, %ulled the "ou"h #efore the fire, and "on!idered what to do ne8t.

CHAPTER I$# The #irst $a%ing #

7hile I he!itated, Nature had her own way, and, with a dee%-drawn !i'h, 2ady Ali"e o%ened

her eye!. Ne$er !hall I for'et the loo* of min'led #ewilderment, alarm, and !hame, with whi"h

her 'reat eye! met mine. (ut, in a moment, thi! e8%re!!ion "han'ed to that of an'er. )er dar* eye! fla!hed with li'ht and a "loud of ro!eate wrath 'rew in her fa"e, till it 'lowed with the

o%a1ue red of a "amellia. She had almo!t !tarted from the "ou"h, when, a%%arently di!"o$erin'

the un!uita#lene!! of her dre!!, !he "he"*ed her im%etuo!ity, and remained leanin' on her el#ow.O$er"ome #y her an'er, her #eauty, and my own "onfu!ion, I *nelt #efore her, una#le to !%ea*,

or to withdraw my eye! from her!. After a moment! %au!e, !he #e'an to 1ue!tion me li*e a

1ueen, and I to re%ly li*e a "ul%rit.;)ow did I "ome here+;

;I "arried you.;

;7here did you find me, %ray+;

)er li% "urled with ten time! the u!ual !"orn.



;In the old hou!e, in a lon' "orridor.;

;7hat ri'ht had you to #e there+;

;I heard a "ry, and "ould not hel% 'oin'.;;Ti! im%o!!i#le.&I !ee. Some wret"h told you, and you wat"hed for me.;

;I did not, 2ady Ali"e.;

She #ur!t into tear!, and fell #a"* on the "ou"h, with her fa"e turned away. Then, an'er re$i$in', !he went on throu'h her !o#!:&

;7hy did you not lea$e me where I fell+ You had done enou'h to hurt me without #rin'in' me

here.;And a'ain !he fell a-wee%in'.

Now I found word!.

;2ady Ali"e,; I !aid, ;how "ould I lea$e you lyin' in the moonli'ht+ (efore the !un ro!e, the

terri#le moon mi'ht ha$e di!torted your #eautiful fa"e.;;(e !ilent, !ir. 7hat ha$e you to do with my fa"e+;

;And the wind, 2ady Ali"e, wa! #lowin' throu'h the "orridor window!, *een and "old a! the

moonli'ht. )ow "ould I lea$e you+;

;You "ould ha$e "alled for hel%.;;/or'i$e me, 2ady Ali"e, if I erred in thin*in' you would rather "ommand the !ilen"e of a

'entleman to whom an a""ident had re$ealed your !e"ret, than #e e8%o!ed to the dome!ti"! whowould ha$e 'athered round u!.;

A'ain !he half rai!ed her!elf, and a'ain her eye! fla!hed.

;A !e"ret with yo", !ir=;;(ut, #e!ide!, 2ady Ali"e,; I "ried, !%rin'in' to my feet, in di!tre!! at her hardne!!, ;I heard

the hor!e with the "lan*in' !hoe, and, in terror, I "au'ht you u%, and fled with you, almo!t #efore

I *new what I did. And I hear it now&I hear it now=; I "ried, a! on"e more the ominou! !ound

ran' throu'h my #rain.The an'ry 'low faded from her fa"e, and it! %alene!! 'rew almo!t 'ha!tly with di!may.

;Do yo" hear it+; !he !aid, throwin' #a"* her "o$erin', and ri!in' from the "ou"h. ;I do not.;

She !tood li!tenin' with di!tended eye!, a! if they were the 'ate! #y whi"h !u"h !ound!entered.

;I do not hear it,; !he !aid a'ain, after a %au!e. ;It mu!t #e 'one now.; Then, turnin' to me,

!he laid her hand on my arm, and loo*ed at me. )er #la"* hair, di!ordered and entan'led,wandered all o$er her white dre!! to her *nee!. )er fa"e wa! %aler than e$er and her eye! were

!o wide o%en that I "ould !ee the white all round the lar'e dar* iri!.

;Did you hear it+; !he !aid. ;No one e$er heard it #efore #ut me. I mu!t for'i$e you&you

"ould not hel% it. I will tru!t you, too. Ta*e me to my room.;7ithout a word of re%ly, I wra%%ed my %laid a#out her. Then #ethin*in' me of my "ham#er-

"andle, I li'hted it, and o%enin' the two door!, led her out of the room.

;)ow i! thi!+; !he a!*ed. ;7hy do you ta*e me thi! way+ I do not *now the %la"e.;;Thi! i! the way I #rou'ht you in, 2ady Ali"e,; I an!wered. ;I *now no other way to the !%ot

where I found you. And I "an 'uide you no farther than there&hardly e$en !o far, for I 'ro%ed

my way there for the fir!t time thi! ni'ht or mornin'&whi"he$er it may #e.;;It i! %a!t midni'ht, #ut not mornin' yet,; !he re%lied, ;I alway! *now. (ut there mu!t #e

another way from your room+;

;Ye!, of "our!e #ut we !hould ha$e to %a!! the hou!e*ee%er! door&!he i! alway! late.;



;Are we near her room+ I !hould *now my way from there. I fear it would not !ur%ri!e any of

the hou!ehold to !ee me. They would !ay&It i! only 2ady Ali"e. Yet I "annot tell you how I

!hrin* from #ein' !een. No&I will try the way you #rou'ht me&if you do not mind 'oin' #a"* with me.;

Thi! "on$er!ation %a!!ed in low tone and hurried word!. It wa! !"ar"ely o$er #efore we found

our!el$e! at the foot of the !tair"a!e. 2ady Ali"e !hi$ered, and drew the %laid "lo!e round her.7e a!"ended, and !oon found the "orridor #ut when we 'ot throu'h it, !he wa! rather

#ewildered. At len'th, after loo*in' into !e$eral of the room!, em%ty all, e8"e%t for !tray arti"le!

of an"ient furniture, !he e8"laimed, a! !he entered one, and, ta*in' the "andle from my hand,held it a#o$e her head&

;Ah, ye!= I am ri'ht at la!t. Thi! i! the haunted room. I *now my way now.;

I "au'ht a dar*lin' 'lim%!e of a lar'e room, a%%arently 1uite furni!hed #ut how, e8"e%t from

the 'eneral feelin' of anti1uity and mu!tine!!, I "ould not tell. 2ittle did I thin* then whatmemorie!&old, now, li*e the 'ho!t! that with them haunt the %la"e&would ere lon' find their

#ein' and ta*e their a#ode in that an"ient room, to for!a*e it ne$er more. In !tran'e, half-wa*in'

mood!, I !eem to !ee the 'ho!t! and the memorie! flittin' to'ether throu'h the !%e"tral

moonli'ht, and wea$in' my!ti" dan"e! in and out of the !toried window! and the ta%e!triedwall!.

At the door of thi! room !he !aid, ;I mu!t lea$e you here. I will %ut down the li'ht a littlefurther on, and you "an "ome for it. I owe you many than*!. You will not #e afraid of #ein' left

!o near the haunted room+;

I a!!ured her that at %re!ent I felt !tron' enou'h to meet all the 'ho!t! in or out of )ade!.Turnin', !he !miled a !ad, !weet !mile, then went on a few %a"e!, and di!a%%eared. The li'ht,

howe$er, remained and I found the "andle, with my %laid, de%o!ited at the foot of a !hort fli'ht

of !te%!, at ri'ht an'le! to the %a!!a'e !he left me in. I made my way #a"* to my room, threw

my!elf on the "ou"h on whi"h !he had !o lately lain, and neither went to #ed nor !le%t that ni'ht.(efore the mornin', I had fully entered that %ha!e of indi$idual de$elo%ment "ommonly "alled

love, of whi"h the real nature i! a! 'reat a my!tery to me now, a! it wa! at any %eriod %re$iou! to

it! e$olution in my!elf.

CHAPTER $# Lo&e and 'o(er #

7hen the mornin' "ame, I #e'an to dou#t whether my wa*efulne!! had not #een %art of my

dream, and I had not dreamed the whole of my !u%%o!ed ad$enture!. There wa! no !i'n of a

lady! %re!en"e left in the room.&)ow "ould there ha$e #een+&(ut throwin' the %laid whi"h"o$ered me a!ide, my hand wa! "au'ht #y a !in'le thread of !omethin' !o fine that I "ould not

!ee it till the li'ht 'rew !tron'. I wound it round and round my fin'er, and dou#ted no lon'er.

At #rea*fa!t there wa! no 2ady Ali"e&nor at dinner. I 'rew unea!y, #ut what "ould I do+ I!oon learned that !he wa! ill and a weary fortni'ht %a!!ed #efore I !aw her a'ain. Mr!. 7il!on

told me that !he had "au'ht "old, and wa! "onfined to her room. So I wa! ill at ea!e, not from

lo$e alone, #ut from an8iety a! well. E$ery ni'ht I "re%t u% throu'h the de!erted hou!e to the!tair where !he had $ani!hed, and there !at in the dar*ne!! or 'ro%ed and %eered a#out for !ome

!i'n. (ut I !aw no li'ht e$en, and did not *now where her room wa!. It mi'ht #e far #eyond thi!

e8tremity of my *nowled'e for I di!"o$ered no indi"ation of the %ro8imity of the inha#ited



%ortion of the hou!e. Mr!. 7il!on !aid there wa! nothin' !eriou! the matter #ut thi! did not

!ati!fy me, for I ima'ined !omethin' my!teriou! in the way in whi"h !he !%o*e.

A! the day! went on, and !he did not a%%ear, my !oul #e'an to droo% within me my intelle"t!eemed a#out to de!ert me alto'ether. In $ain I tried to read. Nothin' "ould fi8 my attention. I

read and re-read the !ame %a'e #ut althou'h I under!tood e$ery word a! I read, I found when I

"ame to a %au!e, that there lin'ered in my mind no %ale!t notion of the idea. It wa! u!t what onee8%erien"e! in attem%tin' to read when half-a!lee%.

I tried Eu"lid, and fared a little #etter with that. (ut ha$in' now to initiate my #oy! into the

my!terie! of e1uation!, I !oon found that althou'h I "ould mana'e a $ery !im%le one, yet when Iattem%ted one more "om%le8&one in whi"h !omethin' #orderin' u%on ima'ination wa!

ne"e!!ary to find out the o#e"t for whi"h to a%%oint the !ym#ol to handle it #y&the ne"e!!ary

%ower of "on"entration wa! it!elf a mi!!in' fa"tor.

(ut althou'h my thou'ht! were thu! #eyond my "ontrol, my dutie! were not alto'ether ir*!ome to me. I remem#ered that they *e%t me near her and althou'h I "ould not learn, I found

that I "ould tea"h a little.

3erha%! it i! fooli!h to dwell u%on an indi$idual $ariety of an almo!t uni$er!al !ta'e in the

fe$er of life #ut one e8"e%tion to the!e indi"ation! of mental %araly!i! I thin* worth mentionin'.I "ontinued my wor* in the li#rary, althou'h it did not ad$an"e with the !ame !teadine!! a!

#efore. One day, in li!tle!! mood, I too* u% a $olume, without *nowin' what it wa!, or what I!ou'ht. It o%ened at the Amoretti of Edmund S%en!er. I wa! on the %oint of "lo!in' it a'ain, when

a line "au'ht my eye. I read the !onnet read another found I "ould under!tand them %erfe"tly

and that hour the %oetry of the !i8teenth "entury, hitherto a !ealed fountain, #e"ame an o%en wellof refre!hment, and the !tren'th that "ome! from !ym%athy. 7hat if it! !e"ond-rate writer! were

full of "on"eit! and $a'arie!, the feelin'! are $ery indifferent to the mere intelle"tual form!

around whi"h the !ame feelin'! in other! ha$e 'athered, if only #y their mean! they hint at, and

!ometime! e8%re!! them!el$e!. Now I under!tood thi! old fanta!ti" $er!e, and *new that thefoam-#ell! on the torrent of %a!!ionate feelin' are iri!-hued. And what wa! more&it %ro$ed an

intelle"tual ne8u! #etween my lo$e and my !tudie!, or at lea!t a #rid'e #y whi"h I "ould %a!!

from the one to the other.That !ame day, I remem#er well, Mr!. 7il!on told me that 2ady Ali"e wa! mu"h #etter. (ut a!

day! %a!!ed, and !till !he did not ma*e her a%%earan"e, my an8iety only "han'ed it! o#e"t, and I

feared that it wa! from a$er!ion to me that !he did not oin the family. (ut her name wa! ne$er mentioned in my hearin' #y any of the other mem#er! of it and her a#!en"e a%%eared to #e to

them a matter of no moment or intere!t.

One ni'ht, a! I !at in my room, I found, a! u!ual, that it wa! im%o!!i#le to read and throwin'

the #oo* a!ide, rela%!ed into that !%here of thou'ht whi"h now filled my !oul, and had for it!"entre the 2ady Ali"e. I re"alled her form a! !he lay on the "ou"h, and #rooded o$er the

remem#ran"e till a lon'in' to !ee her, almo!t un#eara#le, aro!e within me.

;7ould to hea$en,; I !aid to my!elf, ;that will were %ower=;In thi! "on"urren"e of idlene!!, di!tra"tion, and $ehement de!ire, I found all at on"e, without

any fore'one re!olution, that I wa! "on"entratin' and inten!ifyin' within me, until it ro!e almo!t

to a "ommand, the o%erati$e $olition that 2ady Ali"e !hould "ome to me. In a moment more Itrem#led at the !en!e of a new %ower whi"h !%ran' into "on!"iou! #ein' within me. I had had no

%re$i!ion of it! e8i!ten"e, when I 'a$e way to !u"h e8tra$a'ant and a%%arently hel%le!! wi!he!. I

now a"tually awaited the fulfilment of my de!ire #ut in a "ondition ill-fitted to re"ei$e it, for the



effort had already e8hau!ted me to !u"h a de'ree, that e$ery ner$e wa! in a "on!"iou! tremor.

Nor had I lon' to wait.

I heard no !ound of a%%roa"h: the "lo!et-door folded #a"*, and in 'lided, o%en-eyed, #ut!i'htle!! %ale a! death, and "lad in white, 'ho!tly-%ure and !aint-li*e, the 2ady Ali"e. I

!huddered from head to foot at what I had done. She wa! more terri#le to me in that moment than

any %ale-eyed 'ho!t "ould ha$e #een. /or had I not e8er"i!ed a *ind of ne"romanti" art, androu!ed without awa*in' the !lum#erin' dead+ She %a!!ed me, wal*in' round the ta#le at whi"h I

wa! !eated, went to the "ou"h, laid her!elf down with a maidenly "are, turned a little on one !ide,

with her fa"e toward! me, and 'radually "lo!ed her eye!. In !omethin' dee%er than !lee% !he lay,and yet not in death. I ro!e, and on"e more *nelt #e!ide her, #ut dared not tou"h her. In what far

realm! of life mi'ht the lo$ely !oul #e !trayin'= 7hat my!teriou! mode! of #ein' mi'ht now #e

the homely !urroundin'! of her !e"ond life= Thou'ht! unuttera#le ro!e in me, "ulminated, and

!an*, li*e the !tar! of hea$en, a! I 'a9ed on the %re!ent !ym#ol of an a#!ent life&a life that Ilo$ed #y mean! of the !ym#ol a !ym#ol that I lo$ed #e"au!e of the life. )ow lon' !he lay thu!,

how lon' I 'a9ed u%on her thu!, I do not *now. Gradually, #ut without my #ein' a#le to

di!tin'ui!h the 'radation!, her "ountenan"e altered to that of one who !lee%!. (ut the "han'e did

not end there. A "olour, faint a! the #lu!h in the "entre of a white ro!e, tin'ed her li%!, anddee%ened then her "hee* #e'an to !hare in the hue, then her #row and her ne"*. The "olour wa!

that of the "loud whi"h, the farthe!t from the !un!et, yet a"*nowled'e! the ro!y atmo!%here. Iwat"hed, a! it were, the dawn of a !oul on the hori9on of the $i!i#le. The fir!t a%%roa"he! of it!

far-off fli'ht were manife!t and a! I wat"hed, I !aw it "ome nearer and nearer, till it! 'reat,

!ilent, !%eedin' %inion! were folded, and it loo*ed forth, a "alm, #eautiful, infinite woman, fromthe fa"e and form !lee%in' #efore me.

I *new that !he wa! awa*e, !ome moment! #efore !he o%ened her eye!. 7hen at la!t tho!e

de%th! of dar*ne!! di!"lo!ed them!el$e!, !lowly u%liftin' their white "loudy %ortal!, the !ame

"on!ternation !he had formerly manife!ted, a""om%anied #y yet 'reater an'er, followed.;Yet a'ain= Am I your !la$e, #e"au!e I am wea*+; She ro!e in the mae!ty of wrath, and

mo$ed toward! the door.

;2ady Ali"e, I ha$e not tou"hed you. I am to #lame, #ut not a! you thin*. 0ould I hel% lon'in'to !ee you+ And if the lon'in' %a!!ed, ere I wa! aware, into a will that you !hould "ome, and you

o#eyed it, for'i$e me.;

I hid my fa"e in my hand!, o$er"ome #y "onfli"tin' emotion!. A *ind of !tu%or "ame o$er me.7hen I lifted my head, !he wa! !tandin' #y the "lo!et-door.

;I ha$e waited,; !he !aid, ;to ma*e a re1ue!t of you.;

;Do not utter it, 2ady Ali"e. I *now what it i!. I 'i$e you my word&my !olemn %romi!e, if

you li*e&that I will ne$er do it a'ain.; She than*ed me, with a !mile, and $ani!hed.Mu"h to my !ur%ri!e, !he a%%eared at dinner ne8t day. No noti"e wa! ta*en of her, e8"e%t #y

the youn'er of my %u%il!, who "alled out,&

;)allo, Ali"e= Are you down+;She !miled and nodded, #ut did not !%ea*. E$erythin' went on a! u!ual. There wa! no "han'e

in her #eha$iour, e8"e%t in one %oint. I $entured the e8%eriment of %ayin' her !ome ordinary

enou'h attention. She than*ed me, without a tra"e of the !"ornful e8%re!!ion I all #ut e8%e"ted to!ee u%on her #eautiful fa"e. (ut when I addre!!ed her a#out the weather, or !omethin' e1ually

intere!tin', !he made no re%ly and 2ady )ilton 'a$e me a !tare, a! mu"h a! to !ay, ;Dont you

*now it! of no u!e to tal* to her+; Ali"e !aw the loo*, and "olourin' to the eye!, ro!e, and left

the room. 7hen !he had 'one, 2ady )ilton !aid to me,&



;Dont !%ea* to her, Mr. 0am%#ell&it di!tre!!e! her. She i! $ery %e"uliar, you *now.;

She "ould not hide the !"orn and di!li*e with whi"h !he !%o*e and I "ould not hel% !ayin' to

my!elf, ;7hat a different thin' !"orn loo*! on yo"r fa"e, 2ady )ilton=; for it made her %o!iti$ely and hatefully u'ly for the moment&to my eye!, at lea!t.

After thi!, Ali"e !at down with u! at all our meal!, and !eemed tolera#ly well. (ut, in !ome

inde!"ri#a#le way, !he wa! 1uite a different %er!on from the 2ady Ali"e who had twi"e awa*edin my %re!en"e. To u!e a %hra!e "ommon in de!"ri#in' one of wea* intelle"t&!he ne$er !eemed

to #e all there. There wa! !omethin' automati"al in her mo$ement! and a !ort of fro9en

indifferen"e wa! the %re$ailin' e8%re!!ion of her "ountenan"e. 7hen !he !miled, a !weet li'ht!hone in her eye!, and !he loo*ed for the moment li*e the 2ady Ali"e of my ni'htly dream!. (ut,

alto'ether, the 2ady Ali"e of the ni'ht, and the 2ady Ali"e of the day, were two di!tin"t %er!on!. I

#elie$ed that the former wa! the real one.

7hat ni'ht! I had now, wat"hin' and !tri$in' le!t unaware! I !hould fall into the e8er"i!e of my new %ower= I allowed my!elf to thin* of her a! mu"h a! I %lea!ed in the daytime, or at lea!t

a! mu"h a! I dared for when o""u%ied with my %u%il!, I dreaded le!t any a#!tra"tion !hould e$en

hint that I had a thou'ht to "on"eal. I *new that I "ould not hurt her then for that only in the

ni'ht did !he enter that !tate of e8i!ten"e in whi"h my will "ould e8er"i!e authority o$er her. (utat ni'ht&at ni'ht&when I *new !he lay there, and mi'ht #e lyin' here when #ut a thou'ht

would #rin' her, and that thou'ht wa! flutterin' it! win'!, ready to !%rin' awa*e out of thedream! of my heart&then the !tru''le wa! fearful. And what added for"e to the tem%tation wa!,

that to "all her to me in the ni'ht, !eemed li*e "allin' the real immortal Ali"e forth from the tom#

in whi"h !he wandered a#out all day. It wa! a! %ainful to me to !ee her !u"h in the day, a! it wa!entra"in' to remem#er her !u"h a! I had !een her in the ni'ht. 7hat matter if her true !elf "ame

forth in an'er a'ain!t me+ 7hat wa! I+ It wa! enou'h for my life, I !aid, to loo* on her, !u"h a!

!he really wa!. ;(rin' her yet on"e, and tell her all&tell her how madly, ho%ele!!ly you lo$e her.

She will for'i$e you at lea!t,; !aid a $oi"e within me. (ut I heard it a! the $oi"e of the tem%ter,and *e%t down the thou'ht whi"h mi'ht ha$e 'rown to the will.

CHAPTER $I# A Ne( 'u)il #

One day, e8a"tly three wee*! after her la!t $i!it to my room, a! I wa! !ittin' with my three %u%il! in the !"hoolroom, 2ady Ali"e entered, and #e'an to loo* on the #oo*!hel$e! a! if !he

wanted !ome $olume. After a few moment!, !he turned, and, a%%roa"hin' the ta#le, !aid to me, in

an a#ru%t, yet he!itatin' way.

;Mr. 0am%#ell, I "annot !%ell. )ow am I to learn+;I thou'ht for a moment, and re%lied: ;0o%y a %a!!a'e e$ery day, 2ady Ali"e, from !ome

fa$ourite #oo*. Then, if you allow me, I !hall #e mo!t ha%%y to %oint out any mi!ta*e! you may

ha$e made.;;Than* you, Mr. 0am%#ell, I will #ut I am afraid you will de!%i!e me, when you find how

#adly I !%ell.;

;There i! no fear of that,; I reoined. ;It i! a mere %e"uliarity. So lon' a! one "an thin( well,!%ellin' i! alto'ether !e"ondary.;

;Than* you I will try,; !he !aid, and left the room. Ne8t day, !he #rou'ht me an old #allad,

written tolera#ly, #ut in a !"hool-'irl! hand. She had "o%ied the anti1ue !%ellin', letter for letter.



;Thi! i! 1uite "orre"t,; I !aid ;#ut to "o%y !u"h a! thi! will not tea"h you %ro%erly for it i!

$ery old, and "on!e1uently old-fa!hioned.;

;I! it old+ Dont we !%ell li*e that now+ You !ee I do not *now anythin' a#out it. You mu!t !etme a ta!*, then.;

Thi! I undertoo* with more %lea!ure than I dared to !how. E$ery day !he #rou'ht me the

a%%ointed e8er"i!e, written with a !teadily im%ro$in' hand. To my !ur%ri!e, I ne$er found a!in'le error in the !%ellin'. Of "our!e, when, ad$an"in' a !te% in the %ro"e!!, I made her write

from my di"tation, !he did ma*e #lunder!, #ut not !o many a! I had e8%e"ted and !he !eldom

re%eated one after "orre"tion.Thi! new a!!o"iation 'a$e me many o%%ortunitie! of doin' more for her than merely tea"hin'

her to !%ell. 7e tal*ed a#out what !he "o%ied and I had to e8%lain. I al!o told her a#out the

writer!. Soon !he e8%re!!ed a de!ire to *now !omethin' of fi'ure!. 7e "ommen"ed arithmeti". I

%ro%o!ed 'eometry alon' with it, and found the latter e!%e"ially fitted to her %ower!. One #y onewe in"luded !e$eral other ne"e!!ary #ran"he! and ere lon' I had four around the !"hoolroom

ta#le&e1ually my %u%il!. 7hether the attem%t! %re$iou!ly made to in!tru"t her had #een

in!uffi"ient or mi!dire"ted, or whether her intelle"tual %ower! had "ommen"ed a fre!h 'rowth, I

"ould not tell #ut I leaned to the latter "on"lu!ion, e!%e"ially after I #e'an to o#!er$e that her %e"uliar remar*! had #e"ome modified in form, thou'h without lo!in' any of their ori'inality.

The unearthline!! of her #eauty li*ewi!e di!a%%eared, a !li'ht "olour di!%la"in' the almo!tmar#ly whitene!! of her "hee*.

2on' #efore 2ady Ali"e had made thi! %ro're!!, my ni'htly !tru''le! #e'an to dimini!h in

$iolen"e. They had now entirely "ea!ed. The tem%tation had left me. I felt "ertain that for wee*!!he had ne$er wal*ed in her !lee%. She wa! #eyond my %ower, and I wa! 'lad of it.

I wa!, of "our!e, mo!t "areful of my #eha$iour durin' all thi! %eriod. I !tro$e to %ay 2ady

Ali"e no more attention than I %aid to the re!t of my %u%il! and I "annot hel% thin*in' that I

!u""eeded. (ut now and then, in the mid!t of !ome in!tru"tion I wa! 'i$in' 2ady Ali"e, I "au'htthe eye of 2ady 2u"y, a !har%, "ommon-minded 'irl, fi8ed u%on one or the other of u!, with an

in1ui!iti$e $ul'ar e8%re!!ion, whi"h I did not li*e. Thi! made me more "areful !till. I wat"hed

my tone!, to *ee% them e$en, and free from any e8%re!!ion of the feelin' of whi"h my heart wa!full. Sometime!, howe$er, I "ould not hel% re$ealin' the 'ratifi"ation I felt when !he made !ome

mar$ellou! remar*&mar$ellou!, I mean, in relation to her other attainment! !u"h a remar* a! a

"hild will !ometime! ma*e, !howin' that he ha! already ma!tered, throu'h hi! earne!t !im%li"ity,!ome 1ue!tion that ha! for a'e! %er%le8ed the wi!e and the %rudent. On one of the!e o""a!ion!, I

found the "at eye! of 2ady 2u"y 'litterin' on me. I turned away not, I fear, without !howin'

!ome di!%lea!ure.

7hether it wa! from 2ady 2u"y! e$il re%ort, or that the "han'e in 2ady Ali"e! ha#it! anda%%earan"e had attra"ted the attention of 2ady )ilton, I "annot tell #ut one mornin' !he

a%%eared at the door of the !tudy, and "alled her. 2ady Ali"e ro!e and went, with a !li'ht 'e!ture

of im%atien"e. In a few minute! !he returned, loo*in' an'ry and determined, and re!umed her !eat. (ut whate$er it wa! that had %a!!ed #etween them, it had de!troyed that 1uiet flow of the

feelin'! whi"h wa! ne"e!!ary to the wor*in' of her thou'ht!. In $ain !he tried: !he "ould do

nothin' "orre"tly. At la!t !he #ur!t into tear! and left the room. I wa! almo!t #e!ide my!elf withdi!tre!! and a%%rehen!ion. She did not return that day.

Ne8t mornin' !he entered at the u!ual hour, loo*in' "om%o!ed, #ut %aler than of late, and

!howin' !i'n! of re"ent wee%in'. 7hen we were all !eated, and had u!t "ommen"ed our wor*, I

ha%%ened to loo* u%, and "au'ht her eye! intently fi8ed on me. They dro%%ed in!tantly, #ut



Day followed day, the one the "hild of the other. Ali"e! old %alene!! and unearthly loo* #e'an

to rea%%ear and, !tran'e to tell, my midni'ht tem%tation re$i$ed. After a time !he "ea!ed to dine

with u! a'ain, and for day! I ne$er !aw her. It wa! the old !tory of !ufferin' with me, only moreinten!e than #efore. The day wa! dreary, and the ni'ht !tormy. ;0all her,; !aid my heart #ut my

"on!"ien"e re!i!ted.

I wa! lyin' on the floor of my room one midni'ht, with my fa"e to the 'round, when !uddenlyI heard a low, !weet, !tran'e $oi"e !in'in' !omewhere. The moment I #e"ame aware that I heard

it I felt a! if I had #een li!tenin' to it un"on!"iou!ly for !ome minute! %a!t. I lay !till, either

"harmed to !tillne!!, or fearful of #rea*in' the !%ell. A! I lay, I wa! la%t in the fold! of a wa*in'dream.

I wa! in #ed in a "a!tle, on the !ea!hore the wind "ame from the !ea in "hill eerie so"ghs, and

the wa$e! fell with a threatful tone u%on the #ea"h, mutterin' many maledi"tion! a! they ru!hed

u%, and whi!%erin' "ruel %ortent! a! they drew #a"*, hi!!in' and 'ur'lin', throu'h the millionnarrow way! of the %e##ly ram%art! and I *new that a maiden in white wa! !tandin' in the "old

wind, #y the an'ry !ea, !in'in'. I had a *ind of dreamy #elief in my dream #ut, o$er%owered #y

the !%ell of the mu!i", I !till lay and li!tened. Keener and !tron'er, under the im%ul!e! of my will,

'rew the %ower of my hearin'. At la!t I "ould di!tin'ui!h the word!. The #allad wa! Annie of #ochroyan and 2ady Ali"e wa! !in'in' it. The word! I heard were the!e:&

h, gin had a %onnie shi+, And men to sail *i2 me,

t2s *ad gang to my tr"e love,

Sin2 he *inna come to me.

#ang stood she at her tr"e love2s door,

And lang tirled at the +in

At length "+ gat his fa"se mother, Says, 'ha2s that *ad %e in

#ove regory started frae his slee+,

And to his mother did say3

dreamed a dream this night, mither, That ma(s my heart right *ae.

dreamed that Annie of #ochroyan,

The flo*er of a2 her (in, 'as standing mo"rnin2 at my door,

B"t nane *ad let her in.

I !%ran' to my feet, and o%ened the hidden door. There !he !tood, white, a!lee%, with "lo!edeye!, !in'in' li*e a #ird, only with a heartful of !ad meanin' in e$ery tone. I !te%%ed a!ide,

without !%ea*in', and !he %a!!ed me into the room. I "lo!ed the door, and followed her. She lay

already u%on the "ou"h, !till and re!tful&already "o$ered with my %laid. I !at down #e!ide her,waitin' and 'a9ed u%on her in wonderment. That !he wa! %o!!e!!ed of $ery !u%erior intelle"tual

%ower!, whate$er mi'ht #e the "au!e of their ha$in' lain dormant !o lon', I had already fully

"on$in"ed my!elf #ut I wa! not %re%ared to find art a! well a! intelle"t. I had already heard her

!in' the little !on' of two $er!e!, whi"h !he had learned from her nur!e. (ut here wa! a !on', of



endea$oured, for the !a*e #oth of duty and of %ruden"e, to #e a! attenti$e to my %u%il! and their

!tudie! a! it wa! %o!!i#le for man to #e. Thi! hel%ed to *ee% me in my ri'ht mind. (ut, more than

all my effort! at "om%o!ure, the %ain whi"h, a! far a! my e8%erien"e 'oe!, in$aria#lya""om%anie!, and !ometime! e$en u!ur%!, the %la"e of the %lea!ure whi"h 'a$e it #irth, wa!

effi"a"iou! in *ee%in' me !ane.

Ni'ht "ame, #ut #rou'ht no 2ady Ali"e. It wa! a wee* #efore I !aw her a'ain. )er heart had #een !tilled, and !he wa! a#le to !lee% ari'ht.

(ut !e$en ni'ht! after, !he did "ome. I waited her awa*in', %o!!e!!ed with one %ainful

thou'ht, whi"h I lon'ed to im%art to her. She awo*e with a !mile, "o$ered her fa"e for a moment, #ut only for a moment, and then !at u%. I !tood #efore her and the fir!t word! I !%o*e were:

;2ady Ali"e, ou'ht I not to 'o+;

;No,; !he re%lied at on"e. ;I "an "laim !ome "om%en!ation from them for the wron' they ha$e

#een doin' me. Do you *now in what relation I !tand to 2ord and 2ady )ilton+ They are #ut my!te%mother and her hu!#and.;

;I *now that.;

;7ell, I ha$e a fortune of my own, a#out whi"h I ne$er thou'ht or "ared&till&till&within

the la!t few wee*!. 2ord )ilton i! my 'uardian. 7hether they made me the !tu%id "reature I *as,I do not *now #ut I #elie$e they ha$e re%re!ented me a! far wor!e than I wa!, to *ee% %eo%le

from ma*in' my a"1uaintan"e. They %re$ented my 'oin' on with my le!!on!, #e"au!e they !aw Iwa! 'ettin' to under!tand thin'!, and 'row li*e other %eo%le and that would not !uit their

%ur%o!e!. It would #e fal!e deli"a"y in you to lea$e me to them, when you "an ma*e u% to me for

their inu!ti"e. Their #eha$iour to me ta*e! away any ri'ht they had o$er me, and free! you fromany o#li'ation, #e"au!e I am your!.&Am I not+;

On"e more !he "o$ered her fa"e with her hand!. I "ould an!wer only #y withdrawin' one of

them, whi"h I *as now em#oldened to *ee% in my own.

I wa! $ery willin'ly %er!uaded to what wa! !o mu"h my own de!ire. (ut whether therea!onin' wa! 1uite u!t or not, I am not yet !ure. 3erha%! it mi'ht #e !o for her, and yet not for

me: I do not *now I am a %oor "a!ui!t.

She re!umed, layin' her other hand u%on mine:&;It would #e to tell the !oul whi"h you ha$e "alled forth, to 'o #a"* into it! dar* moanin'

"a$ern, and ne$er more "ome out to the li'ht of day.;

)ow "ould I re!i!t thi!+A lon' %au!e en!ued.

;It i! !tran'e,; !he !aid, at len'th, ;to feel, when I lie down at ni'ht, that I may awa*e in your

%re!en"e, without *nowin' how. It i! !tran'e, too, that, althou'h I !hould #e utterly a!hamed to

"ome wittin'ly, I feel no "onfu!ion when I find my!elf here. 7hen I feel my!elf "omin' awa*e, Ilie for a little while with my eye! "lo!ed, wonderin' and ho%in', and afraid to o%en them, le!t I

!hould find my!elf only in my own "ham#er !hrin*in' a little, too&u!t a little&from the fir!t

'lan"e into your fa"e.;;(ut when you awa*e, do you *now nothin' of what ha! ta*en %la"e in your !lee%+;

;Nothin' whate$er.;

;)a$e you no $a'ue !en!ation!, no hauntin' !hadow!, no dim 'ho!tly mood!, !eemin' to #elon' to that "ondition, left+;

;None whate$er.;

She ro!e, !aid ;Good-ni'ht,; and left me.



CHAPTER $IV# +ealousy.

A'ain !e$en day! %a!!ed #efore !he re$i!ited me. Indeed, her $i!it! had alway! an inter$al of

!e$en day!, or a multi%le of !e$en, #etween.Sin"e the la!t, a maddenin' ealou!y had !ei9ed me. /or, returnin' from tho!e un*nown

re'ion! into whi"h her !oul had wandered away, and where !he had !tayed for hour!, did !he not

!ometime! awa*e with a !mile+ )ow "ould I #e !ure that !he did not lead two di!tin"te8i!ten"e!+&that !he had not !ome lo$in' !%irit, or man, who, li*e her, had for a time left the

#ody #ehind&who wa! all in all to her in that re'ion, and whom !he for'ot when !he for!oo* it,

a! !he for'ot me when !he entered it+ It wa! a thou'ht I "ould not #roo*. (ut I %ut a!ide it!

%er!i!ten"y a! well a! I "ould, till !he !hould "ome a'ain. /or thi! I waited. I "ould not nowendure the thou'ht of "om%ellin' the attendan"e of her un"on!"iou! form of ma*in' her #ody,

li*e a li$in' "a'e, tran!%ort to my %re!en"e the unre!i!tin' !oul. I !hran* from it a! a true man

would !hrin* from *i!!in' the li%! of a !lee%in' woman whom he lo$ed, not *nowin' that !he

lo$ed him in return.It may well #e !aid that to follow !u"h a dou#t wa! to in1uire too "uriou!ly #ut on"e the

thou'ht had #e'un, and 'rown, and #een #orn, how wa! I to !lay the mon!ter, and #e free of it!hated %re!en"e+ 7a! it! truth not a %o!!i#ility+&Yet how "ould e$en !he hel% me, for !he *new

nothin' of the matter+ )ow "ould !he $ou"h for the un*nown+ 7hat new! "an the !erene fa"e of

the moon, e$er the !ame to u!, 'i$e of the hidden half of her!elf turned e$er toward! what !eem!to u! #ut the #lind a#y!mal dar*ne!!, whi"h yet ha! it! own li'ht and it! own life+ All I "ould

ho%e for wa! to !ee her, to tell her, to #e "omforted at lea!t #y her !mile.

My !a$in' an'el 'lided #lind into my room, lay down u%on her #ier, and awaited the

re!urre"tion. I !at and awaited mine, %antin' to untwine from my heart the "old death-worm thattwi!ted around it, yet %i"turin' to my!elf the 'low of lo$e on the a$erted fa"e of the #eautiful

!%irit&a$erted from me, and #endin' on a radiant "om%anion all the li'ht withdrawn from the

lo$ely form #e!ide me. That li'ht #e'an to return. ;She i! "omin', !he i! "omin',; I !aid withinme. ;(a"* from it! 'lowin' !outh tra$el! the !un of my !%rin', the 'lory of my !ummer.;

/loatin' !lowly u% from the infinite de%th! of her #ein', "ame the "on!"iou! woman u%&u%

from the realm! of !tillne!! lyin' dee%er than the %lummet of !elf-*nowled'e "an !ound u% fromthe formle!!, u% into the *nown, u% into the material, u% to the window! that loo* forth on the

em#odied my!terie! around. )er eyelid! ro!e. One loo* of lo$e all #ut !lew my fear. 7hen I told

her my 'rief, !he an!wered with a !mile of %ity, yet half of di!dain at the thou'ht.

;If e$er I find it !o, I will *ill my!elf there, that I may 'o to my )ade! with you. (ut if I amdreamin' of another, how i! it that I alway! ri!e in my $i!ion and "ome to you+ You will 'o "ra9y

if you fan"y !u"h fooli!h thin'!,; !he added, with a !mile of re%roof.

The !%e"tral thou'ht $ani!hed, and I wa! free.;Shall I tell you,; !he re!umed, "o$erin' her fa"e with her hand!, ;why I #eha$ed !o %roudly

to you, from the $ery fir!t day you entered the hou!e+ It wa! #e"au!e, when I %a!!ed you on the

lawn, #efore e$er you entered the hou!e, I felt a !tran'e, undefina#le attra"tion toward! you,whi"h "ontinued, althou'h I "ould not a""ount for it and would not yield to it. I wa! heartily

annoyed at it. (ut you !ee it wa! of no u!e&here I am. That wa! what made me !o fier"e, too,

when I fir!t found my!elf in your room.;

It wa! indeed lon' #efore !he "ame to my room a'ain.



CHAPTER $V# The Cha"!er o* Ghosts#

(ut now !he returned on"e more into the u!ual routine of the family. I fear I wa! una#le to

re%re!! all !i'n! of a'itation when, ne8t day, !he entered the dinin'-room, after we were !eated,and too* her "u!tomary %la"e at the ta#le. )er #eha$iour wa! mu"h the !ame a! #efore #ut her

fa"e wa! $ery different. There wa! li'ht in it now, and !i'n! of mental mo$ement. The !mooth

forehead would #e o""a!ionally wrin*led, and !he would fall into mood! whi"h were e$identlynot of inanity, #ut of a#!tra"ted thou'ht. She too* e!%e"ial "are that our eye! !hould not meet. If

#y "han"e they did, in!tead of !in*in' her!, !he *e%t them !teady, and o%ened them wider, a! if

!he wa! fi8in' them on nothin' at all, or !he rai!ed them !till hi'her, a! if !he wa! loo*in' at

!omethin' a#o$e me, #efore !he allowed them to fall. (ut the "han'e in her alto'ether wa! !u"hthat it mu!t ha$e attra"ted the noti"e and rou!ed the !%e"ulation of 2ady )ilton at lea!t. /or me,

!o well did !he a"t her %art, that I wa! thrown into %er%le8ity #y it. And when day after day

%a!!ed, and the lon'in' to !%ea* to her 'rew, and remained un!ati!fied, new dou#t! aro!e.

3erha%! !he wa! tired of me. 3erha%! her new !tudie! filled her mind with the "lear, 'lad!omemornin' li'ht of the %ure intelle"t, whi"h alway! throw! dou#t and di!tru!t and a *ind of

ne'ation u%on the moonli'ht of %a!!ion, my!teriou!, and min'led e$er with faint !hadow! of %ain. I wal*ed a! in an unre!tin' !lee%. 6tterly a! I lo$ed her, I wa! yet alarmed and di!tre!!ed to

find how entirely my #ein' had 'rown de%endent u%on her lo$e how little of indi$idual, !elf-

e8i!tin', !elf-u%holdin' life, I !eemed to ha$e left how little I "ared for anythin', !a$e a! I "oulda!!o"iate it with her.

I wa! !ittin' late one ni'ht in my room. I had all #ut 'i$en u% ho%e of her "omin'. I had,

%erha%!, de%ri$ed her of the !omnam#uli" %ower. I wa! #roodin' o$er thi! %o!!i#ility, when all at

on"e I felt a! if I were loo*in' into the haunted room. It !eemed to #e li'hted #y the moon,!hinin' throu'h the !tained window!. The feelin' "ame and went !uddenly, a! !u"h $i!ion! of

%la"e! 'enerally do #ut thi! had an inde!"ri#a#le !omethin' a#out it more "lear and real than

!u"h re!urre"tion! of the %a!t, whether willed or unwilled, "ommonly %o!!e!! and a 'reatlon'in' !ei9ed me to loo* into the room on"e more. I ro!e with a !en!e of yieldin' to the

irre!i!ti#le, left the room, 'ro%ed my way throu'h the hall and u% the oa* !tair"a!e&I had ne$er

thou'ht of ta*in' a li'ht with me&and entered the "orridor. No !ooner had I entered it, than thethou'ht !%ran' u% in my mind&;7hat if !he !hould #e there=; My heart !tood !till for a

moment, li*e a wounded deer, and then #ounded on, with a %an' in e$ery #ound. The "orridor

wa! ni'ht it!elf, with a dim, #lui!h-'rey li'ht from the window!, !uffi"in' to mar* their own

!%a"e!. I !tole throu'h it, and, without errin' on"e, went !trai'ht to the haunted "ham#er. Thedoor !tood half o%en. I entered, and wa! #ewildered #y the dim, my!teriou!, dreamy lo$eline!!

u%on whi"h I 'a9ed. The moon !hone full u%on the window!, and a thou!and "oloured li'ht! and

!hadow! "ro!!ed and intertwined u%on the wall! and floor, all !o !oft, and min'lin', andundefined, that the #rain wa! filled a! with a fli"*erin' dan"e of 'ho!tly rain#ow!. (ut I had little

time to thin* of the!e for out of the only dar* "orner in the room "ame a white fi'ure, flittin'

a"ro!! the "hao! of li'ht!, #edewed, #e!%rin*led, #e!%attered, a! !he %a!!ed, with their multitudinou! "olour!. I wa! !%ee"hle!!, motionle!!, with !omethin' far #eyond oy. 7ith a low

moan of deli'ht, 2ady Ali"e !an* into my arm!. Then, loo*in' u%, with a li'ht lau'h&;The

!"ale! are turned, dear,; !he !aid. ;You are in my %ower now I #rou'ht you here. I thou'ht I



;Ye!.;

And we %arted at the door of the haunted "ham#er. I wat"hed the fli"*erin' with whi"h her

whitene!! u!t !et the dar*ne!! in motion, and nothin' more, !eemin' to !ee it lon' after I *new!he mu!t ha$e turned a!ide and de!"ended the !te%! leadin' toward! her own room. Then I turned

and 'ro%ed my way #a"* to mine.

7e often met after thi! in the haunted room. Indeed my !%irit haunted it all day and all ni'htlon'. And when we met amid the !hadow!, we were wra%%ed in the mantle of lo$e, and from it!

fold! loo*ed out fearle!! on the 'ho!tly world a#out u!. Gho!t! or none, they ne$er annoyed u!.

Our lo$e wa! a tali!man, yea, an eli8ir of life, whi"h made u! e1ual to the twi"e-#orn,&thedi!em#odied dead. And they were a! a wall of fear a#out u!, to *ee% far off the unfriendly foot

and the %ryin' eye.

In the 'rief! that followed, I often thou'ht with my!elf that I would 'ladly die for a thou!and

year!, mi'ht I then awa*e for one ni'ht in the haunted "ham#er, a 'ho!t, amon' the 'ho!t! who"rowded it! !tained moon#eam!, and !ee my dead Ali"e !milin' a"ro!! the 'limmerin' ray!, and

#e"*onin' me to the old noo*, !he, too, ha$in' "ome awa*e out of the !lee% of death, in the

dream of the haunted "ham#er. ;Mi'ht we #ut !it there,; I !aid, ;throu'h the ni'ht, a! of old, and

lo$e and "omfort ea"h other, till the moon 'o down, and the %ale dawn, whi"h i! the ni'ht of the'ho!t!, #e'in to ari!e, then 'ladly would I 'o to !lee% for another thou!and year!, in the ho%e that

when I ne8t #e"ame "on!"iou! of life, it mi'ht #e in another !u"h 'ho!tly ni'ht, in the "ham#er of the 'ho!t!.;

CHAPTER $VI# The Clan%ing Shoe#

Time %a!!ed. 7e #e'an to feel $ery !e"ure in that room, wat"hed a! it wa! #y the !lee%le!!

!entry, /ear. One ni'ht I $entured to ta*e a li'ht with me.;)ow ni"e to ha$e a "andle=; !he !aid a! I entered. ;I ho%e they are all in #ed, thou'h. It will

dri$e !ome of them into fit! if they !ee the li'ht.;

;I wanted to !how you !omethin' I found in the li#rary to-day.;;7hat i! it+;

I o%ened a #oo*, and !howed her a %a%er in!ide it, with !ome $er!e! written on it.

;7ho!e writin' i! that+; I a!*ed.;Your!, of "our!e. A! if I did not *now your writin'=;

;7ill you loo* at the date+;

;Seventeen h"ndred and ninety/three.2 You are ma*in' 'ame of me, Dun"an. (ut the %a%er

doe! loo* yellow and old.;;I found it a! you !ee it, in that #oo*. It #elon'ed to 2ord )ilton! #rother. The $er!e! are a

tran!lation of %art of the %oem #e!ide whi"h they lie&one #y 4on Sali!, who died !hortly #efore

that date at the #ottom. I will read them to you, and then !how you !omethin' el!e that i! !tran'ea#out them. The %oem i! "alled )syche2s Sorro*. 3!y"he mean! the !oul, Ali"e.;

;I remem#er. You told me a#out her #efore, you *now.;

)syche2s sighing all her +rison dar(ens She is moaning for the far/off stars

&earing, ho+ing, every so"nd she hear(ens7

&ate may no* %e %rea(ing at her %ars.



Bo"nd, fast %o"nd, are )syche2s airy +inions3

High her heart, her mo"rning soft and lo*7

9no*ing that in s"ltry +ain2s dominions ro* the +alms that cro*n the victor2s %ro*

That the em+ty hand the *reath encloses 0arth2s cold *inds %"t ma(e the s+irit %rave

9no*ing that the %riars %ear the roses,

olden flo*ers the *aste deserted grave.

n the cy+ress/shade her myrtle gro*eth

M"ch she loves, %eca"se she m"ch hath %orne

#ove/led, thro"gh the dar(some *ay she goeth7 n to meet him in the %rea(ing morn.

She can %ear7

;)ere the tran!lation "ea!e!, you !ee and then follow! the date, with the word! in Germanunderneath it&)ow weary I am= Now what i! !tran'e, Ali"e, i!, that thi! date i! the $ery month

and year in whi"h I wa! #orn.;She did not re%ly to thi! with anythin' #eyond a mere a!!ent. )er mind wa! fi8ed on the %oem

it!elf. She #e'an to tal* a#out it, and I wa! !ur%ri!ed to find how thorou'hly !he entered into it

and under!tood it. She !eemed to ha$e "rowded the 'rowth of a lifetime into the la!t few month!.At len'th I told her how unha%%y I had felt for !ome time, at remainin' in 2ord )ilton! hou!e,

a! matter! now were.

;Then you mu!t 'o,; !he !aid, 1uite 1uietly.

Thi! trou#led me.;You do not mind it+;

;No. I !hall #e $ery 'lad.;

;7ill you 'o with me+; I a!*ed, %er%le8ed.;Of "our!e I will.;

I did not *now what to !ay to thi!, for I had no money, and of "our!e I !hould ha$e none of my

!alary. She di$ined at on"e the "au!e of my he!itation.;I ha$e a diamond #ra"elet in my room,; !he !aid, with a !mile, ;and a few 'uinea! #e!ide!.;

;)ow !hall we 'et away+;

;Nothin' i! ea!ier. My old nur!e, whom I mentioned to you #efore, li$e! at the lod'e 'ate.;

;Oh= I *now her $ery well,; I interru%ted. ;(ut !he! not S"ot"h+;;Indeed !he i!. (ut !he ha! #een with our family almo!t all her life. I often 'o to !ee her, and

!ometime! !tay all ni'ht with her. You "an 'et a "arria'e ready in the $illa'e, and neither of u!

will #e mi!!ed #efore mornin'.;I loo*ed at her in renewed !ur%ri!e at the de"i!ion of her in$ention. She "o$ered her fa"e, a!

!he !eldom did now, #ut went on:

;7e "an 'o to 2ondon, where you will ea!ily find !omethin' to do. Men alway! "an there.And when I "ome of a'e&;

;Ali"e, how old are you+; I interru%ted.

;Nineteen,; !he an!wered. ;(y the way,; !he re!umed, ;when I thin* of it&how odd=&

that;&%ointin' to the date on the %a%er&;i! the $ery month in whi"h I too wa! #orn.;



I wa! too mu"h !ur%ri!ed to interru%t her, and !he "ontinued:

;I ne$er thin* of my a'e without re"allin' one thin' a#out my #irth, whi"h nur!e often refer!

to. She wa! 'oin' u% the !tair to my mother! room, when !he ha%%ened to noti"e a #ri'ht !tar,not far from the new moon. A! !he "ro!!ed the room with me in her arm!, u!t after I wa! #orn,

!he !aw the !ame !tar almo!t on the ti% of the o%%o!ite horn. My mother died a wee* after. 7ho

*now! how different I mi'ht ha$e #een if !he had li$ed=;It wa! lon' #efore I !%o*e. The awful and my!teriou! thou'ht! rou!ed in my mind #y the

re$elation! of the day held me !ilent. At len'th I !aid, half thin*in' aloud:

;Then you and I, Ali"e, were #orn the !ame hour, and our mother! died to'ether.;Re"ei$in' no an!wer, I loo*ed at her. She wa! fa!t a!lee%, and #reathin' 'entle, full #reath!.

She had #een !ittin' for !ome time with her head lyin' on my !houlder and my arm around her. I

"ould not #ear to wa*e her.

7e had #een in thi! %o!ition %erha%! for half an hour, when !uddenly a "old !hi$er ran throu'hme, and all at on"e I #e"ame aware of the far-off 'allo% of a hor!e. It drew nearer. On and on it

"ame&nearer and nearer. Then "ame the "lan* of the #ro*en !hoe=

At the !ame moment, Ali"e !tarted from her !lee% and, !%rin'in' to her feet, !tood an in!tant

li!tenin'. Then "ryin' out, in an a'oni!ed whi!%er,&;The hor!e with the "lan*in' !hoe=; !heflun' her arm! around me. )er fa"e wa! white a! the !%e"tral moon whi"h, the moment I %ut the

"andle out, loo*ed in throu'h a "lear %ane #e!ide u! and !he 'a9ed fearfully, yet wildly-defiant,toward! the door. 7e "lun' to ea"h other. 7e heard the !ound "ome nearer and nearer, till it

thundered ri'ht u% to the $ery door of the room, terri#ly loud. It "ea!ed. (ut the door wa! flun'

o%en, and 2ord )ilton entered, followed #y !er$ant! with li'ht!.I ha$e #ut a $ery "onfu!ed remem#ran"e of what followed. I heard a $ile word from the li%! of

2ord )ilton I felt my fin'er! on hi! throat I re"ei$ed a #low on the head and I !eem to

remem#er a "ry of a'ony from Ali"e a! I fell. 7hat ha%%ened ne8t I do not *now.

7hen I "ame to my!elf, I wa! lyin' on a wide moor, with the ni'ht wind #lowin' a#out me. I %re!ume that I had wandered thither in a !tate of un"on!"iou!ne!!, after #ein' turned out of the

)all, and that I had at la!t fainted from lo!! of #lood. I wa! una#le to mo$e for a lon' time. At

len'th the mornin' #ro*e, and I found my!elf not far from the )all. I "re%t #a"*, a mile or two,to the 'ate!, and ha$in' !u""eeded in rou!in' Ali"e! old nur!e, wa! ta*en in with many

lamentation!, and %ut to #ed in the lod'e. I had a $iolent fe$er and it wa! all the %oor woman

"ould do to *ee% my %re!en"e a !e"ret from the family at the )all.7hen I #e'an to mend, my fir!t 1ue!tion wa! a#out Ali"e. I learned, thou'h with !ome

diffi"ulty&for my *ind attendant wa! e$idently unwillin' to tell me all the truth&that Ali"e, too,

had #een $ery ill and that, a wee* #efore, they had remo$ed her. (ut !he either would not or

"ould not tell me where they had ta*en her. I #elie$e !he "ould not. Nor do I *now for "ertain tothi! day.

Mr!. (la*e!ley offered me the loan of !ome of her !a$in'! to 'et me to 2ondon. I re"ei$ed it

with 'ratitude, and a! !oon a! I wa! fit to tra$el, made my way thither. Afraid for my rea!on, if Ihad no em%loyment to *ee% my thou'ht! from #roodin' on my hel%le!!ne!!, and !o in"rea!in'

my de!%air, and determined li*ewi!e that my failure !hould not ma*e me #urden!ome to any one

el!e, I enli!ted in the S"ot"h Grey!, #efore lettin' any of my friend! *now where I wa!. Throu'hthe hel% of one already mentioned in my !tory, I !oon o#tained a "ommi!!ion. /rom the field of

7aterloo, I rode into (ru!!el! with a #ro*en arm and a !a#re-"ut in the head.

A! we %a!!ed alon' one of the !treet!, throu'h all the "lan' of iron-!hod hoof! on the !tone!

around me, I heard the ominou! "lan*. At the !ame moment, I heard a "ry. It wa! the $oi"e of my



Ali"e. I loo*ed u%. At a #arred window I !aw her fa"e #ut it wa! terri#ly "han'ed. I dro%%ed

from my hor!e. A! !oon a! I wa! a#le to mo$e from the ho!%ital, I went to the %la"e, and found it

wa! a lunati" a!ylum. I wa! %ermitted to !ee the inmate!, #ut di!"o$ered no one re!em#lin' her. Ido not now #elie$e that !he wa! e$er there. (ut I may #e wron'. Nor will I trou#le my reader

with the theorie! on whi"h I !ou'ht to a""ount for the $i!ion. They will o""ur to him!elf readily

enou'h./or year! and year! I *now not whether !he wa! ali$e or dead. I !ou'ht her far and near. I

wandered o$er En'land, /ran"e, and Germany, ho%ele!!ly !ear"hin' li!tenin' at ta%les/d2h:te

lur*in' a#out mad-hou!e! hauntin' theatre! and "hur"he! often, in wild re'ion!, #e''in' myway from hou!e to hou!e I did not find her.

On"e I $i!ited )ilton )all. I found it all #ut de!erted. I learned that Mr!. 7il!on wa! dead, and

that there were only two or three !er$ant! in the %la"e. I mana'ed to 'et into the hou!e un!een,

and made my way to the haunted "ham#er. My feelin'! were not !o *een a! I had anti"i%ated, for they had #een dulled #y lon' !ufferin'. (ut a'ain I !aw the moon !hine throu'h tho!e window!

of !tained 'la!!. A'ain her #eam! were "rowded with 'ho!t!. She wa! not amon'!t them. ;My

lo!t lo$e=; I "ried and then, re#u*in' my!elf, ;No !he i! not lo!t. They !ay that Time and S%a"e

e8i!t not, !a$e in our thou'ht!. If !o, then that whi"h ha! #een, i!, and the 3a!t "an ne$er "ea!e.She i! mine, and I !hall find her&what matter! it where, or when, or how+ Till then, my !oul i!

#ut a moon-li'hted "ham#er of 'ho!t! and I !it within, the drearie!t of them all. 7hen !heenter!, it will #e a home of lo$e. And I wait&I wait.;

I !at and #rooded o$er the 3a!t, till I fell a!lee% in the %hantom-%eo%led ni'ht. And all the

ni'ht lon' they were a#out me&the men and women of the lon' %a!t. And I wa! one of them. Iwandered in my dream! o$er the whole hou!e, ha#ited in a lon' old-fa!hioned 'own, !ear"hin'

for one who wa! Ali"e, and yet would #e !ome one el!e. /rom room to room I wandered till

weary, and "ould not find her. At la!t, I 'a$e u% the !ear"h, and, retreatin' to the li#rary, !hut

my!elf in. There, ta*in' down from the !helf the $olume of 4on Sali!, I tried hard to 'o on withthe tran!lation of )ysche2s Sorro*, from the %oint where the !tudent had left it, thin*in' it, all the

time, my own unfini!hed wor*.

7hen I wo*e in the mornin', the "ham#er of 'ho!t!, in whi"h I had fallen a!lee%, had$ani!hed. The !un !hone in throu'h the window! of the li#rary and on it! du!ty ta#le lay 4on

Sali!, o%en at )ysche2s Tra"er . The !heet of %a%er with the tran!lation on it, wa! not there. I

ha!tened to lea$e the hou!e, and effe"ted my e!"a%e #efore the !er$ant! were a!tir.Sometime! I "onden!ed my whole #ein' into a !in'le inten!ity of will&that !he !hould "ome

to me and !u!tained it, until I fainted with the effort. She did not "ome. I de!i!ted alto'ether at

la!t, for I #ethou'ht me that, whether dead or ali$e, it mu!t "au!e her torture not to #e a#le to

o#ey it.Sometime! I 1ue!tioned my own !anity. (ut the thou'ht of the lo!! of my rea!on did not in

it!elf trou#le me mu"h. 7hat tortured me almo!t to the madne!! it !u%%o!ed wa! the %o!!i#le

fa"t, whi"h a return to my ri'ht mind mi'ht re$eal&that there ne$er had #een a 2ady Ali"e.7hat if I died, and awo*e from my madne!!, and found a "lear #lue air of life, a oyou! world of

!un!hine, a di$ine wealth of deli'ht around and in me&#ut no 2ady Ali"e&!he ha$in' $ani!hed

with all the other %hantom! of a !i"* #rain= ;Rather let me #e mad !till,; I !aid, ;if mad I am and!o dream on that I ha$e #een #le!!ed. 7ere I to wa*e to !u"h a hea$en, I would %ray God to let

me 'o and li$e the life I had #ut dreamed, with all it! !orrow!, and all it! de!%air, and all it!

madne!!, that when I died a'ain, I mi'ht *now that !u"h thin'! had #een, and "ould ne$er #e



awa*ed from, and left #ehind with the dream.; (ut I wa! not mad, any more than )amlet

thou'h, li*e him, de!%air !ometime! led me far alon' the way at the end of whi"h madne!! lie!.

CHAPTER $VII# The 'hysician. I wa! now 0a%tain 0am%#ell, of the S"ot"h Grey!, "ontri$in' to li$e on my half %ay, and

thin*in' far more a#out the %a!t than the %re!ent or the future. My father wa! dead. My only

#rother wa! al!o 'one, and the %ro%erty had %a!!ed into other hand!. I had no fi8ed %la"e of a#ode, #ut went from one !%ot to another, a! the whim !ei9ed me&!ometime! remainin' month!,

!ometime! remo$in' ne8t day, #ut 'enerally "hoo!in' retired $illa'e! a#out whi"h I *new

nothin'.

I had !%ent a wee* in a !mall town on the #order! of 7ale!, and intended remainin' a fortni'htlon'er, when I wa! !uddenly !ei9ed with a $iolent illne!!, in whi"h I lay in!en!i#le for three

wee*!. 7hen I re"o$ered "on!"iou!ne!!, I found that my head had #een !ha$ed, and that the

"i"atri"e of my old wound wa! o""a!ionally $ery %ainful. Of late I ha$e !u!%e"ted that I had

!ome o%eration %erformed u%on my !*ull durin' my illne!! #ut Dr. Ruthwell ne$er dro%%ed ahint to that effe"t. Thi! wa! the friend whom, when fir!t I o%ened my !eein' eye!, I #eheld !ittin'

#y my #ed!ide, wat"hin' the effe"t of hi! la!t %re!"ri%tion. )e wa! one of the few in the %rofe!!ion, who!e lo$e of !"ien"e and lo$e of their fellow! "om#ined, would #e enou'h to "hain

them to the art of healin', irre!%e"ti$e of it! emolument!. )e wa! one of the few, al!o, who !ee

the mar$ellou! in all !"ien"e, and, therefore, ree"t nothin' merely #e"au!e the mar$ellou! may!eem to %redominate in it. Yet neither would he a""e%t anythin' of the !ort a! fa"t, without the

!tri"te!t u!e of e$ery e8%eriment within hi! %ower, e$en then remainin' often in dou#t. Thi! man

"onferred honour #y hi! friend!hi% and I am ha%%y to thin* that #efore many day! of re"o$ery

had %a!!ed, we were friend! indeed. (ut I lay for month! under hi! "are #efore I wa! a#le tolea$e my #ed.

)e attri#uted my illne!! to the "on!e1uen"e! of the !a#re-"ut, and my re"o$ery to the %oten"y

of the dru'! he had e8hi#ited. I attri#uted my illne!! in 'reat mea!ure to the "on!tant"ontem%lation of my early hi!tory, no lon'er "he"*ed #y any re'ular em%loyment and my

re"o$ery in e1ual mea!ure to the %ower of hi! *indne!! and !ym%athy, hel%in' from within what

"ould ne$er ha$e #een rea"hed from without.)e told me that he had often #een 'reatly %er%le8ed with my !ym%tom!, whi"h would

!uddenly "han'e in the mo!t una""ounta#le manner, e8hi#itin' %ha!e! whi"h did not, a! far a!

hi! *nowled'e went, #elon' to any $ariety of the !ufferin' whi"h 'a$e the %re$ailin' "hara"ter to

my ailment and after I had !o far re"o$ered a! to render it !afe to turn my re'ard more %arti"ularly u%on my own "a!e, he !aid to me one day,

;You would lau'h at me, 0am%#ell, were I to "onfe!! !ome of the #other thi! illne!! of your!

ha! o""a!ioned me enou'h, indeed, to o$erthrow any "on"eit I e$er had in my own dia'no!i!.;;Go on,; I an!wered ;I %romi!e not to lau'h.;

)e little *new how far I !hould #e from lau'hin'. ;In your "a!e,; he "ontinued, ;the

+athognomonic, if you will e8"u!e medi"al !lan', wa! e$ery now and then #ro*en #y theintru!ion of alto'ether forei'n !ym%tom!.;

I li!tened with #reathle!! attention.



;Indeed, on !e$eral o""a!ion!, when, after meditatin' on your "a!e till I wa! worn out, I had

fallen half a!lee% #y your #ed!ide, I "ame to my!elf with the !tran'e!t "on$i"tion that I wa!

wat"hin' #y the #ed!ide of a woman.;;Than* )ea$en=; I e8"laimed, !tartin' u%, ;She li$e! !till.;

I need not de!"ri#e the do"tor! loo* of ama9ement, almo!t "on!ternation for he thou'ht a

fre!h a""e!! of fe$er wa! u%on me, and I had already #e'un to ra$e. /or hi! rea!!uran"e,howe$er, I %romi!ed to a""ount fully for my a%%arently !en!ele!! e8"itement and that e$enin' I

"ommen"ed the narrati$e whi"h form! the %re"eedin' %art of thi! !tory. 2on' #efore I rea"hed it!

"lo!e, my e8ultation had $ani!hed, and, a! I wrote it for him, it ended with the e8%re!!ed"on$i"tion that !he mu!t #e dead. Ere lon', howe$er, the ho%e on"e more re$i$ed. 7hile,

howe$er, the narrati$e wa! in %ro're!!, I 'a$e him a !ummary, whi"h amounted to thi!:&

I had lo$ed a lady&lo$ed her !till. I did not *now where !he wa!, and had rea!on to fear that

her mind had 'i$en way under the !ufferin' of our !e%aration. (etween u! there e8i!ted, a! well,the #ond of a di!tant #lood relation!hi% !o di!tant, that #ut for it! %ro#a#le !hare in the

%rodu"tion of another relation!hi% of a $ery mar$ellou! nature, it would !"ar"ely ha$e #een

worth alludin' to. Thi! wa! a *ind of %!y"holo'i"al attra"tion, whi"h, when u!tified and

!tren'thened #y the !%iritual ener'ie! of lo$e, rendered the immediate "ommuni"ation of "ertainfeelin'!, #oth mental and #odily, !o ra%id, that almo!t the "on!"iou!ne!! of the one e8i!ted for

the time in the mental "ir"um!tan"e! of the other. Nay, !o "om%lete at time! wa! the"ommuni"ation, that I e$en dou#ted her te!timony a! to !ome !tran'e "orre!%onden"e in our %a!t

hi!tory on thi! $ery 'round, !u!%e"tin' that, my memory #ein' o%en to her retro!%e"tion, !he !aw

my !tory, and too* it for her own. It wa!, therefore, ea!y for me to a""ount for Dr. Ruthwell!!"ientifi" #ewilderment at the !ym%tom! I manife!ted.

A! my health re$i$ed, my ho%e and lon'in' in"rea!ed. (ut althou'h I lo$ed 2ady Ali"e with

more entirene!! than e$en durin' the late!t %eriod of our inter"our!e, a "ertain "alm enduran"e

had !u%er$ened, whi"h rendered the relief of fier"e a"tion no lon'er ne"e!!ary to the "ontinuan"eof a !ane e8i!ten"e. It wa! a! if the "on"entrated or# of lo$e had diffu!ed it!elf in a 'enial

warmth throu'h the whole or# of life, im%artin' fre!h $itality to many root! whi"h had remained

leafle!! in my #ein'. /or year! the field of #attle wa! the only field that had #orne the flower of deli'ht now nature #e'an to li$e a'ain for me.

One day, the fir!t on whi"h I $entured to wal* into the field! alone, I wa! deli'hted with the

multitude of the dai!ie! %ee%in' from the 'ra!! e$erywhere&the fir!t attem%t! of the earth, #e"ome "on!"iou! of #lindne!!, to o%en eye!, and !ee what wa! a#out and a#o$e her. E$erythin'

i! wonderful after the re!urre"tion from illne!!. It i! a re!urre"tion of all nature. (ut !omehow or

other I wa! not !ati!fied with the dai!ie!. They did not !eem to me !o lo$ely a! the dai!ie! I u!ed

to !ee when I wa! a "hild. I thou'ht with my!elf, ;Thi! i! the "loud that 'ather! with life, thedimne!! that %a!!ion and !ufferin' "a!t o$er the eye! of the mind.; That moment my 'a9e fell

u%on a !in'le, !olitary, red-ti%%ed dai!y. My rea!onin' $ani!hed, and my melan"holy with it,

!lain #y the red ti%! of the lonely #eauty. Thi! wa! the *ind of dai!y I had lo$ed a! a "hild andwith the !i'ht of it, a whole field of them ru!hed #a"* into my mind a field of my father! where,

throu'hout the multitude, you "ould not ha$e found a white one. My father wa! dead the field!

had %a!!ed into other hand! #ut %erha%! the red-ti%%ed go*ans were left. I mu!t 'o and !ee. Atall e$ent!, the hill that o$erloo*ed the field would !till #e there, and no "han'e would ha$e

%a!!ed u%on it. It would re"ei$e me with the !ame familiar loo* a! of old, !till frontin' the 'reat

mountain from who!e !ide! I had fir!t heard the !ound of that "lan*in' hor!e!hoe, whi"h,

whate$er mi'ht #e !aid to a""ount for it, had "ertainly had a fearful "onne"tion with my oy! and



!orrow! #oth. Did the 'ho!tly rider !till haunt the %la"e+ or, if he did, !hould I hear a'ain that

!ound of "omin' woe+ 7hether or not, I defied him. I would not #e turned from my de!ire to !ee

the old %la"e #y any fear of a 'ho!tly marauder, whom I !hould #e only too 'lad to en"ounter, if there were the !malle!t "han"e of "omin' off with the $i"tory.

A! !oon a! my friend would %ermit me, I !et out for S"otland.

CHAPTER $VIII# Old #riends.

I made the ourney #y ea!y !ta'e!, "hiefly on the #a"* of a fa$ourite #la"* hor!e, whi"h had

"arried me well in !e$eral fi'ht!, and had "ome out of them !"arred, li*e hi! ma!ter, #ut !ound in

wind and lim#. It wa! ni'ht when I rea"hed the $illa'e lyin' neare!t to my #irth %la"e.

7hen I wo*e in the mornin', I found the whole re'ion filled with a white mi!t, hidin' themountain! around. Now and then a %ea* loo*ed throu'h, and a'ain retired into the "loudy fold!.

In the wide, !tra''lin' !treet, #elow the window at whi"h I had made them %la"e my #rea*fa!t-

ta#le, a %eriodi"al fair wa! #ein' held and I !at loo*in' down on the 'atherin' "rowd, tryin' to

di!"o$er !ome fa"e *nown to my "hildhood, and !till to #e re"o'ni9ed throu'h the $eil whi"hyear! mu!t ha$e wo$en a"ro!! the feature!. 7hen I had fini!hed my #rea*fa!t, I went down and

wandered a#out amon' the %eo%le. Grou%! of elderly men were tal*in' earne!tly and youn'men and maiden! who had "ome to #e fee2d , were o*in' and lau'hin'. They !tared at the

Sa!!ena"h 'entleman, and, little thin*in' that he under!tood e$ery word they uttered, made their

remar*! u%on him in no $ery !u#dued tone!. I a%%roa"hed a !tall where a #rown old woman wa!!ellin' 'in'er#read and a%%le!. She wa! tal*in' to a man with lon', white lo"*!. Near them wa!

a 'rou% of youn' %eo%le. One of them mu!t ha$e !aid !omethin' a#out me for the old woman,

who had #een ta*in' !tolen 'lan"e! at me, turned rather !har%ly toward! them, and re#u*ed them

for rudene!!.;The 'entleman i! no Sa!!ena"h,; !he !aid. ;)e under!tand! e$erythin' you are !ayin'.;

Thi! wa! !%o*en in Gaeli", of "our!e. I turned and loo*ed at her with more o#!er$an"e. She

made me a "ourte!y, and !aid, in the !ame lan'ua'e:;Your honour will #e a 0am%#ell, Im thin*in'.;

;I am a 0am%#ell,; I an!wered, and waited.

;Your honour! 0hri!tian name wouldnt #e Dun"an, !ir+;;It i! Dun"an,; I an!wered ;#ut there are many Dun"an 0am%#ell!.;

;Only one to me, your honour and that! your!elf. (ut you will not remem#er me+;

I did not remem#er her. (efore lon', howe$er, ur'ed #y her an8iety to a!!o"iate her 3re!ent

with my 3a!t, !he ena#led me to re"all in her time-worn feature! tho!e of a !er$ant in my father!hou!e when I wa! a "hild.

;(ut how "ould you re"olle"t me+; I !aid.

;I ha$e often !een you !in"e I left your father!, !ir. (ut it wa! really, I #elie$e, that I hear morea#out you than anythin' el!e, e$ery day of my life.;

;I do not under!tand you.;

;/rom old Mar'aret, I mean.;;Dear old Mar'aret= I! !he ali$e+;

;Ali$e and hearty, thou'h 1uite #edridden. 7hy, !ir, !he mu!t #e within near !i'ht of a

hundred.;

;7here doe! !he li$e+;



;In the old "otta'e, !ir. Nothin' will ma*e her lea$e it. The new laird wanted to turn her out

#ut Mar'aret muttered !omethin' at whi"h he 'rew a! white a! hi! !hirt, and he ha! ne$er

$entured a"ro!! her thre!hold a'ain.;;)ow do you !ee !o mu"h of her, thou'h+;

;I ne$er lea$e her, !ir. She "ant wait on her!elf, %oor old lady. And !he! li*e a mother to me.

(le!! her= (ut your honour will "ome and !ee her+;;Of "our!e I will. Tell her !o when you 'o home.;

;7ill you honour me #y !lee%in' at my hou!e, !ir+; !aid the old man to whom !he had #een

tal*in'. ;My farm i! u!t o$er the #row of the hill, you *now.;I had #y thi! time re"o'ni!ed him, and I a""e%ted hi! offer at on"e.

;7hen may we loo* for you, !ir+; he a!*ed.

;7hen !hall you #e home+; I reoined.

;Thi! afternoon, !ir. I ha$e done my #u!ine!! already.;;Then I !hall #e with you in the e$enin', for I ha$e nothin' to *ee% me here.;

;7ill you ta*e a !eat in my 'i'+;

;No, than* you. I ha$e my own hor!e with me. You "an ta*e him in too, I dare !ay+;

;7ith %lea!ure, !ir.;7e %arted for the meantime. I ram#led a#out the nei'h#ourhood till it wa! time for an early

dinner.

CHAPTER $I$# Old Constancy.

The fo' "leared off and, a! the hill! #e'an to throw lon', la9y !hadow!, their only em#ra"e!

a"ro!! the wide $alley!, I mounted and !et out on the ride of a few mile! whi"h !hould #rin' me

to my old a"1uaintan"e! dwellin'.I lin'ered on the way. All the old %la"e! demanded my noti"e. They !eemed to !ay, ;)ere we

are&waitin' for you.; Many a tuft of hare#ell! drew me toward! the road!ide, to loo* at them

and their "hildren, the #lue #utterflie!, ho$erin' o$er them and I !to%%ed to 'a9e at many a wildro!e#u!h, with a !un!et of it! own ro!e!. The !un had !et to me, #efore I had "om%leted half the

di!tan"e. (ut there wa! a lon' twili'ht, and I *new the road well.

My hor!e wa! an e8"ellent wal*er, and I let him wal* on, with the rein! on hi! ne"* while I,lo!t in a dream of the %a!t, wa! !in'in' a !on' of my own ma*in', with whi"h I often "omforted

my lon'in' #y 'i$in' it $oi"e.

The a"t"mn *inds are sighing

ver land and sea The a"t"mn *oods are dying

ver hill and lea

And my heart is sighing, dying, Maiden, for thee.

The a"t"mn clo"ds are flying Homeless over me

The homeless %irds are crying

n the na(ed tree

And my heart is flying, crying,



Maiden, to thee.

My cries may t"rn to gladness, And my flying flee

My sighs may lose the sadness,

;et sigh on in me All my sadness, all my gladness,

Maiden, lost in thee.

I wa! rou!ed #y a hea$y dro% of rain u%on my fa"e. I loo*ed u%. A "ool wa$e of wind floweda'ain!t me. 0loud! had 'athered and o$er the %ea* of a hill to the left, the !*y wa! $ery #la"*.

Old 0on!tan"y threw hi! head u%, a! if he wanted me to ta*e the rein!, and let him !te% out. I

remem#ered that there u!ed to #e an aw*ward %ie"e of road !omewhere not far in front, where

the %ath, with a #an* on the left !ide, !lo%ed to a dee% de!"ent on the ri'ht. If the road wa! a! #adthere a! it u!ed to #e, it would #e #etter to %a!! it #efore it 'rew 1uite dar*. So I too* the rein!,

and away went old 0on!tan"y. 7e had u!t rea"hed the !%ot, when a *een fla!h of li'htnin'

#ro*e from the "loud o$erhead, and my hor!e in!tantly !tood !to"*-!till, a! if %araly!ed, with hi!

no!tril! turned u% toward! the %ea* of the mountain. I !at a! !till a! he, to 'i$e him time tore"o$er him!elf. (ut all at on"e, hi! whole frame wa! "on$ul!ed, a! if #y an a'ony of terror. )e

'a$e a 'reat %lun'e, and then I felt hi! mu!"le! !wellin' and *nottin' under me, a! he ro!e on hi!hind le'!, and went #a"*ward!, with the !"aur #ehind him. I leaned forward on hi! ne"* to #rin'

him down, #ut he reared hi'her and hi'her, till he !tood #olt u%ri'ht, and it wa! time to !li% off,

le!t he !hould fall u%on me. I did !o #ut my foot ali'hted u%on no !u%%ort. )e had #a"*ed to theed'e of the !hel$in' 'round, and I fell, and went to the #ottom. The la!t thin' I wa! aware of,

wa! the thunderin' fall of my hor!e #e!ide me.

7hen I "ame to my!elf, it wa! dar*. I felt !tu%id and a"hin' all o$er #ut I !oon !ati!fied

my!elf that no #one! were #ro*en. A ma!! of !omethin' lay near me. It wa! %oor 0on!tan"y. I"rawled to him, laid my hand on hi! ne"*, and "alled him #y hi! name. (ut he made no an!wer in

that 'entle, oyful !%ee"h&for it wa! !%ee"h in old 0on!tan"y&with whi"h he alway! 'reeted

me, if only after an hour! a#!en"e. I felt for hi! heart. There wa! u!t a flutter there. )e tried tolift hi! head, and 'a$e a little *i"* with one of hi! hind le'!. In doin' !o, he !tru"* a #it of ro"*,

and the "lan* of the iron made my fle!h "ree%. I 'ot hold of hi! le' in the dar*, and felt the !hoe.

t *as loose. I felt hi! heart a'ain. The motion had "ea!ed. I needed all my manhood to *ee%from "ryin' li*e a "hild for my "har'er wa! my friend. )ow lon' I lay #e!ide him, I do not

*now #ut, at len'th, I heard the !ound of wheel! "omin' alon' the road. I tried to !hout, and, in

!ome mea!ure, !u""eeded for a $oi"e, whi"h I re"o'ni!ed a! that of my farmer-friend, an!wered

"heerily. )e wa! !ho"*ed to di!"o$er that hi! e8%e"ted 'ue!t wa! in !u"h e$il %li'ht. It wa! !tilldar*, for the rain wa! fallin' hea$ily #ut, with hi! dire"tion!, I wa! !oon a#le to ta*e my !eat

#e!ide him in the 'i'. )e had #een une8%e"tedly detained, and wa! now ha!tenin' home with the

ho%e of #ein' yet in time to wel"ome me. Ne8t mornin', after the lu8uriou! re!t of a heather-#ed, I found my!elf not mu"h the wor!e for

my ad$enture, #ut heart-!ore for the lo!! of my hor!e.

CHAPTER $$# Margaret #



Early in the forenoon, I "ame in !i'ht of the "otta'e of Mar'aret. It lay un"han'ed, a 'rey,

!tone-fa!hioned hut, in the hollow of the mountain-#a!in. I !"ram#led down the !oft 'reen #rae,

and !oon !tood within the door of the "otta'e. There I wa! met and wel"omed #y Mar'aret!attendant. She led me to the #ed where my old nur!e lay. )er eye! were yet undimmed #y year!,

and little "han'e had %a!!ed u%on her "ountenan"e !in"e I %arted with her on that memora#le

ni'ht. The moment !he !aw me, !he #ro*e out into a %a!!ionate lamentation !u"h a! a mother mi'ht utter o$er the maimed !tren'th and di!fi'ured #eauty of her "hild.

;7hat ill ha! he done&my #airn&to #e all ni'ht the !%ort of the %ower! of the air and the

wi"*ed of the earth+ (ut the day will dawn for my Dun"an yet, and a lo$ely day it will #e=;Then loo*in' at me an8iou!ly, !he !aid,

;Youre not mu"h the wor!e for la!t ni'ht, my #airn. (ut woe! me= )i! 'rand hor!e, that

"arried him !o, that I #le!!ed the #ea!t in my %rayer!=;

I *new that no one "ould ha$e yet #rou'ht her the new! of my a""ident.;You !aw me fall, then, nur!e+; I !aid.

;That I did,; !he an!wered. ;I !ee you oftener than you thin*. (ut there wa! a time when I

"ould hardly !ee you at all, and I thou'ht you were dead, my Dun"an.;

I !too%ed to *i!! her. She laid the one hand that had !till the %ower of motion u%on my head,and di$idin' the hair, whi"h had #e'un to #e mi8ed with 'rey, !aid: ;Eh= The #onny 'rey hair!=

My Dun"an! a man in !%ite of them=;She !ear"hed until !he found the !"ar of the !a#re-"ut.

;<u!t where I thou'ht to find it=; !he !aid. ;That wa! a terri#le day wor!e for me than for you,

Dun"an.;;You !aw me then5; I e8"laimed.

;2ittle do fol*! *now,; !he an!wered, ;who thin* Im lyin' here li*e a li$e "or%!e in it! "offin,

what li#erty my !oul&and that! u!t me&enoy!. 2ittle do they *now what I !ee and hear. And

there! no wit"h"raft or e$il-doin' in it, my #oy #ut u!t what the Almi'hty made me. <anet,here, de"lare! !he heard the "ry that I made, when thi! !ame "ut, that! no !o well healed yet,

#ro*e out in your #onny head. I !aw no !word, only the #ur!tin' of the #lood from the wound.

(ut !it down, my #airn, and ha$e !omethin' to eat after your wal*. 7ell ha$e time enou'h for !%ee"h.;

<anet had laid out the ta#le with fare of the old homely !ort, and I wa! a #oy on"e more a! I ate

the well-*nown food. E$ery now and then I 'lan"ed toward! the old fa"e. Soon I !aw that !hewa! a!lee%. /rom her li%! #ro*e murmured !ound!, !o %artially "onne"ted that I found it

im%o!!i#le to remem#er them #ut the im%re!!ion they left on my mind wa! !omethin' li*e thi!,

;O$er the water. Ye! it i! a rou'h !ea&'reen and white. (ut o$er the water. There i! a %ath

for the %athle!!. The 'ra!! on the hill i! lon' and "ool. Ne$er hor!e "ame there. If they on"e !lee%in that 'ra!!, no harm "an hurt them more. O$er the water. 6% the hill.; And then !he murmured

the word! of the %!alm: ;)e that dwelleth in the !e"ret %la"e.;

/or an hour I !at #e!ide her. It wa! e$idently a !weet, natural !lee%, the mo!t wonderful !lee%of all, min'led with many a #ro*en dream-rain#ow. I ro!e at la!t, and, tellin' <anet that I would

return in the e$enin', went #a"* to my 1uarter! for my a#!en"e from the mid-day meal would

ha$e #een a di!a%%ointment to the hou!ehold.7hen I returned to the "otta'e, I found Mar'aret only u!t awa*ed, and 'reatly refre!hed. I !at

down #e!ide her in the twili'ht, and the followin' "on$er!ation #e'an:

;You !aid, nur!e, that, !ome time a'o, you "ould not !ee me. Did you *now nothin' a#out me

all that time+;



;I too* it to mean that you were ill, my dear. Shortly after you left u!, the !ame thin' ha%%ened

fir!t #ut I do not thin* you were ill then.;

;I !hould li*e to tell you all my !tory, dear Mar'aret,; I !aid, "on"ei$in' a !udden ho%e of a!!i!tan"e from one who ho$ered !o near the un!een that !he often flitted a"ro!! the #order!.

;(ut would it tire you+;

;Tire me, my "hild=; !he !aid, with !udden ener'y. ;Did I not "arry you in my #o!om, till Ilo$ed you more than the darlin' I had lo!t+ Do I not thin* a#out you and your fortune!, till,

!ittin' there, you are no nearer to me than when a thou!and mile! away+ You do not *now my

lo$e to you, Dun"an. I ha$e li$ed u%on it when, I dare!ay, you did not "are whether I wa! ali$e or dead. (ut that wa! all one to my lo$e. 7hen you lea$e me now, I !hall not "are mu"h. My

thou'ht! will only return to their old way!. I thin* the !i'ht of the eye! i! !ometime! an intru!ion

#etween the heart and it! lo$e.;

)ere wa! %hilo!o%hy, or !omethin' #etter, from the li%! of an old )i'hland !eere!!= /or me, Ifelt it !o true, that the oy of hearin' her !ay !o turned, #y a !udden metamor%ho!i!, into frea*. I

%retended to ri!e, and !aid:

;Then I had #etter 'o, nur!e. Good-#ye.;

She %ut out her one hand, with a !mile that re$ealed her enoyment of the %oor humour, and!aid, while !he held me fa!t:

;Nay, nay, my Dun"an. A little of the !"ar"e i! !ometime! dearer to u! than mu"h of the #etter.I !hall ha$e %lenty of time to thin* a#out you when I "ant !ee you, my #oy.; And her %hilo!o%hy

melted away into tear!, that filled her two #lue eye!.

;I wa! only o*in',; I !aid.;Do you need to tell me that+; !he reoined, !milin'. ;I am not !o old a! to #e !tu%id yet. (ut I

want to hear your !tory. I am hun'erin' to hear it.;

;(ut,; I whi!%ered, ;I "annot !%ea* a#out it #efore anyone el!e.;

;I will !end <anet away. <anet, I want to tal* to Mr. 0am%#ell alone.;;4ery well, Mar'aret,; an!wered <anet, and left the room.

;7ill !he li!ten+; I a!*ed.

;She dare! not,; an!wered Mar'aret, with a !mile ;!he ha! a terri#le idea of my %ower!.;The twili'ht 'rew dee%er the 'low of the %eat-fire #e"ame redder the old woman lay !till a!

death. And I told all the !tory of 2ady Ali"e. My $oi"e !ounded to my!elf a! I !%o*e, not li*e my

own, #ut li*e it! e"ho from the $ault of !ome li!tenin' "a$e, or li*e the $oi"e! one hear! #e!idea! !lee% i! !lowly "ree%in' o$er the !en!e. Mar'aret did not on"e interru%t me. 7hen I had

fini!hed !he remained !till !ilent, and I #e'an to fear I had tal*ed her a!lee%.

;0an you hel% me+; I !aid.

;I thin* I "an,; !he an!wered. ;7ill you "all <anet+; I "alled her.;Ma*e me a "u% of tea, <anet. 7ill you ha$e !ome tea with me, Dun"an+;

<anet li'hted a little lam%, and the tea wa! !oon !et out, with ;flour-!"on!; and #utter. (ut

Mar'aret ate nothin' !he only dran* her tea, liftin' her "u% with her one trem#lin' hand. 7henthe remain! of our re%a!t had #een remo$ed, !he !aid:&

;Now, <anet, you "an lea$e u! and on no a""ount "ome into the room till Mr. 0am%#ell "all!

you. Ta*e the lam% with you.;<anet o#eyed without a word of re%ly, and we were left on"e more alone, li'hted only #y the

dull 'low of the fire.



The ni'ht had 'athered "loudy and dar* without, remindin' me of that ni'ht when !he told me

the !tory of the two #rother!. (ut thi! time no !torm di!tur#ed the !ilen"e of the ni'ht. A! !oon a!

<anet wa! 'one, Mar'aret !aid:&;7ill you ta*e the %illow from under my head, Dun"an, my dear+;

I did !o, and !he lay in an almo!t hori9ontal %o!ition. 7ith the li$in' hand !he lifted the

%owerle!! arm, and drew it a"ro!! her "he!t, out!ide the #ed-"lothe!. Then !he laid the other armo$er it, and, loo*in' u% at me, !aid:&

;Ki!! me, my #airn I need !tren'th for what I am 'oin' to do for your !a*e.;

I *i!!ed her.;There now=; !he !aid, ;I am ready. Good-#ye. 7hate$er ha%%en!, do not !%ea* to me and let

no one "ome near me #ut your!elf. It will #e weari!ome for you, #ut it i! for your !a*e, my

Dun"an. And dont let the fire out. Dont lea$e me.;

I a!!ured her I would attend to all !he !aid. She "lo!ed her eye!, and lay !till. I went to the fire,and !at down in a hi'h-#a"*ed arm-"hair, to wait the e$ent.&There wa! %lenty of fuel in the

"orner. I made u% the fire, and then, leanin' #a"*, with my eye! fi8ed on it, let my thou'ht! roam

at will. 7here wa! my old nur!e now+ 7hat wa! !he !eein' or en"ounterin'+ 7ould !he meet

our ad$er!ary+ 7ould !he #e !tron' enou'h to foil him+ 7a! !he dead for the time, althou'h!ome #ond rendered her return from the re'ion! of the dead ine$ita#le+&(ut !he mi'ht ne$er

"ome #a"*, and then I !hould ha$e no tidin'! of the *ind whi"h I *new !he had 'one to !ee, andwhi"h I lon'ed to hear=

I !at thu! for a lon' time. I had a'ain re%leni!hed the fire&that i! all I *now a#out the la%!e of

the time&when, !uddenly, a *ind of %hy!i"al re%u'nan"e and terror !ei9ed me, and I !at u%ri'htin my "hair, with e$ery fi#re of my fle!h %rote!tin' a'ain!t !ome&!hall I "all it %re!en"e+&in

it! nei'h#ourhood. (ut my real !elf re%elled the in$adin' "old, and too* "oura'e for any "onte!t

that mi'ht #e at hand. 2i*e Ma"#eth, I only inha#ited trem#lin' did not trem#le. I had

withdrawn my 'a9e from the fire, and fi8ed it u%on the little window, a#out two feet !1uare, atwhi"h the dar* ni'ht loo*ed in. 7hy or when I had done !o I *new not.

7hat I ne8t relate, I relate only a! what !eemed to ha%%en. I do not alto'ether tru!t my!elf in

the matter, and thin* I wa! !u#e"ted to a delu!ion of !ome !ort or other. My feelin'! of horror 'rew a! I loo*ed throu'h or rather at the window, till, notwith!tandin' all my re!olution and the

"ontinued a!!uran"e that nothin' "ould ma*e me turn my #a"* on the "au!e of the terror, I wa!

yet !o far +ossessed #y a feelin' I "ould neither a""ount for nor "ontrol, that I felt my hair ri!eu%on my head, a! if in!tin"t with indi$idual fear of it! own&the only in!tan"e of the !ort in my

e8%erien"e.&In !u"h a "ondition, the !en!uou! ner$e! are !o ea!ily o%erated u%on, either from

within or from without, that all "ertainty "ea!e!.

I !aw two fiery eye! loo*in' in at the window, hu'e, and wide a%art. Ne8t, I !aw the outline of a hor!e! head, in whi"h the eye! were !et and #ehind, the dimmer outline of a man! form !eated

on the hor!e. The a%%arition faded and rea%%eared, u!t a! if it retreated, and a'ain rode u% "lo!e

to the window. 0uriou!ly enou'h, I did not e$en fan"y that I heard any !ound. In!tin"ti$ely I feltfor my !word, #ut there wa! no !word there. And what would it ha$e a$ailed me+ 3ro#a#ly I wa!

in more need of a !oothin' drau'ht. (ut the moment I %ut my hand to the ima'ined !word-hilt, a

dim fi'ure !we%t #etween me and the hor!eman, on my !ide of the window&a tall, !tatelyfemale form. She !tood fa"in' the window, in an attitude that !eemed to dare the further

a%%roa"h of a foe. )ow lon' !he remained thu!, or he "onfronted her, I ha$e no idea for when

self -"on!"iou!ne!! returned, I found my!elf !till 'a9in' at the window from whi"h #oth

a%%arition! had $ani!hed. 7hether I had !le%t, or, from the rela8ation of mental ten!ion, had only



for'otten, I "ould not tell #ut all fear had $ani!hed, and I %ro"eeded at on"e to ma*e u% the

!un*en fire. Throu'hout the time I am "ertain I ne$er heard the "lan*in' !hoe, for that I !hould

ha$e remem#ered.The re!t of the ni'ht %a!!ed without any di!tur#an"e and when the fir!t ray! of the early

mornin' "ame into the room, they awo*e me from a "omfortin' !lee% in the arm-"hair. I ro!e and

a%%roa"hed the #ed !oftly.Mar'aret lay a! !till a! death. (ut ha$in' #een a""u!tomed to !imilar "ondition! in my Ali"e, I

#elie$ed I !aw !i'n! of returnin' animation, and withdrew to my !eat. Nor wa! I mi!ta*en for, in

a few minute! more, !he murmured my name. I ha!tened to her.;0all <anet,; !he !aid.

I o%ened the door, and "alled her. She "ame in a moment, loo*in' at on"e fri'htened and

relie$ed.

;Get me !ome tea,; !aid Mar'aret on"e more.After !he had drun* the tea, !he loo*ed at me, and !aid,

;Go home now, Dun"an, and "ome #a"* a#out noon. Mind you 'o to #ed.;

She "lo!ed her eye! on"e more. I waited till I !aw her fa!t in an alto'ether different !lee% from

the former, if !lee% that "ould in any !en!e #e "alled.A! I went, I loo*ed #a"* on the $i!ion of the ni'ht a! on one of tho!e illu!ion! to whi"h the

mind, #u!y with it! own !u''e!tion!, i! alway! lia#le. The ni'ht !ea!on, !im%ly #e"au!e ite8"lude! the e8ternal, i! %rolifi" in !u"h. The more of the mar$ellou! any one may ha$e

e8%erien"ed in the "our!e of hi! hi!tory, the more !"e%ti"al ou'ht he to #e"ome, for he i! the

more e8%o!ed to delu!ion. None ha$e made more #lunder! in the "our!e of their re$elation! than'enuine !eer!. 7a! it any wonder that, a! I !at at midni'ht #e!ide the woman of a hundred year!,

who had $oluntarily died for a time that !he mi'ht di!"o$er what mo!t of all thin'! it "on"erned

me to *now, the an"ient tale, on whi"h, to her mind, my whole hi!tory turned, and whi"h !he had

her!elf told me in thi! $ery "otta'e, !hould ta*e $i!i#le !ha%e to my e8"ited #rain and wat"hin'eye!+

I ha$e one thin' more to tell, whi"h !tren'then! !till further thi! $iew of the matter. A! I

wal*ed home, #efore I had 'one many hundred yard! from the "otta'e, I !uddenly "ame u%on myown old 0on!tan"y. )e wa! lim%in' a#out, %i"*in' the #e!t 'ra!! he "ould find from amon' the

root! of the heather and "ran#erry #u!he!. )e 'a$e a !tart when I "ame u%on him, and then a

u#ilant nei'h.(ut he "ould not #e !o 'lad a! I wa!. 7hen I had ta*en !uffi"ient %ain! to let him *now thi!

fa"t, I wal*ed on, and he followed me li*e a do', with hi! head at my heel #ut a! he lim%ed

mu"h, I turned to e8amine him and found one "au!e of hi! lamene!! to #e, that the loo!e !hoe,

whi"h wa! a hind one, wa! #ro*en at the toe and that one half, held only at the toe, had turnedround and wa! !ti"*in' ri'ht out, !tri*in' hi! forefoot e$ery time he mo$ed. I !oon remedied thi!,

and he wal*ed mu"h #etter.

(ut the %henomena of the ni'ht, and the !hare my old hor!e mi'ht ha$e #orne in them, werenot the !u#e"t!, a! may well #e !u%%o!ed, that o""u%ied my mind mo!t, on my wal* to the farm.

7a! it %o!!i#le that Mar'aret mi'ht ha$e found out !omethin' a#out her That wa! the one

1ue!tion.After remo$in' the an8iety of my ho!te!!, and %arta*in' of their )i'hland #rea*fa!t, a

"eremony not to #e "om%leted without a 'la!! of %eaty whi!*y, I wandered to my an"ient haunt

on the hill. Then"e I "ould loo* down on my old home, where it lay un"han'ed, thou'h not one

human form, whi"h had made it home to me, mo$ed a#out it! %re"in"t!. I went no nearer. I no



more felt that that wa! home, than one feel! that the form in the "offin i! the de%arted dead. I !at

down in my old !tudy-"ham#er amon' the ro"*!, and thou'ht that if I "ould #ut find Ali"e !he

would #e my home&of the %a!t a! well a! of the future&for in her mind my ne"romanti" word!would re"all the de%arted, and we !hould lo$e them to'ether.

Toward! noon I wa! a'ain at the "otta'e.

Mar'aret wa! !ittin' u% in #ed, waitin' for me. She loo*ed weary, #ut "heerful and a "leanwhite m"tch 'a$e her a "ertain com+any-air. <anet left the room dire"tly, and Mar'aret motioned

me to a "hair #y her !ide. I !at down. She too* my hand, and !aid,

;Dun"an, my #oy, I fear I "an 'i$e you #ut little hel% #ut I will tell you all I *now. If I were totry to %ut into word! the thin'! I had to en"ounter #efore I "ould "ome near her, you would not

under!tand what I meant. Nor do I under!tand the thin'! my!elf. They !eem 1uite %lain to me at

the time, #ut $ery "loudy when I "ome #a"*. (ut I did !u""eed in 'ettin' one 'lim%!e of her. She

wa! fa!t a!lee%. She !eemed to ha$e !uffered mu"h, for her fa"e wa! $ery thin, and a! %atient a!it wa! %ale.;

;(ut where wa! !he+;

;I mu!t lea$e you to find out that, if you "an, from my de!"ri%tion. (ut, ala!= it i! only the

%la"e! immediately a#out the %er!on! that I "an !ee. 7here they are, or how far I ha$e 'one to'et there, I "annot tell.;

She then 'a$e me a rather minute de!"ri%tion of the "ham#er in whi"h the lady wa! lyin'.Thou'h mo!t of the %arti"ular! were un*nown to me, the "on$i"tion, or ho%e at lea!t, 'radually

dawned u%on me, that I *new the room. On"e or twi"e I had %ee%ed into the !an"tuary of 2ady

Ali"e! "ham#er, when I *new !he wa! not there and !ome %oint! in the de!"ri%tion Mar'aret'a$e !et my heart in a tremor with the #are !u''e!tion that !he mi'ht now #e at )ilton )all.

;Tell me, Mar'aret,; I !aid, almo!t %antin' for utteran"e, ;wa! there a mirror o$er the

fire%la"e, with a #road 'ilt frame, "ar$ed into hu'e re%re!entation! of "ra#! and lo#!ter!, and all

"rawlin' !ea-"reature! with !hell! on them&$ery u'ly, and $ery !tran'e+;She would ha$e interru%ted me #efore, #ut I would not #e !to%%ed.

;I mu!t tell you, my dear Dun"an,; !he an!wered, ;that in none of the!e tran"e!, or whate$er

you %lea!e to "all them, did I e$er !ee a mirror. It ha! !tru"* me #efore a! a "uriou! thin', that amirror i! then an a#!olute #lan* to me&I !ee nothin' on whi"h I "ould %ut a name. It doe! not

e$en !eem a $a"ant !%a"e to me. A mirror mu!t ha$e nothin' in "ommon with the !tate I am then

in, for I feel a *ind of re%ul!ion from it and indeed it would #e rather an awful thin' to loo* at,for of "our!e I !hould !ee no refle"tion of my!elf in it.;

>)ere I #e' on"e more to remind the reader, that Mar'aret !%o*e in Gaeli", and that my

tran!lation into ordinary En'li!h doe! not in the lea!t re%re!ent the e8treme !im%li"ity of the

form! of her !%e"ulation!, any more than of the lan'ua'e whi"h "on$eyed them.?;(ut,; !he "ontinued, ;I ha$e a $a'ue re"olle"tion of !eein' !ome #road, #i', 'ilded thin' with

fi'ure! on it. It mi'ht #e !omethin' el!e, thou'h, alto'ether.;

;I will 'o in ho%e,; I an!wered, ri!in' at on"e.;Not already, Dun"an+;

;7hy !hould I !tay lon'er+;

;Stay o$er to-ni'ht.;;7hat i! the u!e+ I "annot.;

;/or my !a*e, Dun"an=;

;Ye!, dear Mar'aret for your !a*e. Ye!, !urely.;



;Than* you,; !he an!wered. ;I will not *ee% you lon'er now. (ut if I !end <anet to you, "ome

at on"e. And, Dun"an, wear thi! for my !a*e.;

She %ut into my hand an an"ient 'old "ro!!, mu"h worn. To my ama9ement I re"o'ni!ed the"ounter%art of one 2ady Ali"e had alway! worn. I %re!!ed it to my heart.

;I am a 0atholi" you are a 3rote!tant, Dun"an #ut ne$er mind: that! the !ame !i'n to #oth of

u!. You wont %art with it. It ha! #een in our family for many lon' year!.;;Not while I li$e,; I an!wered, and went out, half wild with ho%e, into the *een mountain air.

)ow deli"iou!ly it #reathed u%on me=

I %a!!ed the afternoon in attem%tin' to form !ome %lan of a"tion at )ilton )all, whither Iintended to %ro"eed a! !oon a! Mar'aret !et me at li#erty. That li#erty "ame !ooner than I

e8%e"ted and yet I did not 'o at on"e. <anet "ame for me toward! !undown. I thou'ht !he loo*ed

trou#led. I ro!e at on"e and followed her, #ut a!*ed no 1ue!tion!. A! I entered the "otta'e, the

!un wa! "a!tin' the !hadow of the ed'e of the hollow in whi"h the "otta'e !tood u!t at my feetthat i!, the !un wa! more than half !et to one who !tood at the "otta'e door. I entered.

Mar'aret !at, %ro%%ed with %illow!. I !aw !ome "han'e had %a!!ed u%on her. She held out her

hand to me. I too* it. She !miled fee#ly, "lo!ed her eye!, and went with the !un, down the hill of

ni'ht. (ut down the hill of ni'ht i! u% the hill of mornin' in other land!, and no dou#t Mar'aret!oon found that !he wa! more at home there than here.

I !at holdin' the dead hand, a! if therein lay !ome "ommunion !till with the de%arted. 3erha%!!he who !aw more than other! while yet ali$e, "ould !ee when dead that I held her "old hand in

my warm 'ra!%. )ad I not 'ood "au!e to lo$e her+ She had e8hau!ted the la!t remnant! of her

life in that effort to find for me my lo!t Ali"e. 7hether !he had !u""eeded I had yet to di!"o$er.3erha%! !he *new now.

I ha!tened the funeral a little, that I mi'ht follow my 1ue!t. I had her 'ra$e du' amid!t her

own %eo%le and mine for they lay !ide #y !ide. The whole nei'h#ourhood for twenty mile!

round followed Mar'aret to the 'ra$e. Su"h wa! her "hara"ter and re%utation, that the #elief inher !u%ernatural %ower! had only hei'htened the notion of her $enera#lene!!.

7hen I had !een the la!t !od %la"ed on her 'ra$e, I turned and went, with a de!olate #ut

ho%eful heart. I had a *ind of feelin' that her death had !ealed the truth of her la!t $i!ion. Imounted old 0on!tan"y at the "hur"hyard 'ate, and !et out for )ilton )all.

CHAPTER $$I# Hilton.

It wa! a dar*, dri99lin' ni'ht when I arri$ed at the little $illa'e of )ilton, within a mile of the

)all. I *new a re!%e"ta#le !e"ond-rate inn on the !ide ne8t the )all, to whi"h the 'ardener andother !er$ant! had #een in the ha#it of re%airin' of an e$enin' and I thou'ht I mi'ht there

!tum#le u%on !ome information, e!%e"ially a! the old-fa!hioned %la"e had a lar'e *it"hen in

whi"h all !ort! of 'ue!t! met. 7hen I refle"ted on the utter "han'e whi"h time, weather, and a'reat !"ar mu!t ha$e made u%on me, I feared no re"o'nition. (ut what wa! my !ur%ri!e when, #y

one of tho!e "oin"iden"e! whi"h ha$e !o often ha%%ened to me, I found in the o!tler one of my

own troo% at 7aterloo= )i! "ountenan"e and !alute "on$in"ed me that he re"o'ni!ed me. I !aid tohim:

;I *now you %erfe"tly, 7ood #ut you mu!t not *now me. I will 'o with you to the !ta#le.;

)e led the way in!tantly.



;7ood,; I !aid, when we had rea"hed the !helter of the !ta#le, ;I dont want to #e *nown here,

for rea!on! whi"h I will e8%lain to you another time.;

;4ery well, !ir. You may de%end on me, !ir.;;I *now I may, and I !hall. Do you *now any#ody a#out the )all+;

;Ye!, !ir. The 'ardener "ome! here !ometime!, !ir. I #elie$e he! in the hou!e now. Shall I a!*

him to !te% thi! way, !ir+;;No. All I want i! to learn who i! at the )all now. 7ill you 'et him tal*in'+ I !hall #e #y,

ha$in' !omethin' to drin*.;

;Ye!, !ir. A! !oon a! I ha$e ru##ed down the old hor!e, !ir&#le!! him=;;Youll find me there.;

I went in, and, with my "ondition for an e8"u!e, ordered !omethin' hot #y the *it"hen-fire.

Se$eral "ountry %eo%le were !ittin' a#out it. They made room for me, and I too* my %la"e at a

ta#le on one !ide. I !oon di!"o$ered the 'ardener, althou'h time had done what he "ould todi!'ui!e him. 7ood "ame in %re!ently, and, loiterin' a#out, #e'an to tal* to him.

;7hat! the la!t new! at the )all, 7illiam+; he !aid.

;New!=; an!wered the old man, !omewhat 1uerulou!ly. ;There! ne$er nothin' #ut new! u%

there, and $ery new-fan'led new!, too. 7hat do you thin*, now, <ohn+ They do tal* of turnin' allthem 'reenhou!e! into hothou!e! for, to #e !ure, there! nothin' the new mi!!u! "are! a#out #ut

u!t the fine!t 'ra%e! in the "ountry and the flower!, %urty "reature!, may 'o to the de$il for her.There! a lady for ye=;

;(ut youll #e 'lad to ha$e her home, and !ee what !he! li*e, wont you+ It! rather dull u%

there now, i!nt it+;;I dont *now what you "all dull,; re%lied the old man, a! if half offended at the !u''e!tion. ;I

dont #elie$e a !oul mi!!ed hi! lord!hi% when he died and there! alway! Mr!. (la*e!ley and me,

a! i! the #e!t friend! in the world, #e!ide! the three maid! and the !ta#leman, who hel%! me in

the 'arden, now there! no hor!e!. And then there! <a"o# and&;;(ut you dont mean,; !aid 7ood, interru%tin' him, ;that there! none o the family at home

now+;

;No. 7ho !hould there #e+ 2ea!t way!, only the %oor lady. And !he hardly "ount! now&#le!!her !weet fa"e=;

;Do you e$er !ee her+; inter%o!ed one of the #y-!itter!.

;Sometime!.;;I! !he 1uite "ra9y+;

;Al-to-'ether #ut that 1uiet and 'entle, you would thin* !he wa! an an'el in!tead of a mad

woman. (ut not a notion ha! !he in her head, no more than the #a#e un#orn.;

It wa! a dreadful !ho"* to me. 7a! thi! to #e the end of all+ 7ere it not #etter !he had died+/or me, life wa! worthle!! now. And there were no war!, with the "han"e of lo!in' it hone!tly.

I ro!e, and went to my own room. A! I !at in dull mi!ery #y the fire, it !tru"* me that it mi'ht

not ha$e #een 2ady Ali"e after all that the old man !%o*e a#out. That moment a ta% "ame to mydoor, and 7ood entered. After a few word!, I a!*ed him who wa! the lady the 'ardener had !aid

wa! "ra9y.

;2ady Ali"e,; he an!wered, and added: ;A lo$e !tory, that "ame to a #ad end u% at the )allyear! a'o. A tutor wa! in it, they !ay. (ut I dont *now the ri'ht! of it.;

7hen he left me, I !at in a "old !tu%or, in whi"h the thou'ht!&if thou'ht! they "ould #e "alled

&"ame and went of them!el$e!. O$er"ome #y the a%%earan"e! of thin'!&a! what man the

!tron'e!t may not !ometime! #e+&I felt a! if I had lo!t her utterly, a! if there wa! no 2ady Ali"e



anywhere, and a! if, to add to the $a"ant horror of the world without her, a !hadow of her, a

'o#lin sim"lacr"m, !oul-le!!, unreal, yet awfully li*e her, went wanderin' a#out the %la"e whi"h

had on"e #een 'lorified #y her %re!en"e&a! to the eye! of !eer! the %hantom! of e$ent! whi"hha$e ha%%ened year! #efore are !till $i!i#le, "lin'in' to the room in whi"h they ha$e indeed

ta(en +lace. (ut, in a little while, !omethin' warm #e'an to thro# and flow in my #ein' and I

thou'ht that if !he were dead, I !hould lo$e her !till that now !he wa! not wor!e than dead itwa! only that her !oul wa! out of !i'ht. 7ho "ould tell #ut it mi'ht #e wanderin' in world! of

too no#le !ha%e! and too hi'h a !%ee"h, to %ermit of re%re!entation in the lan'ua'e of the world

in whi"h her #odily %re!entation remained, and therefore her !%ee"h and #eha$iour !eemed tomen to #e mad+ Nay, wa! it not in !ome !en!e #etter for me that it !hould #e !o+ To !ee on"e the

%i"tured li*ene!! of her of whom I had no !u"h memorial, would I not 'i$e year! of my %o$erty-

!tri"*en life+ And here wa! !u"h a !tatue of her, a! that of hi! wife whi"h the widowed *in' wa!

#endin' #efore, when he !aid:&'hat fine chisel

o"ld ever yet c"t %reath

Thi! !tatue I mi'ht !ee, ;loo*in' li*e an an'el,; a! the 'ardener had !aid. And, while the #ond

of $i!i#ility remained, mu!t not the !oul #e, !omehow, nearer to the earth, than if the form layde"ayin' #eneath it+ 7a! there not !ome %o!!i#ility that the lo$e for who!e !a*e the rea!on had

de%arted, mi'ht #e a#le to re"all that rea!on on"e more to the window! of !en!e,&ma*e it loo* forth at tho!e eye!, and lie li!tenin' in the re"e!!e! of tho!e ear!+ In her !omnam#uli" !lee%!, the

%re!ent #ody wa! the !i'n that the !oul wa! within rea"h: !o it mi'ht #e !till.

Mr!. (la*e!ley wa! !till at the lod'e, then: I would "all u%on her to-morrow. I went to #ed, anddreamed all ni'ht that Ali"e wa! !ittin' !omewhere in a land ;full of dar* mountain!,; and that I

wa! wanderin' a#out in the dar*ne!!, alternately "allin' and li!tenin' !ometime! fan"yin' I

heard a faint re%ly, whi"h mi'ht #e her $oi"e or an e"ho of my own #ut ne$er findin' her. I

wo*e in an out#ur!t of de!%airin' tear!, and my de!%air wa! not "omforted #y my wa*in'.

CHAPTER $$II# The Slee)er.

It wa! a lo$ely mornin' in autumn. I wal*ed to the )all. I entered at the !ame 'ate #y whi"h I

had entered fir!t, !o many year! #efore. (ut it wa! not Mr!. (la*e!ley that o%ened it. I in1uiredafter her, and the woman told me that !he li$ed at the )all now, and too* "are of 2ady Ali"e. So

far, thi! wa! ho%eful new!.

I went u% the !ame a$enue, throu'h the !ame wide 'ra!!y %la"e!, !aw the !ame !tatue from

who!e #a!e had ari!en the lo$ely form whi"h !oon #e"ame a %art of my e8i!ten"e. Thene$erythin' loo*ed ri"h, #e"au!e I had "ome from a %oor, 'rand "ountry. In all my wanderin'! I

had !een nothin' !o ri"h yet now it !eemed %o$erty-!tri"*en. That it wa! autumn "ould not

a""ount for thi! for I had alway! found that the !adne!! of autumn $i$ified the %oeti" !en!e andthat the "olour! of de"ay had a %atheti" 'lory more #eautiful than the 'lory of the mo!t 'or'eou!

!ummer with all it! flower!. It wa! winter within me&that wa! the rea!on and I "ould feel no

autumn around me, #e"au!e I !aw no !%rin' #eyond me. It had fared with my mind a! with the'arden in the Sensitive )lant, when the lady wa! dead. I wa! ama9ed and trou#led at the !tolidity

with whi"h I wal*ed u% to the door, and, ha$in' run' the #ell, waited. No !weet memorie! of the

%a!t aro!e in my mind not one of the well-*nown o#e"t! around loo*ed at me a! "laimin' a



re"o'nition. Yet, when the door wa! o%ened, my heart #eat !o $iolently at the thou'ht that I

mi'ht !ee her, that I "ould hardly !tammer out my in1uiry after Mr!. (la*e!ley.

I wa! !hown to a room. None of the !en!ation! I had had on fir!t "ro!!in' the thre!hold werere$i$ed. I remem#ered them all I felt none of them. Mr!. (la*e!ley "ame. She did not re"o'ni!e

me. I told her who I wa!. She !tared at me for a moment, !eemed to !ee the !ame fa"e !he had

*nown !till 'limmerin' throu'h all the "han'e! that had "rowded u%on it, held out #oth her hand!, and #ur!t into tear!.

;Mr. 0am%#ell,; !he !aid, ;you are "han'ed= (ut not li*e her. She! the !ame to loo* at #ut,

oh dear=;7e were #oth !ilent for !ome time. At len'th !he re!umed:&

;0ome to my room I ha$e #een mi!tre!! here for !ome time now.;

I followed her to the room Mr!. 7il!on u!ed to o""u%y. She %ut wine on the ta#le. I told her

my !tory. My la#our!, and my wound!, and my illne!!, !li'htly tou"hed a! I tru!t they were in the"our!e of the tale, yet mo$ed all her womanly !ym%athie!.

;7hat "an I do for you, Mr. 0am%#ell+; !he !aid.

;2et me !ee her,; I re%lied.

She he!itated for a moment.;I dare not, !ir. I dont *now what it mi'ht do to her. It mi'ht !end her ra$in' and !he i! !o

1uiet.;;)a! !he e$er ra$ed+;

;Not often !in"e the fir!t wee* or two. Now and then o""a!ionally, for an hour or !o, !he

would #e wild, wantin' to 'et out. (ut !he 'a$e that o$er alto'ether and !he ha! had her li#ertynow for a lon' time. (ut, )ea$en #le!! her= at the wor!t !he wa! alway! a lady.;

;And am I to 'o away without e$en !eein' her+;

;I am $ery !orry for you, Mr. 0am%#ell.;

I felt hurt&fooli!hly, I "onfe!!&and ro!e. She %ut her hand on my arm.;Ill tell you what Ill do, !ir. She alway! fall! a!lee% in the afternoon you may !ee her a!lee%,

if you li*e.;

;Than* you than* you,; I an!wered. ;That will #e mu"h #etter. 7hen !hall I "ome+;;A#out three o"lo"*.;

I went wanderin' a#out the wood!, and at three I wa! a'ain in the hou!e*ee%er! room. She

"ame to me %re!ently, loo*in' rather trou#led.;It i! $ery odd,; !he #e'an, the moment !he entered, ;#ut for the fir!t time, I thin*, for year!,

!he! not for her afternoon !lee%.;

;Doe! !he !lee% at ni'ht+; I a!*ed.

;2i*e a #airn. (ut !he !lee%! a 'reat deal and the do"tor !ay! that! what *ee%! her !o 1uiet.She would 'o ra$in' a'ain, he !ay!, if the !lee% did not !oothe her %oor #rain.;

;0ould you not let me !ee her when !he i! a!lee% to-ni'ht+;

A'ain !he he!itated, #ut %re!ently re%lied:&;I will, !ir #ut I tru!t to you ne$er to mention it.;

;Of "our!e I will not.;

;0ome at ten o"lo"*, then. You will find the outer door on thi! !ide o%en. Go !trai'ht to myroom.;

7ith renewed than*! I left her and, on"e a'ain #eta*in' my!elf to the wood!, wandered a#out

till ni'ht, notwith!tandin' !i'n! of an a%%roa"hin' !torm. I thu! *e%t within the #oundarie! of the

deme!ne, and had no o""a!ion to re1ue!t re-admittan"e at any of the 'ate!.



A! ten !tru"* on the tower-"lo"*, I entered Mr!. (la*e!ley! room. She wa! not there. I !at

down. In a few minute! !he "ame.

;She i! fa!t a!lee%,; !he !aid. ;0ome thi! way.;I followed, trem#lin'. She led me to the !ame room 2ady Ali"e u!ed to o""u%y. The door wa!

a little o%en. She %u!hed it 'ently, and I followed her in. The "urtain! toward! the door were

drawn. Mr!. (la*e!ley too* me round to the other !ide.&There lay the lo$ely head, !o %hantom-li*e for year!, "omin' only in my dream! fillin' now, with a real %re!en"e, the eye! that had

lon'ed for it, a! if in them dwelt an a%%etite of !i'ht. It "almed my heart at on"e, whi"h had #een

almo!t "ho*in' me with the $iolen"e of it! %al%itation. ;That i! not the fa"e of in!anity,; I !aid tomy!elf. ;It i! "lear a! the mornin' li'ht.; A! I !tood 'a9in', I made no "om%ari!on! #etween the

%a!t and the %re!ent, althou'h I wa! aware of !ome differen"e&of !ome mea!ure of the un*nown

frontin' me I wa! filled with the deli'ht of #eholdin' the fa"e I lo$ed&full, a! it !eemed to me,

of mind and womanhood !lee%in'&nothin' more. I murmured a fer$ent ;Than* God=; and wa!turnin' away with a feelin' of !ati!fa"tion for all the future, and a !tran'e 'reat ho%e #e'innin'

to thro# in my heart, when, after a little re!tle!! motion of her head on the %illow, her %atient li%!

#e'an to trem#le. My !oul ru!hed into my ear!.

;Mr. 0am%#ell,; !he murmured, ;I "annot !%ell what am I to do to learn+;The une8%e"ted $oi"e, namin' my name, !ounded in my ear! li*e a $oi"e from the far-off

re'ion! where !i'hin' i! o$er. Then a !mile 'leamed u% from the de%th! un!een, and #ro*e andmelted away all o$er her fa"e. (ut her nur!e had heard her !%ea*, and now a%%roa"hed in alarm.

She laid hold of my arm, and drew me toward! the door. I yielded at on"e, #ut heard a moan

from the #ed a! I went. I loo*ed #a"*&the "urtain! hid her from my $iew. Out!ide the door, Mr!.(la*e!ley !tood li!tenin' for a moment, and then led the way down!tair!.

;You made her re!tle!!. You !ee, !ir, !he ne$er wa! li*e other %eo%le, %oor dear=;

;)er fa"e i! not li*e one in!ane,; I reoined.

;I often thin* !he loo*! more li*e her!elf when !he! a!lee%,; an!wered !he. ;And then I ha$eoften !een her !mile. She ne$er !mile! when !he! awa*e. (ut, 'ra"iou! me, Mr. 0am%#ell= what

shall I do+;

Thi! e8"lamation wa! "au!ed #y my !uddenly fallin' #a"* in my "hair and "lo!in' my eye!. Ihad almo!t fainted. I had eaten nothin' !in"e #rea*fa!t and had #een wanderin' a#out in a !tate

of e8"itement all day. I 'reedily !wallowed the 'la!! of wine !he #rou'ht me, and then fir!t

#e"ame aware that the !torm whi"h I had !een 'atherin' while I wa! in the wood! had now #ro*en loo!e. ;7hat a ni'ht in the old hall=; thou'ht I. The wind wa! da!hin' it!elf li*e a

thou!and ea'le! a'ain!t the hou!e, and the rain wa! tram%lin' the roof! and the "ourt li*e troo%!

of 'allo%in' !teed!. I ro!e to 'o.

(ut Mr!. (la*e!ley interfered.;You dont lea$e thi! hou!e to-ni'ht, Mr. 0am%#ell,; !he !aid. ;I wont ha$e your death laid at

my door.;

I lau'hed.;Dear Mr!. (la*e!ley,&; I !aid, !eein' her determined.

;I wont hear a word,; !he interru%ted. ;I wouldnt let a hor!e out in !u"h a tem%e!t. No, no

you !hall u!t !lee% in your old 1uarter!, a"ro!! the %a!!a'e there.;I did not "are for any !torm. It hardly e$en intere!ted me. That #eautiful fa"e filled my whole

#ein'. (ut I yielded to Mr!. (la*e!ley, and not unwillin'ly.



CHAPTER $$III# My Old ,oo".

On"e more I wa! left alone in that room of dar* oa*, loo*in' out on the little i$y-mantled

"ourt, of whi"h I wa! now reminded #y the howlin' of the !torm within it! hi'h wall!. Mr!.(la*e!ley had e8tem%ori!ed a #ed for me on the old !ofa and the fire wa! already #la9in' away

!%lendidly. I !at down #e!ide it, and the !om#re-hued 3a!t rolled #a"* u%on me.

After I had floated, a! it were, u%on the wa$e! of memory for !ome time, I !uddenly 'lan"ed #ehind me and around the room, and a new and !tran'e e8%erien"e dawned u%on me. Time

#e"ame to my "on!"iou!ne!! what !ome meta%hy!i"ian! !ay it i! in it!elf&only a form of human

thou'ht. /or the 3a!t had returned and had #e"ome the 3re!ent. I "ould not #e !ure that the 3a!t

had %a!!ed, that I had not #een dreamin' throu'h the whole !erie! of year! and ad$enture!, u%onwhi"h I wa! a#le to loo* #a"*. /or here wa! the room, all a! #efore and here wa! I, the !ame

man, with the !ame lo$e 'lowin' in my heart. I went on thin*in'. The !torm went on howlin'.

The lo'! went on "heerily #urnin'. I ro!e and wal*ed a#out the room, loo*in' at e$erythin' a! I

had loo*ed at it on the ni'ht of my fir!t arri$al. I !aid to my!elf, ;)ow !tran'e that I !hould feela! if all thi! had ha%%ened to me #efore=; And then I !aid, ;3erha%! it has ha%%ened to me

#efore.; A'ain I !aid, ;And when it did ha%%en #efore, I felt a! if it had ha%%ened #efore thatand %erha%! it ha! #een ha%%enin' to me at inter$al! for a'e!.; I o%ened the door of the "lo!et,

and loo*ed at the door #ehind it, whi"h led into the hall of the old hou!e. It wa! #olted. (ut the

#olt !li%%ed #a"* at my tou"h twel$e year! were nothin' in the hi!tory of it! ru!t or wa! it onlyye!terday I had for"ed the iron free from the adhe!ion of the ru!t-welded !urfa"e!+ I !tood for a

moment he!itatin' whether to o%en the door, and ha$e one %ee% into the wide hall, full of intent

e"hoe!, li!tenin' #reathle!! for one air of !ound, that they mi'ht "at"h it u% u#ilant and da!h it

into the ear! of&Silen"e&their an"ient enemy&their Death. (ut I drew #a"*, lea$in' the door uno%ened and, !ittin' down a'ain #y my fire, !an* into a *ind of un"on!"iou! wearine!!.

3erha%! I !le%t&I do not *now #ut a! I #e"ame on"e more aware of my!elf, I awo*e, a! it were,

in the mid!t of an old lon'-#uried ni'ht. I wa! !ittin' in my own room, waitin' for 2ady Ali"e.And, a! I !at waitin', and wi!hin' !he would "ome, #y !low de'ree! my wi!he! inten!ified

them!el$e!, till I found my!elf, with all my 'athered mi'ht, willin' that !he !hould "ome. The

minute! %a!!ed, #ut the will remained.)ow !hall I tell what followed+ The door of the "lo!et o%ened&!lowly, 'ently&and in wal*ed

2ady Ali"e, %ale a! death, her eye! "lo!ed, her whole %er!on a!lee%. 7ith a 'lidin' motion a! in a

dream, where the $olition that %rodu"e! motion i! unfelt, !he !eemed to me to dream her!elf

a"ro!! the floor to my "ou"h, on whi"h !he laid her!elf down a! 'ra"efully, a! !im%ly, a! in theold #eautiful time. )er a%%earan"e did not !tartle me, for my whole "ondition wa! in harmony

with the %henomenon. I ro!e noi!ele!!ly, "o$ered her li'htly from head to foot, and !at down, a!

of old to wat"h. )ow #eautiful !he wa!= I thou'ht !he had 'rown taller #ut, %erha%!, it wa! onlythat !he had 'ained in form without lo!in' anythin' in 'ra"e. )er fa"e wa!, a! it had alway!

#een, "olourle!! #ut neither it nor her fi'ure !howed any !i'n! of !ufferin'. The holy !lee% had

fed her %hy!i"al a! well a! !hielded her mental nature. (ut what would the wa*in' #e+ Not allthe %ower of the re$i$ed %a!t "ould !hut out the anti"i%ation of the dreadful differen"e to #e

di!"lo!ed, the moment !he !hould o%en tho!e !lee%in' eye!. To what a fri'htfully farther di!tan"e

wa! that !oul now remo$ed, who!e return I had #een wont to wat"h, a! from the de%th! of the

un*nown world= That wa! !tran'e thi! wa! terri#le. In!tead of the dawn of ro!y intelli'en"e I



had now to loo* for the fadin' of the lo$eline!! a! !he wo*e, till her fa"e withered into the

#ewildered and indi'ent e8%re!!ion of the in!ane.

She wa! wa*in'. My lo$e with the un*nown fa"e wa! at hand. The re$i$in' flu!h "ame, 'rew,dee%ened. She o%ened her eye!. God #e %rai!ed= They were lo$elier than e$er. And the !mile that

#ro*e o$er her fa"e wa! the $ery !unli'ht of the !oul.

;0ome a'ain, you !ee=; !he !aid 'ently, a! !he !tret"hed her #eautiful arm! toward! me.I "ould not !%ea*. I "ould only !u#mit to her em#ra"e, and hold my!elf with all my mi'ht, le!t

I !hould #ur!t into hel%le!! wee%in'. (ut a !o# or two #ro*e their %ri!on, and !he felt the emotion

!he had not !een. Rela8in' her hold, !he %u!hed me 'ently from her, and loo*ed at me with"on"ern that 'rew a! !he loo*ed.

;You are dreadfully "han'ed, my Dun"an= 7hat i! the matter+ )a! 2ord )ilton #een rude to

you+ You loo* !o mu"h older, !omehow. 7hat "an it #e+;

I under!tood at on"e how it wa!. The whole of tho!e dreary twel$e year! wa! 'one. The threadof her "on!"iou!ne!! had #een "ut, tho!e year! dro%%ed out, and the end! reunited. She thou'ht

thi! wa! one of her old $i!it! to me, when, a! now, !he had wal*ed in her !lee%. I an!wered,

;I will tell you all another time. I dont want to wa!te the moment! with you, my Ali"e, in

!%ea*in' a#out it. 2ord )ilton has #eha$ed $ery #adly to me #ut ne$er mind.;She half ro!e in an'er and her eye! loo*ed in!ane for the fir!t time.

;)ow dare! he+; !he !aid, and then "he"*ed her!elf with a !i'h at her own hel%le!!ne!!.;(ut it will all "ome ri'ht, Ali"e,; I went on in terror le!t I !hould di!tur# her %re!ent

"on"e%tion of her "ir"um!tan"e!. I felt a! if the $ery fa"e I wore, with the "han'e! of tho!e

twel$e for'otten year!, whi"h had %a!!ed o$er her li*e the #reath of a !%rin' wind, were a ma!* of whi"h I had to #e a!hamed #efore her. )er "on!"iou!ne!! wa! my in$oluntary !tandard of fa"t.

)o%e of my life a! !he wa!, there wa! thu! min'led with my deli'ht in her %re!en"e a re!tle!!

fear that made me wi!h fer$ently that !he would 'o. I wanted time to 1uiet my thou'ht! and

re!ol$e how I !hould #eha$e to her.;Ali"e,; I !aid, ;it i! nearly mornin'. You were late to-ni'ht. Dont you thin* you had #etter 'o

&for fear, you *now+;

;Ah=; !he !aid, with a !mile, in whi"h there wa! no dou#t of fear, ;you are tired of me already=(ut I will 'o at on"e to dream a#out you.;

She ro!e.

;Go, my darlin',; I !aid ;and mind you 'et !ome ri'ht !lee%. Shall I 'o with you+;Mu"h to my relief, !he an!wered,

;No, no %lea!e not. I "an 'o alone a! u!ual. 7hen a 'ho!t meet! me, I u!t wal* throu'h him,

and then he! nowhere and I lau'h.;

One *i!!, one #a"*ward lin'erin' loo*, and the door "lo!ed #ehind her. I heard the e"ho of the'reat hall. I wa! alone. (ut what a loneline!!&a loneline!! "rowded with %re!en"e= I %a"ed u%

and down the room, threw my!elf on the "ou"h !he had left, !tarted u%, and %a"ed a'ain. It wa!

lon' #efore I "ould thin*. (ut the "on$i"tion 'rew u%on me that !he would #e mine yet. Mineyet+ Mine !he *as, #eyond all the %ower of madne!! or demon! and mine I tru!ted !he would #e

#eyond the di!%ute of the world. A#out me, at lea!t, !he wa! not in!ane. (ut what !hould I do+

The only "han"e of her re"o$ery lay in !eein' me !till #ut I "ould re!ol$e on nothin' till I *newwhether Mr!. (la*e!ley had di!"o$ered her a#!en"e from her room #e"au!e, if I drew her, and

!he were wat"hed and %re$ented from "omin', it would *ill her, or wor!e. I mu!t ta*e to-morrow

to thin*.



Yet at the moment, #y a !udden im%ul!e, I o%ened the window 'ently, !te%%ed into the little

'ra!!y "ourt, where the la!t of the !torm wa! !till moanin', and withdrew the #olt! of a door

whi"h led into an alley of tree! runnin' alon' one !ide of the *it"hen-'arden. I felt li*e ahou!e#rea*er #ut I !aid, ;It i! her ri'ht.; I %u!hed the #olt! forward a'ain, !o a! u!t to tou"h the

!o"*et! and loo* a! if they went in, and then retreated into my own room, where I %a"ed a#out

till the hou!ehold wa! a!tir.

CHAPTER $$IV# 'rison-Brea%ing.

It wa! with "on!idera#le an8iety that I re%aired to Mr!. (la*e!ley! room. There I found the

old lady at the #rea*fa!t-ta#le, !o thorou'hly "om%o!ed, that I wa! at on"e rea!!ured a! to her

i'noran"e of what had o""urred while !he !le%t. (ut !he !eemed unea!y till I !hould ta*e myde%arture, whi"h I attri#uted to the fear that I mi'ht ha%%en to meet 2ady Ali"e.

Arri$ed at my inn, I *e%t my room, my dim-!een %lan! renderin' it de!ira#le that I !hould

attra"t a! little attention in the nei'h#ourhood a! mi'ht #e. I had now to "on"entrate the!e %lan!,

and ma*e them definite to my!elf. It wa! "lear that there wa! no "han"e of !%endin' another ni'ht at )ilton )all #y in$itation: would it #e honoura#le to 'o there without one, a! I, *nowin'

all the o"ts and ins of the %la"e, "ould, if I %lea!ed+ I went o$er the whole 1ue!tion of Ali"e! %o!ition in that hou!e, and of the "rime "ommitted a'ain!t her. I !aw that, if I "ould win my wife

#y re!torin' to her the e8er"i!e of rea!on, that $ery !u""e!! would u!tify the ri'ht I already

%o!!e!!ed in her. And "ould !he not demand of me to "lim# o$er any wall!, or #rea* o%enwhat!oe$er door!, to free her from her %ri!on&from the dar*ne!! of a "louded #rain+ 2et them

!ay what they would of the meanne!! and wi"*edne!! of 'ainin' !u"h a""e!! to, and u!in' !u"h

%ower o$er, the in!ane&!he wa! mine, and a! !afe with me a! with her mother. There i! a lo$e

that tear! and de!troy! and there i! a lo$e that enfold! and !a$e!. I hated me!meri!m and it!$ul'ar im%ertinen"e! #ut here wa! a %ower I %o!!e!!ed, a! far a! I *new, only o$er one, and that

one allied to me #y a re"i%ro"al influen"e, a! well a! lon'-tried affe"tion.&Did not lo$e 'i$e me

the ri'ht to em%loy thi! %ower+My "o'nition! "on"luded in the re!ol$e to u!e the mean! in my hand! for the re!"ue of 2ady

Ali"e. Midni'ht found me in the alley of the *it"hen-'arden. The door of the little "ourt o%ened

ea!ily. Nor had I withdrawn it! #olt! without *nowin' that I "ould mana'e to o%en the window of my old room from the out!ide. I !tood in the dar*, a !tran'er and hou!e#rea*er, where !o often I

had !at waitin' the $i!it! of my an'el. I !e"ured the door of the room, !tru"* a li'ht, li'hted a

remnant of ta%er whi"h I found on the ta#le, threw my!elf on the "ou"h, and !aid to my Ali"e

&;0ome.;And !he "ame. I ro!e. She laid her!elf down. I %ulled off my "oat&it wa! all I "ould find&and

laid it o$er her. The ni'ht wa! "hilly. She re$i$ed with the !ame !weet !mile, #ut, 'i$in' a little

!hi$er, !aid:;7hy ha$e you no fire, Dun"an+ I mu!t 'i$e order! a#out it. That! !ome tri"* of old

0lan*!hoe.;

;Dear Ali"e, do not #reath a word a#out me to any one. I ha$e 1uarrelled with 2ord )ilton. )eha! turned me away, and I ha$e no #u!ine!! to #e in the hou!e.;

;Oh=; !he re%lied, with a *ind of faint re"olle"tin' he!itation. ;That mu!t #e why you ne$er

"ome to the haunted "ham#er now. I 'o there e$ery ni'ht, a! !oon a! the !un i! down.;

;Ye!, that i! it, Ali"e.;



;Ah= that mu!t #e what ma*e! the day !o !tran'e to me too.;

She loo*ed $ery #ewildered for a moment, and then re!umed:

;Do you *now, Dun"an, I feel $ery !tran'e all day&a! if I wa! wal*in' a#out in a dull dreamthat would ne$er "ome to an end+ (ut it i! $ery different at ni'ht&i! it not, dear+;

She had not yet di!"o$ered any di!tin"tion #etween my %re!en"e to her dream! and my

%re!en"e to her wa*in' !i'ht. I hardly *new what re%ly to ma*e #ut !he went on:;They wont let me "ome to you now, I !u%%o!e. I !hall for'et my Eu"lid and e$erythin'. I feel

a! if I had for'otten it all already. (ut you wont #e $e8ed with your %oor Ali"e, will you+ She!

only a #e''ar-'irl, you *now.;I "ould an!wer only #y a "are!!.

;I had a !tran'e dream the other ni'ht. I thou'ht I wa! !ittin' on a !tone in the dar*. And I

heard your $oi"e "allin' me. And it went all round a#out me, and "ame nearer, and went farther

off, #ut I "ould not mo$e to 'o to you. I tried to an!wer you, #ut I "ould only ma*e a 1ueer !ound, not li*e my own $oi"e at all.;

;I dreamed it too, Ali"e.;

;The !ame dream+;

;Ye!, the $ery !ame.;;I am !o 'lad. (ut I didnt li*e the dream. Dun"an, my head feel! !o !tran'e !ometime!. And I

am !o !lee%y. Dun"an, deare!t&am dreamin' now+ Oh= tell me that I am awa*e and that I holdyou for to-morrow, when I wa*e, I !hall fan"y that I ha$e lo!t you. They$e !%oiled my %oor

#rain, !omehow. I am all ri'ht, I *now, #ut I "annot 'et at it. The red i! withered, !omehow.;

;You are wide awa*e, my Ali"e. I *now all a#out it. I will hel% you to under!tand it all, onlyyou mu!t do e8a"tly a! I tell you.;

;Ye!, ye!.;

;Then 'o to #ed now, and !lee% a! mu"h a! you "an el!e I will not let you "ome to me at

ni'ht.;;That would #e too "ruel, when it i! all I ha$e.;

;Then 'o, deare!t, and !lee%.;

;I will.;She ro!e and went. I, too, went, ma*in' all "lo!e #ehind me. The moon wa! 'oin' down. )er

li'ht loo*ed to me !tran'e, and almo!t mali'nant. I feared that when !he "ame to the full !he

would hurt my darlin'! #rain, and I lon'ed to "lim# the !*y, and "ut her in %ie"e!. 7a! I too'oin' mad+ I needed re!t, that wa! all.

Ne8t mornin', I "alled a'ain u%on Mr!. (la*e!ley, to in1uire after 2ady Ali"e, an8iou! to

*now how ye!terday had %a!!ed.

;<u!t the !ame,; an!wered the old lady. ;You need not loo* for any "han'e. Ye!terday I did !eeher !mile on"e, thou'h.;

And wa! that nothin'+

In her "a!e there wa! a re$er!al of the u!ual fa"t! of nature&> say facts, not la*s?: the dream!of mo!t %eo%le are more or le!! in!ane tho!e of 2ady Ali"e were !ound thu!, with her, re!torin'

the #alan"e of !ane life. That !mile wa! the !i'n of the dream-life #e'innin' to lea$en the wa*in'

and fal!e life.;)a$e you heard of youn' 2ord )ilton! marria'e+; a!*ed Mr!. (la*e!ley.

;I ha$e only heard !ome rumour! a#out it,; I an!wered. ;7ho i! the new "ounte!!+;

;The dau'hter of a ri"h mer"hant !omewhere. They !ay !he i!nt the #e!t of tem%er!. Theyre

"omin' here in a#out a month. I am u!t terrified to thin* how it may fare with my lam# now.



They wont let her 'o wanderin' a#out where$er !he %lea!e!, I dou#t. And if they !hut her u%,

!he will die.;

I $owed inwardly that !he !hould #e free, if I "arried her off, madne!! and all.

CHAPTER $$V# Ne( Entrench"ents.

(ut thi! way of #rea*in' into the hou!e e$ery ni'ht did not afford me the fa"ility I wi!hed. /or

I wanted to !ee 2ady Ali"e durin' the day, or at lea!t in the e$enin' #efore !he went to !lee% a!otherwi!e I "ould not thorou'hly ud'e of her "ondition. So I 'ot 7ood to %a"* u% a !mall !to"*

of %ro$i!ion! for me in hi! ha$er!a"*, whi"h I too* with me and when I entered the hou!e that

ni'ht, I #olted the door of the "ourt #ehind me, and made all fa!t.

I waited till the u!ual time for her a%%earan"e had %a!!ed and, alway! a%%rehen!i$e now, a!wa! $ery natural, I had #e'un to 'row unea!y, when I heard her $oi"e, a! I had heard it on"e

#efore, !in'in'. /earful of di!tur#in' her, I li!tened for a moment. 7hether the !on' wa! her own

or not, I "annot #e "ertain. 7hen I 1ue!tioned her afterward!, !he *new nothin' a#out it. It wa!

thi!,& <ays of old,

;e are not dead, tho"gh gone from me ;e are not cold,

B"t li(e the s"mmer/%irds gone o2er the sea.

The s"n %rings %ac( the s*allo*s fast,

2er the sea3 'hen tho" comest at the last,

The days of old come %ac( to me.

She "ea!ed !in'in'. Still !he did not enter. I went into the "lo!et, and found that the door wa! #olted. 7hen I o%ened it, !he entered, a! u!ual and, when !he "ame to her!elf, !eemed !till #etter

than #efore.

;Dun"an,; !he !aid, ;I dont *now how it i!, #ut I #elie$e I mu!t ha$e for'otten e$erythin' Ie$er *new. I feel a! if I had. I dont thin* I "an e$en read. 7ill you tea"h me my letter!+;

She had a #oo* in her hand. I hailed thi! a! another !i'n that her wa*in' and !lee%in' thou'ht!

#ordered on ea"h other for !he mu!t ha$e ta*en the #oo* durin' her !omnam#uli" "ondition. Idid a! !he de!ired. She !eemed to *now nothin' till I told her. (ut the moment I told her

anythin', !he *new it %erfe"tly. (efore !he left me that ni'ht !he wa! readin' tolera#ly, with

many %au!e! of lau'hter that !he !hould e$er ha$e for'otten how. The moment !he !hared the

li'ht of my mind, all wa! %lain where that had not !hone, all wa! dar*. The fa"t wa!, !he wa!li$in' !till in the !hadow of that !ho"* whi"h her ner$ou! "on!titution had re"ei$ed from our

di!"o$ery and my ee"tion.

A! !he wa! lea$in' me, I !aid,;Shall you #e in the haunted room at !un!et tomorrow, Ali"e+;

;Of "our!e I !hall,; !he an!wered.

;You will find me there then,; I reoined&;that i!, if you thin* there i! no dan'er of #ein'!een.;

;Not the lea!t,; !he an!wered. ;No one follow! me there not e$en Mr!. (la*e!ley, 'ood !oul=

They are all afraid, a! u!ual.;

;And you wont #e fri'htened to !ee me there+;



;/ri'htened+ No. 7hy+ Oh= you thin* me 1ueer too, do you+;

She loo*ed $e8ed, #ut tried to !mile.

;I+ I would tru!t you with my life,; I !aid. ;That! not mu"h, thou'h&with my !oul, whate$er that mean!, Ali"e.;

;Then dont tal* non!en!e,; !he reoined "oa8in'ly, ;a#out my #ein' fri'htened to !ee you.;

7hen !he had 'one, I followed into the old hall, ta*in' my !a"* with me for, after ha$in'found the door in the "lo!et #olted, I wa! determined not to !%end one ni'ht more in my old

1uarter!, and ne$er to allow 2ady Ali"e to 'o there a'ain, if I "ould %re$ent her. And I had 'ood

ho%e! that, if we met in the day, the !ame "on!e1uen"e! would follow a! had followed lon' a'o &namely, that !he would !lee% at ni'ht.

It wa! u!t !u"h a ni'ht a! that on whi"h I had fir!t %ee%ed into the hall. The moon !hone

throu'h one of the hi'h window!, !"ar"ely more dim than #efore, and !howed all the drearine!!

of the %la"e. I went u% the 'reat old !tair"a!e, ho%in' I trod in the $ery foot!te%! of 2ady Ali"e,and rea"hed the old 'allery in whi"h I had found her on that ni'ht when our !tran'ely-*nit

intima"y #e'an. My o#e"t wa! to "hoo!e one of the de!erted room! in whi"h I mi'ht e!ta#li!h

my!elf without "han"e of di!"o$ery. I had not turned many "orner!, or 'one throu'h many

%a!!a'e!, #efore I found one e8a"tly to my mind. I will not trou#le my reader with a de!"ri%tionof it! odd %o!ition and !ha%e. All I wanted wa! "on"ealment, and that it %ro$ided %lentifully. I lay

down on the floor, and wa! !oon fa!t a!lee%. Ne8t mornin', ha$in' #rea*fa!ted from the "ontent! of my #a', I %ro"eeded to ma*e my!elf

thorou'hly a"1uainted with the #earin'!, et"., of thi! %ortion of the hou!e. (efore e$enin', I

*new it all thorou'hly.(ut I found it $ery diffi"ult to wait for the e$enin'. (y the window! of one of the room!

loo*in' we!tward, I !at wat"hin' the down-'oin' of the !un. 7hen he !et, my moon would ri!e.

A! he tou"hed the hori9on, I went the old, well-*nown way to the haunted "ham#er. 7hat a ni'ht

had %a!!ed for me !in"e I left Ali"e in that "harmed room= I had a $a'ue feelin', howe$er,notwith!tandin' the mi!fortune that had #efallen u! there, that the old %hantom! that haunted it

were friendly to Ali"e and me. (ut I waited her arri$al in fear. 7ould !he "ome+ 7ould !he #e a!

in the ni'ht+ Or !hould I find her #ut half awa*e to life, and %erha%! a!lee% to me+One moment lon'er, and a li'ht hand wa! laid on the door. It o%ened 'ently, and Ali"e,

enterin', flitted a"ro!! the room !trai'ht to my arm!. )ow #eautiful !he wa!= her old-fa!hioned

dre!! #rin'in' her into harmony with the room and it! old "on!e"rated twili'ht= /or thi! roomloo*ed ea!tward, and there wa! only twili'ht here. She #rou'ht me !ome water, at my re1ue!t

and then we read, and lau'hed o$er our readin'. E$ery moment !he not only *new !omethin'

fre!h, #ut *new that !he had *nown it #efore. The du!t of the year! had to #e !we%t away #ut it

wa! only du!t, and flew at a #reath. The li'ht !oon failed u! in that du!*y "ham#er and we !atand whi!%ered, till only when we *i!!ed "ould we !ee ea"h other! eye!. At len'th 2ady Ali"e

!aid:

;They are loo*in' for me I had #etter 'o. Shall I "ome at ni'ht+;;No,; I an!wered. ;Slee%, and do not mo$e.;

;4ery well, I will.;

She went, and I returned to my den. There I lay and thou'ht. )ad !he e$er #een in!ane at all+ Idou#ted it. A *ind of mental !lee% or !tu%or had "ome u%on her&nothin' more. True it mi'ht #e

allied to madne!! #ut i! there a !tron' emotion that man or woman e8%erien"e! that i! not allied

to madne!!+ Still her mind wa! not "lear enou'h to refle"t the %a!t. (ut if !he ne$er re"alled that

entirely, not the le!! were her lo$e and tenderne!!&all womanline!!&entire in her.



mornin' of our intended de%arture, I wa! loo*in' into the "ourt throu'h a little round hole I had

"leared for o#!er$ation in the du!t of one of the window!, #elie$in' I had o#!er$ed !i'n! of

unu!ual %re%aration on the %art of the hou!ehold, when a "arria'e dro$e u%, followed #y twoother!, and 2ord and 2ady )ilton de!"ended and entered, with an attendan"e of !ome ei'ht or

ten.

There wa! a 'reat #u!tle in the hou!e all day. Of "our!e I felt unea!y, for if anythin' !houldinterfere with our fli'ht, the %re!en"e of !o many would in"rea!e whate$er diffi"ulty mi'ht o""ur.

I wa! al!o unea!y a#out the treatment my Ali"e mi'ht re"ei$e from the new-"omer!. Indeed, it

mi'ht #e %ut out of her %ower to meet me at all. It had #een arran'ed #etween u! that !he !houldnot "ome to the haunted "ham#er at the u!ual hour, #ut toward! midni'ht.

I wa! there waitin' for her. The hour arri$ed the hou!e !eemed 1uiet #ut !he did not "ome. I

#e'an to 'row $ery unea!y. I waited half an hour more, and then, una#le to endure it lon'er, "re%t

to her door. I tried to o%en it, #ut found it fa!t. At the !ame moment I heard a li'ht !o# in!ide. I %ut my li%! to the *eyhole, and "alled ; Alice.; She an!wered in a moment:&

;They ha$e lo"*ed me in.;

The *ey wa! 'one. There wa! no time to #e lo!t. 7ho "ould tell what they mi'ht do to-

morrow, if already they were ta*in' %re"aution! a'ain!t her madne!!+ I would try the *ey of anei'h#ourin' door, and if that would not fit, I would #ur!t the door o%en, and ta*e the "han"e. A!

it wa!, the *ey fitted the lo"*, and the door o%ened. 7e lo"*ed it a'ain on the out!ide, re!toredthe *ey, and in another moment were in the haunted "ham#er. Ali"e wa! dre!!ed, ready for fli'ht.

To me, it wa! $ery %atheti" to !ee her in the !ha%e! of year! 'one #y. She loo*ed faded and

an"ient, notwith!tandin' that thi! wa! the dre!! in whi"h I had !een her !o often of old. )er !tream had #een !tandin' !till, while mine had flowed on. She wa! a %ortrait of my own youn'

Ali"e, a %i"ture of her own former !elf.

One or two li'ht! 'lan"in' a#out #elow detained u! for a little while. 7e were !tandin' near

the window, feelin' now $ery an8iou! to #e "lear of the hou!e Ali"e wa! holdin' me and leanin'on me with the e!!en"e of tru!t when, all at on"e, !he dro%%ed my arm, "o$ered her fa"e with

her hand!, and "alled out: ;The hor!e with the "lan*in' !hoe=; At the !ame moment, the hea$y

door whi"h "ommuni"ated with thi! %art of the hou!e flew o%en with a "ra!h, and foot!te%! "amehurryin' alon' the %a!!a'e. A li'ht 'leamed into the room, and #y it I !aw that 2ady Ali"e, who

wa! !tandin' "lo!e to me !till, wa! 'a9in', with fla!hin' eye!, at the door. She whi!%ered

hurriedly:;I remem#er it all now, Dun"an. My #rain i! all ri'ht. It i! "ome a'ain. (ut they !hall not %art

u! thi! time. You follow me for on"e.;

A! !he !%o*e, I !aw !omethin' 'litter in her hand. She had "au'ht u% an old Malay "ree!e that

lay in a "orner, and wa! now ma*in' for the door, at whi"h half a do9en dome!ti"! were #y thi!time 'athered. They, too, !aw the 'litter, and made way. I followed "lo!e, ready to fell the fir!t

who offered to lay hand! on her. (ut !he wal*ed throu'h them unmena"ed, and, on"e "lear, !%ed

li*e a #ird into the re"e!!e! of the old hou!e. One fellow !tarted to follow. I tri%%ed him u%. I wa!"ollared #y another. The !ame in!tant he lay #y hi! "om%anion, and I followed Ali"e. She *new

the route well enou'h, and I o$ertoo* her in the 'reat hall. 7e heard %ur!uin' feet rattlin' down

the e"hoin' !tair. To enter my room and #olt the door #ehind u! wa! a moment! wor* and a fewmoment! more too* u! into the alley of the *it"hen-'arden. 7ith !%eedy, noi!ele!! !te%!, we

made our way to the %ar*, and a"ro!! it to the door in the fen"e, where 7ood wa! waitin' for u!,

old 0on!tan"y %awin' the 'round with im%atien"e for a 'ood run.

)e had had enou'h of it #efore twel$e hour! were o$er.



7a! I not well re"om%en!ed for my lon' year! of de!%air+ The "old !tar! were !%ar*lin'

o$erhead a wind #lew *een a'ain!t u!&the wind of our own fli'ht 0on!tan"y !te%%ed out with

a will and I ur'ed him on, for he #ore my #elo$ed and me into the future life. 0lo!e #e!ide me!he !at, wra%%ed warm from the "old, reoi"in' in her deli$eran"e, and now and then loo*in' u%

with tear-#ri'ht eye! into my fa"e. On"e and a'ain I felt her !o#, #ut I *new it wa! a !o# of oy,

and not of 'rief. The !%ell wa! #ro*en at la!t, and !he wa! mine. I felt that not all the !%e"tre! of the uni$er!e "ould tear her from me, thou'h now and then a !li'ht !hudder would "ree% throu'h

me, when the "lan* of 0on!tan"y! #it would e"ho !har%ly #a"* from the tree! we !we%t %a!t.

7e re!ted no more than wa! a#!olutely ne"e!!ary and in a! !hort a !%a"e a! e$er hor!e "ould %erform the ourney, we rea"hed the S"ot"h #order, and #efore many more hour! had 'one o$er

u!, Ali"e wa! my wife.

CHAPTER $$VII# #reedo"#

)one!t 7ood oined u! in the "our!e of a wee* or two, and ha! "ontinued in my !er$i"e e$er

!in"e. Nor wa! it lon' #efore Mr!. (la*e!ley wa! li*ewi!e added to our hou!ehold, for !he had #een in!tantly di!mi!!ed from the "ounte!!! !er$i"e on the "har'e of "om%li"ity in 2ady Ali"e!

a#du"tion.7e li$ed for !ome month! in a "otta'e on a hill-!ide, o$erloo*in' one of the lo$elie!t of the

S"ot"h la*e!. )ere I wa! on"e more tutor to my Ali"e. And a 1ui"* !"holar !he wa!, a! e$er. Nor,

I tru!t, wa! I !low in my %art. )er "hara"ter #e"ame yet "learer to me, e$ery day. I under!toodher #etter and #etter.

She "ould endure mar$ellou!ly #ut without lo$e and it! oy !he "ould not live, in any real

!en!e. In un"on'enial !o"iety, her whole mental fa"ulty had fro9en when lo$e "ame, her mental

world, li*e a 'arden in the !%rin' !un!hine, #lo!!omed and #udded. 7hen !he lo!t me, the3re!ent $ani!hed, or went #y her li*e an o"ean that ha! no mile!tone! !he "arin' only for the

3a!t, li$in' only in the 3a!t, and that refle"tion of it in the dim 'la!! of her ho%e, whi"h

%refi'ured the /uture.7e ha$e ne$er a'ain heard the "lan*in' !hoe. Indeed, after we had %a!!ed a few month! in the

a#!or%tion of ea"h other! !o"iety, we #e'an to find that we dou#ted a 'reat deal of what !eemed

to ha$e ha%%ened to u!. It wa! a! if the 'ate! of the un!een world were "lo!in' a'ain!t u!, #e"au!e we had !hut our!el$e! u% in the world of the %re!ent. (ut we let it 'o 'ladly. 7e felt that

lo$e wa! the 'ate to an un!een world infinitely #eyond that re'ion of the %!y"holo'i"al in whi"h

we had hitherto mo$ed for thi! lo$e wa! tea"hin' u! to lo$e all men, and li$e for all men. In

fa"t, we are now, I am 'lad to !ay, $ery mu"h li*e other %eo%le and wonder, !ometime!, howmu"h of the !tory of our li$e! mi'ht #e a""ounted for on the !u%%o!ition that unu!ual

"oin"iden"e! had fallen in with %!y"holo'i"al %e"uliaritie!. Dr. Ruthwell, who i! !ometime! our

mo!t wel"ome 'ue!t, ha! o""a!ionally hinted at the !a#re-"ut a! the *ey to all the my!terie! of the!tory, !eein' nothin' of it wa! at lea!t re"orded #efore I "ame under hi! "har'e. (ut I ha$e only

to remind him of one or two "ir"um!tan"e!, to eli"it from hi! hone!ty and immediate "onfe!!ion

of #ewilderment, followed #y !ilen"e althou'h he e$idently !till "lin'! to the notion that in that!a#re-"ut lie! the !olution of mu"h of the mar$el. At all e$ent!, he "on!ider! me !ane enou'h

now, el!e he would hardly honour me with !o mu"h of hi! "onfiden"e a! he doe!. )a$in'

e8amined into 2ady Ali"e! affair!, I "laimed the fortune whi"h !he had inherited. 2ord )ilton,

my former %u%il, at on"e a"*nowled'ed the u!ti"e of the "laim, and wa! "on!idera#ly a!toni!hed



to find how mu"h more mi'ht ha$e #een demanded of him, whi"h had #een !%ent o$er the

allowan"e made from her in"ome for her maintenan"e. (ut we had enou'h without "laimin' that.

My wife %ur"ha!ed for me the %o!!e!!ion of my forefather!, and there we li$e in %ea"e andho%e. To her I owe the deli'ht whi"h I feel e$ery day of my life in loo*in' u%on the haunt! of my

"hildhood a! !till mine. They hel% me to *ee% youn'. And !o doe! my Ali"e! hair for althou'h

mu"h 'rey now min'le! with mine, her! i! a! dar* a! e$er. /or her heart, I *now that "annot'row old and while the heart i! youn', man may lau'h old Time in the fa"e, and dare him to do

hi! wor!t.

THE CREL PAINTER

Amon' the youn' men a!!em#led at the 6ni$er!ity of 3ra'ue, in the year @B&, wa! one"alled Karl $on 7ol*enli"ht. A !omewhat "arele!! !tudent, he yet held a fair %o!ition in the

e!timation of #oth %rofe!!or! and men, #e"au!e he "ould hardly loo* at a %ro%o!ition without

under!tandin' it. 7here !u"h %ro%o!ition, howe$er, had to do with anythin' relatin' to the

dee%er in!i'ht! of the nature, he wa! 1uite "ontent that, for him, it !hould remain a %ro%o!itionwhi"h, howe$er, he laid u% in one of hi! mental "a#inet!, and wa! ready to re%rodu"e at a

moment! noti"e. Thi! mental a'ility wa! more than mat"hed #y the "orre!%ondin' "or%oreale8"ellen"e, and #oth aided in %rodu"in' re!ult! in whi"h hi! remar*a#le !tren'th wa! e1ually

a%%arent. In all 'ame! de%endin' u%on the "om#ination of mu!"le and !*ill, he had !"ar"e ri$alry

enou'h to *ee% him in %ra"ti"e. )i! !tren'th, howe$er, wa! em#odied in !u"h a !oftne!! of mu!"ular outline, !u"h a rare Gree*-li*e !tyle of #eauty, and a!!o"iated with !u"h a 'entlene!! of

manner and #eha$iour, that, %artly from the truth of the re!em#lan"e, %artly from the a#!urdity of

the "ontra!t, he wa! *nown throu'hout the uni$er!ity #y the diminuti$e of the feminine form of

hi! name, and wa! alway! "alled 2ott"hen.;I !ay, 2ott"hen,; !aid one of hi! fellow-!tudent!, "alled Ri"hter, a"ro!! the ta#le in a wine-

"ellar they were in the ha#it of fre1uentin', ;do you *now, )einri"h )Cllenra"hen here !ay! that

he !aw thi! mornin', with mortal eye!, whom do you thin*+&2ilith.;;Adam! fir!t wife+; a!*ed 2ott"hen, with an attem%t at "arele!!ne!!, while hi! fa"e flu!hed

li*e a maiden!.

;None of your "haff=; !aid Ri"hter. ;Your fa"e i! hone!ter than your ton'ue, and "onfe!!e!what you "annot deny, that you would 'i$e your "han"e of !al$ation&a !mall one to #e !ure, #ut

all you$e 'ot&for one %ee% at 2ilith. 7ouldnt you now, 2ott"hen+;

;Go to the de$il=; wa! all 2ott"hen! an!wer to hi! tormentor #ut he turned to )einri"h, to

whom the !tudent! had 'i$en the !urname a#o$e mentioned, #e"au!e of the enormou! width of hi! aw!, and !aid with ea'erne!! and en$y, di!'ui!in' them a! well a! he "ould, under the

a%%earan"e of "urio!ity&

;You dont mean it, )einri"h+ You$e #een ta*in' the #e''ar in= 0onfe!! now.;;Not I. I !aw her with my two eye!.;

;Notwith!tandin' the different %lane! of their or#it!,; !u''e!ted Ri"hter.

;Ye!, notwith!tandin' the fa"t that I "an 'et a %aralla8 to any of the fi8ed !tar! in a moment,with only the #readth of my no!e for the #a!e,; an!wered )einri"h, re!%ondin' at on"e to the fun,

and "arele!! of the %er!onal defe"t in!inuated. ;She wa! near enou'h for e$en me to !ee her

%erfe"tly.;

;7hen+ 7here+ )ow+; a!*ed 2ott"hen.



;Two hour! a'o. In the "hur"hyard of St. Ste%hen!. (y a lu"*y "han"e. Any more little

1ue!tion!, my "hild+; an!wered )Cllenra"hen.

;7hat "ould ha$e ta*en her there, who i! !een nowhere+; !aid Ri"hter.;She wa! !eated on a 'ra$e. After !he left, I went to the %la"e #ut it wa! a new-made 'ra$e.

There wa! no !tone u%. I a!*ed the !e8ton a#out her. )e !aid he !u%%o!ed !he wa! the dau'hter

of the woman #uried there la!t Thur!day wee*. I *new it wa! 2ilith.;;)er mother dead=; !aid 2ott"hen, mu!in'ly. Then he thou'ht with him!elf&;She will #e

'oin' there a'ain, then=; (ut he too* "are that thi! 'ho!t-thou'ht !hould wander unem#odied.

;(ut how did you *now her, )einri"h+ You ne$er !aw her #efore.;;)ow do you "ome to #e o$er head and ear! in lo$e with her, 2ott"hen, and you ha$ent !een

her at all+; inter%o!ed Ri"hter.

;7ill you or will you not 'o to the de$il+; reoined 2ott"hen, with a "omi" "re!"endo to

whi"h the other re%lied with a lau'h.;No one "ould mi!! *nowin' her,; !aid )einri"h.

;I! !he !o $ery li*e, then+;

;It i! alway! her!elf, her $ery !elf.;

A fre!h fla!* of wine, turnin' out to #e not u% to the mar*, #rou'ht the "urrent of "on$er!ationa'ain!t it!elf not mu"h to the di!!ati!fa"tion of 2ott"hen, who had already re!ol$ed to #e in the

"hur"hyard of St. Ste%hen! at !un-down the followin' day, in the ho%e that he too mi'ht #efa$oured with a $i!ion of 2ilith.

Thi! re!olution he "arried out. Seated in a %or"h of the "hur"h, not *nowin' in what dire"tion

to loo* for the a%%arition he ho%ed to !ee, and de!irou! a! well of not !eemin' to #e on the wat"hfor one, he wa! 'a9in' at the fallen ro!e-lea$e! of the !un!et, witherin' away u%on the !*y

when, 'lan"in' a!ide #y an in$oluntary mo$ement, he !aw a woman !eated u%on a new-made

'ra$e, not many yard! from where he !at, with her fa"e #uried in her hand!, and a%%arently

wee%in' #itterly. Karl wa! in the !hadow of the %or"h, and "ould !ee her %erfe"tly, without mu"hdan'er of #ein' di!"o$ered #y her !o he !at and wat"hed her. She rai!ed her head for a moment,

and the ro!e-flu!h of the we!t fell o$er it, !hinin' on the tear! with whi"h it wa! wet, and 'i$in'

the whole a #loom whi"h did not #elon' to it, for it wa! alway! %ale, and now %ale a! death. Itwa! indeed the fa"e of 2ilith, the mo!t "ele#rated #eauty of 3ra'ue.

A'ain !he #uried her fa"e in her hand! and Karl !at with a !tran'e feelin' of hel%le!!ne!!,

whi"h 'rew a! he !at and the lon'in' to hel% her whom he "ould not hel%, drew hi! hearttoward! her with a trem#lin' re$eren"e whi"h wa! 1uite new to him. She we%t on. The we!tern

ro!e! withered !lowly away, and the "loud! #lended with the !*y, and the !tar! 'athered li*e

dro%! of 'lory !in*in' throu'h the $ault of ni'ht, and the tree! a#out the "hur"hyard 'rew #la"*,

and 2ilith almo!t $ani!hed in the wide dar*ne!!. At len'th !he lifted her head, and !eein' theni'ht around her, 'a$e a little #ro*en "ry of di!may. The minute! had !we%t o$er her head, not

throu'h her mind, and !he did not *now that the dar* had "ome.

)earin' her "ry, Karl ro!e and a%%roa"hed her. She heard hi! foot!te%!, and !tarted to her feet.Karl !%o*e&

;Do not #e fri'htened,; he !aid. ;2et me !ee you home. I will wal* #ehind you.;

;7ho are you+; !he reoined.;Karl 7ol*enli"ht.;

;I ha$e heard of you. Than* you. I "an 'o home alone.;

Yet, a! if in a half-dreamy, half-un"on!"iou! mood, !he a""e%ted hi! offered hand to lead her

throu'h the 'ra$e!, and allowed him to wal* #e!ide her, till, rea"hin' the "orner of a narrow



!treet, !he !uddenly #ade him 'ood-ni'ht and $ani!hed. )e thou'ht it #etter not to follow her, !o

he returned her 'ood-ni'ht and went home.

)ow to !ee her a'ain wa! hi! fir!t thou'ht the ne8t day a!, in fa"t, how to !ee her at all had #een hi! fir!t thou'ht for many day!. She went nowhere that e$er he heard of !he *new no#ody

that he *new !he wa! ne$er !een at "hur"h, or at mar*et ne$er !een in the !treet. )er home had

a dreary, de!olate a!%e"t. It loo*ed a! if no one e$er went out or in. It wa! li*e a %la"e on whi"hde"ay had fallen #e"au!e there wa! no indwellin' !%irit. The mud of year! wa! #a*ed u%on it!

door, and no fa"e! loo*ed out of it! du!ty window!.

)ow then "ould !he #e the mo!t "ele#rated #eauty of 3ra'ue+ )ow then wa! it that )einri"h)Cllenra"hen *new her the moment he !aw her+ A#o$e all, how wa! it that Karl 7ol*enli"ht

had, in fa"t, fallen in lo$e with her #efore e$er he !aw her+ It wa! thu!&

)er father wa! a %ainter. (elon'in' thu! to the %u#li", it had ta*en the li#erty of re-namin'

him. E$ery one "alled him Teufel!#r!t, or De$il!#ru!h. It wa! a name with whi"h, to ud'e fromthe nature of hi! re%re!entation!, he "ould hardly fail to #e %lea!ed. /or, not a! a ni'htmare

dream, whi"h may alternate with the lo$elie!t $i!ion!, #ut a! hi! ordinary e$eryday wor*, he

deli'hted to re%re!ent human !ufferin'.

Not an a!%e"t of human woe or torture, a! e8%re!!ed in "ountenan"e or lim#, "ame #efore hi!willin' ima'ination, #ut he #ore it !trai'htway to hi! ea!el. In the moment! that %re"ede !lee%,

when the #la"* !%a"e #efore the eye! of the %oet teem! with lo$ely fa"e!, or dawn! into a !%irit-land!"a%e, fa"e after fa"e of !ufferin', in all $arietie! of e8%re!!ion, would "rowd, a! if

"om%elled #y the a""om%anyin' fiend!, to %re!ent them!el$e!, in awful le$ee, #efore the inner

eye of the e8%e"tant ma!ter. Then he would ri!e, li'ht hi! lam%, and, with ra%id hand, ma*e note!of hi! $i!ion! re"ordin', with !wift !u""e!!i$e !wee%! of hi! %en"il, e$ery indi$idual fa"e whi"h

had reoi"ed hi! e$il fan"y. Then he would return to hi! "ou"h, and, well !ati!fied, fall a!lee% to

dream yet further em#odiment! of human ill.

7hat wron' "ould man or man*ind ha$e done him, to #e thu! fearfully %ur!ued #y the$en'ean"e of the arti!t! hate+

Another "hara"teri!ti" of the fa"e! and form whi"h he drew wa!, that they were all #eautiful in

the ori'inal idea. The line! of ea"h fa"e, howe$er di!torted #y %ain, would ha$e #een, in re!t,a#!olutely #eautiful and the whole of the e8e"ution #ore witne!! to the fa"t that u%on thi!

ori'inal #eauty the %ainter had dire"ted the artillery of an'ui!h to #rin' down the !*y-!oarin'

hei'ht! of it! di$inity to the le$el of a hated e8i!ten"e. To do thi!, he wor*ed in %erfe"ta""ordan"e with arti!ti" law, fal!ifyin' no line of the ori'inal form!. It wa! the !ufferin', rather

than hi! %en"il, that wrou'ht the "han'e. The latter wa! the willin' in!trument to re"ord what the

ima'ination "on"ei$ed with a "ruelty "om%o!ed enou'h to #e "orre"t.

To enhan"e the #eauty he had thu! di!torted, and !o to enhan"e yet further the !ufferin' that %rodu"ed the di!tortion, he would often re%re!ent attendant demon!, whom he made a! u'ly a!

hi! ima'ination "ould "om%a!! a$oidin', howe$er, all 'rote!1uene!! #eyond what wa! !uffi"ient

to indi"ate that they were demon!, and not men. Their u'line!! ro!e from hate, en$y, and all e$il %a!!ion! amon'!t whi"h he e!%e"ially deli'hted to re%re!ent a 'loatin' e8ultation o$er human

di!tre!!. And often in the mid!t of hi! "loud! of demon fa"e!, would !ome one who *new him

re"o'ni!e the %ainter! own li*ene!!, !u"h a! the mirror mi'ht ha$e %re!ented it to him when hewa! #u!ie!t o$er the in"arnation of !ome e81ui!ite torture.

(ut a%%arently with the wi!h to a$oid #ein' !u%%o!ed to "hoo!e !u"h re%re!entation! for their

own !a*e!, he alway! found a !tory, often in the hi!torie! of the "hur"h, who!e name he 'a$e to

the %aintin', and whi"h he %retended to ha$e in!%ired the %i"torial "on"e%tion. No one, howe$er,



who loo*ed u%on hi! !ufferin' martyr!, "ould !u%%o!e for a moment that he honoured their

martyrdom. They were #ut the $ehi"le! for hi! hate of humanity. )e wa! the torturer, and not

Dio"letian or Nero.(ut, !tran'er yet to tell, there wa! no %i"ture, whate$er it! !u#e"t, into whi"h he did not

introdu"e one form of %la"id and harmoniou! lo$eline!!. In thi!, howe$er, hi! fier"ene!! wa!

only more fully di!%layed. /or in no "a!e did thi! form manife!t any relation either to the a"tor!or the endurer! in the %i"ture. )en"e it! $ery lo$eline!! #e"ame almo!t hateful to tho!e who

#eheld it. Not a !hade "ro!!ed the !till !*y of that #row, not a ri%%le di!tur#ed the !till !ea of that

"hee*. She did not hate, !he did not lo$e the !ufferer!: the %ainter would not ha$e her hate, for that would #e to the inury of her lo$eline!!: would not ha$e her lo$e, for he hated. Sometime!

!he floated a#o$e, a! a !till, uno#!er$ant an'el, her 'a9e turned u%ward, dreamin' alon', "arele!!

a! a white !ummer "loud, a"ro!! the #lue. If !he loo*ed down on the !"ene #elow, it wa! only

that the #eholder mi'ht !ee that !he !aw and did not "are&that not a feather of her out!%read %inion! would 1ui$er at the !i'ht. Sometime! !he would !tand in the "rowd, a! if !he had #een

"o%ied there from another %i"ture, and had nothin' to do with thi! one, nor any ri'ht to #e in it at

all. Or when the red #lood wa! tri"*lin' dro% #y dro% from the "ru!hed lim#, !he mi'ht #e !een

!tandin' neare!t, !milin' o$er a %rimro!e or the #loom on a %ea"h. Some had !aid that !he wa!the %ainter! wife that !he had #een fal!e to him that he had *illed her and, findin' that that wa!

no !uffi"in' re$en'e, thu! half in lo$e, and half in dee%e!t hate, immortali!ed hi! $en'ean"e. (utit wa! now uni$er!ally under!tood that it wa! hi! dau'hter, of who!e lo$eline!! e8tra$a'ant

re%ort! went a#road thou'h all !aid, dou#tle!! readin' thi! from her father! %i"ture!, that !he

wa! a #eauty without a heart. Stran'e theorie! of !omethin' el!e !u%%lyin' it! %la"e were rifeamon' the anatomi"al !tudent!. 7ith the 'irl in the %i"ture!, the wild ima'ination of 2ott"hen,

%ro#a#ly in %art from her a%%arently a#!olute unattaina#lene!! and her undi!%uted heartle!!ne!!,

had fallen in lo$e, a! far a! the mere ima'ination "an fall in lo$e.

(ut a'ain, how wa! he to !ee her+ )e haunted the hou!e ni'ht after ni'ht. Tho!e #lue eye!ne$er met hi!. No !te% re!%on!i$e to hi! "ame from that door. It !eemed to ha$e #een !o lon'

uno%ened that it had 'rown a! fi8ed and hard a! the !tone! that held it! #olt! in their %a!!i$e

"la!%. )e dared not wat"h in the daytime, and with all hi! wat"hin' at ni'ht, he ne$er !aw father or dau'hter or dome!ti" "ro!! the thre!hold. 2ittle he thou'ht that, from a !hot-window near the

door, a %air of #lue eye!, li*e 2ilith!, #ut %aler and "older, were wat"hin' him u!t a! a !%ider

wat"he! the fly that i! li*ely ere lon' to fall into hi! toil!. And into tho!e toil! Karl !oon fell. /or her form dar*ened the %a'e her form !tood on the thre!hold of !lee% and when, o$er"ome with

wat"hin', he did enter it! %re"in"t!, her form entered with him, and wal*ed #y hi! !ide. )e mu!t

find her or the world mi'ht 'o to the #ottomle!! %it for him. (ut how+

Ye!. )e would #e a %ainter. Teufel!#r!t would re"ei$e him a! a hum#le a%%renti"e. )e would'rind hi! "olour!, and Teufel!#r!t would tea"h him the my!terie! of the !"ien"e whi"h i! the

handmaiden of art. Then he mi'ht !ee her, and that wa! all hi! am#ition.

In the "lear mornin' li'ht of a day in autumn, when the lea$e! were #e'innin' to fall !earedfrom the hand of that Death whi"h ha! hi! dan"e in the "ha%el! of nature a! well a! in the

"athedral ai!le! of men&he wal*ed u% and *no"*ed at the din'y door. The !%ider %ainter o%ened

it him!elf. )e wa! a little man, mea're and %allid, with tho!e faded #lue eye!, a low no!e in threedi!tin"t di$i!ion!, and thin, "ur$ele!!, "ruel li%!. )e wore no hair on hi! fa"e #ut lon' 'rey lo"*!,

lon' a! a woman!, were !"attered o$er hi! !houlder!, and hun' down on hi! #rea!t. 7hen

7ol*enli"ht had e8%lained hi! errand, he !miled a !mile in whi"h hy%o"ri!y "ould not hide the

"unnin', and, after many diffi"ultie!, "on!ented to re"ei$e him a! a %u%il, on "ondition that he



would #e"ome an inmate of hi! hou!e. 7ol*enli"ht! heart #ounded with deli'ht, whi"h he tried

to hide: the !e"ond !mile of Teufel!#r!t mi'ht ha$e !hown him that he had ill !u""eeded. The

fa"t that he wa! not a nati$e of 3ra'ue, #ut "omin' from a di!tant %art of the "ountry, wa!entirely hi! own ma!ter in the "ity, rendered thi! "ondition %erfe"tly ea!y to fulfil and that $ery

afternoon he entered the !tudio of Teufel!#r!t a! hi! !"holar and !er$ant.

It wa! a 'reat room, filled with the a%%lian"e! and re!ult! of art. Many %i"ture!, fe!tooned with"o#we#!, were hun' "arele!!ly on the dirty wall!. Other!, half fini!hed, leaned a'ain!t them, on

the floor. Se$eral, in different !ta'e! of %ro're!!, !tood u%on ea!el!. (ut all !%o*e the "ruel #ent

of the arti!t! 'eniu!. In one "orner a lay fi'ure wa! e8tended on a "ou"h, "o$ered with a %all of #la"* $el$et. Throu'h it! fold!, the form #eneath wa! ea!ily di!"erni#le and one hand and

forearm %rotruded from #eneath it, at ri'ht an'le! to the re!t of the frame. 2ott"hen "ould not

hel% !hudderin' when he !aw it. Althou'h he o$er"ame the feelin' in a moment, he felt a 'reat

re%u'nan"e to !eatin' him!elf with hi! #a"* toward! it, a! the arran'ement of an ea!el, at whi"hTeufel!#r!t wi!hed him to draw, rendered ne"e!!ary. )e "ontri$ed to ed'e him!elf round, !o that

when he lifted hi! eye! he !hould !ee the fi'ure, and #e !ure that it "ould not ri!e without hi!

#ein' aware of it. (ut hi! ma!ter !aw and under!tood hi! altered %o!ition and under !ome

%reten"e a#out the li'ht, "om%elled him to re!ume the %o!ition in whi"h he had %la"ed him atfir!t after whi"h he !at wat"hin', o$er the to% of hi! %i"ture, the e8%re!!ion of hi! "ountenan"e

a! he tried to draw readin' in it the horrid fan"y that the fi'ure under the %all had ri!en, and wa!!tealthily a%%roa"hin' to loo* o$er hi! !houlder. (ut 2ott"hen re!i!ted the feelin', and, #ein'

already no "ontem%ti#le drau'ht!man, wa! !oon intere!ted enou'h to for'et it. And then, any

moment she mi'ht enter. Now #e'an a !y!tem of !low torture, for the "han"e of whi"h the %ainter had #een lon' on the

wat"h&e!%e"ially !in"e he had fir!t !een Karl lin'erin' a#out the hou!e. )i! o%%ortunitie! of

!eein' %hy!i"al !ufferin' were nearly enou'h e$en for the di!ea!ed ne"e!!itie! of hi! art #ut now

he had one in hi! %ower, on whom, hi! own will fetterin' him, he "ould try any e8%eriment! he %lea!ed for the %rodu"tion of a *ind of !ufferin', in the o#!er$ation of whi"h he did not "on!ider

that he had yet !uffi"ient e8%erien"e. )e would hold the $ery heart of the youth in hi! hand, and

wrin' it and torture it to hi! own "ontent. And le!t Karl !hould #e !tron' enou'h to %re$ent tho!ee8%re!!ion! of %ain for whi"h he lay on the wat"h, he would ma*e u!e of further mean!, *nown

to him!elf, and *nown to few #e!ide!.

All that day Karl !aw nothin' of 2ilith #ut he heard her $oi"e on"e&and that wa! enou'h for one day. The ne8t, !he wa! !ittin' to her father the 'reater %art of the day, and he "ould !ee her a!

often a! he dared 'lan"e u% from hi! drawin'. She had loo*ed at him when !he entered, #ut had

!hown no !i'n of re"o'nition and all day lon' !he too* no further noti"e of him. )e ho%ed, at

fir!t, that thi! "ame of the intelli'en"e of lo$e #ut he !oon #e'an to dou#t it. /or he !aw that,with the holy !hadow of !orrow, all that di!tin'ui!hed the e8%re!!ion of her "ountenan"e from

that whi"h the %ainter !o "on!tantly re%rodu"ed, had $ani!hed li*ewi!e. It wa! the $ery fa"e of

the unheedin' an'el whom, a! often a! he lifted hi! eye! hi'her than her!, he !aw on the walla#o$e her, %layin' on a %!altery in the !mo*e of the torment a!"endin' for e$er from #urnin'

(a#ylon.&The %ower of the %ainter had not merely wrou'ht for the re%re!entation of the woman

of hi! ima'ination it had had !"o%e a! well in reali!in' her.Karl !oon #e'an to !ee that "ommuni"ation, other than of the eye!, wa! all #ut ho%ele!! and to

any attem%t in that way !he !eemed alto'ether indi!%o!ed to re!%ond. Nor if !he had wi!hed it,

would it ha$e #een !afe for a! often a! he 'lan"ed toward! her, in!tead of her!, he met the #lue



eye! of the %ainter 'leamin' u%on him li*e winter li'htnin'. )i! tone!, hi! 'e!ture!, hi! word!,

!eemed *ind: hi! 'lan"e and hi! !mile refu!ed to #e di!'ui!ed.

The fir!t day he dined alone in the !tudio, waited u%on #y an old woman the ne8t he wa!admitted to the family ta#le, with Teufel!#r!t and 2ilith. The room offered a !tran'e "ontra!t to

the !tudy. A! far a! handi"raft, dire"ted #y a !um%tuou! ta!te, "ould "on!tru"t a hou!e-%aradi!e,

thi! wa! one. (ut it !eemed rather a %aradi!e of demon! for the wall! were "o$ered withTeufel!#r!t! %aintin'!. Durin' the dinner, 2ilith! 'a9e !"ar"ely met that of 7ol*enli"ht and

on"e or twi"e, when their eye! did meet, her 'lan"e wa! !o %erfe"tly un"on"erned, that Karl

wi!hed he mi'ht loo* at her for e$er without the fear of her loo*in' at him a'ain. She !eemedli*e one who!e lo$e had ru!hed out 'lowin' with !era%hi" fire, to #e fro9en to death in a more

than wintry "old: !he now wal*ed lonely without her lo$e. In the e$enin'!, he wa! e8%e"ted to

"ontinue hi! drawin' #y lam%li'ht and at ni'ht he wa! "ondu"ted #y Teufel!#r!t to hi!

"ham#er. Not on"e did he allow him to %ro"eed thither alone, and not on"e did he lea$e him therewithout lo"*in' and #oltin' the door on the out!ide. (ut he felt nothin' e8"e%t the "oldne!! of

2ilith.

Day after day !he !at to her father, in e$ery $ariety of "o!tume that "ould #e!t !how the $ariety

of her #eauty. )ow mu"h 'reater that #eauty mi'ht #e, if it e$er #lo!!omed into a #eauty of !oul,7ol*enli"ht ne$er ima'ined for he !oon lo$ed her enou'h to attri#ute to her all the %o!!i#ilitie!

of her fa"e a! a"tual %o!!e!!ion! of her #ein'. To a""ount for e$erythin' that !eemed to"ontradi"t thi! %erfe"tion, hi! #rain wa! %rolifi" in in$ention! till he wa! "om%elled at la!t to !ee

that !he wa! in the "ondition of a ro!e-#ud, whi"h, on the %oint of #lo!!omin', had #een "hilled

into a "han'ele!! #ud #y the "old of an untimely fro!t. /or one day, after the father and dau'hter had #e"ome a little more a""u!tomed to hi! !ilent %re!en"e, a "on$er!ation #e'an #etween them,

whi"h went on until he !aw that Teufel!#r!t #elie$ed in nothin' e8"e%t hi! art. )ow mu"h of hi!

feelin' for that "ould #e di'nified #y the name of #elief, !eein' it! o#e"t! were !u"h a! they

were, mi'ht ha$e #een 1ue!tioned. It !eemed to 7ol*enli"ht to amount only to thi!: that, amid!ta thou!and di!ta!te!, it wa! a %lea!ant thin' to re%rodu"e on the "an$a! the form! he #eheld

around him, modifyin' them to e8%re!! the %re$ailin' feelin'! of hi! own mind.

A more de!olate "ommuni"ation #etween !oul! than that whi"h then %a!!ed #etween father and dau'hter "ould hardly #e ima'ined. The father !%o*e of humanity and all it! e8%erien"e! in a

tone of the #ittere!t !"orn. )e de!%i!ed men, and him!elf amon'!t them and reoi"ed to thin*

that the 'eneration! ro!e and $ani!hed, #rood after #rood, a! the "ro%! of "orn 'rew anddi!a%%eared. 2ilith, who li!tened to it all unmo$ed, ta*in' only an intelle"tual intere!t in the

1ue!tion, remar*ed that e$en the "orn had more life than that for, after it! death, it ro!e a'ain in

the new "ro%. 7hether !he meant that the "orn wa! therefore !u%erior to man, for'ettin' that the

!u%erior "an %rodu"e #ein' without lo!in' it! own, or only ad$an"ed an o#e"tion to her father!ar'ument, 7ol*enli"ht "ould not tell. (ut Teufel!#r!t lau'hed li*e the !ound of a !aw, and !aid:

;/ollow out the analo'y, my 2ilith, and you will !ee that man i! li*e the "orn that !%rin'! a'ain

after it i! #uried #ut unfortunately the only re!ult we *now of i! a $am%ire.;7ol*enli"ht loo*ed u%, and !aw a !hudder %a!! throu'h the frame, and o$er the %ale thin fa"e

of the %ainter. Thi! he "ould not a""ount for. (ut Teufel!#r!t "ould ha$e e8%lained it, for there

were !tran'e whi!%er! a#road, and they had rea"hed hi! ear and hi! %hilo!o%hy wa! not 1uiteenou'h for them. (ut the lau'h with whi"h 2ilith met thi! fri'htful attem%t at wit, 'rated

dreadfully on 7ol*enli"ht! feelin'. 7ith her, too, howe$er, a rea"tion !eemed to follow. /or,

turnin' round a moment after, and loo*in' at the %i"ture on whi"h her father wa! wor*in', the

tear! ro!e in her eye!, and !he !aid: ;Oh= father, how li*e my mother you ha$e made me thi!



time=; ;0hild=; retorted the %ainter with a "old fier"ene!!, ;you ha$e no mother. That whi"h i!

'one out i! 'one out. 3ut no name in my hearin' on that whi"h i! not. 7here no !u#!tan"e i!,

how "an there #e a name+;2ilith ro!e and left the room. 7ol*enli"ht now under!tood that 2ilith wa! a fro9en #ud, and

"ould not #lo!!om into a ro!e. (ut %ure lo$e li$e! #y faith. It lo$e! the $a'uely #eheld and

unreali!ed ideal. It dare! #elie$e that the lo$ed i! not all that !he e$er !eemed. It i! in $irtue of thi! that lo$e lo$e! on. And it wa! in $irtue of thi!, that 7ol*enli"ht lo$ed 2ilith yet more after

he di!"o$ered what a 'ra$e of mi!ery her un#elief wa! di''in' for her within her own !oul. /or

her !a*e he would #ear anythin'&#ear e$en with "almne!! the torment! of hi! own lo$e hewould !tay on, ho%in' and ho%in'.&The te8t, that we *now not what a day may #rin' forth, i!

u!t a! true of 'ood thin'! a! of e$il thin'! and out of Time! wom# the fa"t! mu!t "ome.

(ut with the #irth of thi! re!olution to endure, hi! !ufferin' a#ated hi! fa"e 'rew more "alm

hi! lo$e, no le!! earne!t, wa! le!! im%eriou! and he did not loo* u% !o often from hi! wor* when2ilith wa! %re!ent. The ma!ter "ould !ee that hi! %u%il wa! more at ea!e, and that he wa! ma*in'

ra%id %ro're!! in hi! art. Thi! did not !uit hi! de!i'n!, and he would #eta*e him!elf to hi! further

!"heme!.

/or thi! %ur%o!e he %ro"eeded fir!t to !imulate a friend!hi% for 7ol*enli"ht, the manife!tation!of whi"h he 'radually in"rea!ed, until, after a day or two, he a!*ed him to drin* wine with him in

the e$enin'. Karl readily a'reed. The %ainter %rodu"ed !ome of hi! #e!t #ut too* "are not toallow 2ilith to ta!te it for he had "unnin'ly %re%ared and min'led with it a de"o"tion of "ertain

her#! and other in'redient!, e8er"i!in' !%e"ifi" a"tion! u%on the #rain, and tendin' to the

inordinate e8"itement of tho!e %ortion! of it whi"h are %rin"i%ally under the rule of theima'ination. (y the rea"tion of the #rain durin' the o%eration of the!e !timulant!, the

ima'ination i! filled with !u''e!tion! and ima'e!. The nature of the!e i! determined #y the

%re$ailin' mood of the time. They are !u"h a! the ima'ination would %rodu"e of it!elf, #ut

in"rea!ed in num#er and inten!ity. Teufel!#r!t, without %hilo!o%hi!in' a#out it, "alled hi! %re%aration !im%ly a lo$e-%hiltre, a "on"o"tion well *nown #y name, #ut the "om%o!ition of

whi"h wa! the !e"ret of only a few. 7ol*enli"ht had, of "our!e, not the lea!t !u!%i"ion of the

treatment to whi"h he wa! !u#e"ted.Teufel!#r!t wa!, howe$er, doomed to fre!h di!a%%ointment. Not that hi! %otion failed in the

anti"i%ated effe"t, for now Karl! real !ufferin'! #e'an #ut that !u"h wa! the !tren'th of Karl!

will, and hi! fear of doin' anythin' that mi'ht 'i$e a %rete8t for #ani!hin' him from the %re!en"eof 2ilith, that he wa! a#le to "on"eal hi! feelin'! far too !u""e!!fully for the !ati!fa"tion of

Teufel!#r!t! art. Yet he had to fetter him!elf with all the re!traint! that !elf-e8hortation "ould

load him with, to refrain from fallin' at the feet of 2ilith and *i!!in' the hem of her 'arment. /or

that, a! the lowlie!t %art of all that !urrounded her, it!elf *i!!in' the earth, !eemed to "omeneare!t within the rea"h of hi! am#ition, and therefore to draw him the mo!t.

No dou#t the %ainter had e8%erien"e and %enetration enou'h to %er"ei$e that he wa! !ufferin'

inten!ely #ut he wanted to !ee the !ufferin' em#odied in outward !i'n!, #rin'in' it within there'ion o$er whi"h hi! %en"il held !way. )e *e%t on, therefore, tryin' one thin' after another, and

rou!in' the %oor youth to a'ony till to hi! other !ufferin'! were added, at len'th, tho!e of failin'

health a fa"t whi"h notified it!elf e$idently enou'h e$en for Teufel!#r!t, thou'h it! !i'n! werenot of the !ort he "hiefly de!ired. (ut Karl endured all #ra$ely.

Meantime, for $ariou! rea!on!, he !"ar"ely e$er left the hou!e.

I mu!t now interru%t the "our!e of my !tory to introdu"e another element.



A few year! #efore the %eriod of my tale, a "ertain !hoema*er of the "ity had died under

"ir"um!tan"e! more than !u''e!ti$e of !ui"ide. )e wa! #uried, howe$er, with !u"h %re"aution!,

that !i8 wee*! ela%!ed #efore the rumour of the fa"t! #ro*e out u%on whi"h rumour, not #efore,the mo!t fearful re%ort! #e'an to #e "ir"ulated, !u%%orted #y what !eemed to the %eo%le of

3ra'ue in"onte!ta#le e$iden"e.&A s+ectr"m of the de"ea!ed a%%eared to multitude! of %er!on!,

%layin' horri#le %ran*!, and o""a!ionin' inde!"ri#a#le "on!ternation throu'hout the whole town.Thi! went on till at la!t, a#out ei'ht month! after hi! #urial, the ma'i!trate! "au!ed hi! #ody to #e

du' u% when it wa! found in u!t the "ondition of the #odie! of tho!e who in the ea!tern

"ountrie! of Euro%e are "alled vam+ires. They #uried the "or%!e under the 'allow! #ut neither the di''in' u% nor the re#uryin' were of a$ail to #ani!h the !%e"tre. A'ain the !%ade and %i"*-

a8e were !et to wor*, and the dead man #ein' found "on!idera#ly im%ro$ed in condition !in"e

hi! la!t interment, wa!, with $ariou! horri#le indi'nitie!, #urnt to a!he!, ;after whi"h the

s+ectr"m wa! ne$er !een more.;And a !e"ond e%idemi" of the !ame nature had #ro*en out a little #efore the %eriod to whi"h I

ha$e #rou'ht my !tory.

A#out midni'ht, after a "alm fro!ty day, for it wa! now winter, a terri#le !torm of wind and

!now "ame on. The tem%e!t howled fri'htfully a#out the hou!e of the %ainter, and 7ol*enli"htfound !ome !ola"e in li!tenin' to the u%roar, for hi! trou#led thou'ht! would not allow him to

!lee%. It ra'ed on all the ne8t three day!, till a#out noon on the fourth day, when it !uddenly fell,and all wa! "alm. The followin' ni'ht, 7ol*enli"ht, lyin' awa*e, heard una""ounta#le noi!e! in

the ne8t hou!e, a! of thin'! thrown a#out, of *i"*in' and fi'htin' hor!e!, and of o%enin' and

!huttin' 'ate!. /lin'in' wide hi! latti"e and loo*in' out, the noi!e of howlin' do'! "ame to himfrom e$ery 1uarter of the town. The moon wa! #ri'ht and the air wa! !till. In a little while he

heard the !ound! of a hor!e 'oin' at full 'allo% round the hou!e, !o that it !hoo* a! if it would

fall and fla!he! of li'ht !hone into hi! room. )ow mu"h of thi! may ha$e #een owin' to the

effe"t of the dru'! on %oor 2ott"hen! #rain, I lea$e my reader! to determine. (ut when thefamily met at #rea*fa!t in the mornin', Teufel!#r!t, who had #een already out of door!, re%orted

that he had found the mar*! of !tran'e feet in the !now, all a#out the hou!e and throu'h the

'arden at the #a"* !tatin', a! hi! #elief, that the tra"*! mu!t #e "ontinued o$er the roof!, for there wa! no %a!!a'e otherwi!e. There wa! a wi"*ed 'leam in hi! eye a! he !%o*e and 2ilith

#elie$ed that he wa! only tryin' an e8%eriment on Karl! ner$e!. )e %er!i!ted that he had ne$er

!een any foot%rint! of the !ort #efore. Karl informed him of hi! e8%erien"e! durin' the ni'htu%on whi"h Teufel!#r!t loo*ed a little 'ra$er !till, and %ro"eeded to tell them that the !torm,

who!e !now wa! !till "o$erin' the 'round, had ari!en the $ery moment that their ne8t door

nei'h#our died, and had "ea!ed a! !uddenly the moment he wa! #uried, thou'h it had ra$ed

furiou!ly all the time of the funeral, !o that ;it made men! #odie! 1ua*e and their teeth "hatter intheir head!.; Karl had heard that the man, who!e name wa! <ohn Kunt9, wa! dead and #uried. )e

*new that he had #een a $ery wealthy, and therefore mo!t re!%e"ta#le, alderman of the town that

he had #een $ery fond of hor!e! and that he had died in "on!e1uen"e of a *i"* re"ei$ed fromone of hi! own, a! he wa! loo*in' at hi! hoof. (ut he had not heard that, u!t #efore he died, a

#la"* "at ;o%ened the "a!ement with her nail!, ran to hi! #ed, and $iolently !"rat"hed hi! fa"e and

the #ol!ter, a! if !he endea$oured #y for"e to remo$e him out of the %la"e where he lay. (ut the"at afterward! wa! !uddenly 'one, and !he wa! no !ooner 'one, #ut he #reathed hi! la!t.;

So !aid Teufel!#r!t, a! the re%orter of the town tal*. 2ilith loo*ed $ery %ale and terrified and

it wa! %erha%! owin' to thi! that the %ainter #rou'ht no more tale! home with him. There were

%lenty to #rin', #ut he heard them all and !aid nothin'. The fa"t wa! that the %hilo!o%her him!elf



"ould not re!i!t the infe"tion of the fear that wa! literally ra'in' in the "ity and %erha%! the

re%ort! that he him!elf had !old him!elf to the de$il had !uffi"ient re!%on!e from hi! own e$il

"on!"ien"e to add to the influen"e of the e%idemi" u%on him. The whole %la"e wa! infe!ted withthe %re!en"e of the dead Kunt9, till !"ar"e a man or woman would dare to #e alone. )e !tran'led

old men in!ulted women !1uee9ed "hildren to death *no"*ed out the #rain! of do'! a'ain!t the

'round %ulled u% %o!t! turned mil* into #lood nearly *illed a worthy "ler'yman #y #reathin'u%on him the intolera#le air! of the 'ra$e, "old and mali'nant and noi!ome and, in !hort, filled

the "ity with a %erfe"t madne!! of fear, !o that e$ery re%ort wa! #elie$ed without the !malle!t

dou#t or in$e!ti'ation.Thou'h Teufel!#r!t #rou'ht home no more of the town tal*, the old !er$ant wa! a faithful

%ur$eyor, and fre1uented the new!-mart a!!iduou!ly. Indeed !he had !ome ni'htmare e8%erien"e!

of her own that !he wa! %roud to add to the !to"* of horror! whi"h the "ity enoyed with !u"h a

hearty "ommunity of 'ood!. /or tho!e re'ion! were not far remo$ed from the #irth%la"e andhome of the $am%ire. The #elief in $am%ire! i! the 1uinte!!ential "on"entration and em#odiment

of all the %a!!ion of fear in )un'ary and the ada"ent re'ion!. Nor, of all the other in$ention! of

the human ima'ination, ha! there e$er #een one !o %erfe"t in "rawlin' terror a! thi!. 2ilith and

Karl were 1uite familiar with the %o%ular idea! on the !u#e"t. It did not re1uire to #e e8%lainedto them, that a $am%ire wa! a #ody retainin' a *ind of animal life after the !oul had de%arted. If

any relation e8i!ted #etween it and the $ani!hed 'ho!t, it wa! only !uffi"ient to ma*e it re!tle!! init! 'ra$e. 3o!!e!!ed of $itality enou'h to *ee% it un"orru%ted and %liant, it! only in!tin"t wa! a

#lind hun'er for the !ole food whi"h "ould *ee% it! awful life %er!i!tent&li$in' human #lood.

)en"e it, or, if not it, a !ort of !emi-material e8halation or e!!en"e of it, retainin' it! form andmaterial relation!, "re%t from it! tom#, and went roamin' a#out till it found !ome one a!lee%,

toward! whom it had an attra"tion, founded on old affe"tion. It !u"*ed the #lood of thi! unha%%y

#ein', tran!ferrin' !o mu"h of it! life to it!elf a! a $am%ire "ould a!!imilate. Death wa! the

"ertain "on!e1uen"e. If !u!%i"ion "one"tured ari'ht, and they o%ened the %ro%er 'ra$e, the #odyof the $am%ire would #e found %erfe"tly fre!h and %lum%, !ometime! indeed of rather florid

"om%le8ion&with 'rown hair, eye! half o%en, and the !tain! of re"ent #lood a#out it! 'reedy,

lee"h-li*e li%!. Nothin' remained #ut to "on!ume the "or%!e to a!he!, u%on whi"h the $am%irewould !how it!elf no more. (ut what added infinitely to the horror wa! the "ertainty that

whoe$er died from the mouth of the $am%ire, wrin*led 'rand!ire or deli"ate maiden, mu!t in turn

ri!e from the 'ra$e, and 'o forth a $am%ire, to !u"* the #lood of the deare!t left #ehind. Thi! wa!the 'eneration of the $am%ire #rood. 2ilith trem#led at the $ery name of the "reature. Karl wa!

too mu"h in lo$e to #e afraid of anythin'. Yet the e$ident fear of the un#elie$in' %ainter too* a

hold of hi! ima'ination and, under the influen"e of the %otion! of whi"h he !till %artoo*

unwittin'ly, when he wa! not thin*in' a#out 2ilith, he wa! thin*in' a#out the $am%ire.Meantime, the "ondition of thin'! in the %ainter! hou!ehold "ontinued mu"h the !ame for

7ol*enli"ht&wor* all day no "ommuni"ation #etween the youn' %eo%le the dinner and the

wine !ilent readin' when wor* wa! done, with !tolen 'lan"e! many o$er the to% of the #oo*,'lan"e! that were ne$er returned the "old 'ood-ni'ht the lo"*in' of the door the wa*eful ni'ht

and the drow!y mornin'. (ut at len'th a "han'e "ame, and !ooner than any of the %arty had

e8%e"ted. /or, whether it wa! that the im%atien"e of Teufel!#r!t had ur'ed him to yet moredan'erou! e8%eriment!, or that the "ontinuan"e of tho!e he had #een !o lon' em%loyin' had

o$er"ome at len'th the $itality of 7ol*enli"ht&one afternoon, a! he wa! !ittin' at hi! wor*, he

!uddenly dro%%ed from hi! "hair, and hi! ma!ter hurryin' to him in !ome alarm, found him ri'id

and a%%arently lifele!!. 2ilith wa! not in the !tudy when thi! too* %la"e. In u!ti"e to



Teufel!#r!t, it mu!t #e "onfe!!ed that he em%loyed all the !*ill he wa! ma!ter of, whi"h for

#enefi"ent %ur%o!e! wa! not $ery 'reat, to re!tore the youth #ut without a$ail. At la!t, hearin'

the foot!te%! of 2ilith, he de!i!ted in !ome "on!ternation and that !he mi'ht e!"a%e #ein'!ho"*ed #y the !i'ht of a dead #ody where !he had #een a""u!tomed to !ee a li$in' one, he

remo$ed the lay fi'ure from the "ou"h, and laid Karl in it! %la"e, "o$erin' him with a #la"*

$el$et %all. )e wa! u!t in time. She !tarted at !eein' no one in Karl! %la"e and !aid&;7here i! your %u%il, father+;

;Gone home,; he an!wered, with a *ind of "on$ul!i$e 'rin.

She 'lan"ed round the room, "au'ht !i'ht of the lay fi'ure where it had not #een #efore,loo*ed at the "ou"h, and !aw the %all yet hea$ed u% from #eneath, o%ened her eye! till the entire

white !wee% around the iri! !u''e!ted a new e8%re!!ion of "on!ternation to Teufel!#r!t, thou'h

from a 1uarter when"e he did not de!ire or loo* for it and then, without a word, !at down to a

drawin' !he had #een #u!y u%on the day #efore. (ut her father, 'lan"in' at her now, a!7ol*enli"ht had u!ed to do, "ould not hel% !eein' that !he wa! fri'htfully %ale. She !howed no

other !i'n of unea!ine!!. A! !oon a! he relea!ed her, !he withdrew, with one more 'lan"e, a! !he

%a!!ed, at the "ou"h and the fi'ure #lo"*ed out in #la"* u%on it. She ha!tened to her "ham#er,

!hut and lo"*ed the door, !at down on the !ide of the "ou"h, and fell, not a-wee%in', #ut a-thin*in'. 7a! he dead+ 7hat did it matter+ They would all #e dead !oon. )er mother wa! dead

already. It wa! only that the earth "ould not #ear more "hildren, e8"e%t !he de$oured tho!e towhom !he had already 'i$en #irth. (ut what if they had to "ome #a"* in another form, and li$e

another !ad, ho%ele!!, lo$e-le!! life o$er a'ain+&And !o !he went on 1ue!tionin', and re"ei$in'

no re%lie! while throu'h all her thou'ht! %a!!ed and re%a!!ed the eye! of 7ol*enli"ht, whi"h !hehad often felt to #e u%on her when !he did not !ee them, wild with re%re!!ed lon'in', the li'ht of

their lo$e !hinin' throu'h the $eil of diffu!ed tear!, e$er 'atherin' and ne$er o$erflowin'. Then

"ame the %ale fa"e, !o wor!hi%%in', !o di!tant in it! !elf-withdrawn de$otion, !lowly dawnin'

out of the $a%our! of her re$erie. 7hen it $ani!hed, !he tried to !ee it a'ain. It would not "omewhen !he "alled it #ut when her thou'ht! left *no"*in' at the door of the lo!t, and wandered

away, out "ame the %ale, trou#led, !ilent fa"e a'ain, 'atherin' it!elf u% from !ome un*nown noo*

in her world of %hanta!y, and on"e more, when !he tried to !teady it #y the fi8edne!! of her ownre'ard, fadin' #a"* into the mi!t. So the %hanta!m of the dead drew near and wooed, a! the

li$in' had ne$er dared.&7hat if there were any 'ood in lo$in'+ 7hat if men and women did

not die all out, #ut !ome dim !hade of ea"h, li*e that %ale, mind-'ho!t of 7ol*enli"ht, floatedthrou'h the eternal $a%our! of "hao!+ And what if they mi'ht !ometime! "ro!! ea"h other! %ath,

meet, *now that they met, lo$e on+ 7ould not that re$i$e the withered memory, fi8 the fleetin'

'ho!t, 'i$e a new ha#itation, a #ody e$en, to the %oor, unhou!ed wanderer!, fro9en #y the eternal

fro!t!, no lon'er thin*in' #ein'!, #ut thou'ht! wanderin' throu'h the #rain of the ;Melan"holyMa!!+; (a"* with the thou'ht "ame the fa"e of the dead Karl, and the maiden threw her!elf on

her #ed in a flood of #itter tear!. She "ould ha$e lo$ed him if he had only li$ed: !he did lo$e him,

for he wa! dead. (ut e$en in the mid!t of the remor!e that followed&for had !he not *illed him+ &life !eemed a le!! hard and ho%ele!! thin' than #efore. /or it i! lo$e it!elf and not it! re!%on!e!

or re!ult! that i! the !oul of life and it! %lea!ure!.

Two hour! %a!!ed ere !he "ould a'ain !how her!elf to her father, from whom !he !eemed in!ome new way di$ided #y the new feelin' in whi"h he did not, and "ould not !hare. (ut at la!t,

le!t he !hould !ee* her, and findin' her, !hould !u!%e"t her thou'ht!, !he de!"ended and !ou'ht

him.&/or there i! a maidenline!! in !orrow, that wra%! her 'arment! "lo!e around her.&(ut he

wa! not to #e !een the door of the !tudy wa! lo"*ed. A !hudder %a!!ed throu'h her a! !he



thou'ht of what her father, who lo!t no o%%ortunity of furtherin' hi! all #ut %erfe"t a"1uaintan"e

with the human form and !tru"ture, mi'ht #e a#out with the fi'ure whi"h !he *new lay dead

#eneath that $el$et %all, #ut whi"h had ari!en to haunt the hollow "a$e! and "ell! of her li$in' #rain. She ru!hed away, and u% on"e more to her !ilent room, throu'h the dar*ne!! whi"h had

now !ettled down in the hou!e threw her!elf a'ain on her #ed, and lay almo!t %araly!ed with

horror and di!tre!!.(ut Teufel!#r!t wa! not a#out anythin' !o fri'htful a! !he !u%%o!ed, thou'h !omethin'

fri'htful enou'h. I ha$e already im%lied that 7ol*enli"ht wa!, in form, a! fine an em#odiment of

youthful manhood a! any old Gree* re%u#li" "ould ha$e %ro$ided one of it! !"ul%tor! with a!model for an A%ollo. It i! true, that to the eye of a Gree* arti!t he would not ha$e #een more

a""e%ta#le in "on!e1uen"e of the re'imen he had #een 'oin' throu'h for the la!t few wee*! #ut

the ema"iation of 7ol*enli"ht! frame, and the "on!e1uent %rominen"e of the mu!"le!, indi"atin'

the %ain he had 'one throu'h, were %e"uliarly attra"ti$e to Teufel!#r!t.&)e wa! #u!y %re%arin'to ta*e a "a!t of the #ody of hi! dead %u%il, that it mi'ht aid to the %erfe"tion of hi! future

la#our!.

)e wa! dee% in the arti!ti" enoyment of a form, at the !ame time !o #eautiful and !tron', yet

with the line! of !ufferin' in e$ery lim# and feature, when hi! dau'hter! hand wa! laid on thelat"h. )e !tarted, flun' the $el$et dra%ery o$er the #ody, and went to the door. (ut 2ilith had

$ani!hed. )e returned to hi! la#our!. The o%eration too* a lon' time, for he %erformed it $ery"arefully. Toward! midni'ht, he had fini!hed en"a!in' the #ody in a "lo!e-"lin'in' !hell of

%la!ter, whi"h, when #ro*en off, and fitted to'ether, would #e the matri8 to the form of the dead

7ol*enli"ht. (efore lea$in' it to harden till the mornin', he wa! u!t %ro"eedin' to !tren'then itwith an additional layer all o$er, when a fla!h of li'htnin', refle"ted in all it! da99le from the

!now without, almo!t #linded him. A %eal of lon'-drawn thunder followed the wind ro!e and

u!t !u"h a !torm "ame on a! had ri!en !ome time #efore at the death of Kunt9, who!e !%e"tre

wa! !till tormentin' the "ity. The 'nome! of terror, dee% hidden in the "a$ern! of Teufel!#r!t!nature, #ro*e out u#ilant. 7ith trem#lin' hand! he tried to "a!t the %all o$er the awful white

"hry!ali!,&failed, and fled to hi! "ham#er. And there lay the !tudio na*ed to the eye! of the

li'htnin', with it! tortured form! thro##in' out of the dar*, and 1ui$erin', a! with life, in thealmo!t "ontinuou! %al%itation! of the li'ht while on the "ou"h lay the motionle!! ma!! of

whitene!!, 'leamin' #lue in the li'htnin', almo!t more terri#le in it! "rude indi"ation! of the

human form, than that whi"h it en"lo!ed. It lay there a! if dro%%ed from !ome tree of "hao!,ha''ard with the !now! of eternity&a hu'e mi!-!ha%en nut, with a "or%!e for it! *ernel.

(ut the li'htnin' would !oon ha$e re$ealed a more terri#le !i'ht !till, had there #een any eye!

to #ehold it. At midni'ht, while a %eal of thunder wa! u!t dyin' away in the di!tan"e, the "ru!t of

death flew a!under, rendin' in all dire"tion! and, %ale a! hi! in$e!titure, !tarin' with 'ha!tlyeye!, the form of Karl !tarted u% !ittin' on the "ou"h. )ad he not #een far #eyond ordinary men

in !tren'th, he "ould not thu! ha$e rent hi! !e%ul"hre. Indeed, had Teufel!#r!t #een a#le to fini!h

hi! ta!* #y the additional layer of 'y%!um whi"h he "ontem%lated, he mu!t ha$e died themoment life re$i$ed althou'h, !o lon' a! the tran"e la!ted, neither the e8"lu!ion from the air, nor

the %ra"ti"al !olidifi"ation of the wall! of hi! "he!t, "ould do him any inury. )e had lain

un"on!"iou! throu'hout the o%eration! of Teufel!#r!t, #ut now the "atale%!y had %a!!ed away, %o!!i#ly under the influen"e of the ele"tri" "ondition of the atmo!%here. 4ery li*ely the !tren'th

he now %ut forth wa! inten!ified #y a "on$ul!i$e rea"tion of all the %ower! of life, a! i! not

infre1uently the "a!e in !udden awa*enin'! from !imilar interru%tion! of $ital a"ti$ity. The

"omin' to him!elf and the #ur!tin' of hi! "a!e were !imultaneou!. )e !at !tarin' a#out him, with,



of all hi! mental fa"ultie!, only hi! ima'ination awa*e, from whi"h the thou'ht! that o""u%ied it

when he fell !en!ele!! had not yet faded. The!e thou'ht! had #een "om%ounded of feelin'! a#out

2ilith, and !%e"ulation! a#out the $am%ire that haunted the nei'h#ourhood and the fume! of thela!t dru' of whi"h he had %arta*en, !till ho$erin' in hi! #rain, "om#ined with the!e thou'ht! and

fan"ie! to 'enerate the delu!ion that he had u!t #ro*en from the em#ra"e of hi! "offin, and ri!en,

the la!t-#orn of the $am%ire ra"e. The !en!e of una$oida#le o#li'ation to fulfil hi! doom, wa! yetmin'led with a faint flutter of oy, for he *new that he mu!t 'o to 2ilith. 7ith a dee% !i'h, he

ro!e, 'athered u% the %all of #la"* $el$et, flun' it around him, !te%%ed from the "ou"h, and left

the !tudy to find her.Meantime, Teufel!#r!t had !uffi"iently re"o$ered to remem#er that he had left the door of the

!tudio unfa!tened, and that any one enterin' would di!"o$er in what he had #een en'a'ed,

whi"h, in the "a!e of hi! 'ettin' into any diffi"ulty a#out the death of Karl, would tell %owerfully

a'ain!t him. )e wa! at the farther end of a lon' %a!!a'e, leadin' from the hou!e to the !tudio, onhi! way to ma*e all !e"ure, when Karl a%%eared at the door, and ad$an"ed toward! him. The

%ainter, !ei9ed with in$in"i#le terror, turned and fled. )e rea"hed hi! room, and fell !en!ele!! on

the floor. The %hantom held on it! way, heedle!!.

2ilith, on 'ainin' her room the !e"ond time, had thrown her!elf on her #ed a! #efore, and hadwe%t her!elf into a trou#led !lum#er. She lay dreamin'&and dreadful dream!. Suddenly !he

awo*e in one of tho!e %eal! of thunder whi"h tormented the hi'h re'ion! of the air, a! a !torm #illow! the !urfa"e of the o"ean. She lay awa*e and li!tened. A! it died away, !he thou'ht !he

heard, min'lin' with it! la!t muffled murmur!, the !ound of moanin'. She turned her fa"e

toward! the room in *een terror. (ut !he !aw nothin'. Another li'ht, lon'-drawn !i'h rea"hed her ear, and at the !ame moment a fla!h of li'htnin' illumined the room. In the "orner farthe!t from

her #ed, !he !%ied a white fa"e, nothin' more. She wa! dum# and motionle!! with fear. 6tter

dar*ne!! followed, a dar*ne!! that !eemed to enter into her $ery #rain. Yet !he felt that the fa"e

wa! !lowly "ro!!in' the #la"* 'ulf of the room, and drawin' near to where !he lay. The ne8tfla!h re$ealed, a! it #ended o$er her, the 'ha!tly fa"e of Karl, down whi"h flowed fre!h tear!.

The re!t of hi! form wa! lo!t in #la"*ne!!. 2ilith did not faint, #ut it wa! the $ery for"e of her

fear that !eemed to *ee% her ali$e. It #e"ame for the moment the atmo!%here of her life. She laytrem#lin' and !tarin' at the !%ot in the dar*ne!! where !he !u%%o!ed the fa"e of Karl !till to #e.

(ut the ne8t fla!h !howed her the fa"e far off, loo*in' at her throu'h the %ane! of her latti"e-

window./or 2ott"hen, a! !oon a! he !aw 2ilith, !eemed to him!elf to 'o throu'h a !e"ond !ta'e of

awa*in'. )er fa"e made him dou#t whether he "ould #e a $am%ire after all for in!tead of

wantin' to #ite her arm and !u"* the #lood, he all #ut fell down at her feet in a %a!!ion of

!%ee"hle!! lo$e. The ne8t moment he #e"ame aware that hi! %re!en"e mu!t #e at lea!t $eryunde!ira#le to her and in an in!tant he had rea"hed her window, whi"h he *new loo*ed u%on a

lower roof that e8tended #etween two different %art! of the hou!e, and #efore the ne8t fla!h

"ame, he had !te%%ed throu'h the latti"e and "lo!ed it #ehind him.(elie$in' hi! own room to #e attaina#le from thi! 1uarter, he %ro"eeded alon' the roof in the

dire"tion he ud'ed #e!t. The "old winter air #y de'ree! re!tored him entirely to hi! ri'ht mind,

and he !oon "om%rehended the whole of the "ir"um!tan"e! in whi"h he found him!elf. 3ee%in'throu'h a window he wa! %a!!in', to !ee whether it #elon'ed to hi! room, he !%ied Teufel!#r!t,

who, at the $ery moment, wa! liftin' hi! head from the faint into whi"h he had fallen at the fir!t

!i'ht of 2ott"hen. The moon wa! !hinin' "lear, and in it! li'ht the %ainter !aw, to hi! horror, the

%ale fa"e !tarin' in at hi! window. )e thou'ht it had #een there e$er !in"e he had fainted, and



dro%%ed a'ain in a dee%er !woon than #efore. Karl !aw him fall, and the truth fla!hed u%on him

that the wi"*ed arti!t too* him for what he had #elie$ed him!elf to #e when fir!t he re"o$ered

from hi! tran"e&namely, the $am%ire of the former Karl 7ol*enli"ht. The moment he"om%rehended it, he re!ol$ed to *ee% u% the delu!ion if %o!!i#le. Meantime he wa! inno"ently

%re%arin' a new in'redient for the %o%ular di!h of horror! to #e !er$ed at the ordinary of the "ity

the ne8t day. /or the old !er$ant! were not the only eye! that had !een him #e!ide! tho!e of Teufel!#r!t. 7hat "ould #e more li*e a $am%ire, dra''in' hi! %all after him, than thi! a%%arition

of %oor, half-fro9en 2ott"hen, "rawlin' a"ro!! the roof+ Karl remem#ered afterward! that he had

heard the do'! howlin' awfully in e$ery dire"tion, a! he "re%t alon' #ut thi! wa! hardlyne"e!!ary to ma*e tho!e who !aw him "on"lude that it wa! the !ame %hanta!m of <ohn Kunt9,

whi"h had #een infe!tin' the whole "ity, and e!%e"ially the hou!e ne8t door to the %ainter!,

whi"h had #een the dwellin' of the re!%e"ta#le alderman who had de'enerated into thi! mo!t

di!re%uta#le of moneyle!! $a'a#ond!. 7hat added to the "on!ternation of all who heard of it,wa! the !i"*enin' "on$i"tion that the e8treme mea!ure! whi"h they had re!orted to in order to

free the "ity from the 'houl, #eyond whi"h nothin' "ould #e done, had #een utterly una$ailin',

!u""e!!ful a! they had %ro$ed in e$ery other *nown "a!e of the *ind. /or, ur'ed a! well #y

$ariou! horrid !i'n! a#out hi! 'ra$e, whi"h not e$en it! "lo!e %ro8imity to the altar "ould render a %la"e of re%o!e, they had o%ened it, had found in the #ody e$ery %e"uliarity #elon'in' to a

$am%ire, had %ulled it out with the 'reate!t diffi"ulty on a""ount of a 1uite !u%ernatural %ondero!ity whi"h rendered the hor!e whi"h had *illed him&a !tron' animal&all #ut una#le to

dra' it alon', and had at la!t, after "uttin' it in %ie"e!, and e8%endin' on the fire two hundred and

!i8teen 'reat #illet!, !u""eeded in "on1uerin' it! in"om#u!ti#lene!!, and redu"in' it to a!he!.Su"h, at lea!t, wa! the !tory whi"h had rea"hed the %ainter! hou!ehold, and wa! #elie$ed #y

many and if all thi! did not "om%el the %ertur#ed "or%!e to re!t, what more "ould #e done+

7hen Karl had rea"hed hi! room, and wa! dre!!in' him!elf, the thou'ht !tru"* him that

!omethin' mi'ht #e made of the re%ort of the e8treme wei'ht of the #ody of old Kunt9, to fa$our the "ontinuan"e of the delu!ion of Teufel!#r!t, althou'h he hardly *new yet to what u!e he

"ould turn thi! delu!ion. )e wa! "on$in"ed that he would ha$e made no %ro're!! howe$er lon'

he mi'ht ha$e remained in hi! hou!e and that he would ha$e more "han"e of fa$our with 2ilithif he were to meet her in any other "ir"um!tan"e! whate$er than tho!e in whi"h he in$aria#ly !aw

her&namely, !urrounded #y her father! influen"e!, and wat"hed #y her father! "old #lue eye!.

A! !oon a! he wa! dre!!ed, he "re%t down to the !tudio, whi"h wa! now 1uiet enou'h, the!torm #ein' o$er, and the moon fillin' it with her !teady !hine. In the "orner lay in all dire"tion!

the fra'ment! of the mould whi"h hi! own #ody had formed and filled. The #a' of %la!ter and the

#u"*et of water whi"h the %ainter had #een u!in' !tood #e!ide. 2ott"hen 'athered all the %ie"e!

to'ether, and then ma*in' hi! way to an outhou!e where he had !een $ariou! odd! and end! of ru##i!h lyin', "ho!e from the hea% a! many %ie"e! of old iron and other metal a! he "ould find.

To the!e he added a few lar'e !tone! from the 'arden. 7hen he had 'ot all into the !tudio, he

lo"*ed the door, and %ro"eeded to fit to'ether the %art! of the mould, fillin' u% the hollow a! hewent on with the hea$ie!t thin'! he "ould 'et into it, and !olidifyin' the whole #y %ourin' in

%la!ter till, ha$in' at len'th "om%leted it, and o#literated, a! mu"h a! %o!!i#le, the mar*! of

oinin', he left it to harden, with the "on$i"tion that now it would ma*e a "on!idera#leim%re!!ion on Teufel!#r!t! ima'ination, a! well a! on hi! mu!"ular !en!e. )e then left

e$erythin' el!e a! nearly undi!tur#ed a! he "ould and, *nowin' all the way! of the hou!e, wa!

!oon in the !treet, without lea$in' any !i'n! of hi! e8it.



Karl !oon found him!elf #efore the hou!e in whi"h hi! friend )Cllenra"hen re!ided. Knowin'

hi! !tudiou! ha#it!, he had ho%ed to !ee hi! li'ht !till #urnin', nor wa! he di!a%%ointed. )e

"ontri$ed to #rin' him to hi! window, and a moment after, the door wa! "autiou!ly o%ened.;7hy, 2ott"hen, where do you "ome from+;

;/rom the 'ra$e, )einri"h, or ne8t door to it.;

;0ome in, and tell me all a#out it. 7e thou'ht the old %ainter had made a model of you, andtortured you to death.;

;3erha%! you were not far wron'. (ut 'et me a horn of ale, for e$en a $am%ire i! thir!ty, you

*now.;;A $am%ire=; e8"laimed )einri"h, retreatin' a %a"e, and in$oluntarily %uttin' him!elf u%on hi!

'uard.

Karl lau'hed.

;My hand wa! warm, wa! it not, old fellow+; he !aid. ;4am%ire! are "old, all #ut the #lood.;;7hat a fool I am=; reoined )einri"h. ;(ut you *now we ha$e #een hearin' !u"h horror!

lately that a fellow may #e e8"u!ed for !hudderin' a little when a %ale-fa"ed a%%arition tell! him

at two o"lo"* in the mornin' that he i! a $am%ire, and thir!ty, too.;

Karl told him the whole !tory and the mental %ro"e!! of re'ardin' it for the !a*e of tellin' it,re$ealed to him %retty "learly !ome of the treatment of whi"h he had #een un"on!"iou! at the

time. )einri"h wa! 1uite !ure that hi! !u!%i"ion! were "orre"t. And now the 1ue!tion wa!, whatwa! to #e done ne8t+

;At all e$ent!,; !aid )einri"h, ;we mu!t *ee% you out of the way for !ome time. I will

re%re!ent to my landlady that you are in hidin' from enemie!, and her heart will rule her ton'ue.She "an let you ha$e a 'arret-room, I *now and I will do a! well a! I "an to #ear you "om%any.

7e !hall ha$e time then to in$ent !ome %lan of o%eration.;

To thi! %ro%o!al Karl a'reed with hearty than*!, and !oon all wa! arran'ed. The only

"on"lu!ion they "ould yet arri$e at wa!, that !omehow or other the old demon-%ainter mu!t #etamed.

Meantime, how fared it with 2ilith+ She too had no dou#t that !he had !een the #ody-'ho!t of

%oor Karl, and that the $am%ire had, a""ordin' to rule, %aid her the fir!t $i!it #e"au!e he lo$edher #e!t. Thi! wa! horri#le enou'h if the $am%ire were not really the %er!on he re%re!ented #ut

if in any !en!e it were Karl him!elf, at lea!t it 'a$e !ome e8%e"tation of a more %rolon'ed

e8i!ten"e than her father had tau'ht her to loo* for and if lo$e anythin' li*e her mother! !tillla!ted, e$en alon' with the ha#it! of a $am%ire, there wa! !omethin' to ho%e for in the future.

And then, thou'h he had $i!ited her, he had not, a! far a! !he wa! aware, de%ri$ed her of a dro%

of #lood. She "ould not #e "ertain that he had not #itten her, for !he had #een in !u"h a !tran'e

"ondition of mind that !he mi'ht not ha$e felt it, #ut !he #elie$ed that he had re!trained theim%ul!e! of hi! $am%ire nature, and had left her, le!t he !hould yet yield to them. She fell fa!t

a!lee% and, when mornin' "ame, there wa! not, a! far a! !he "ould ud'e, one of tho!e trian'ular

lee"h-li*e %erforation! to #e found u%on her whole #ody. 7ill it #e #elie$ed that the moment !hewa! !ati!fied of thi!, !he wa! !ei9ed #y a terri#le ealou!y, le!t Karl !hould ha$e 'one and #itten

!ome one el!e+ Mo!t %eo%le will wonder that !he !hould not ha$e 'one out of her !en!e! at on"e

#ut there wa! all the differen"e #etween a $i!it from a real $am%ire and a $i!it from a man !hehad #e'un to lo$e, e$en althou'h !he too* him for a $am%ire. All the differen"e doe! not lie in a

name. They were $ery different "au!e!, and the effe"t! mu!t #e $ery different.

7hen Teufel!#r!t "ame down in the mornin', he "re%t into the !tudio li*e a murderer. There

lay the awful white #lo"*, !eemin' to hi! eye! u!t the !ame a! he had left it. 7hat wa! to #e



done with it+ )e dared not o%en it. Mould and model mu!t 'o to'ether. (ut whither+ If in1uiry

!hould #e made after 7ol*enli"ht, and thi! were di!"o$ered anywhere on hi! %remi!e!, would it

not #e enou'h to #rin' him at on"e to the 'allow!+ Therefore it would #e dan'erou! to #ury it inthe 'arden, or in the "ellar.

;(e!ide!,; thou'ht he, with a !hudder, ;that would #e to fi8 the $am%ire a! a 'ue!t for e$er.;&

And the horror! of the %a!t ni'ht ru!hed #a"* u%on hi! ima'ination with renewed inten!ity. 7hatwould it #e to ha$e the dead Karl "rawlin' a#out hi! hou!e for e$er, now in!ide, now out, now

!ittin' on the !tair!, now !tarin' in at the window!+

)e would ha$e dra''ed it to the #ottom of hi! 'arden, %a!t whi"h the Moldau flowed, and %lun'ed it into the !tream #ut then, !hould the !%e"tre "ontinue to %ro$e trou#le!ome, it would

#e almo!t im%o!!i#le to rea"h the #ody !o a! to de!troy it #y fire #e!ide! whi"h, he "ould not do

it without a!!i!tan"e, and the %ro#a#ility of di!"o$ery. If, howe$er, the a%%arition !hould turn out

to #e no $am%ire, #ut only a re!%e"ta#le 'ho!t, they mi'ht mana'e to endure it! %re!en"e, till it!hould #e weary of hauntin' them.

)e re!ol$ed at la!t to "on$ey the #ody for the meantime into a "on"ealed "ellar in the hou!e,

!eein' !omethin' mu!t #e done #efore hi! dau'hter "ame down. 3ro"eedin' to remo$e it, hi!

"on!ternation a! 'reatly in"rea!ed when he di!"o$ered how the #ody had 'rown in wei'ht !in"ehe had thu! di!%o!ed of it, lea$in' on hi! mind !"ar"ely a ho%e that it "ould turn out not to #e a

$am%ire after all. )e "ould !"ar"ely !tir it, and there wa! #ut one whom he "ould "all to hi!a!!i!tan"e&the old woman who a"ted a! hi! hou!e*ee%er and !er$ant.

)e went to her room, rou!ed her, and told her the whole !tory. De$oted to her ma!ter for many

year!, and not 1uite !o !en!iti$e to fearful influen"e! a! when le!! e8%erien"ed in horror!, !he!howed immediate readine!! to render him a!!i!tan"e. 6tterly una#le, howe$er, to lift the ma!!

#etween them, they "ould only dra' and %u!h it alon' and !u"h a !low toil wa! it that there wa!

no time to remo$e the tra"e! of it! tra"*, #efore 2ilith "ame down and !aw a #road white line

leadin' from the door of the !tudio down the "ellar!tair!. She *new in a moment what it meant #ut not a word wa! uttered a#out the matter, and the name of Karl 7ol*enli"ht !eemed to #e

entirely for'otten.

(ut how "ould the affair! of a hou!e 'o on all the !ame when e$ery one of the hou!ehold *newthat a dead #ody lay in the "ellar+&nay more, that, althou'h it lay !till and dead enou'h all day,

it would "ome half ali$e at ni'htfall, and, turnin' the whole hou!e into a !e%ul"hre #y it!

%re!en"e, 'o "ree%in' a#out li*e a "at all o$er it in the dar*&%erha%! with %ho!%hore!"ent eye!+So it wa! not !ur%ri!in' that the %ainter a#andoned hi! !tudio early, and that the three found

them!el$e! to'ether in the 'or'eou! room formerly de!"ri#ed, a! !oon a! twili'ht #e'an to fall.

Already Teufel!#r!t had #e'un to e8%erien"e a *ind of !hrin*in' from the horrid fa"e! in hi!

own %i"ture!, and to feel di!'u!ted at the a#ortion! of hi! own mind. (ut all that he and the oldwoman now felt wa! an in"rea!in' fear a! the ni'ht drew on, a *ind of !i"*enin' and %araly!in'

terror. The thin' down there would not lie 1uiet&at lea!t it! %hantom in the "ellar! of their

ima'ination would not. A! mu"h a! %o!!i#le, howe$er, they a$oided alarmin' 2ilith, who,*nowin' all they *new, wa! a! !ilent a! they. (ut her mind wa! in a !tran'e !tate of e8"itement,

%artly from the %re!en"e of a new !en!e of lo$e, the %lea!ure of whi"h all the atmo!%here of 'rief

into whi"h it 'rew "ould not totally 1uen"h. It "omforted her !omehow, a! a "hild may "omfortwhen hi! father i! away.

(edtime "ame, and no one made a mo$e to 'o. 7ithout a word !%o*en on the !u#e"t, the

three remained to'ether all ni'ht the elder! noddin' and !lum#erin' o""a!ionally, and 2ilith

'ettin' !ome !hare of re%o!e on a "ou"h. All ni'ht the !ha%e of death mi'ht #e !omewhere a#out



7hen they had done, and 2ilith, for all hi! entreatie!, would remain with him no lon'er, Karl

too* hi! former "lothe! with him, and ha$in' !%ent the re!t of the ni'ht in hi! old room, dre!!ed

in them in the mornin'. 7hen Teufel!#r!t entered hi! !tudio ne8t day, there !at Karl, a! if nothin' had ha%%ened, fini!hin' the drawin' on whi"h he had #een at wor* when the fit of

in!en!i#ility "ame u%on him. The %ainter !tarted, !tared, ru##ed hi! eye!, thou'ht it wa! another

!%e"tral illu!ion, and wa! on the %oint of yieldin' to hi! terror, when Karl ro!e, and a%%roa"hedhim with a !mile. The healthy, !un!hiny "ountenan"e of Karl, let him #e 'ho!t or 'o#lin, "ould

not fail to %rodu"e !omewhat of a tran1uilli!in' effe"t on Teufel!#r!t. )e too* hi! offered hand

me"hani"ally, hi! "ountenan"e utterly $a"ant with idioti" #ewilderment. Karl !aid&;I wa! not well, and thou'ht it #etter to %ay a $i!it to a friend for a few day! #ut I !hall !oon

ma*e u% for lo!t time, for I am all ri'ht now.;

)e !at down at on"e, ta*in' no noti"e of hi! ma!ter! #eha$iour, and went on with hi! drawin'.

Teufel!#r!t !tood !tarin' at him for !ome minute! without mo$in', then !uddenly turned andleft the room. Karl heard him hurryin' down the "ellar !tair!. In a few moment! he "ame u%

a'ain. Karl !tole a 'lan"e at him. There he !tood in the !ame !%ot, no dou#t more full of

#ewilderment than e$er, #ut it wa! not %o!!i#le that hi! fa"e !hould e8%re!! more. At la!t he went

to hi! ea!el, and !at down with a lon'-drawn !i'h a! if of relief. (ut thou'h he !at at hi! ea!el, he %ainted none that day and a! often a! Karl $entured a 'lan"e, he !aw him !till !tarin' at him. The

di!"o$ery that hi! %i"ture! were re!tored to their former "ondition aided, no dou#t, in leadin' himto the !ame "on"lu!ion a! the other fa"t!, whate$er that "on"lu!ion mi'ht #e&%ro#a#ly that he

had #een the !%ort of !ome e$il %ower, and had #een for the 'reater %art of a wee* utterly

#ewit"hed. 2ilith had ta*en "are to in!tru"t the old woman, with whom !he wa! all-%owerful anda! neither of them !howed the !malle!t tra"e! of the a!toni!hment whi"h !eemed to #e !lowly

$itrifyin' hi! own #rain, he wa! at la!t %erfe"tly !ati!fied that thin'! had #een 'oin' on all ri'ht

e$erywhere #ut in hi! inner man and in thi! "on"lu!ion he "ertainly wa! not far wron', in more

!en!e! than one. (ut when all wa! re!tored a'ain to the old routine, it #e"ame e$ident that the %e"uliar dire"tion of hi! art in whi"h he had hitherto indul'ed had "ea!ed to intere!t him. The

!ho"* had a"ted "hiefly u%on that %art of hi! mental #ein' whi"h had #een !o a#!or#ed. )e

would !it for hour! without doin' anythin', a%%arently %lun'ed in meditation.&Se$eral wee*!ela%!ed without any "han'e, and #oth 2ilith and Karl were 'ettin' dreadfully an8iou! a#out him.

Karl %aid him e$ery attention and the old man, for he now loo*ed mu"h older than #efore,

!u#mitted to re"ei$e hi! !er$i"e! a! well a! tho!e of 2ilith. At len'th, one mornin', he !aid in a!low thou'htful tone&

;Karl 7ol*enli"ht, I !hould li*e to %aint you.;

;0ertainly, !ir,; an!wered Karl, um%in' u%, ;where would you li*e me to !it+;

So the i"e of !ilen"e and ina"ti$ity wa! #ro*en, and the %ainter drew and %ainted and the!%rin' of hi! art flowed on"e more and he made a #eautiful %ortrait of Karl&a %ortrait without

e$il or !ufferin'. And a! !oon a! he had fini!hed Karl, he #e'an on"e more to %aint 2ilith and

when he had %ainted her, he "om%o!ed a %i"ture for the $ery %ur%o!e of introdu"in' themto'ether and in thi! %i"ture there wa! neither u'line!! nor torture, #ut human feelin' and human

ho%e in!tead. Then Karl *new that he mi'ht !%ea* to him of 2ilith and he !%o*e, and wa! heard

with a !mile. (ut he did not dare to tell him the truth of the $am%ire !tory till one day thatTeufel!#r!t wa! lyin' on the floor of a room in Karl! an"e!tral "a!tle, half !mothered in

'rand"hildren when the only an!wer it drew from the old man wa! a *ind of !hudderin' lau'h

and the word! ;Dont !%ea* of it, Karl, my #oy=;



THE CASTLE

On the to% of a hi'h "liff, formin' %art of the #a!e of a 'reat mountain, !tood a lofty "a!tle.

7hen or how it wa! #uilt, no man *new nor "ould any one %retend to under!tand it!ar"hite"ture. E$ery one who loo*ed u%on it felt that it wa! lordly and no#le and where one %art

!eemed not to a'ree with another, the wi!e and mode!t dared not to "all them in"on'ruou!, #ut

%re!umed that the whole mi'ht #e "on!tru"ted on !ome hi'her %rin"i%le of ar"hite"ture than theyyet under!tood. 7hat hel%ed them to thi! "on"lu!ion wa!, that no one had e$er !een the whole of

the edifi"e that, e$en of the %ortion #e!t *nown, !ome %art or other wa! alway! wra%%ed in thi"*

fold! of mi!t from the mountain and that, when the !un !hone u%on thi! mi!t, the %art! of the

#uildin' that a%%eared throu'h the $a%orou! $eil were !tran'ely 'lorified in their indi!tin"tne!!,!o that they !eemed to #elon' to !ome aerial a#ode in the land of the !un!et and the #eholder!

"ould hardly tell whether they had e$er !een them #efore, or whether they were now for the fir!t

time %artially re$ealed.

Nor, althou'h it wa! inha#ited, "ould "ertain information #e %ro"ured a! to it! internal"on!tru"tion. Tho!e who dwelt in it often di!"o$ered room! they had ne$er entered #efore&yea,

on"e or twi"e,&whole !uite! of a%artment!, of whi"h only dim le'end! had #een handed downfrom former time!. Some of them e8%e"ted to find, one day, !e"ret %la"e!, filled with trea!ure! of

wondrou! ewel! amon'!t whi"h they ho%ed to li'ht u%on Solomon! rin', whi"h had for a'e!

di!a%%eared from the earth, #ut whi"h had "ontrolled the !%irit!, and the %o!!e!!ion of whi"hmade a man !im%ly what a man !hould #e, the *in' of the world. Now and then, a narrow,

windin' !tair, hitherto untrodden, would #rin' them forth on a new turret, when"e new %ro!%e"t!

of the "ir"uma"ent "ountry were !%read out #efore them. )ow many more of the!e there mi'ht

#e, or how mu"h loftier, no one "ould tell. Nor "ould the foundation! of the "a!tle in the ro"* onwhi"h it wa! #uilt #e determined with the !malle!t a%%roa"h to %re"i!ion. Tho!e of the family

who had 'i$en them!el$e! to e8%lorin' in that dire"tion, found !u"h a la#yrinth of $ault! and

%a!!a'e!, and endle!! !u""e!!ion! of down-'oin' !tair!, out of one under'round !%a"e into a yetlower, that they "ame to the "on"lu!ion that at lea!t the whole mountain wa! %erforated and

honey"om#ed in thi! fa!hion. They had a dim "on!"iou!ne!!, too, of the %re!en"e, in tho!e awful

re'ion!, of #ein'! whom they "ould not "om%rehend. On"e they "ame u%on the #rin* of a 'reat #la"* 'ulf, in whi"h the eye "ould !ee nothin' #ut dar*ne!!: they re"oiled with horror for the

"on$i"tion fla!hed u%on them that that 'ulf went down into the $ery "entral !%a"e! of the earth,

of whi"h they had hitherto #een wanderin' only in the u%%er "ru!t nay, that the !eethin'

#la"*ne!! #efore them had relation! my!teriou!, and #eyond human "om%rehen!ion, with the far-off $oid! of !%a"e, into whi"h the !tar! dare not enter.

At the foot of the "liff whereon the "a!tle !tood, lay a dee% la*e, ina""e!!i#le !a$e #y a few

a$enue!, #ein' !urrounded on all !ide! with %re"i%i"e! whi"h made the water loo* $ery #la"*,althou'h it wa! %ure a! the ni'ht!*y. /rom a door in the "a!tle, whi"h wa! not to #e otherwi!e

entered, a #road fli'ht of !te%!, "ut in the ro"*, went down to the la*e, and di!a%%eared #elow it!

!urfa"e. Some thou'ht the !te%! went to the $ery #ottom of the water. Now in thi! "a!tle there dwelt a lar'e family of #rother! and !i!ter!. They had ne$er !een their

father or mother. The youn'er had #een edu"ated #y the elder, and the!e #y an un!een "are and

mini!tration, a#out the !our"e! of whi"h they had, !omehow or other, trou#led them!el$e! $ery

little&for what %eo%le are a""u!tomed to, they re'ard a! "omin' from no#ody a! if hel% and



%ro're!! and oy and lo$e were the natural "ro%! of 0hao! or old Ni'ht. (ut Tradition !aid that

one day&it wa! utterly un"ertain *hen &their father would "ome, and lea$e them no more for

he wa! !till ali$e, thou'h where he li$ed no#ody *new. In the meantime all the re!t had to o#eytheir elde!t #rother, and li!ten to hi! "oun!el!.

(ut almo!t all the family wa! $ery fond of li#erty, a! they "alled it and li*ed to run u% and

down, hither and thither, ro$in' a#out, with neither law nor order, u!t a! they %lea!ed. So they"ould not endure their #rother! tyranny, a! they "alled it. At one time they !aid that he wa! only

one of them!el$e!, and therefore they would not o#ey him at another, that he wa! not li*e them,

and "ould not under!tand them, and therefore they would not o#ey him. Yet, !ometime!, when he"ame and loo*ed them full in the fa"e, they were terrified, and dared not di!o#ey, for he wa!

!tately and !tern and !tron'. Not one of them lo$ed him heartily, e8"e%t the elde!t !i!ter, who wa!

$ery #eautiful and !ilent, and who!e eye! !hone a! if li'ht lay !omewhere dee% #ehind them.

E$en !he, althou'h !he lo$ed him, thou'ht him $ery hard !ometime! for when he had on"e !aida thin' %lainly, he "ould not #e %er!uaded to thin* it o$er a'ain. So e$en !he for'ot him

!ometime!, and went her own way!, and enoyed her!elf without him. Mo!t of them re'arded

him a! a !ort of wat"hman, who!e #u!ine!! it wa! to *ee% them in order and !o they were

indi'nant and di!li*ed him. Yet they all had a !e"ret feelin' that they ou'ht to #e !u#e"t to himand after any %arti"ular a"t of di!re'ard, none of them "ould thin*, with any %ea"e, of the old

!tory a#out the return of their father to hi! hou!e. (ut indeed they ne$er thou'ht mu"h a#out it,or a#out their father at all for how "ould tho!e who "ared !o little for their #rother, whom they

!aw e$ery day, "are for their father whom they had ne$er !een+&One "hief "au!e of "om%laint

a'ain!t him wa! that he interfered with their fa$ourite !tudie! and %ur!uit! wherea! he only!ou'ht to ma*e them 'i$e u% triflin' with earne!t thin'!, and !ee* for truth, and not for

amu!ement, from the many wonder! around them. )e did not want them to turn to other !tudie!,

or to e!"hew %lea!ure! #ut, in tho!e !tudie!, to !ee* the hi'he!t thin'! mo!t, and other thin'! in

%ro%ortion to their true worth and no#lene!!. Thi! "ould not fail to #e di!ta!teful to tho!e who didnot "are for what wa! hi'her than they. And !o matter! went on for a time. They thou'ht they

"ould do #etter without their #rother and their #rother *new they "ould not do at all without him,

and tried to fulfil the "har'e "ommitted into hi! hand!.At len'th, one day, for the thou'ht !eemed to !tri*e them !imultaneou!ly, they "onferred

to'ether a#out 'i$in' a 'reat entertainment in their 'rande!t room! to any of their nei'h#our!

who "ho!e to "ome, or indeed to any inha#itant! of the earth or air who would $i!it them. Theywere too %roud to refle"t that !ome "om%any mi'ht defile e$en the dweller! in what wa!

undou#tedly the fine!t %ala"e on the fa"e of the earth. (ut what made the thin' wor!e, wa!, that

the old tradition !aid that the!e room! were to #e *e%t entirely for the u!e of the owner of the

"a!tle. And, indeed, whene$er they entered them, !u"h wa! the effe"t of their loftine!! and'randeur u%on their mind!, that they alway! thou'ht of the old !tory, and "ould not hel%

#elie$in' it. Nor would the #rother %ermit them to for'et it now #ut, a%%earin' !uddenly

amon'!t them, when they had no e8%e"tation of #ein' interru%ted #y him, he re#u*ed them, #othfor the indi!"riminate nature of their in$itation, and for the intention of introdu"in' any one, not

to !%ea* of !ome who would dou#tle!! ma*e their a%%earan"e on the e$enin' in 1ue!tion, into

the room! *e%t !a"red for the u!e of the un*nown father. (ut #y thi! time their tal* with ea"hother had !o e8"ited their e8%e"tation! of enoyment, whi"h had %re$iou!ly #een !tron' enou'h,

that an'er !%run' u% within them at the thou'ht of #ein' de%ri$ed of their ho%e!, and they loo*ed

ea"h other in the eye! and the loo* !aid: ;7e are many and he i! one&let u! 'et rid of him, for

he i! alway! findin' fault, and thwartin' u! in the mo!t inno"ent %lea!ure!&a! if we would wi!h



to do anythin' wron'=; So without a word !%o*en, they ru!hed u%on him and althou'h he wa!

!tron'er than any of them, and !tru''led hard at fir!t, yet they o$er"ame him at la!t. Indeed !ome

of them thou'ht he yielded to their $iolen"e lon' #efore they had the ma!tery of him and thi!$ery !u#mi!!ion terrified the more tender-hearted amon'!t them. )owe$er, they #ound him

"arried him down many !tair!, and, ha$in' remem#ered an iron !ta%le in the wall of a "ertain

$ault, with a thi"* ru!ty "hain atta"hed to it, they #ore him thither, and made the "hain fa!taround him. There they left him, !huttin' the 'reat 'narrin' #ra9en door of the $ault, a! they

de%arted for the u%%er re'ion! of the "a!tle.

Now all wa! in a tumult of %re%aration. E$ery one wa! tal*in' of the "omin' fe!ti$ity #ut noone !%o*e of the deed they had done. A !udden %alene!! o$er!%read the fa"e, now of one, and

now of another #ut it %a!!ed away, and no one too* any noti"e of it they only %lied the ta!* of

the moment the more ener'eti"ally. Me!!en'er! were !ent far and near, not to indi$idual! or

familie!, #ut %u#li!hin' in all %la"e! of "on"our!e a 'eneral in$itation to any who "ho!e to "omeon a "ertain day, and %arta*e for "ertain !u""eedin' day! of the ho!%itality of the dweller! in the

"a!tle. Many were the %re%aration! immediately #e'un for "om%lyin' with the in$itation. (ut the

no#le!t of their nei'h#our! refu!ed to a%%ear not from %ride, #ut #e"au!e of the un!uita#lene!!

and "arele!!ne!! of !u"h a mode. 7ith !ome of them it wa! an old "ondition in the tenure of their e!tate!, that they !hould 'o to no one! dwellin' e8"e%t $i!ited in %er!on, and e8%re!!ly !oli"ited.

Other!, *nowin' what !ort of %er!on! would #e there, and that, from a "ertain %hy!i"al anti%athy,they "ould !"ar"ely #reathe in their "om%any, made u% their mind! at on"e not to 'o. Yet

multitude!, many of them #eautiful and inno"ent a! well a! 'ay, re!ol$ed to a%%ear.

Meanwhile the 'reat room! of the "a!tle were 'ot in readine!!&that i!, they %ro"eeded todefa"e them with de"oration! for there wa! a !olemnity and !tateline!! a#out them in their

ordinary "ondition, whi"h wa! at on"e felt to #e un!uita#le for the li'ht-hearted "om%any !o !oon

to mo$e a#out in them with the !elf-!ame "arele!!ne!! with whi"h men wal* a#road within the

'reat hea$en! and hill! and "loud!. One day, while the wor*men were #u!y, the elde!t !i!ter, of whom I ha$e already !%o*en, ha%%ened to enter, !he *new not why. Suddenly the 'reat idea of

the mi'hty hall! dawned u%on her, and filled her !oul. The !o-"alled de"oration! $ani!hed from

her $iew, and !he felt a! if !he !tood in her father! %re!en"e. She wa! at one ele$ated andhum#led. A! !uddenly the idea faded and fled, and !he #eheld #ut the 'audy fe!toon! and

dra%erie! and %aintin'! whi"h di!fi'ured the 'randeur. She we%t and !%ed away. Now it wa! too

late to interfere, and thin'! mu!t ta*e their "our!e. She would ha$e #een #ut a 0a!!andra- %ro%hete!! to tho!e who !aw #ut the %lea!ure #efore them. She had not #een %re!ent when her

#rother wa! im%ri!oned and indeed for !ome day! had #een !o wra%t in her own #u!ine!!, that

!he had ta*en #ut little heed of anythin' that wa! 'oin' on. (ut they all e8%e"ted her to !how

her!elf when the "om%any wa! 'athered and they had a%%lied to her for ad$i"e at $ariou! time!durin' their o%eration!.

At len'th the e8%e"ted hour arri$ed, and the "om%any #e'an to a!!em#le. It wa! a warm

!ummer e$enin'. The dar* la*e refle"ted the ro!e-"oloured "loud! in the we!t, and throu'h theflu!h rowed many 'aily %ainted #oat!, with $ariou! "oloured fla'!, toward! the ma!!y ro"* on

whi"h the "a!tle !tood. The tree! and flower! !eemed already a!lee%, and #reathin' forth their

!weet dream-#reath. 2au'hter and low $oi"e! ro!e from the #rea!t of the la*e to the ear! of theyouth! and maiden! loo*in' forth e8%e"tant from the lofty window!. They went down to the

#road %latform at the to% of the !tair! in front of the door to re"ei$e their $i!itor!. (y de'ree! the

fe!ti$itie! of the e$enin' "ommen"ed. The !ame !mile! flew forth #oth at eye! and li%!, dartin'

li*e #eam! throu'h the 'atherin' "rowd. Mu!i", from un!een !our"e!, now rolled in #illow!, now



"re%t in ri%%le! throu'h the !ea of air that filled the lofty room!. And in the dan"in' hall!, when

hand too* hand, and form and motion were moulded and !wayed #y the indwellin' mu!i", it

'o$erned not the!e alone, #ut, a! the rulin' !%irit of the %la"e, e$ery new #ur!t of mu!i" for anew dan"e !we%t #efore it a new and a""ordant odour, and dyed the flame! that 'lowed in the

lofty lam%! with a new and a""ordant !tain. The floor! #ent #eneath the feet of the time-*ee%in'

dan"er!. (ut twi"e in the e$enin' !ome of the inmate! !tarted, and the %allor o""a!ionally"ommon to the hou!ehold o$er!%read their fa"e!, for they felt underneath them a "ounter-motion

to the dan"e, a! if the floor ro!e !li'htly to an!wer their feet. And all the time their #rother lay

#elow in the dun'eon, li*e <ohn the (a%ti!t in the "a!tle of )erod, when the lord! and "a%tain!!at around, and the dau'hter of )erodia! dan"ed #efore them. Out!ide, all around the "a!tle,

#rooded the dar* ni'ht unheeded for the "loud! had "ome u% from all !ide!, and were "rowdin'

to'ether o$erhead. In the unfre1uent %au!e! of the mu!i", they mi'ht ha$e heard, now and then,

the 'u!ty ru!h of a lonely wind, "omin' and 'oin' no one "ould *now when"e or whither, #ornand dyin' une8%e"ted and unre'arded.

(ut when the fe!ti$itie! were at their hei'ht, when the e8ternal and %a!!in' "onfiden"e whi"h

i! %rodu"ed #etween !u%erfi"ial nature! #y a "ommon %lea!ure wa! at the full, a !udden "ra!h of

thunder 1uelled the mu!i", a! the thunder 1uell! the noi!e of the u%lifted !ea. The window! weredri$en in, and torrent! of rain, "arried in the fold! of a ru!hin' wind, %oured into the hall!. The

li'ht! were !we%t away and the 'reat room!, now dar* within, were dar*ened yet more #y theda99lin' !hoot! of flame from the $ault of #la"*ne!! o$erhead. Tho!e that $entured to loo* out of

the window! !aw, in the #lue #rillian"y of the 1ui"*-followin' et! of li'htnin', the la*e at the

foot of the ro"*, ordinarily !o !till and !o dar*, li'hted u%, not on the !urfa"e only, #ut down tohalf it! de%th !o that, a! it to!!ed in the wind, li*e a tortured !ea of writhin' flame!, or

in"ande!"ent half-molten !er%ent! of #ra!!, they "ould not tell whether a !tron' %ho!%hore!"en"e

did not i!!ue from the tran!%arent #ody of the water!, a! if earth and !*y li'htened to'ether, one

"on!entin' !our"e of flamin' utteran"e.Sad wa! the "ondition of the late %la!ti" ma!! of li$in' form that had flowed into !ha%e at the

will and law of the mu!i". (ro*en into indi$idual!, the "ommon tran!fu!in' !%irit withdrawn,

they !tood dren"hed, "old, and #enum#ed, with "lin'in' 'arment! li'ht, order, harmony, %ur%o!ede%arted, and "hao! re!tored the i!!uin'! of life turned #a"* on their !our"e!, "hilly and dead.

And in e$ery heart rei'ned the fal!e!t of de!%airin' "on$i"tion!, that thi! wa! the only reality,

and that wa! #ut a dream. The elde!t !i!ter !tood with "la!%ed hand! and down-#ent head,!hi$erin' and !%ee"hle!!, a! if waitin' for !omethin' to follow. Nor did !he wait lon'. A terri#le

fla!h and thunder-%eal made the "a!tle ro"* and in the %au!in' !ilen"e that followed, her 1ui"*

!en!e heard the rattlin' of a "hain far off, dee% down and !oon the !ound of hea$y foot!te%!,

a""om%anied with the "lan*in' of iron, rea"hed her ear. She felt that her #rother wa! at hand.E$en in the dar*ne!!, and amid!t the #ellowin' of another dee%-#o!omed "loud-mon!ter, !he

*new that he had entered the room. A moment after, a "ontinuou! %ul!ation of an'ry #lue li'ht

#e'an, whi"h, la!tin' for !ome moment!, re$ealed him !tandin' amid!t them, 'aunt, ha''ard,and motionle!! hi! hair and #eard untrimmed, hi! fa"e 'ha!tly, hi! eye! lar'e and hollow. The

li'ht !eemed to 'ather around him a! a "entre. Indeed !ome #elie$ed that it thro##ed and radiated

from hi! %er!on, and not from the !tormy hea$en! a#o$e them. The li'htnin' had rent the wall of hi! %ri!on, and relea!ed the iron !ta%le of hi! "hain, whi"h he had wound a#out him li*e a 'irdle.

In hi! hand he "arried an iron fetter-#ar, whi"h he had found on the floor of the $ault. More

terrified at hi! a!%e"t than at all the $iolen"e of the !torm, the $i!itor!, with many a !hrie* and

"ry, ru!hed out into the tem%e!tuou! ni'ht. (y de'ree!, the !torm died away. It! la!t fla!h



re$ealed the form! of the #rother! and !i!ter! lyin' %ro!trate, with their fa"e! on the floor, and

that fearful !ha%e !tandin' motionle!! amid!t them !till.

Mornin' dawned, and there they lay, and there he !tood. (ut at a word from him, they aro!eand went a#out their $ariou! dutie!, thou'h li!tle!!ly enou'h. The elde!t !i!ter wa! the la!t to

ri!e and when !he did, it wa! only #y a terri#le effort that !he wa! a#le to rea"h her room, where

!he fell a'ain on the floor. There !he remained lyin' for day!. The #rother "au!ed the door! of the 'reat !uite of room! to #e "lo!ed, lea$in' them u!t a! they were, with all the "hildi!h

adornment !"attered a#out, and the rain !till fallin' in throu'h the !hattered window!. ;Thu! let

them lie,; !aid he, ;till the rain and fro!t ha$e "lean!ed them of %aint and dra%ery: no !torm "anhurt the %illar! and ar"he! of the!e hall!.;

The hour! of thi! day went hea$ily. The !torm wa! 'one, #ut the rain wa! left the %a!!ion had

de%arted, #ut the tear! remained #ehind. Dull and dar* the low mi!ty "loud! #rooded o$er the

"a!tle and the la*e, and !hut out all the nei'h#ourhood. E$en if they had "lim#ed to the loftie!t*nown turret, they would ha$e found it !wathed in a 'arment of "lin'in' $a%our, affordin' no

refre!hment to the eye, and no ho%e to the heart. There wa! one lofty tower that ro!e !heer a

hundred feet a#o$e the re!t, and from whi"h the fo' "ould ha$e #een !een lyin' in a 'rey ma!!

#eneath #ut that tower they had not yet di!"o$ered, nor another "lo!e #e!ide it, the to% of whi"hwa! ne$er !een, nor "ould #e, for the hi'he!t "loud! of hea$en "lu!tered "ontinually around it.

The rain fell "ontinuou!ly, thou'h not hea$ily, without and within, too, there were "loud! fromwhi"h dro%%ed the tear! whi"h are the rain of the !%irit. All the 'ood of life !eemed for the time

de%arted, and their !oul! li$ed #ut a! leafle!! tree! that had for'otten the oy of the !ummer, and

whom no wind %ro%heti" of !%rin' had yet $i!ited. They mo$ed a#out me"hani"ally, and had not!tren'th enou'h left to wi!h to die.

The ne8t day the "loud! were hi'her, and a little wind #lew throu'h !u"h loo%hole! in the

turret! a! the fal!e im%ro$ement! of the inmate! had not yet filled with 'la!!, !huttin' out, a! the

!torm, !o the !erene $i!itin'! of the hea$en!. Throu'hout the day, the #rother too* $ariou!o%%ortunitie! of addre!!in' a 'entle "ommand, now to one and now to another of hi! family. It

wa! o#eyed in !ilen"e. The wind #lew fre!her throu'h the loo%hole! and the !hattered window!

of the 'reat room!, and found it! way, #y un*nown %a!!a'e!, to fa"e! and eye! hot with wee%in'.It "ooled and #le!!ed them.&7hen the !un aro!e the ne8t day, it wa! in a "lear !*y.

(y de'ree!, e$erythin' fell into the re'ularity of !u#ordination. 7ith the !u#ordination "ame

in"rea!e of freedom. The !te%! of the more youthful of the family were heard on the !tair! and inthe "orridor! more li'ht and 1ui"* than e$er #efore. Their #rother had lo!t the terror! of a!%e"t

%rodu"ed #y hi! "onfinement, and hi! "ommand! were i!!ued more 'ently, and oftener with a

!mile, than in all their %re$iou! hi!tory. (y de'ree! hi! %re!en"e wa! uni$er!ally felt throu'h the

hou!e. It wa! no !ur%ri!e to any one at hi! !tudie!, to !ee him #y hi! !ide when he lifted u% hi!eye!, thou'h he had not #efore *nown that he wa! in the room. And althou'h !ome dread !till

remained, it wa! ra%idly $ani!hin' #efore the ad$an"e! of a firm friend!hi%. 7ithout

immediately orderin' their la#our!, he alway! influen"ed them, and often altered their dire"tionand o#e"t!. The "han'e !oon e$ident in the hou!ehold wa! remar*a#le. A !im%ler, no#ler

e8%re!!ion wa! $i!i#le on all the "ountenan"e!. The $oi"e! of the men were dee%er, and yet

!eemed #y their $ery de%th more feminine than #efore while the $oi"e! of the women were!ofter and !weeter, and at the !ame time more full and de"ided. Now the eye! had often an

e8%re!!ion a! if their !i'ht wa! a#!or#ed in the 'a9e of the inward eye! and when the eye! of

two met, there %a!!ed #etween tho!e eye! the utteran"e of a "on$i"tion that #oth meant the !ame



thin'. (ut the "han'e wa!, of "our!e, to #e !een more "learly, thou'h not more e$idently, in

indi$idual!.

One of the #rother!, for in!tan"e, wa! $ery fond of a!tronomy. )e had hi! o#!er$atory on alofty tower, whi"h !tood %retty "lear of the other!, toward! the north and ea!t. (ut hitherto, hi!

a!tronomy, a! he had "alled it, had #een more of the "hara"ter of a!trolo'y. Often, too, he mi'ht

ha$e #een !een dire"tin' a hea$en-!ear"hin' tele!"o%e to "at"h the ra%id tran!it of a fiery!hootin'-!tar, #elon'in' alto'ether to the earthly atmo!%here, and not to the !erene hea$en!. )e

had to learn that the !i'n! of the air are not the !i'n! of the !*ie!. Nay, on"e, hi! #rother !ur%ri!ed

him in the a"t of e8aminin' throu'h hi! lon'e!t tu#e a %at"h of #urnin' heath u%on a di!tant hill.(ut now he wa! dili'ent from mornin' till ni'ht in the !tudy of the law! of the truth that ha! to

do with !tar! and when the "urtain of the !unli'ht wa! a#out to ri!e from #efore the hea$enly

world! whi"h it had hidden all day lon', he mi'ht #e !een %re%arin' hi! in!trument! with that

!olemn "ountenan"e with whi"h it #e"ometh one to loo* into the my!teriou! harmonie! of Nature. Now he learned what law and order and truth are, what "on!ent and harmony mean how

the indi$idual may find hi! own end in a hi'her end, where law and freedom mean the !ame

thin', and the %ure!t "ertainty e8i!t! without the !li'hte!t "on!traint. Thu! he !tood on the earth,

and loo*ed to the hea$en!.Another, who had #een mu"h 'i$en to !ear"hin' out the hollow %la"e! and re"e!!e! in the

foundation! of the "a!tle, and who wa! often to #e found with "om%a!! and ruler wor*in' awayat a "hart of the !ame whi"h he had #een in %ro"e!! of "on!tru"tin', now "ame to the "on"lu!ion,

that only #y a!"endin' the u%%er re'ion! of hi! a#ode "ould he #e"ome "a%a#le of under!tandin'

what lay #eneath and that, in all %ro#a#ility, one "lear %ro!%e"t, from the to% of the hi'he!tattaina#le turret, o$er the "a!tle a! it lay #elow, would re$eal more of the idea of it! internal

"on!tru"tion, than a year !%ent in wanderin' throu'h it! !u#terranean $ault!. (ut the fa"t wa!,

that the de!ire to a!"end wa*enin' within him had made him for'et what wa! #eneath and

ha$in' laid a!ide hi! "hart for a time at lea!t, he wa! now to #e met in e$ery 1uarter of the u%%er %art!, !ear"hin' and !tri$in' u%ward, now in one dire"tion, now in another and !ee*in', a! he

went, the #e!t outloo*! into the "lear air of outer realitie!.

And they #e'an to di!"o$er that they were all meditatin' different a!%e"t! of the !ame thin'and they #rou'ht to'ether their $ariou! di!"o$erie!, and re"o'ni!ed the li*ene!! #etween them

and the one thin' often e8%lained the other, and "om#inin' with it hel%ed to a third. They 'rew in

"on!e1uen"e more and more friendly and lo$in' !o that e$ery now and then one turned toanother and !aid, a! in !ur%ri!e, ;7hy, you are my #rother=;&;7hy, you are my !i!ter=; And yet

they had alway! *nown it.

The "han'e rea"hed to all. One, who li$ed on the air of !weet !ound!, and who wa! almo!t

alway! to #e found !eated #y her har% or !ome other in!trument, had, till the late !torm, #een'enerally merry and %layful, thou'h !ometime! !ad. (ut for a lon' time after that, !he wa! often

found wee%in', and %layin' little !im%le air! whi"h !he had heard in "hildhood&#a"*ward

lon'in'!, followed #y fre!h tear!. (efore lon', howe$er, a new element manife!ted it!elf in her mu!i". It #e"ame yet more wild, and !ometime! retained all it! !adne!!, #ut it wa! min'led with

anti"i%ation and ho%e. The %a!t and the future mer'ed in one and while memory yet #rou'ht the

rain-"loud, e8%e"tation threw the rain#ow a"ro!! it! #o!om&and all wa! uttered in her mu!i",whi"h ro!e and !welled, now to defian"e, now to $i"tory then died in a torrent of wee%in'.

A! to the elde!t !i!ter, it wa! many day! #efore !he re"o$ered from the !ho"*. At len'th, one

day, her #rother "ame to her, too* her #y the hand, led her to an o%en window, and told her to

!eat her!elf #y it, and loo* out. She did !o #ut at fir!t !aw nothin' more than an un!ym%athi!in'



#la9e of !unli'ht. (ut a! !he loo*ed, the hori9on widened out, and the dome of the !*y a!"ended,

till the 'randeur !ei9ed u%on her !oul, and !he fell on her *nee! and we%t. Now the hea$en!

!eemed to #end lo$in'ly o$er her, and to !tret"h out wide "loud-arm! to em#ra"e her the earthlay li*e the #o!om of an infinite lo$e #eneath her, and the wind *i!!ed her "hee* with an odour

of ro!e!. She !%ran' to her feet, and turned, in an a'ony of ho%e, e8%e"tin' to #ehold the fa"e of

the father, #ut there !tood only her #rother, loo*in' "almly thou'h lo$in'ly on her emotion. Sheturned a'ain to the window. On the hillto%! re!ted the !*y: )ea$en and Earth were one and the

%ro%he"y awo*e in her !oul, that from #etwi8t them would the !te%! of the father a%%roa"h.

)itherto !he had !een #ut (eauty now !he #eheld Truth. Often had !he loo*ed on !u"h "loud!a! the!e, and lo$ed the !tran'e ethereal "ur$e! into whi"h the wind! moulded them and had

!miled a! her little %et !i!ter told her what "uriou! animal! !he !aw in them, and tried to %oint

them out to her. Now they were a! troo%! of an'el!, u#ilant o$er her new #irth, for they !an', in

her !oul, of #eauty, and truth, and lo$e. She loo*ed down, and her little !i!ter *nelt #e!ide her.She wa! a "uriou! "hild, with #la"*, 'litterin' eye!, and dar* hair at the mer"y of e$ery

wanderin' wind a froli"!ome, darin' 'irl, who lau'hed more than !he !miled. She wa! 'enerally

in attendan"e on her !i!ter, and wa! alway! findin' and #rin'in' her !tran'e thin'!. She ne$er

%ulled a %rimro!e, #ut !he *new the haunt! of all the or"hi! tri#e, and #rou'ht from them #ee!and #utterflie! innumera#le, a! offerin'! to her !i!ter. 0uriou! moth! and 'low-worm! were her

'reate!t deli'ht and !he lo$ed the !tar!, #e"au!e they were li*e the 'low-worm!. (ut the "han'ehad affe"ted her too for her !i!ter !aw that her eye! had lo!t their 'litterin' loo*, and had

#e"ome more li1uid and tran!%arent. And from that time !he often o#!er$ed that her 'aiety wa!

more 'entle, her !mile more fre1uent, her lau'h le!! #ell-li*e and althou'h !he wa! a! wild a!e$er, there wa! more ele'an"e in her motion!, and more mu!i" in her $oi"e. And !he "lun' to her

!i!ter with far 'reater fondne!! than #efore.

The land re%o!ed in the em#ra"e of the warm !ummer day!. The "loud! of hea$en ne!tled

around the tower! of the "a!tle and the heart! of it! inmate! #e"ame "on!"iou! of a warmatmo!%here&of a %re!en"e of lo$e. They #e'an to feel li*e the "hildren of a hou!ehold, when the

mother i! at home. Their fa"e! and form! 'rew daily more and more #eautiful, till they wondered

a! they 'a9ed on ea"h other. A! they wal*ed in the 'arden! of the "a!tle, or in the "ountry around,they were often $i!ited, e!%e"ially the elde!t !i!ter, #y !ound! that no one heard #ut them!el$e!,

i!!uin' from wood! and water! and #y form! of lo$e that li'htened out of flower!, and 'ra!!,

and 'reat ro"*!. Now and then the youn' "hildren would "ome in with a !low, !tately !te%, and,with 'reat eye! that loo*ed a! if they would de$our all the "reation, !ay that they had met the

father amon'!t the tree!, and that he had *i!!ed them ;And,; added one of them on"e, ;I 'rew !o

#i'=; (ut when the other! went out to loo*, they "ould !ee no one. And !ome !aid it mu!t ha$e

#een the #rother, who 'rew more and more #eautiful, and lo$in', and re$erend, and who had lo!tall tra"e! of hardne!!, !o that they wondered they "ould e$er ha$e thou'ht him !tern and har!h.

(ut the elde!t !i!ter held her %ea"e, and loo*ed u%, and her eye! filled with tear!. ;7ho "an tell,;

thou'ht !he, ;#ut the little "hildren *now more a#out it than we+;Often, at !unri!e, mi'ht #e heard their hymn of %rai!e to their un!een father, whom they felt to

#e near, thou'h they !aw him not. Some word! thereof on"e rea"hed my ear throu'h the fold! of

the mu!i" in whi"h they floated, a! in an u%ward !now!torm of !weet !ound!. And the!e are !omeof the word! I heard&#ut there wa! mu"h I !eemed to hear whi"h I "ould not under!tand, and

!ome thin'! whi"h I under!tood #ut "annot utter a'ain.

;7e than* thee that we ha$e a father, and not a ma*er that thou ha!t #e'otten u!, and not

moulded u! a! ima'e! of "lay that we ha$e "ome forth of thy heart, and ha$e not #een fa!hioned



#y thy hand!. It m"st #e !o. Only the heart of a father i! a#le to "reate. 7e reoi"e in it, and #le!!

thee that we *now it. 7e than* thee for thy!elf. (e what thou art&our root and life, our

#e'innin' and end, our all in all. 0ome home to u!. Thou li$e!t therefore we li$e. In thy li'ht we!ee. Thou art&that i! all our !on'.;

Thu! they wor!hi%, and lo$e, and wait. Their ho%e and e8%e"tation 'row e$er !tron'er and

#ri'hter, that one day, ere lon', the /ather will !how )im!elf amon'!t them, and then"eforthdwell in )i! own hou!e for e$ermore. 7hat wa! on"e #ut an old le'end ha! #e"ome the one

de!ire of their heart!.

And the loftie!t ho%e i! the !ure!t of #ein' fulfilled.

THE &O& O'RIVEN

El!ie S"ott had let her wor* fall on her *nee!, and her hand! on her wor*, and wa! loo*in' out

of the wide, low window of her room, whi"h wa! on one of the 'round floor! of the $illa'e

!treet. Throu'h a 'a% in the hou!ehold !hru##ery of fu"h!ia! and myrtle! fillin' the window-!ill,

one %a!!in' on the foot %a$ement mi'ht 'et a momentary 'lim%!e of her %ale fa"e, li'hted u%with two #lue eye!, o$er whi"h !ome inward trou#le had !%read a faint, 'au9e-li*e ha9ine!!. (ut

almo!t #efore her thou'ht! had had time to wander #a"* to thi! trou#le, a !hout of "hildren!$oi"e!, at the other end of the !treet, rea"hed her ear. She li!tened a moment. A !hadow of

di!%lea!ure and %ain "ro!!ed her "ountenan"e and ri!in' ha!tily, !he #etoo* her!elf to an inner

a%artment, and "lo!ed the door #ehind her.Meantime the !ound! drew nearer and #y and #y an old man, who!e !tran'e a%%earan"e and

dre!! !howed that he had little "a%a"ity either for 'ood or e$il, %a!!ed the window. )i! "lothe!

were "omforta#le enou'h in 1uality and "ondition, for they were the annual 'ift of a #ene$olent

lady in the nei'h#ourhood #ut, #ein' made to a""ommodate hi! ta!te, #oth *nown andtraditional, they were !omewhat %e"uliar in "ut and adornment. (oth "oat and trou!er! were of a

dar* 'rey "loth #ut the former, whi"h, in it! !ha%e, %artoo* of the military, had a !trai'ht "ollar

of yellow, and narrow "uff! of the !ame while u%on #oth !lee$e!, a#out the %la"e where a"or%oral wear! hi! !tri%e!, wa! e8%re!!ed, in the !ame yellow "loth, a !omewhat !in'ular de$i"e.

It wa! a! "lo!e an imitation of a #ell, with it! ton'ue han'in' out of it! mouth, a! the tailor! !*ill

"ould %rodu"e from a !in'le %ie"e of "loth. The ori'in of the military "ut of hi! "oat wa! well*nown. )i! %referen"e for it aro!e in the time of the war! of the fir!t Na%oleon, when the

threatened in$a!ion of the "ountry "au!ed the or'ani!ation of many $olunteer re'iment!. The

martial !how and e8er"i!e! "a%ti$ated the %oor man! fan"y and from that time forward nothin'

%lea!ed hi! $anity, and "on!e1uently "on"iliated hi! 'oodwill more, than to !tyle him #y hi!fa$ourite title&the olonel . (ut the #ad'e on hi! arm had a dee%er ori'in, whi"h will #e

%artially manife!t in the "our!e of the !tory&if !tory it "an #e "alled. It wa!, indeed, the #a%ti!m

of the fool, the outward and $i!i#le !i'n of hi! relation to the infinite and un!een. )i!"ountenan"e, howe$er, althou'h the feature! were not of any %e"uliarly low or animal ty%e,

!howed no "orre!%ondin' !i'n of the "on!"iou!ne!! of !u"h a relation, #ein' a! $a"ant a! human

"ountenan"e "ould well #e.The "au!e of El!ie! annoyan"e wa! that the fool wa! annoyed he wa! followed #y a troo% of

#oy!, who turned hi! ran* into !"orn, and a!!ailed him with e%ithet! hateful to him. Althou'h the

mo!t harmle!! of "reature! when left alone, he wa! dan'erou! when rou!ed and now he !too%ed

re%eatedly to %i"* u% !tone! and hurl them at hi! tormentor!, who too* "are, while a#u!in' him,



lau'hed at her without the !li'hte!t idea of the %ain he o""a!ioned, or the remote!t feelin' of

"urio!ity a! to what the inward and "on!i!tent "au!e! of the outward a#normal "ondition mi'ht

#e. Tenderne!! wa! the di$ine "omfortin' !he needed and it wa! alto'ether a#!ent from her #rother! "hara"ter and #eha$iour.

)er nei'h#our! loo*ed on her with !ome intere!t, #ut they rather !hunned than "ourted her

a"1uaintan"e e!%e"ially after the return of "ertain ner$ou! atta"*!, to whi"h !he had #een !u#e"tin "hildhood, and whi"h were a'ain #rou'ht on #y the e$ent! I mu!t relate. It i! "uriou! how

"ertain di!ea!e! re%el, #y a *ind of awe, the !ym%athie! of the nei'h#our!: a! if, #y the fa"t of

#ein' !u#e"t to them, the %atient were remo$ed into another realm of e8i!ten"e, from whi"h, li*ethe dead with the li$in', !he "an hold "ommunion with tho!e around her only %artially, and with

a mi8ture of dread %er$adin' the inter"our!e. Thu! !ome of the dee%e!t, %ure!t well! of !%iritual

life, are, li*e tho!e in old "a!tle!, "ho*ed u% #y the de"ay of the outer wall!. (ut what tended

more than anythin', %erha%!, to *ee% u% the %ainful unre!t of her !oul >for the #eauty of her "hara"ter wa! e$ident in the fa"t that the irritation !eldom rea"hed her mind ?, wa! a "ir"um!tan"e

at whi"h, in it! %re!ent "onne"tion, !ome of my reader! will !mile, and other! feel a !hudder

"orre!%ondin' in *ind to that of El!ie.

)er #rother wa! $ery fond of a rather !mall, #ut fero"iou!-loo*in' #ull-do', whi"h followed"lo!e at hi! heel!, where$er he went, with han'in' head and !lou"hin' 'ait, ne$er lea%in' or

ra"in' a#out li*e other do'!. 7hen in the hou!e, he alway! lay under hi! ma!ter! "hair. )e!eemed to di!li*e El!ie, and !he felt an un!%ea*a#le re%u'nan"e to him. Thou'h !he ne$er

mentioned her a$er!ion, her #rother ea!ily !aw it #y the way in whi"h !he a$oided the animal

and attri#utin' it entirely to fear&whi"h indeed had a 'reat !hare in the matter&he would"ruelly a''ra$ate it, #y tellin' her !torie! of the fier"e hardihood and relentle!! %er!i!ten"y of

thi! *ind of animal. )e dared not yet further in"rea!e her terror #y offerin' to !et the "reature

u%on her, #e"au!e it wa! dou#tful whether he mi'ht #e a#le to re!train him #ut the mental

!ufferin' whi"h he o""a!ioned #y thi! heartle!! "ondu"t, and for whi"h he had no !ym%athy, wa!a! !e$ere a! many #odily !ufferin'! to whi"h he would ha$e #een !orry to !u#e"t her. 7hene$er

the %oor 'irl ha%%ened inad$ertently to %a!! near the do', whi"h wa! !eldom, a low 'rowl made

her aware of hi! %ro8imity, and dro$e her to a 1ui"* retreat. )e wa!, in fa"t, the animalim%er!onation of the animal o%%o!ition whi"h !he had "ontinually to endure. 2i*e "hoo!e! li*e

and the #ulldo' in her #rother made "hoi"e of the #ull-do' o"t of him for hi! "om%anion. So her

day wa! one of !hrin*in' fear and multiform di!"omfort.(ut a nature "a%a#le of !o mu"h di!tre!!, mu!t of ne"e!!ity #e ca+a%le of a "orre!%ondin'

amount of %lea!ure and in her "a!e thi! wa! manife!t in the fa"t that !lee% and the 1uiet of her

own room re!tored her wonderfully. If !he were only let alone, a "alm mood, filled with ima'e!

of %lea!ure, !oon too* %o!!e!!ion of her mind.)er a"1uaintan"e with the fool had "ommen"ed !ome ten year! %re$iou! to the time I write of,

when !he wa! 1uite a little 'irl, and had "ome from the "ountry with her #rother, who, ha$in'

ta*en a !mall farm "lo!e to the town, %referred re!idin' in the town to o""u%yin' the farmhou!e,whi"h wa! not "omforta#le. She loo*ed at fir!t with !ome terror on hi! un"outh a%%earan"e, and

with mu"h wonderment on hi! !tran'e dre!!. Thi! wonder wa! hei'htened #y a "on$er!ation !he

o$erheard one day in the !treet, #etween the fool and a little %ale-fa"ed #oy, who, a%%roa"hin'him re!%e"tfully, !aid, ;7eel, "ornel=; ;7eel, laddie=; wa! the re%ly. ;/at di! the wow !ay,

"ornel+; ;0ome hame, "ome hame=; an!wered the colonel , with #oth a""ent and 1uantity hea%ed

on the word hame. 7hat the wow "ould #e, !he had no idea only, a! the year! %a!!ed on, the

!tran'e word #e"ame in her mind inde!"ri#a#ly a!!o"iated with the !tran'e !ha%e in yellow "loth



on hi! !lee$e!. )ad !he #een a nati$e of the town, !he "ould not ha$e failed to *now it! im%ort,

!o familiar wa! e$ery one with it, althou'h it did not #elon' to the lo"al $o"a#ulary #ut, a! it

wa!, year! %a!!ed away #efore !he di!"o$ered it! meanin'. And when, a'ain and a'ain, the fool,attem%tin' to "on$ey hi! 'ratitude for !ome *indne!! !he had !hown him mum#led o$er the

word!&;The *o* o2 Rivven7the *o* o2 Rivven,; the wonder would return a! to what "ould #e

the idea a!!o"iated with them in hi! mind, #ut !he made no ad$an"e toward! their e8%lanation.That, howe$er, whi"h mo!t attra"ted her to the old man, wa! hi! %er!e"ution #y the "hildren.

They were to him what the #ull-do' wa! to her&the "on!tant !our"e of irritation and annoyan"e.

They "ould hardly hurt him, nor did he a%%ear to dread other inury from them than in!ult, towhi"h, fool thou'h he wa!, he wa! *eenly ali$e. )uman 'adflie! that they were= they !ometime!

!tun' him #eyond enduran"e, and he would "ur!e them in the im%oten"e of hi! an'er. On"e or

twi"e El!ie had #een !o far "arried #eyond her "on!titutional timidity, #y !ym%athy for the

di!tre!! of her friend, that !he had 'one out and tal*ed to the #oy!&e$en !"olded them, !o thatthey !lun* away a!hamed, and #e'an to !tand a! mu"h in dread of her a! of the "lut"he! of their

%rey. So !he, 'entle and timid to e8"e!!, a"1uired amon' them the re%utation of a terma'ant.

3o%ular o%inion amon' "hildren, a! amon' men, i! of ten u!t, #ut a! often $ery unu!t for the

!ame manife!tation! may %ro"eed from o%%o!ite %rin"i%le! and, therefore, a! indi"e! to"hara"ter, may mi!lead a! often a! enli'hten.

Ne8t door to the hou!e in whi"h El!ie re!ided, dwelt a trade!man and hi! wife, who *e%t anindefinite !ort of !ho%, in whi"h $ariou! *ind! of 'ood! were e8%o!ed for !ale. Their youn'e!t

!on wa! a#out the !ame a'e a! El!ie and while they were rather more than "hildren, and le!!

than youn' %eo%le, he !%ent many of hi! e$enin'! with her, !omewhat to the lo!! of %o!ition inhi! "la!!e! at the %ari!h !"hool. They were, indeed, mu"h atta"hed to ea"h other and, %e"uliarly

"on!tituted a! El!ie wa!, one may ima'ine what *ind of hea$enly me!!en'er a "om%anion

!tron'er than her!elf mu!t ha$e #een to her. In fa"t, if !he "ould ha$e framed the undefina#le

need of her "hildli*e nature into an arti"ulate %rayer, it would ha$e #een&;Gi$e me !ome one tolo$e me !tron'er than I.; Any lo$e wa! hel%ful, ye!, in it! de'ree, !a$in' to her %oor trou#led

!oul #ut the ho%e, a! they 'rew older to'ether, that the %owerful, yet tender-hearted youth, really

lo$ed her, and would one day ma*e her hi! wife, wa! li*e the o%enin' of hea$enly eye! of lifeand lo$e in the hitherto #lan* and deathli*e fa"e of her e8i!ten"e. (ut nothin' had #een !aid of

lo$e, althou'h they met and %arted li*e lo$er!.

Dou#tle!!, if the "ir"le! of their thou'ht and feelin' had "ontinued a! now to inter!e"t ea"hother, there would ha$e #een no interru%tion to their affe"tion #ut the time at len'th arri$ed

when the old "ou%le, !eein' the re!t of their family "omforta#ly !ettled in life, re!ol$ed to ma*e a

'entleman of the youn'e!t and !o !ent him from !"hool to "olle'e. The fa"ilitie! e8i!tin' in

S"otland for %ro$idin' a %rofe!!ional trainin' ena#led them to edu"ate him a! a !ur'eon. )e %arted from El!ie with !ome re'ret #ut, far le!! de%endent on her than !he wa! on him, and full

of the %ro!%e"t! of the future, he felt none of that !in*in' at the heart whi"h !eemed to lay her

whole nature o%en to a fre!h inroad of all the terror! and !orrow! of her %e"uliar e8i!ten"e. No"orre!%onden"e too* %la"e #etween them. New %ur!uit! and relation!, and the de$elo%ment of

hi! ta!te! and ud'ment!, entirely altered the %o!ition of %oor El!ie in hi! memory. )a$in' #een,

durin' their inter"our!e, far le!! of a man than !he of a woman, he had no definite idea of the %la"e he had o""u%ied in her re'ard and in hi! mind !he re"eded into the #a"*'round of the %a!t,

without hi! ha$in' any idea that !he would !uffer there#y, or that he wa! unu!t toward! her

while, in her thou'ht!, hi! ima'e !tood in the hi'he!t and "leare!t relief. It wa! the "entre-%oint



from whi"h and toward! whi"h all line! radiated and "on$er'ed and althou'h !he "ould not #ut

#e dou#tful a#out the future, yet there wa! mu"h ho%e min'led with her dou#t!.

(ut when, at the "lo!e of two year!, he $i!ited hi! nati$e $illa'e, and !he !aw #efore her,in!tead of the homely youth who had left her that winter e$enin', one who, to her ine8%erien"ed

eye!, a%%eared a fini!hed 'entleman, her heart !an* within her, a! if !he had found Nature her!elf

fal!e in her ri%enin' %ro"e!!e!, de!troyin' the #eautiful %romi!e of a former year #y "han'in'in!tead of de$elo%in' her "reation!. )e !%o*e *indly to her, #ut not "ordially. To her ear the

$oi"e !eemed to "ome from a 'reat di!tan"e out of the %a!t and while !he loo*ed u%on him, that

o%ti"al "han'e %a!!ed o$er her $i!ion, whi"h all ha$e e8%erien"ed after 'a9in' a#!tra"tedly onany o#e"t for a time: hi! form 'rew $ery !mall, and re"eded to an immea!ura#le di!tan"e till,

her ima'ination min'lin' with the twili'ht ha9e of her !en!e!, !he !eemed to !ee him !tandin' far

off on a hill, with the #ri'ht hori9on of !un!et for a #a"*'round to hi! "learly defined fi'ure.

She *new no more till !he found her!elf in #ed in the dar* and the fir!t me!!a'e that rea"hedher from the outer world wa! the infernal 'rowl of the #ull-do' from the room #elow. Ne8t day

!he !aw her lo$er wal*in' with two ladie!, who would ha$e thou'ht it !ome de'ree of

"onde!"en!ion to !%ea* to her and he %a!!ed the hou!e without on"e loo*in' toward! it.

One who i! !uffi"iently %o!!e!!ed #y the demon of ner$ou!ne!! to #e 'lad of the ma'neti"influen"e! of a friend! "om%any in a %u#li" %romenade, or of a hor!e #eneath him in %a!!in'

throu'h a "hur"hyard, will ha$e !ome faint idea of how utterly e8%o!ed and defen"ele!! %oor El!ie now felt on the "rowded thorou'hfare of life. And !o the in!en!i#ility whi"h had o$erta*en

her, wa! not the ordinary !woon with whi"h Nature relie$e! the o$er!trained ner$e!, #ut the

return of the e%ile%ti" fit! of her early "hildhood and if the "ondition of the %oor 'irl had #een %itia#le #efore, it wa! tenfold more !o now. Yet !he did not "om%lain, #ut #ore all in !ilen"e,

thou'h it wa! e$ident that her health wa! 'i$in' way. (ut now, hel% "ame to her from a !tran'e

1uarter thou'h many mi'ht not #e willin' to a""ord the name of hel% to that whi"h rather

ha!tened than retarded the %ro're!! of her de"line.She had 'one to !%end a few of the !ummer day! with a relati$e in the "ountry, !ome mile!

from her home, if home it "ould #e "alled. One e$enin', toward! !un!et, !he went out for a

!olitary wal*. 3a!!in' from the little 'arden 'ate, !he went alon' a #are "ountry road for !omedi!tan"e, and then, turnin' a!ide #y a foot%ath throu'h a thi"*et of low tree!, !he "ame out in a

lonely little "hur"hyard on the hill!ide. )ardly *nowin' whether or not !he had intended to 'o

there, !he !eated her!elf on a mound "o$ered with lon' 'ra!!, one of many. (efore her !tood theruin! of an old "hur"h whi"h wa! ta*in' "enturie! to "rum#le. 2ittle remained #ut the 'a#le wall,

immen!ely thi"*, and "o$ered with an"ient i$y. The ray! of the !ettin' !un fell on a mound at it!

foot, not 'reen li*e the re!t, #ut of a ri"h red-#rown in the ro!y !un!et, and e$idently #ut newly

hea%ed u%. )er eye!, too, re!ted u%on it. Slowly the !un !an* #elow the near hori9on.A! the la!t #rilliant %oint di!a%%eared, the i$y dar*ened, and a wind aro!e and !hoo* all it!

lea$e!, ma*in' them loo* "old and trou#led and to El!ie! ear "ame a low faint !ound, a! from a

far-off #ell. (ut "lo!e #e!ide her&and !he !tarted and !hi$ered at the !ound&ro!e a dee%,monotonou!, almo!t !e%ul"hral $oi"e, ;ome hame, come hame5 The *o*, the *o*=;

At on"e !he under!tood the whole. She !at in the "hur"hyard of the an"ient %ari!h "hur"h of

Ruth$en and when !he lifted u% her eye!, there !he !aw, in the half-ruined #elfry, the old #ell, all #ut hidden with i$y, whi"h the %a!!in' wind had rou!ed to utter one !lee%y tone and there #e!ide

her, !tood the fool with the #ell on hi! arm and to him and to her the *o* o2 Rivven !aid, ;ome

hame, come hame=; Ah, what did !he want in the whole uni$er!e of God #ut a home+ And

thou'h the 'round #eneath wa! hard, and the !*y o$erhead far and #oundle!!, and the hill!ide



lonely and "om%anionle!!, yet !omewhere within the $i!i#le and #eyond the!e the outer !urfa"e

of "reation, there mi'ht #e a home for her a! round the wintry hou!e the !now! lie hea%ed u%

"old and white and dreary all the lon' forenight , while within, #eyond the "lo!ed !hutter!, and'i$in' no 'limmer throu'h the thi"* !tone wall, the fire! are #la9in' oyou!ly, and the $oi"e and

lau'hter of youn' unfro9en "hildren are heard, and nothin' #elon'! to winter #ut the 'rey hair!

on the head! of the %arent!, within who!e warm heart! "hildli*e $oi"e! are heard, and "hildli*ethou'ht! mo$e to and fro. The *ernel of winter it!elf i! !%rin', or a !lee%in' !ummer.

It wa! no wonder that the fool, "a!t out of the earth on a far more de!olate !%ot than thi!,

!hould !ee* to return within her #o!om at thi! %la"e of o%en door!, and !hould "all it home. /or !urely the !urfa"e of the earth had no home for him. The mound at the foot of the 'a#le "ontained

the #ody of one who had !hown him *indne!!. )e had followed the funeral that afternoon from

the town, and had remained #ehind with the #ell. Indeed it wa! hi! "u!tom, thou'h El!ie had not

*nown it, to follow e$ery funeral 'oin' to thi!, hi! fa$ourite "hur"hyard of Ruth$en and, %o!!i#ly in imitation of it! #oomin', for it wa! !till tolled at the funeral!, he had 'i$en the old

#ell the name of the *o*, and had tran!lated it! monotonou! "lan'our into the arti"ulate !ound!

& come hame, come hame. 7hat %re"i!e meanin' he atta"hed to the word!, it i! im%o!!i#le to

!ay #ut it wa! e$ident that the %la"e %o!!e!!ed a !tran'e attra"tion for him, drawin' him toward!it #y the "ord! of !ome !%iritual ma'neti!m. It i! %o!!i#le that in the mind of the idiot there may

ha$e #een !ome feelin' a#out thi! "hur"hyard and #ell, whi"h, in the mind of another, wouldha$e #e"ome a 'rand %oeti" thou'ht a feelin' a! if the 'ho!tly old #ell hun' at the "hur"h door

of the in$i!i#le world, and e$er and anon run' out oyou! note! >thou'h they !ounded !ad in the

ear! of the li$in'?, "allin' to the "hildren of the un!een to come home, come home. She !at for !ome time in !ilen"e for the #ell did not rin' a'ain, and the fool !%o*e no more till the dew!

#e'an to fall, when !he ro!e and went home, followed #y her "om%anion, who %a!!ed the ni'ht in

the #arn. /rom that hour El!ie wa! furni!hed with a $i!ual ima'e of the re!t !he !ou'ht an ima'e

whi"h, min'lin' with dee%er and holier thou'ht!, #e"ame, li*e the #ow !et in the "loud, theearthly %led'e and !i'n of the fulfilment of hea$enly ho%e!. Often when the wintry fo' of "old

di!"omfort and homele!!ne!! filled her !oul, all at on"e the %i"ture of the little "hur"hyard&with

the old 'a#le and #elfry, and the !lantin' !unli'ht !tee%in' down to the $ery root! of the lon''ra!! on the 'ra$e!&aro!e in the dar*ened "ham#er >camera o%sc"ra,? of her !oul and a'ain !he

heard the faint Aeolian !ound of the #ell, and the $oi"e of the %ro%het-fool who inter%reted the

ora"le and the inward wearine!! wa! !oothed #y the %romi!e of a lon' !lee%. 7ho "an tell howmany ha$e #een "ounted fool! !im%ly #e"au!e they were %ro%het! or how mu"h of the madne!!

in the world may #e the utteran"e of thou'ht! true and u!t, #ut #elon'in' to a re'ion differin'

from our! in it! nature and !"enery=

(ut to El!ie loo*in' out of her window "ame the mo"*in' tone! of the idle #oy! who had"ho!en a! the $ehi"le of their !"orn the $ery word! whi"h !howed the relation of the fool to the

eternal, and re$ealed in him an element hi'her far than any yet de$elo%ed in them. They turned

hi! 'lory into !hame, li*e the enemie! of Da$id when they mo"*ed the would-#e *in'. And the #e!t in a man i! often that whi"h i! mo!t "ondemned #y tho!e who ha$e not attained to hi!

'oodne!!. The word!, howe$er, e$en a! re%eated #y the #oy!, had not !olely awa*ened

indi'nation at the %er!e"ution of the old man: they had li*ewi!e "omforted her with the thou'htof the refu'e that awaited #oth him and her.

(ut the !ame e$enin' a wor!e trial wa! in !tore for her. A'ain !he !at near the window,

o%%re!!ed #y the "on!"iou!ne!! that her #rother had "ome in. )e had 'one u%!tair!, and hi! do'

had remained at the door, e8"han'in' !urly "om%liment! with !ome of hi! own *ind, when the



fool "ame !trollin' %a!t, and, I do not *now from what "au!e, the do' flew at him. El!ie heard hi!

"ry and loo*ed u%. )er fear of the #rute $ani!hed in a moment #efore her !ym%athy for her

friend. She darted from the hou!e, and ru!hed toward! the do' to dra' him off the defen"ele!!idiot, "allin' him #y hi! name in a tone of an'er and di!li*e. )e left the fool, and, !%rin'in' at

El!ie, !ei9ed her #y the arm a#o$e the el#ow with !u"h a 'ri% that, in the mid!t of her a'ony, !he

fan"ied !he heard the #one "ra"*. (ut !he uttered no "ry, for the mo!t a%%rehen!i$e are!ometime! the mo!t "oura'eou!. <u!t then, howe$er, her former lo$er wa! "omin' alon' the

!treet, and, "at"hin' a 'lim%!e of what had ha%%ened, wa! on the !%ot in an in!tant, too* the do'

#y the throat with a 'ri%e not inferior to hi! own, and ha$in' thu! "om%elled him to rela8 hi!hold, da!hed him on the 'round with a for"e that almo!t !tunned him, and then with a !u%eradded

*i"* !ent him away lim%in' and howlin' whereu%on the fool, atta"*in' him furiou!ly with a

!ti"*, would "ertainly ha$e fini!hed him, had not hi! ma!ter de!"ried hi! %li'ht and "ome to hi!

re!"ue.Meantime the youn' !ur'eon had "arried El!ie into the hou!e for, a! !oon a! !he wa! re!"ued

from the do', !he had fallen down in one of her fit!, whi"h were #e"omin' more and more

fre1uent of them!el$e!, and little needed !u"h a !ho"* a! thi! to in"rea!e their $iolen"e. )e wa!

dre!!in' her arm when !he #e'an to re"o$er and when !he o%ened her eye!, in a !tate of half-"on!"iou!ne!!, he fir!t o#e"t !he #eheld wa! hi! fa"e #endin' o$er her. Re"allin' nothin' of

what had o""urred, it !eemed to her, in the dreamy "ondition in whi"h the fit had left her, the!ame fa"e, un"han'ed, whi"h had on"e !hone in u%on her tardy !%rin'time, and %romi!ed to

ri%en it into !ummer. She for'ot it had de%arted and left her in the wintry "old. And !o !he uttered

wild word! of lo$e and tru!t and the youth, while !tun' with remor!e at hi! own ne'le"t, wa!a!toni!hed to %er"ei$e the %oeti" form! of #eauty in whi"h the !oul of the unedu"ated maiden

#ur!t into flower. (ut a! her !en!e! re"o$ered them!el$e!, the fa"e 'radually "han'ed to her, a! if

the !low alteration of two year! had #een %hanta!ma'ori"ally "om%re!!ed into a few moment!

and the 'low de%arted from the maiden! thou'ht! and word!, and her !oul found it!elf at thenarrow window of the %re!ent, from whi"h !he "ould #ehold #ut a dreary "ountry.&/rom the

!treet "ame the iam#i" "ry of the fool, ome hame, come hame.

Ty"ho (rahe, I thin*, i! !aid to ha$e *e%t a fool, who fre1uently !at at hi! feet in hi! !tudy, andto who!e mutterin'! he u!ed to li!ten in the %au!e! of hi! own thou'ht. The !hinin' !oul of the

a!tronomer drew forth the rain#ow of harmony from the mi!ty !%ray of word! a!"endin' e$er

from the dar* 'ulf into whi"h the thou'ht! of the idiot were e$er fallin'. )e #eheld "uriou!"on"urren"e! of word! therein and "ould read !tran'e meanin'! from them&!ometime! e$en

re"ei$ed wondrou! hint! for the dire"tion of "ele!tial in1uiry, from what, to any other, and it may

#e to the fool him!elf, wa! #ut a "ea!ele!! and aimle!! #a##le. Su"h %ower lieth in word!. It i!

not then to #e wondered at, that the !ound! I ha$e mentioned !hould fall on the ear! of El!ie, at!u"h a moment, a! a me!!a'e from God )im!elf. Thi! then&all thi! drearine!!&wa! #ut a

%a!!in' !how li*e the re!t, and there lay !omewhere for her a reality&a home. The tear! #ur!t u%

from her o%%re!!ed heart. She re"ei$ed the me!!a'e, and %re%ared to 'o home. /rom that timeher !tren'th 'radually !an*, #ut her !%irit! a! !teadily ro!e.

The !tren'th of the fool, too, #e'an to fail, for he wa! old. )e #ore all the !i'n! of a'e, e$en to

the 'rey hair!, whi"h #eto*ened no wi!dom. (ut one "annot !ay what wi!dom mi'ht #e in him,or how far he had fou'ht hi! own #attle, and #een $i"toriou!. 7hether any notion of a

"ontinuan"e of life and thou'ht dwelt in hi! #rain, it i! im%o!!i#le to tell #ut he !eemed to ha$e

the idea that thi! wa! not hi! home and tho!e who !aw him 'radually a%%roa"hin' hi! end, mi'ht

well anti"i%ate for him a hi'her life in the world to "ome. )e had %a!!ed throu'h thi! world



without e$er awa*in' to !u"h a "on!"iou!ne!! of #ein' a! i! "ommon to man*ind. )e had !%ent

hi! year! li*e a weary dream throu'h a lon' ni'ht&a !tran'e, di!mal, un*indly dream and now

the mornin' wa! at hand. Often in hi! dream had he li!tened with !lee%y !en!e! to the rin'in' of the #ell, #ut that #ell would awa*e him at la!t. )e wa! li*e a !eed #uried too dee% in the !oil, to

whi"h the li'ht ha! ne$er %enetrated, and whi"h, therefore, ha! ne$er for"ed it! way u%ward! to

the o%en air, e$er e8%erien"ed the re!urre"tion of the dead. (ut !eed! will 'row a'e! after theyha$e fallen into the earth and, indeed, with many *ind!, and within !ome limit!, the older the

!eed #efore it 'erminate!, the more %lentiful the fruit. And may it not #e #elie$ed of many human

#ein'!, that, the Great )u!#andman ha$in' !own them li*e !eed! in the !oil of human affair!,there they lie #uried a life lon' and only after the u%turnin' of the !oil #y death rea"h a %o!ition

in whi"h the awa*enin' of their a!%iration and the "on!e1uent 'rowth #e"ome %o!!i#le. Surely

)e ha! made nothin' in $ain.

A $iolent "old and "ou'h #rou'ht him at la!t near to hi! end, and hearin' that he wa! ill, El!ie$entured one #ri'ht !%rin' day to 'o to !ee him. 7hen !he entered the mi!era#le room where he

lay, he held out hi! hand to her with !omethin' li*e a !mile, and muttered fee#ly and %ainfully,

;Im 'aein to the wow, nae to "ome #a"* a'ain.; El!ie "ould not re!train her tear! while the old

man, loo*in' fi8edly at her, thou'h with meanin'le!! eye!, muttered, for the la!t time, ;omehame5 come hame5; and !an* into a lethar'y, from whi"h nothin' "ould rou!e him, till, ne8t

mornin', he wa! wa*ed #y friendly death from the lon' !lee% of thi! world! ni'ht. They #orehim to hi! fa$ourite "hur"hyard, and #uried him within the !ite of the old "hur"h, #elow hi! lo$ed

#ell, whi"h had e$er #een to him a! the "u"*oo-note of a "omin' !%rin'. Thu! he at len'th

o#eyed it! !ummon!, and went home.El!ie lin'ered till the fir!t !ummer day! lay warm on the land. Se$eral *ind heart! in the

$illa'e, hearin' of her illne!!, $i!ited her and mini!tered to her. 7onderin' at her !weetne!! and

%atien"e, they re'retted they had not *nown her #efore. )ow mu"h "on!olation mi'ht not their

*indne!! ha$e im%arted, and how mu"h mi'ht not their !ym%athy ha$e !tren'thened her on her %ainful road= (ut they "ould not lon' ha$e delayed her 'oin' home. Nor, mentally "on!tituted a!

!he wa!, would thi! ha$e #een at all to #e de!ired. Indeed it wa! "hiefly the e8%e"tation of

de%arture that 1uieted and !oothed her tremulou! nature. It i! true that a dee% !%rin' of ho%e andfaith *e%t !in'in' on in her heart, #ut thi! alone, without the anti"i%ation of !%eedy relea!e, "ould

only ha$e *e%t her mind at %ea"e. It "ould not ha$e rea"hed, at lea!t for a lon' time, the #order

land #etween #ody and mind, in whi"h her di!ea!e lay.One !till ni'ht of !ummer, the nur!e who wat"hed #y her #ed!ide heard her murmur throu'h

her !lee%, ;I hear it: come hame7come hame. Im "omin, Im "omin&Im 'aein hame to the

wow, nae to "ome #a"*.; She awo*e at the !ound of her own word!, and #e''ed the nur!e to

"on$ey to her #rother her la!t re1ue!t, that !he mi'ht #e #uried #y the !ide of the fool, within theold "hur"h of Ruth$en. Then !he turned her fa"e to the wall, and in the mornin' wa! found 1uiet

and "old. She mu!t ha$e died within a few minute! after her la!t word!. She wa! #uried

a""ordin' to her re1ue!t and thu! !he too went home.Side #y !ide re!t the a'ed fool and the youn' maiden for the #ell "alled them, and they

o#eyed and !urely they found the fire #urnin' #ri'ht, and heard friendly $oi"e!, and felt !weet

li%! on their!, in the home to whi"h they went. Surely #oth intelle"t and lo$e were waitin' themthere.

Still the old #ell han'! in the old 'a#le and whene$er another i! #orne to the old "hur"hyard,

it *ee%! "allin' to tho!e who are left #ehind, with the !ame !ad, #ut friendly and un"han'in'

$oi"e& ome hame5 come hame5 come hame5



;Thy !un !hall no more 'o down neither !hall thy moon withdraw it!elf: for the 2ord !hall #e

thine e$erla!tin' li'ht, and the day! of thy mournin' !hall #e ended.;&ISA. 25 F.

THE BRO(EN S&ORDSThe eye! of three, two !i!ter! and a #rother, 'a9ed for the la!t time on a 'reat %ale-'olden !tar,

that followed the !un down the !tee% we!t. It went down to ari!e a'ain and the #rother a#out to

de%art mi'ht return, #ut more than the u!ual dou#t hun' u%on hi! future. /or #etween the whitedre!!e! of the !i!ter!, !hone hi! !"arlet "oat and 'olden !word-*not, whi"h he had %ut on for the

fir!t time, more to 'ratify their %ride than hi! own $anity. The #ri'htenin' moon, a! if %ro%heti"

of a future memory, had already #e'un to dim the !"arlet and the 'old, and to 'i$e them a %ale,

'ho!tly hue. In her thou'htful li'ht the whole 'rou% !eemed more li*e a meetin' in the land of !hadow!, than a %artin' in the !u#!tantial earth. (ut whi"h !hould #e "alled the land of realitie!+

&the re'ion where a%%earan"e, and !%a"e, and time dri$e #etween, and !to% the flowin' "urrent!

of the !oul! !%ee"h+ or that re'ion where heart meet! heart, and a%%earan"e ha! #e"ome the

!la$e to utteran"e, and !%a"e and time are for'otten+Throu'h the 1uiet air "ame the far-off ru!h of water, and the near "ry of the land-rail. Now and

then a "hilly wind #lew unheeded throu'h the !tartled and o!tlin' lea$e! that !haded the i$y-!eat. El!e, there wa! "alm e$erywhere, rendered yet dee%er and more inten!e #y the du!*y

!orrow that filled their heart!. /or, far away, hundred! of mile! #eyond the hearin' of their ear!,

roared the 'reat war-'un! ne8t wee* their #rother mu!t !ail with hi! re'iment to oin the armyand tomorrow he mu!t lea$e hi! home.

The !i!ter! loo*ed on him tenderly, with $a'ue fear! a#out hi! fate. Yet little they di$ined it.

That the fa"e they lo$ed mi'ht lie %ale and #loody, in a hea% of !lain, wa! the wor!t ima'e of it

that aro!e #efore them #ut thi!, had they !een the future, they would, in i'noran"e of the further future, ha$e infinitely %referred to that whi"h awaited him. And e$en while they loo*ed on him, a

dim feelin' of the un!uita#lene!! of hi! lot filled their mind!. /or, indeed, to all ud'ment! it

mu!t ha$e !eemed un!uita#le that the home-#oy, the lo$ed of hi! mother, the %et of hi! !i!ter!,who wa! ha%%y womanli*e >a! 0olerid'e !ay!?, if he %o!!e!!ed the !i'n! of lo$e, ha$in' ne$er

yet !ou'ht for it! %roof!&that he !hould #e !ent amon'!t !oldier!, to "ommand and #e

"ommanded to *ill, or %erha%! to #e him!elf "ru!hed out of the fair earth in the u%roar that #rin'! #a"* for the moment the rei'n of Ni'ht and 0hao!. No wonder that to hi! !i!ter! it !eemed

!tran'e and !ad. Yet !u"h wa! their own %o!ition in the #attle of life, in whi"h their father had

died with dou#tful "on1ue!t, that when their old military un"le !ent the #oy an en!i'n!

"ommi!!ion, they did not dream of refu!in' the only %ath o%en, a! they thou'ht, to an honoura#le %rofe!!ion, e$en thou'h it mi'ht lead to the tren"h-'ra$e. They heard it a! the $oi"e of de!tiny,

we%t, and yielded.

If they had %o!!e!!ed a dee%er in!i'ht into hi! "hara"ter, they would ha$e di!"o$ered yetfurther rea!on to dou#t the fitne!! of the %rofe!!ion "ho!en for him and if they had e$er !een him

at !"hool, it i! %o!!i#le the dou#t of fitne!! mi'ht ha$e !tren'thened into a "ertainty of

in"on'ruity. )i! "om%arati$e ina"ti$ity amon'!t hi! !"hoolfellow!, thou'h o""a!ioned #y nodulne!! of intelle"t, mi'ht ha$e !u''e!ted the ne"e!!ity of a 1uiet life, if in"lination and li*in'

had #een the ar#iter! in the "hoi"e. Nor wa! thi! ina"ti$ity the re!ult of defe"ti$e animal !%irit!

either, for !ometime! hi! mirth and #oyi!h froli" were un#ounded #ut it !eemed to %ro"eed from

an o$er-a"ti$ity of the inward life, a#!or#in', and in !ome mea!ure "he"*in', the outward



manife!tation. )e had !o mu"h to do in hi! own hidden *in'dom, that he had not time to ta*e hi!

%la"e in the %olity and !trife of the "ommonwealth around him. )en"e, while other #oy! were

a"tin', he wa! thin*in'. In thi! %oint of differen"e, he felt *eenly the !u%eriority of many of hi!"om%anion! for another #oy would ha$e the o#!ta"le o$er"ome, or the ad$er!ary !u#dued, while

he wa! meditatin' on the %ro%riety, or on the mean!, of effe"tin' the de!ired end. )e en$ied their

%rom%titude, while they ne$er !aw rea!on to en$y hi! wi!dom for hi! "on!"ien"e, tender and not!tron', fre1uently tran!formed !lowne!! of determination into irre!olution: while a deli"a"y of

the !ym%atheti" ner$e! tended to di!tra"t him from any %redetermined "our!e, #y the di$er!ity of

their $i#ration!, re!%on!i$e to influen"e! from all 1uarter!, and de!tru"ti$e to unity of %ur%o!e.Of !u"h a one, the a +riori ud'ment would #e, that he ou'ht to #e left to meditate and 'row

for !ome time, #efore #ein' "alled u%on to %rodu"e the fruit! of a"tion. (ut add to the!e mental

"ondition! a $i$id ima'ination, and a hi'h !en!e of honour, nouri!hed in "hildhood #y the

readin' of the old *ni'htly roman"e!, and then %ut the youth in a %o!ition in whi"h a"tion i!im%erati$e, and you ha$e element! of !trife !uffi"ient to redu"e that fair *in'dom of hi! to utter

anar"hy and madne!!. Yet !o little, do we *now our!el$e!, and !o different are the !ym#ol! with

whi"h the ima'ination wor*! it! al'e#ra, from the realitie! whi"h tho!e !ym#ol! re%re!ent, that a!

yet the youth felt no unea!ine!!, #ut "ontem%lated hi! new "allin' with a 'lad enthu!ia!m and!ome $anity for all hi! %ro!%e"t lay in the 'low of the !"arlet and the 'old. Nor did thi!

e8"itement re"ei$e any "he"* till the day #efore hi! de%arture, on whi"h day I ha$e introdu"edhim to my reader!, when, a""idently ta*in' u% a new!%a%er of a wee* old, hi! eye fell on the!e

word!&; Already crying *omen are to %e met in the streets.; 7ith thi! "loud afar on hi! hori9on,

whi"h, thou'h no #i''er than a man! hand, yet "a!t a %er"e%ti#le !hadow o$er hi! mind, hede%arted ne8t mornin'. The "oa"h "arried him #eyond the "on!e"rated "ir"le of home law! and

im%ul!e!, out into the 'reat tumult, a#o$e whi"h ri!e! e$er and anon the "ry of 0ain, ;Am I my

#rother! *ee%er+;

E$ery tra'edy of hi'her order, "on!tru"ted in 0hri!tian time!, will "orre!%ond more or le!! tothe 'rand drama of the (i#le wherein the fir!t a"t o%en! with a #rilliant !un!et $i!ion of

3aradi!e, in whi"h "hildi!h !en!e and need are !er$ed with all the %rofu!ion of the indul'ent

nur!e. (ut the 'lory fade! off into 'rey and #la"*, and ni'ht !ettle! down u%on the heart whi"h,ri'htly un"ontent with the "hildi!h, and not ha$in' yet learned the "hildli*e, !ee*! *nowled'e

and manhood a! a thin' denied #y the Ma*er, and yet to #e 'ained #y the "reature !o !et! forth

alone to "lim# the hea$en!, and in!tead of "lim#in', fall! into the a#y!!. Then follow! the lon'di!mal ni'ht of fe$eri!h effort! and deliriou! $i!ion!, or, it may #e, hel%le!! de!%air till at len'th

a dee%er !tratum of the !oul i! hea$ed to the !urfa"e and amid the fir!t dawn of mornin', the

youth !ay! within him, ;I ha$e !inned a'ain!t my Ma(er &I will ari!e and 'o to my &ather .;

More or le!!, I !ay, will 0hri!tian tra'edy "orre!%ond to thi!&a fall and a ri!in' a'ain not ari!in' only, #ut a $i"tory not a $i"tory merely, #ut a trium%h. Su"h, in it! way and de'ree, i! my

!tory. I ha$e !hown, in one %a!!in' !"ene, the home %aradi!e now I ha$e to !how a !"ene of a far

differin' nature.The youn' en!i'n wa! lyin' in hi! tent, weary, #ut wa*eful. All day lon' the "annon had #een

#ellowin' a'ain!t the wall! of the "ity, whi"h now lay with wide, 'a%in' #rea"h, ready for the

morrow! !torm, #ut "o$ered yet with the friendly dar*ne!!. )i! re'iment wa! ordered to #eready with the earlie!t dawn to mar"h u% to the #rea"h. That day, for the fir!t time, there had

#een #lood on hi! !word&there the !word lay, a !%ot on the "ha!ed hilt !till. )e had "ut down

one of the enemy in a !*irmi!h with a !ally %arty of the #e!ie'ed and the loo* of the man a! he

fell, haunted him. )e felt, for the time, that he dared not %ray to the /ather, for the #lood of a



#rother had ru!hed forth at the !tro*e of hi! arm, and there wa! one fewer of li$in' !oul! on the

earth #e"au!e he li$ed thereon. And to-morrow he mu!t lead a troo% of men u% to that %oor

di!a#led town, and turn them loo!e u%on it, not *nowin' what mi'ht follow in the trium%h of enra'ed and $i"toriou! foe!, who for wee*! had #een !u#e"ted, #y the "on!tan"y of the %la"e, to

the 'reate!t %ri$ation!. It wa! true the 'eneral had i!!ued hi! "ommand! a'ain!t all di!order and

%illa'e #ut if the !oldier! on"e yielded to tem%tation, what mi'ht not #e done #efore the offi"er!"ould re"laim them= All the wret"hed tale! he had read of the !a"* of "itie! ru!hed #a"* on hi!

memory. )e !huddered a! he lay. Then hi! "on!"ien"e #e'an to !%ea*, and to a!* what ri'ht he

had to #e there.&7a! the war a u!t one+&)e "ould not tell for thi! wa! a #ad time for !ettlin'ni"e 1ue!tion!. (ut there he wa!, ri'ht or wron', fi'htin' and !heddin' #lood on God! earth,

#eneath God! hea$en.

O$er and o$er he turned the 1ue!tion in hi! mind a'ain and a'ain the !%outin' #lood of hi!

foe, and the death-loo* in hi! eye, ro!e #efore him and the youth who at !"hool "ould ne$er fi'htwith a "om%anion #e"au!e he wa! not !ure that he wa! in the ri'ht, wa! alone in the mid!t of

undou#tin' men of war, amon'!t whom he wa! dri$en hel%le!!ly alon', u%on the wa$e! of a

terri#le ne"e!!ity. 7hat wonder that in the mid!t of the!e %er%le8itie! hi! "oura'e !hould fail

him= 7hat wonder that the "on!"iou!ne!! of faintin' !hould in"rea!e the faintne!!= or that thedread of fear and it! "on!e1uen"e! !hould ha!ten and in$i'orate it! atta"*!= To "rown all, when

he dro%%ed into a trou#led !lum#er at len'th, he found him!elf hurried, a! on a !torm of fire,throu'h the !treet! of the "a%tured town, from all the window! of whi"h loo*ed forth familiar

fa"e!, old and youn', #ut di!torted from the memory of hi! #oyhood #y fear and wild de!%air. On

one !%ot lay the #ody of hi! father, with hi! fa"e to the earth and he wo*e at the "ry of horror and ra'e that #ur!t from hi! own li%!, a! he !aw the rou'h, #loody hand of a !oldier twi!ted in the

loo!e hair of hi! elder !i!ter, and the youn'er faintin' in the arm! of a !"oundrel #elon'in' to hi!

own re'iment. )e !le%t no more. A! the 'rey mornin' #ro*e, the troo%! a%%ointed for the atta"*

a!!em#led without !ound of trum%et or drum, and were !ilently formed in fittin' order. Theyoun' en!i'n wa! in hi! %la"e, weary and wret"hed after hi! mi!era#le ni'ht. (efore him he !aw

a 'reat, #road-!houldered lieutenant, who!e #rawny hand !eemed almo!t too lar'e for hi! !word-

hilt, and in any one of who!e lim#! %layed more animal life than in the whole #ody of the %aleyouth. The firm-!et li%! of thi! offi"er, and the fire of hi! eye, !howed a "on"entrated re!olution,

whi"h, #y the "ontra!t, in"rea!ed the mi!ery of the en!i'n, and !eemed, a! if the !tron'er

a#!or#ed the wea*er, to draw out from him the la!t fi#re! of !elf-%o!!e!!ion: the !i'ht of unattaina#le determination, while it in"rea!ed the feelin' of the arduou!ne!! of that whi"h

re1uired !u"h determination, threw him into the 'reat 'ulf whi"h lay #etween him and it. In thi!

di!order of hi! ner$ou! and mental "ondition, with a dou#tin' "on!"ien"e and a !hrin*in' heart,

i! it any wonder that the terror! whi"h lay #efore him at the 'a% in tho!e #ri!tlin' wall!, !houlddraw near, and, ma*in' !udden inroad u%on hi! !oul, o$erwhelm the 'o$ernment of a will worn

out #y the torture! of an una!!ured !%irit+ 7hat !hare fear "ontri#uted to unman him, it wa!

im%o!!i#le for him, in the dar*, "onfu!ed "onfli"t of differin' emotion!, to determine #utdou#tle!! a natural !hrin*in' from dan'er, there #ein' no e8"itement to deaden it! influen"e, and

no ho%e of $i"tory to en"oura'e to the !tru''le, !eein' $i"tory wa! dreadful to him a! defeat, had

it! %art in the !ad re!ult. Many men who ha$e "oura'e, are de%endent on i'noran"e and a low!tate of the moral feelin' for that "oura'e and a further %ro're!! toward! the de$elo%ment of the

hi'her nature would, for a time at lea!t, entirely o$erthrow it. Nor "ould !u"h lo!! of "oura'e #e

ri'htly de!i'nated #y the name of "owardi"e. (ut, ala!= the "olonel ha%%ened to fi8 hi! eye! u%on

him a! he %a!!ed alon' the file and thi! "om%leted hi! "onfu!ion. )e #etrayed !u"h e$ident



!ym%tom! of %ertur#ation, that that offi"er ordered him under arre!t and the re!ult wa!, that,

"hiefly for the !a*e of e8am%le to the army, he wa!, u%on trial #y "ourt-martial, e8%elled from

the !er$i"e, and had hi! !word #ro*en o$er hi! head. Ala! for the deli"ate minded youth= Ala! for the home-darlin'=

2on' after, he found at the #ottom of hi! "he!t the %ie"e! of the #ro*en !word, and

remem#ered that, at the time, he had lifted them from the 'round and "arried them away. (ut he"ould not re"all under what im%ul!e he had done !o. 3erha%! the a'ony he !uffered, %a!!in' the

#ound! of mortal enduran"e, had o%ened for him a $i!ta into the eternal, and had !hown him, if

not the inu!ti"e of the !enten"e %a!!ed u%on him, yet hi! freedom from #lame, or, endowin' himwith dim %ro%heti" $i!ion, had 'i$en him the a!!uran"e that !ome day the !tain would #e wi%ed

from hi! !oul, and lea$e him !tandin' "lear #efore the tri#unal of hi! own honour. Some feelin'

li*e thi!, I !ay, may ha$e "au!ed him, with a %a!!in' 'leam of indi'nant %rote!t, to lift the

fra'ment! from the earth, and "arry them away e$en a! the friend! of a !o-"alled traitor may #ear away hi! mutilated #ody from the wheel. (ut if !u"h wa! the "a!e, the $i!ion wa! !oon

o$erwhelmed and for'otten in the !u""eedin' an'ui!h. )e "ould not !ee that, in mer"y to hi!

dou#tin' !%irit, the 1ue!tion whi"h had a'itated hi! mind almo!t to madne!!, and whi"h no

re!ult! of the im%endin' "onfli"t "ould ha$e !ettled for him, wa! thu! 1uietly !et a!ide for thetime nor that, %ainful a! wa! the dar*, dreadful e8i!ten"e that he wa! now to %a!! in !elf-torment

and moanin', it would 'o #y, and lea$e hi! !%irit "learer far, than if, in hi! a%%rehen!ion, it had #een !tained with further #lood-'uiltine!!, in!tead of the lo!! of honour. Year! after, when he

a""identally learned that on that $ery mornin' the whole of hi! "om%any, with %art! of !e$eral

more, had, or e$er they #e'an to mount the #rea"h, #een #lown to %ie"e! #y the e8%lo!ion of amine, he "ried aloud in #itterne!!, ;7ould God that my fear had not #een di!"o$ered #efore I

rea"hed that !%ot=; (ut !urely it i! #etter to %a!! into the ne8t re'ion of life ha$in' rea%ed !ome

a!!uran"e, !ome firmne!! of "hara"ter, determination of effort, and "on!"iou!ne!! of the worth of

life, in the %re!ent world !o a%%roa"hin' the future !teadily and faithfully, and if in mu"hdar*ne!! and i'noran"e, yet not in the o!"illation! of moral un"ertainty.

0lo!e u%on the "ata!tro%he followed a tor%or, whi"h la!ted he did not *now how lon', and

whi"h wra%%ed in a thi"* fo' all the !u""eedin' e$ent!. /or !ome time he "an hardly #e !aid toha$e had any "on!"iou! hi!tory. )e awo*e to life and torture when half-way a"ro!! the !ea

toward! hi! nati$e "ountry, where wa! no home any lon'er for him. To thi! %oint, and no farther,

"ould hi! thou'ht! return in after year!. (ut the mi!ery whi"h he then endured i! hardly to #eunder!tood, !a$e #y tho!e of li*e deli"ate tem%erament with him!elf. All day lon' he !at !ilent in

hi! "a#in nor "ould any effort of the "a%tain, or other! on #oard, indu"e him to 'o on de"* till

ni'ht "ame on, when, under the !tarli'ht, he $entured into the o%en air. The !*y !oothed him

then, he *new not how. /or the fa"e of nature i! the fa"e of God, and mu!t #ear e8%re!!ion! that"an influen"e, thou'h un"on!"iou!ly to them, the mo!t i'norant and ho%ele!! of )i! "hildren.

Often did he wat"h the "loud! in ho%e of a !torm, hi! !%irit ri!in' and fallin' a! the !*y dar*ened

or "leared he lon'ed, in the ne"e!!ary !elfi!hne!! of !u"h !ufferin', for a tumult of water! to!wallow the $e!!el and only the re"olle"tion of how many li$e! were in$ol$ed in it! !afety

#e!ide! hi! own, %re$ented him from %rayin' to God for li'htnin' and tem%e!t, #orne on whi"h

he mi'ht da!h into the ha$en of the other world. One ni'ht, followin' a !ultry "alm day, hethou'ht that Mer"y had heard hi! unuttered %rayer. The air and !ea were inten!e dar*ne!!, till a

li'ht a! inten!e for one moment annihilated it, and the !u""eedin' dar*ne!! !eemed !hattered

with the !har% re%ort! of the thunder that "ra"*ed without re$er#eration. )e who had !hrun*

from #attle with hi! fellow-men, ru!hed to the mainma!t, threw him!elf on hi! *nee!, and



!tret"hed forth hi! arm! in !%ee"hle!! ener'y of !u%%li"ation #ut the !torm %a!!ed away

o$erhead, and left him *neelin' !till #y the uninured ma!t. At len'th the $e!!el rea"hed her %ort.

)e hurried on !hore to #ury him!elf in the mo!t !e"ret %la"e he "ould find. "t of sight wa! hi!fir!t, hi! only thou'ht. Return to hi! mother he would not, he "ould not and, indeed, hi! friend!

ne$er learned hi! fate, until it had "arried him far #eyond their rea"h.

/or !e$eral wee*! he lur*ed a#out li*e a malefa"tor, in low lod'in'-hou!e! in narrow !treet!of the !ea%ort to whi"h the $e!!el had #orne him, heedin' no one, and #ut little !ho"*ed at the

!tran'e !o"iety and "on$er!ation with whi"h, thou'h only in #odily %re!en"e, he had to min'le.

The!e formed the !u#e"t! of refle"tion in after time! and he "ame to the "on"lu!ion that, thou'hmu"h e$il and mu"h mi!ery e8i!t, !uffi"ient to mo$e %rayer! and tear! in tho!e who lo$e their

*ind, yet there i! le!! of #oth than tho!e loo*in' down from a more ele$ated !o"ial %o!ition u%on

the welterin' hea% of humanity, are ready to ima'ine e!%e"ially if they re'ard it li*ewi!e from

the %ede!tal of !elf-"on'ratulation on whi"h a mea're ty%e of reli'ion ha! ele$ated them. (ut atlen'th hi! little !to"* of money wa! nearly e8%ended, and there wa! nothin' that he "ould do, or

learn to do, in thi! !ea%ort. )e felt im%elled to !ee* manual la#our, %artly #e"au!e he thou'ht it

more li*ely he "ould o#tain that !ort of em%loyment, without a re1ue!t for referen"e a! to hi!

"hara"ter, whi"h would lead to in1uiry a#out hi! %re$iou! hi!tory and %artly, %erha%!, from anin!tin"ti$e feelin' that hard #odily la#our would tend to le!!en hi! inward !ufferin'.

)e left the town, therefore, at ni'htfall of a <uly day, "arryin' a little #undle of linen, and theremain! of hi! money, !omewhat au'mented #y the !ale of $ariou! arti"le! of "lothin' and

"on$enien"e, whi"h hi! "han'e of life rendered !u%erfluou! and un!uita#le. )e dire"ted hi!

"our!e northward!, tra$ellin' %rin"i%ally #y ni'ht&!o %ainfully did he !hrin* from the 'a9e e$enof foot-farer! li*e him!elf and !lee%in' durin' the day in !ome hidden noo* of wood or thi"*et,

or under the !hadow of a 'reat tree in a !olitary field. So fine wa! the !ea!on, that for three

!u""e!!i$e wee*! he wa! a#le to tra$el thu! without in"on$enien"e, lyin' down when the !un

'rew hot in the forenoon, and 'enerally wa*in' when the fir!t faint !tar! were he!itatin' in the'reat dar*enin' hea$en! that "o$ered and !hielded him. /or a#o$e e$ery "loud, a#o$e e$ery

!torm, ri!e u%, "alm, "lear, di$ine, the dee% infinite !*ie! they em#ra"e the tem%e!t e$en a! the

!un!hine #y their %ermi!!ion it e8i!t! within their #oundle!! %ea"e: therefore it "annot hurt, andmu!t %a!! away, while there they !tand a! e$er, domed u% eternally, la!tin', !tron', and %ure.

Se$eral time! he attem%ted to 'et a'ri"ultural em%loyment #ut the whitene!! of hi! hand! and

the tone of hi! $oi"e not merely !u''e!ted unfitne!! for la#our, #ut 'enerated !u!%i"ion a! to the"hara"ter of one who had e$idently dro%%ed from a ran* !o mu"h hi'her, and wa! !ee*in'

admittan"e within the natural ma!oni" #oundarie! and !e"ret! and %ri$ile'e! of another.

Di!heartened !omewhat, #ut ho%eful, he ourneyed on. I !ay ho%eful for the #le!!ed %ower of

life in the uni$er!e in fre!h air and !un!hine a#!or#ed #y a"ti$e e8er"i!e, in wind!, yea in rain,thou'h it fell #ut !eldom, had #e'un to wor* it! natural healin', !oothin' effe"t, u%on hi!

%ertur#ed !%irit. And there wa! room for ho%e in hi! new endea$our. A! hi! #odily !tren'th

in"rea!ed, and hi! health, "on!idera#ly im%aired #y inward !ufferin', im%ro$ed, the trou#le of hi!!oul #e"ame more endura#le&and in !ome mea!ure to endure i! to "on1uer and de!troy. In

%ro%ortion a! the mind 'row! in the !tren'th of %atien"e, the di!tur#er of it! %ea"e !i"*en! and

fade! away. At len'th, one day, a widow lady in a $illa'e throu'h whi"h hi! road led him, 'a$ehim a day! wor* in her 'arden. )e la#oured hard and well, notwith!tandin' hi! !oon-#li!tered

hand!, re"ei$ed hi! wa'e! than*fully, and found a re!tin'-%la"e for the ni'ht on the low %art of a

hay!ta"* from whi"h the u%%er %ortion had #een "ut away. )ere he ate hi! !u%%er of #read and

"hee!e, %lea!ed to ha$e found !u"h "omforta#le 1uarter!, and !oon fell fa!t a!lee%.



7hen he awo*e, the whole hea$en! and earth !eemed to 'i$e a full denial to !in and !orrow.

The !un wa! u!t mountin' o$er the hori9on, loo*in' u% the "lear "loud-mottled !*y. /rom

million! of water-dro%! han'in' on the #endin' !tal*! of 'ra!!, !%ar*led hi! ray! in $ariedrefra"tion, tran!formed here to a 'or'eou! #urnin' ru#y, there to an emerald, 'reen a! the 'ra!!,

and yonder to a fla!hin', !unny to%a9. The "hantin' %rie!t-lar* had 'one u% from the low earth,

a! !oon a! the hea$enly li'ht had #e'un to enwra% and illumine the fold! of it! ta#erna"le andhad entered the hi'h hea$en! with hi! offerin', when"e, un!een, he now dro%%ed on the earth the

!%rin*led !ound! of hi! o$erflowin' #le!!edne!!. The %oor youth ro!e #ut to *neel, and "ry, from

a #ur!tin' heart, ;)a!t Thou not, O /ather, !ome "are for me+ 0an!t Thou not re!tore my lo!thonour+ 0an anythin' #efall Thy "hildren for whi"h Thou ha!t no hel%+ Surely, if the fa"e of Thy

world lie not, oy and not 'rief i! at the heart of the uni$er!e. I! there none for me+;

The hi'he!t %oeti" feelin' of whi"h we are now "on!"iou!, !%rin'! not from the #eholdin' of

%erfe"ted #eauty, #ut from the mute !ym%athy whi"h the "reation with all it! "hildren manife!t!with u! in the 'roanin' and tra$ailin' whi"h loo* for the !on!hi%. (e"au!e of our need and

a!%iration, the !nowdro% 'i$e! #irth in our heart! to a loftier !%iritual and %oeti" feelin', than the

ro!e mo!t "om%lete in form, "olour, and odour. The ro!e i! of 3aradi!e&the !nowdro% i! of the

!tri$in', ho%in', lon'in' Earth. 3erha%! our hi'he!t %oetry i! the e8%re!!ion of our a!%iration! inthe !ym%atheti" form! of $i!i#le nature. Nor i! thi! merely a lon'in' for a re!tored 3aradi!e for

e$en in the ordinary hi!tory of men, no man or woman that ha! fallen, "an #e re!tored to the %o!ition formerly held. Su"h mu!t ri!e to a yet hi'her %la"e, when"e they "an #ehold their former

!tandin' far #eneath their feet. They mu!t #e re!tored #y the attainment of !omethin' #etter than

they e$er %o!!e!!ed #efore, or not at all. If the law #e a wearine!!, we mu!t e!"a%e it #y ta*in'refu'e with the !%irit, for not otherwi!e "an we fulfil the law than #y #ein' a#o$e the law. To

e!"a%e the o$erhan'in' ro"*! of Sinai, we mu!t "lim# to it! !e"ret to%.

s thy strait hori=on dreary

s thy foolish fancy chill hange the feet that have gro*n *eary

&or the *ings that never *ill.

Thu!, li*e one of the wanderin' *ni'ht! !ear"hin' the wide earth for the San'real, did hewander on, !ear"hin' for hi! lo!t honour, or rather >for that he "ounted 'one for e$er? !ee*in'

un"on!"iou!ly for the %ea"e of mind whi"h had de%arted from him, and ta*en with it, not the oy

merely, #ut almo!t the %o!!i#ility, of e8i!ten"e.At la!t, when hi! little !tore wa! all #ut e8hau!ted, he wa! em%loyed #y a mar*et 'ardener, in

the nei'h#ourhood of a lar'e "ountry town, to wor* in hi! 'arden, and !ometime! ta*e hi!

$e'eta#le! to mar*et. 7ith him he "ontinued for a few wee*!, and wi!hed for no "han'e until,

one day dri$in' hi! "art throu'h the town, he !aw a%%roa"hin' him an elderly 'entleman, whomhe *new at on"e, #y hi! 'ait and "arria'e, to #e a military man. Now he had ne$er !een hi! un"le

the retired offi"er, #ut it !tru"* him that thi! mi'ht #e he and under the tyranny of hi! %a!!ion for

"on"ealment, he fan"ied that, if it were he, he mi'ht re"o'ni!e him #y !ome family li*ene!!&not"on!iderin' the im%ro#a#ility of hi! loo*in' at him. Thi! fan"y, with the %ainful effe"t whi"h the

!i'ht of an offi"er, e$en in %lain "lothe!, had u%on him, re"allin' the torture of that fri'htful day,

!o o$er"ame him, that he found him!elf at the other end of an alley #efore he re"olle"ted that hehad the hor!e and "art in "har'e. Thi! in"rea!ed hi! diffi"ulty for now he dared not return, le!t

hi! in1uirie! after the $ehi"le, if the hor!e had !trayed from the dire"t line, !hould attra"t

attention, and "au!e interro'ation! whi"h he would #e una#le to an!wer. The fatal want of !elf-

%o!!e!!ion !eemed a'ain to ruin him. )e for!oo* the town #y the neare!t way, !tru"* a"ro!! the



"ountry to another line of road, and #efore he wa! mi!!ed, wa! mile! away, !till in a northerly

dire"tion.

(ut althou'h he thu! !hunned the fa"e of man, e!%e"ially of any one who reminded him of the %a!t, the lo!! of hi! re%utation in their eye! wa! not the "au!e of hi! inward 'rief. That would

ha$e #een "om%arati$ely %owerle!! to di!tur# him, had he not lo!t hi! own re!%e"t. )e 1uailed

#efore hi! own thou'ht! he wa! di!honoured in hi! own eye!. )i! %er%le8ity had not yet!uffi"iently "leared away to allow him to !ee the e8tenuatin' "ir"um!tan"e! of the "a!e not to

!ay the fa"t that the %e"uliar mental "ondition in whi"h he wa! at the time, remo$ed the "a!e

1uite out of the "la!! of ordinary in!tan"e! of "owardi"e. )e "ondemned him!elf more !e$erelythan any of hi! ud'e! would ha$e dared remem#erin' that %ortion of hi! mental !en!ation!

whi"h had !a$oured of fear, and for'ettin' the "au!e! whi"h had %rodu"ed it. )e ud'ed him!elf

a man !tained with the foule!t #lot that "ould "lea$e to a !oldier! name, a #lot whi"h nothin' #ut

death, not e$en death, "ould effa"e. (ut, inwardly "ondemned and outwardly de'raded, hi! dreadof re"o'nition wa! inten!e and feelin' that he wa! in more dan'er of #ein' di!"o$ered where the

%o%ulation wa! !%ar!er, he re!ol$ed to hide him!elf on"e more in the mid!t of %o$erty and, with

thi! $iew, found hi! way to one of the lar'e!t of the manufa"turin' town!.

)e rea"hed it durin' the !tri*e of a 'reat %art of the wor*men !o that, thou'h he found !omediffi"ulty in %ro"urin' em%loyment, a! mi'ht #e e8%e"ted from hi! i'noran"e of ma"hine-la#our,

he yet wa! !ooner !u""e!!ful than he would otherwi!e ha$e #een. 3o!!e!!ed of a natural a%titudefor me"hani"al o%eration!, he !oon #e"ame a tolera#le wor*man and he found that hi! %re$iou!

edu"ation a!!i!ted to the fittin' e8e"ution of tho!e o%eration! e$en whi"h were mo!t %urely

me"hani"al.)e found al!o, at fir!t, that the unrela8in' attention re1ui!ite for the ma!terin' of the many

ni"etie! of hi! wor*, of ne"e!!ity drew hi! mind !omewhat from it! #roodin' o$er hi! mi!fortune,

hitherto almo!t "ea!ele!!. E$ery now and then, howe$er, a %an' would !hoot !uddenly to hi!

heart, and turn hi! fa"e %ale, e$en #efore hi! "on!"iou!ne!! had time to in1uire what wa! thematter. So #y de'ree!, a! attention #e"ame le!! ne"e!!ary, and the ner$o-me"hani"al a"tion of hi!

!y!tem in"rea!ed with u!e, hi! thou'ht! a'ain returned to their old mi!ery. )e would wa*e at

ni'ht in hi! %oor room, with the feelin' that a 'ho!tly ni'htmare !at on hi! !oul that a want&alo!!&mi!era#le, fearful&wa! %re!ent that !omethin' of hi! heart wa! 'one from him and

throu'h the dar*ne!! he would hear the !na% of the #rea*in' !word, and lie for a moment

o$erwhelmed #eneath the a!!uran"e of the in"redi#le fa"t. 0ould it #e true that he wa! a "oward+that his honour wa! 'one, and in it! %la"e a !tain+ that he wa! a thin' for men&and wor!e, for

women&to %oint the fin'er at, lau'hin' #itter lau'hter+ Ne$er lo$er or hu!#and "ould ha$e

mourned with the !ame de!olation o$er the de%arture of the lo$ed the 'irl alone, wee%in'

!"or"hin' tear! o$er her de'radation, "ould re!em#le him in hi! a'ony, a! he lay on hi! #ed, andwe%t and moaned.

)i! !ufferin'! had returned with the 'reater wei'ht, that he wa! no lon'er u%held #y the

;di$ine air; and the o%en hea$en!, who!e !unli'ht now only rea"hed him late in an afternoon, a!he !tood at hi! loom, throu'h window! !o "oated with du!t that they loo*ed li*e fro!ted 'la!!

!howin', a! it %a!!ed throu'h the air to fall on the dirty floor, how the #reath of life wa! thi"*

with du!t of iron and wood, and film! of "otton amid!t whi"h hi! !en!e! were now too mu"hdulled #y "u!tom to dete"t the e8halation! from 'rea!y wheel! and o$erta!*ed human-*ind. Nor

"ould he find "omfort in the !o"iety of hi! fellow-la#ourer!. True, it wa! a *ind of "omfort to

ha$e tho!e near him who "ould not *now of hi! 'rief #ut there wa! !o little in "ommon #etween

them, that any inter"han'e of thou'ht wa! im%o!!i#le. At lea!t, !o it !eemed to him. Yet



!ometime! hi! lon'in' for human "om%anion!hi% would dri$e him out of hi! dreary room at

ni'ht, and !end him wanderin' throu'h the lower %art of the town, where he would 'a9e

wi!tfully on the mi!era#le fa"e! that %a!!ed him, a! if loo*in' for !ome one&!ome an'el, e$enthere&to !%ea* 'oodwill to hi! hun'ry heart.

On"e he entered one of tho!e 'in-%ala"e!, whi"h, li*e the 'olden 'ate! of hell, enti"e the

mi!era#le to wor!e mi!ery, and !eated him!elf "lo!e to a half-ti%!y, 'ood-natured wret"h, whomade room for him on a #en"h #y the wall. )e wa! "omforted e$en #y thi! %ro8imity to one who

would not re%el him. (ut !oon the %aintin'! of warli*e a"tion&of *ni'ht!, and hor!e!, and

mi'hty deed! done with #attle-a8e, and #road-!word, whi"h adorned the&%anel! all round,dro$e him forth e$en from thi! hea$en of the damned yet not #efore the im%iou! thou'ht had

ari!en in hi! heart, that the #rilliantly %ainted and !"ul%tural roof, with the 'ilded $ine-lea$e! and

#un"he! of 'ra%e! trained u% the window!, all li'hted with the 'reat !hinin' "handelier!, wa!

only a mi"ro"o!mi" re%etition of the #ri'ht hea$en! and the 'lowin' earth, that o$erhun' and!urrounded the mi!ery of man. (ut the memory of how *indly they had "omforted and ele$ated

him, at one %eriod of hi! %ainful hi!tory, not only #ani!hed the wi"*ed thou'ht, #ut #rou'ht him

more 1uiet, in the re!urre"tion of a %a!t #le!!in', than he had *nown for !ome time. The %eriod,

howe$er, wa! now at hand when a new 'rief, followed #y a new and more ele$ated a"ti$ity, wa!to do it! %art toward! the "lo!in' u% of the fountain of #itterne!!.

Amon'!t hi! fellow-la#ourer!, he had for a !hort time ta*en !ome intere!t in o#!er$in' ayoun' woman, who had lately oined them. There wa! nothin' remar*a#le a#out her, e8"e%t

what at fir!t !i'ht !eemed a remar*a#le %lainne!!. A !li'ht !"ar o$er one of her rather %rominent

eye#row!, in"rea!ed thi! im%re!!ion of %lainne!!. (ut the fir!t day had not %a!!ed, #efore he #e'an to !ee that there wa! !omethin' not alto'ether "ommon in tho!e dee% eye! and the %lain

loo* $ani!hed #efore a "lo!er o#!er$ation, whi"h al!o di!"o$ered, in the forehead and the line! of

the mouth, tra"e! of !orrow or other !ufferin'. There wa! an e8%re!!ion, too, in the whole fa"e,

of fi8edne!! of %ur%o!e, without any hardne!! of determination. )er "ountenan"e alto'ether !eemed the inde8 to an intere!tin' mental hi!tory. Si'n! of mental trou#le were alway! an

attra"tion to him in thi! "a!e !o 'reat, that he o$er"ame hi! !hyne!!, and !%o*e to her one

e$enin' a! they left the wor*!. )e often wal*ed home with her after that a!, indeed, wa! natural,!eein' that !he o""u%ied an atti" in the !ame %oor lod'in'-hou!e in whi"h he li$ed him!elf. The

!treet did not #ear the #e!t "hara"ter nor, indeed, would the o""u%ation! of all the inmate! of the

hou!e ha$e !tood in$e!ti'ation #ut !o retirin' and 1uiet wa! thi! 'irl, and !o !eldom did !he 'oa#road after wor* hour!, that he had not di!"o$ered till then that !he li$ed in the !ame !treet, not

to !ay the !ame hou!e with him!elf.

)e !oon learned her hi!tory&a $ery "ommon one a! outward e$ent!, #ut not !urely

in!i'nifi"ant #e"au!e "ommon. )er father and mother were #oth dead, and hen"e !he had to findher li$elihood alone, and amid!t a!!o"iation! whi"h were alway! di!a'reea#le, and !ometime!

%ainful. )er 1ui"* womanly in!tin"t mu!t ha$e di!"o$ered that he too had a hi!tory for thou'h,

hi! mental %ro!tration fa$ourin' the o%eration of outward influen"e!, he had 'reatlya%%ro8imated in a%%earan"e to tho!e amon'!t whom he la#oured, there were yet !i'n!, #e!ide!

the edu"ated a""ent of hi! !%ee"h, whi"h would ha$e di!tin'ui!hed him to an o#!er$er #ut !he

%ut no 1ue!tion! to him, nor made any a%%roa"h toward! !ee*in' a return of the "onfiden"e !here%o!ed in him. It wa! a !en!i#le alle$iation to hi! !ufferin'! to hear her *ind $oi"e, and loo* in

her 'entle fa"e, a! they wal*ed home to'ether and at len'th the e8%e"tation of thi! %lea!ure

#e'an to %re!ent it!elf, in the mid!t of the #u!y, dreary wor*-hour!, a! the !hadow of a hea$en to

"lo!e u% the di!mal, unintere!tin' day.



I will not !to% to de"ide the ni"e 1ue!tion, how far the intention wa! ri'ht, of "au!in' her to

lo$e him #efore !he *new hi! !tory. If in the whole matter there wa! too mu"h thou'ht of !elf,

my only a%olo'y i! the !e1uel. One day, the ninth from the "ommen"ement of her illne!!, a letter arri$ed, addre!!ed to her whi"h he, thin*in' he mi'ht %re$ent !ome in"on$enien"e there#y,

o%ened and read, in the "onfiden"e of that lo$e whi"h already made her and all #elon'in' to her

a%%ear hi! own. It wa! from a !oldier& her lover . It wa! %lain that they had #een #etrothed #efore he left for the "ontinent a year a'o #ut thi! wa! the fir!t letter whi"h he had written to her.

It #reathed "han'ele!! lo$e, and ho%e, and "onfiden"e in her. )e wa! !o fa!"inated that he read it

throu'h without %au!e.2ayin' it down, he !at %ale, motionle!!, almo!t inanimate. /rom the hard-won !unny hei'ht!,

he wa! on"e more "a!t down into the !hadow of death. The !e"ond !torm of hi! life #e'an,

howlin' and ra'in', with yet more awful lull! #etween. ;I! !he not mine+; he !aid, in a'ony. ;Do

I not feel that !he i! mine+ 7ho will wat"h o$er her a! I+ 7ho will *i!! her !oul to life a! I+Shall !he #e torn away from me, when my !oul !eem! to ha$e dwelt with her! for e$er in an

eternal hou!e+ (ut ha$e I not a ri'ht to her+ )a$e I not 'i$en my life for her!+ I! he not a !oldier,

and are there not many "han"e! that he may ne$er return+ And it may #e that, althou'h they were

en'a'ed in word, !oul ha! ne$er tou"hed !oul with them their lo$e ha! ne$er rea"hed that %ointwhere it %a!!e! from the mortal to the immortal, the indi!!olu#le: and !o, in a !en!e, !he may #e

yet free. 7ill he do for her what I will do+ Shall thi! %re"iou! heart of her!, in whi"h I !ee the #ud! of !o many #eautie!, #e left to wither and die+;

(ut here the $oi"e within him "ried out, ;Art thou the di!%o!er of de!tinie!+ 7ilt thou, in a

uni$er!e where the $i!i#le God hath died for the Truth! !a*e, do e$il that a 'ood, whi"h )emi'ht ne'le"t or o$erloo*, may #e 'ained+ 2ea$e thou her to )im, and do thou ri'ht.; And he

!aid within him!elf, ;Now i! the real trial for my life= Shall I "on1uer or no+; And hi! heart

awo*e and "ried, ;I will. God for'i$e me for wron'in' the %oor !oldier= A #ra$e man, #ra$e at

lea!t, i! #etter for her than I.;A 'reat !tren'th aro!e within him, and lifted him u% to de%art. ;Surely I may *i!! her on"e,; he

!aid. /or the "ri!i! wa! o$er, and !he !le%t. )e !too%ed toward! her fa"e, #ut #efore he had

rea"hed her li%! he !aw her eyelid! trem#le and he who had lon'ed for the o%enin' of tho!eeye!, a! of the 'ate! of hea$en, that !he mi'ht lo$e him, !tri"*en now with fear le!t !he !hould

lo$e him, fled from her, #efore the eyelid! that hid !u"h !trife and !u"h $i"tory from the

un"on!"iou! maiden had time to un"lo!e. (ut it wa! a'ony&1uietly to %a"* u% hi! #undle of linen in the room #elow, when he *new !he wa! lyin' awa*e a#o$e, with her dear, %ale fa"e, and

li$in' eye!= 7hat remained of hi! money, e8"e%t a few !hillin'!, he %ut u% in a !"ra% of %a%er,

and went out with hi! #undle in hi! hand, fir!t to !ee* a nur!e for hi! friend, and then to 'o he

*new not whither. )e met the fa"tory %eo%le with whom he had wor*ed, 'oin' to dinner, andamon'!t them a 'irl who had her!elf #ut lately re"o$ered from the fe$er, and wa! yet hardly a#le

for wor*. She wa! the only friend the !i"* 'irl had !eemed to ha$e amon'!t the women at the

fa"tory, and !he wa! ea!ily %er!uaded to 'o and ta*e "har'e of her. )e %ut the money in her hand, #e''in' her to u!e it for the in$alid, and %romi!in' to !end the e1ui$alent of her wa'e! for the

time he thou'ht !he would ha$e to wait on her. Thi! he ea!ily did #y the !ale of a rin', whi"h,

#e!ide! hi! mother! wat"h, wa! the only arti"le of $alue he had retained. )e #e''ed her li*ewi!enot to mention hi! name in the matter and wa! fooli!h enou'h to e8%e"t that !he would entirely

*ee% the %romi!e !he had made him.

7anderin' alon' the !treet, %ur%o!ele!! now and #ereft, he !%ied a re"ruitin' %arty at the door

of a %u#li"-hou!e and on "omin' nearer, found, #y one of tho!e !tran'e "oin"iden"e! whi"h do



o""ur in life, and whi"h ha$e %o!!i#ly their root in a hidden and wondrou! law, that it wa! a

%arty, %erha%! a remnant, of the $ery re'iment in whi"h he had him!elf !er$ed, and in whi"h hi!

mi!fortune had #efallen him. Almo!t !imultaneou!ly with the !ho"* whi"h the !i'ht of the well-*nown num#er on the !oldier! *na%!a"*! 'a$e him, aro!e in hi! mind the romanti", ideal

thou'ht, of enli!tin' in the ran*! of thi! !ame re'iment, and re"o$erin', a! a %ri$ate !oldier and

un*nown, that honour whi"h a! offi"er he had lo!t. To thi! determination, the new ne"e!!ity inwhi"h he now !tood for a"tion and "han'e of life, dou#tle!! "ontri#uted, thou'h un"on!"iou!ly.

)e offered him!elf to the !er'eant and, notwith!tandin' that hi! dre!! indi"ated a mode of life

un!uita#le a! the ante"edent to a !oldier!, hi! a%%earan"e, and the ne"e!!ity for re"ruit!"om#ined, led to hi! ea!y a""e%tan"e.

The En'li!h armie! were em%loyed in e8%ellin' the enemy from an in$aded and hel%le!!

"ountry. 7hate$er mi'ht #e the %oliti"al moti$e! whi"h had indu"ed the Go$ernment to thi!

mea!ure, the youn' man wa! now a#le to feel that he "ould 'o and fi'ht, indi$idually and for hi! %art, in the "au!e of li#erty. )e wa! free to %o!!e!! hi! own moti$e! for oinin' in the e8e"ution

of the !"heme! of tho!e who "ommanded hi! "ommander!.

7ith a hea$y heart, #ut with more of inward ho%e and !tren'th than he had e$er *nown #efore,

he mar"hed with hi! "omrade! to the !ea%ort and em#ar*ed. It !eemed to him that #e"au!e he haddone ri'ht in hi! la!t trial, here wa! a new 'loriou! "han"e held out to hi! hand. True, it wa! a

terri#le "han'e to %a!! from a woman in whom he had ho%ed to find healin', into the !o"iety of rou'h men, to mar"h with them, ;mitgleichem Tritt "nd Schritt ,; u% to the #ri!tlin' #ayonet! or

the horrid $a"an"y of the "annon mouth. (ut it wa! the only "ure for the e$il that "on!umed hi!

life.)e rea"hed the army in !afety, and 'a$e him!elf, with reli'iou! a!!iduity, to the !malle!t dutie!

of hi! new %o!ition. No one had a #ri'hter %oli!h on hi! arm!, or whiter #elt! than he. In the

ne"e!!ary mo$ement!, he !oon #e"ame %re"i!e to a de'ree that attra"ted the attention of hi!

offi"er! while hi! "hara"ter wa! remar*a#le for all the $irtue! #elon'in' to a %erfe"t !oldier.One day, a! he !tood !entry, he !aw the eye! of hi! "olonel intently fi8ed on him. )e felt hi! li%

1ui$er, #ut he "om%re!!ed and !tilled it, and tried to loo* a! un"on!"iou! a! he "ould whi"h

effort wa! a!!i!ted #y the formal #earin' re1uired #y hi! %o!ition. Now the "olonel, !u"h had #een the lo!!e! of the re'iment, had #een %romoted from a lieutenan"y in the !ame, and had

#elon'ed to it at the time of the en!i'n! de'radation. Indeed, had not the "han'e! in the re'iment

#een !o 'reat, he "ould hardly ha$e e!"a%ed !o lon' without di!"o$ery. (ut the %oor fellowwould ha$e felt that hi! name wa! already free of re%roa"h, if he had !een what followed on the

"lo!e in!%e"tion whi"h had awa*ened hi! a%%rehen!ion!, and whi"h, in fa"t, had "on$in"ed the

"olonel of hi! identity with the di!'ra"ed en!i'n. 7ith a ha!ty and le!! !oldierly !te% than u!ual

the "olonel entered hi! tent, threw him!elf on hi! #ed and we%t li*e a "hild. 7hen he ro!e he wa!o$erheard to !ay the!e word!&and the!e only e!"a%ed hi! li%!: ;)e i! no#ler than I.;

(ut thi! offi"er !howed him!elf worthy of "ommandin' !u"h men a! thi! %ri$ate for ri'ht

no#ly did he under!tand and meet hi! feelin'!. )e uttered no word of the di!"o$ery he had made,till year! afterward! #ut it !oon #e'an to #e remar*ed that whene$er anythin' arduou!, or in any

manner di!tin'ui!hed, had to #e done, thi! man wa! !ure to #e of the %arty a%%ointed. In !hort, a!

often a! he "ould, the "olonel ;!et him in the forefront of the #attle.; 3a!!in' throu'h all withwonderful e!"a%e, he wa! !oon a! mu"h noti"ed for hi! re"*le!! #ra$ery, a! hitherto for hi!

%re"i!ion in the di!"har'e of dutie! #rin'in' only "ommendation and not honour. (ut hi! final

lu!tration wa! at hand.



A 'reat %art of the army wa! ha!tenin', #y for"ed mar"he!, to rai!e the !ie'e of a town whi"h

wa! already on the %oint of fallin' into the hand! of the enemy. /ormin' one of a re"onnoitrin'

%arty, whi"h %re"eded the main #ody at !ome "on!idera#le di!tan"e, he and hi! "om%anion! "ame!uddenly u%on one of the enemy! out%o!t!, o""u%yin' a hi'h, and on one !ide %re"i%itou! ro"*, a

!hort way from the town, whi"h it "ommanded. Retreat wa! im%o!!i#le, for they were already

di!"o$ered, and the #ullet! were fallin' amon'!t them li*e the fir!t of a hail-!torm. The only %o!!i#ility of e!"a%e remainin' for them wa! a nearly ho%ele!! im%ro#a#ility. It lay in for"in' the

%o!t on thi! !tee% ro"* whi"h if they "ould do #efore a!!i!tan"e "ame to the enemy, they mi'ht,

%erha%!, #e a#le to hold out, #y mean! of it! defen"e!, till the arri$al of the army. Their %o!itionwa! at on"e under!tood #y all and, #y a !udden, !imultaneou! im%ul!e, they found them!el$e!

halfway u% the !tee% a!"ent, and in the !tru''le of a "lo!e "onfli"t, without #ein' aware of any

order to that effe"t from their offi"er. (ut their "oura'e wa! of no a$ail the ad$anta'e! of the

%la"e were too 'reat and in a few minute! the whole %arty wa! "ut to %ie"e!, or !tret"hedhel%le!! on the ro"*. Our youth had fallen amon'!t the foremo!t for a mu!*et #all had 'ra9ed hi!

!*ull, and laid him in!en!i#le.

(ut "on!"iou!ne!! !lowly returned, and he !u""eeded at la!t in rai!in' him!elf and loo*in'

around him. The %la"e wa! de!erted. A few of hi! friend!, ali$e, #ut 'rie$ou!ly wounded, laynear him. The re!t were dead. It a%%eared that, learnin' the %ro8imity of the En'li!h for"e! from

thi! ren"ontre with %art of their ad$an"ed 'uard, and dreadin' le!t the town, whi"h wa! on the %oint of !urrenderin', !hould after all #e !nat"hed from their 'ra!%, the "ommander of the

enemy! for"e! had ordered an immediate and 'eneral a!!ault and had for thi! %ur%o!e re"alled

from their out%o!t! the whole of hi! troo%! thu! !tationed, that he mi'ht ma*e the attem%t withthe utmo!t !tren'th he "ould a""umulate.

A! the youth! %ower of $i!ion returned, he %er"ei$ed, from the hei'ht where he lay, that the

town wa! already in the hand! of the enemy. (ut loo*in' down into the le$el !%a"e immediately

#elow him, he !tarted to hi! feet at on"e for a 'irl, #are-headed, wa! fleein' toward! the ro"*, %ur!ued #y !e$eral !oldier!. ;Aha=; !aid he, di$inin' her %ur%o!e&the !oldier! #ehind and the

ro"* #efore her&;I will hel% you to die=; And he !too%ed and wren"hed from the dead fin'er! of

a !er'eant the !word whi"h they "len"hed #y the #loody hilt. A new thro# of life %ul!ed throu'hhim to hi! $ery fin'er-ti%! and on the #rin* of the un!een world he !tood, with the #lood ru!hin'

throu'h hi! $ein! in a wild dan"e of e8"itement. One who lay near him wounded, #ut re"o$ered

afterward!, !aid that he loo*ed li*e one in!%ired. 7ith a *een eye he wat"hed the "ha!e. The 'irldrew ni'h and ru!hed u% the %ath near whi"h he wa! !tandin'. 0lo!e on her foot!te%! "ame the

!oldier!, the di!tan"e 'radually le!!enin' #etween them.

Not many %a"e! hi'her u%, wa! a narrower %art of the a!"ent, where the %ath wa! "onfined #y

'reat !tone!, or %ie"e! of ro"*. )ere had #een the "hief defen"e in the %re"edin' a!!ault, and in itlay many #odie! of hi! friend!. Thither he went and too* hi! !tand.

On the 'irl "ame, o$er the dead, with ri'id hand! and flyin' feet, the #loodle!! !*in drawn

ti'ht on her feature!, and her eye! awfully lar'e and wild. She did not !ee him thou'h !he #ounded %a!t !o near that her hair flew in hi! eye!. ;Ne$er mind=; !aid he, ;we !hall meet !oon.;

And he !te%%ed into the narrow %ath u!t in time to fa"e her %ur!uer!&#etween her and them.

2i*e the red li'htnin' the #loody !word fell, and a man #eneath it. 0lin'= "lan'= went the e"hoe!in the ro"*!&and another man wa! down for, in hi! e8"itement, he wa! a de!troyin' an'el to the

#reathle!! %ur!uer!. )i! !tature ro!e, hi! "he!t dilated and a! the third foe fell dead, the 'irl wa!

!afe for her #ody lay a #ro*en, em%ty, #ut unde!e"rated tem%le, at the foot of the ro"*. That

moment hi! !word flew in !hi$er! from hi! 'ra!%. The ne8t in!tant he fell, %ier"ed to the heart



and hi! !%irit ro!e trium%hant, free, !tron', and "alm, a#o$e the !tormy world, whi"h at len'th

lay $an1ui!hed #eneath him.

THE GRAY &OLFOne e$enin'-twili'ht in !%rin', a youn' En'li!h !tudent, who had wandered northward! a! far

a! the outlyin' fra'ment! of S"otland "alled the Or*ney and Shetland I!land!, found him!elf on a

!mall i!land of the latter 'rou%, "au'ht in a !torm of wind and hail, whi"h had "ome on !uddenly.It wa! in $ain to loo* a#out for any !helter for not only did the !torm entirely o#!"ure the

land!"a%e, #ut there wa! nothin' around him !a$e a de!ert mo!!.

At len'th, howe$er, a! he wal*ed on for mere wal*in'! !a*e, he found him!elf on the $er'e of

a "liff, and !aw, o$er the #row of it, a few feet #elow him, a led'e of ro"*, where he mi'ht find!ome !helter from the #la!t, whi"h #lew from #ehind. 2ettin' him!elf down #y hi! hand!, he

ali'hted u%on !omethin' that "run"hed #eneath hi! tread, and found the #one! of many !mall

animal! !"attered a#out in front of a little "a$e in the ro"*, offerin' the refu'e he !ou'ht. )e

went in, and !at u%on a !tone. The !torm in"rea!ed in $iolen"e, and a! the dar*ne!! 'rew he #e"ame unea!y, for he did not reli!h the thou'ht of !%endin' the ni'ht in the "a$e. )e had %arted

from hi! "om%anion! on the o%%o!ite !ide of the i!land, and it added to hi! unea!ine!! that theymu!t #e full of a%%rehen!ion a#out him. At la!t there "ame a lull in the !torm, and the !ame

in!tant he heard a footfall, !tealthy and li'ht a! that of a wild #ea!t, u%on the #one! at the mouth

of the "a$e. )e !tarted u% in !ome fear, thou'h the lea!t thou'ht mi'ht ha$e !ati!fied him thatthere "ould #e no $ery dan'erou! animal! u%on the i!land. (efore he had time to thin*, howe$er,

the fa"e of a woman a%%eared in the o%enin'. Ea'erly the wanderer !%o*e. She !tarted at the

!ound of hi! $oi"e. )e "ould not !ee her well, #e"au!e !he wa! turned toward! the dar*ne!! of

the "a$e.;7ill you tell me how to find my way a"ro!! the moor to Shielne!!+; he a!*ed.

;You "annot find it to-ni'ht,; !he an!wered, in a !weet tone, and with a !mile that #ewit"hed

him, re$ealin' the white!t of teeth.;7hat am I to do, then+;

;My mother will 'i$e you !helter, #ut that i! all !he ha! to offer.;

;And that i! far more than I e8%e"ted a minute a'o,; he re%lied. ;I !hall #e mo!t 'rateful.;She turned in !ilen"e and left the "a$e. The youth followed.

She wa! #arefooted, and her %retty #rown feet went "atli*e o$er the !har% !tone!, a! !he led

the way down a ro"*y %ath to the !hore. )er 'arment! were !"anty and torn, and her hair #lew

tan'led in the wind. She !eemed a#out fi$e and twenty, lithe and !mall. )er lon' fin'er! *e%t"lut"hin' and %ullin' ner$ou!ly at her !*irt! a! !he went. )er fa"e wa! $ery 'ray in "om%le8ion,

and $ery worn, #ut deli"ately formed, and !mooth-!*inned. )er thin no!tril! were tremulou! a!

eyelid!, and her li%!, who!e "ur$e! were faultle!!, had no "olour to 'i$e !i'n of indwellin' #lood.7hat her eye! were li*e he "ould not !ee, for !he had ne$er lifted the deli"ate film! of her

eyelid!.

At the foot of the "liff, they "ame u%on a little hut leanin' a'ain!t it, and ha$in' for it! inner a%artment a natural hollow within. Smo*e wa! !%readin' o$er the fa"e of the ro"*, and the

'rateful odour of food 'a$e ho%e to the hun'ry !tudent. )i! 'uide o%ened the door of the "otta'e

he followed her in, and !aw a woman #endin' o$er a fire in the middle of the floor. On the fire

lay a lar'e fi!h #roilin'. The dau'hter !%o*e a few word!, and the mother turned and wel"omed



the !tran'er. She had an old and $ery wrin*led, #ut hone!t fa"e, and loo*ed trou#led. She du!ted

the only "hair in the "otta'e, and %la"ed it for him #y the !ide of the fire, o%%o!ite the one

window, when"e he !aw a little %at"h of yellow !and o$er whi"h the !%ent wa$e! !%readthem!el$e! out li!tle!!ly. 6nder thi! window there wa! a #en"h, u%on whi"h the dau'hter threw

her!elf in an unu!ual %o!ture, re!tin' her "hin u%on her hand. A moment after, the youth "au'ht

the fir!t 'lim%!e of her #lue eye!. They were fi8ed u%on him with a !tran'e loo* of 'reed,amountin' to "ra$in', #ut, a! if aware that they #elied or #etrayed her, !he dro%%ed them

in!tantly. The moment !he $eiled them, her fa"e, notwith!tandin' it! "olourle!! "om%le8ion, wa!

almo!t #eautiful.7hen the fi!h wa! ready, the old woman wi%ed the deal ta#le, !teadied it u%on the une$en

floor, and "o$ered it with a %ie"e of fine ta#le-linen. She then laid the fi!h on a wooden %latter,

and in$ited the 'ue!t to hel% him!elf. Seein' no other %ro$i!ion, he %ulled from hi! %o"*et a

huntin' *nife, and di$ided a %ortion from the fi!h, offerin' it to the mother fir!t.;0ome, my lam#,; !aid the old woman and the dau'hter a%%roa"hed the ta#le. (ut her no!tril!

and mouth 1ui$ered with di!'u!t.

The ne8t moment !he turned and hurried from the hut.

;She doe!nt li*e fi!h,; !aid the old woman, ;and I ha$ent anythin' el!e to 'i$e her.;;She doe! not !eem in 'ood health,; he reoined.

The woman an!wered only with a !i'h, and they ate their fi!h with the hel% of a little rye #read. A! they fini!hed their !u%%er, the youth heard the !ound a! of the %atterin' of a do'! feet

u%on the !and "lo!e to the door #ut ere he had time to loo* out of the window, the door o%ened,

and the youn' woman entered. She loo*ed #etter, %erha%! from ha$in' u!t wa!hed her fa"e. Shedrew a !tool to the "orner of the fire o%%o!ite him. (ut a! !he !at down, to hi! #ewilderment, and

e$en horror, the !tudent !%ied a !in'le dro% of #lood on her white !*in within her torn dre!!. The

woman #rou'ht out a ar of whi!*y, %ut a ru!ty old *ettle on the fire, and too* her %la"e in front

of it. A! !oon a! the water #oiled, !he %ro"eeded to ma*e !ome toddy in a wooden #owl.Meantime the youth "ould not ta*e hi! eye! off the youn' woman, !o that at len'th he found

him!elf fa!"inated, or rather #ewit"hed. She *e%t her eye! for the mo!t %art $eiled with the

lo$elie!t eyelid! frin'ed with dar*e!t la!he!, and he 'a9ed entran"ed for the red 'low of the littleoil-lam% "o$ered all the !tran'ene!! of her "om%le8ion. (ut a! !oon a! he met a !tolen 'lan"e out

of tho!e eye! un$eiled, hi! !oul !huddered within him. 2o$ely fa"e and "ra$in' eye! alternated

fa!"ination and re%ul!ion.The mother %la"ed the #owl in hi! hand!. )e dran* !%arin'ly, and %a!!ed it to the 'irl. She

lifted it to her li%!, and a! !he ta!ted&only ta!ted it&loo*ed at him. )e thou'ht the drin* mu!t

ha$e #een dru''ed and ha$e affe"ted hi! #rain. )er hair !moothed it!elf #a"*, and drew her

forehead #a"*ward! with it while the lower %art of her fa"e %roe"ted toward! the #owl,re$ealin', ere !he !i%%ed, her da99lin' teeth in !tran'e %rominen"e. (ut the !ame moment the

$i!ion $ani!hed !he returned the $e!!el to her mother, and ri!in', hurried out of the "otta'e.

Then the old woman %ointed to a #ed of heather in one "orner with a murmured a%olo'y andthe !tudent, wearied #oth with the fati'ue! of the day and the !tran'ene!! of the ni'ht, threw

him!elf u%on it, wra%%ed in hi! "loa*. The moment he lay down, the !torm #e'an afre!h, and the

wind #lew !o *eenly throu'h the "rannie! of the hut, that it wa! only #y drawin' hi! "loa* o$er hi! head that he "ould %rote"t him!elf from it! "urrent!. 6na#le to !lee%, he lay li!tenin' to the

u%roar whi"h 'rew in $iolen"e, till the !%ray wa! da!hin' a'ain!t the window. At len'th the door

o%ened, and the youn' woman "ame in, made u% the fire, drew the #en"h #efore it, and lay down

in the !ame !tran'e %o!ture, with her "hin %ro%%ed on her hand and el#ow, and her fa"e turned



toward! the youth. )e mo$ed a little !he dro%%ed her head, and lay on her fa"e, with her arm!

"ro!!ed #eneath her forehead. The mother had di!a%%eared.

Drow!ine!! "re%t o$er him. A mo$ement of the #en"h rou!ed him, and he fan"ied he !aw !omefour-footed "reature a! tall a! a lar'e do' trot 1uietly out of the door. )e wa! !ure he felt a ru!h

of "old wind. Ga9in' fi8edly throu'h the dar*ne!!, he thou'ht he !aw the eye! of the dam!el

en"ounterin' hi!, #ut a 'low from the fallin' to'ether of the remnant! of the fire re$ealed "learlyenou'h that the #en"h wa! $a"ant. 7onderin' what "ould ha$e made her 'o out in !u"h a !torm,

he fell fa!t a!lee%.

In the middle of the ni'ht he felt a %ain in hi! !houlder, "ame #road awa*e, and !aw the'leamin' eye! and 'rinnin' teeth of !ome animal "lo!e to hi! fa"e. It! "law! were in hi! !houlder,

and it! mouth in the a"t of !ee*in' hi! throat. (efore it had fi8ed it! fan'!, howe$er, he had it!

throat in one hand, and !ou'ht hi! *nife with the other. A terri#le !tru''le followed #ut

re'ardle!! of the tearin' "law!, he found and o%ened hi! *nife. )e had made one futile !ta#, andwa! drawin' it for a !urer, when, with a !%rin' of the whole #ody, and one wildly "ontorted

effort, the "reature twi!ted it! ne"* from hi! hold, and with !omethin' #etwi8t a !"ream and a

howl, darted from him. A'ain he heard the door o%en a'ain the wind #lew in u%on him, and it

"ontinued #lowin' a !heet of !%ray da!hed a"ro!! the floor, and o$er hi! fa"e. )e !%run' fromhi! "ou"h and #ounded to the door.

It wa! a wild ni'ht&dar*, #ut for the fla!h of whitene!! from the wa$e! a! they #ro*e within afew yard! of the "otta'e the wind wa! ra$in', and the rain %ourin' down the air. A 'rue!ome

!ound a! of min'led wee%in' and howlin' "ame from !omewhere in the dar*. )e turned a'ain

into the hut and "lo!ed the door, #ut "ould find no way of !e"urin' it.The lam% wa! nearly out, and he "ould not #e "ertain whether the form of the youn' woman

wa! u%on the #en"h or not. O$er"omin' a !tron' re%u'nan"e, he a%%roa"hed it, and %ut out hi!

hand!&there wa! nothin' there. )e !at down and waited for the dayli'ht: he dared not !lee% any

more.7hen the day dawned at len'th, he went out yet a'ain, and loo*ed around. The mornin' wa!

dim and 'u!ty and 'ray. The wind had fallen, #ut the wa$e! were to!!in' wildly. )e wandered u%

and down the little !trand, lon'in' for more li'ht.At len'th he heard a mo$ement in the "otta'e. (y and #y the $oi"e of the old woman "alled to

him from the door.

;Youre u% early, !ir. I dou#t you didnt !lee% well.;;Not $ery well,; he an!wered. ;(ut where i! your dau'hter+;

;She! not awa*e yet,; !aid the mother. ;Im afraid I ha$e #ut a %oor #rea*fa!t for you. (ut

youll ta*e a dram and a #it of fi!h. It! all I$e 'ot.;

6nwillin' to hurt her, thou'h hardly in 'ood a%%etite, he !at down at the ta#le. 7hile theywere eatin', the dau'hter "ame in, #ut turned her fa"e away and went to the farther end of the

hut. 7hen !he "ame forward after a minute or two, the youth !aw that her hair wa! dren"hed, and

her fa"e whiter than #efore. She loo*ed ill and faint, and when !he rai!ed her eye!, all their fier"ene!! had $ani!hed, and !adne!! had ta*en it! %la"e. )er ne"* wa! now "o$ered with a

"otton hand*er"hief. She wa! mode!tly attenti$e to him, and no lon'er !hunned hi! 'a9e. )e wa!

'radually yieldin' to the tem%tation of #ra$in' another ni'ht in the hut, and !eein' what wouldfollow, when the old woman !%o*e.

;The weather will #e #ro*en all day, !ir,; !he !aid. ;You had #etter #e 'oin', or your friend!

will lea$e without you.;



Ere he "ould an!wer, he !aw !u"h a #e!ee"hin' 'lan"e on the fa"e of the 'irl, that he he!itated,

"onfu!ed. Glan"in' at the mother, he !aw the fla!h of wrath in her fa"e. She ro!e and a%%roa"hed

her dau'hter, with her hand lifted to !tri*e her. The youn' woman !too%ed her head with a "ry.)e darted round the ta#le to inter%o!e #etween them. (ut the mother had "au'ht hold of her the

hand*er"hief had fallen from her ne"* and the youth !aw fi$e #lue #rui!e! on her lo$ely throat

&the mar*! of the four fin'er! and the thum# of a left hand. 7ith a "ry of horror he darted fromthe hou!e, #ut a! he rea"hed the door he turned. )i! ho!te!! wa! lyin' motionle!! on the floor,

and a hu'e 'ray wolf "ame #oundin' after him.

There wa! no wea%on at hand and if there had #een, hi! in#orn "hi$alry would ne$er ha$eallowed him to harm a woman e$en under the 'ui!e of a wolf. In!tin"ti$ely, he !et him!elf firm,

leanin' a little forward, with half out!tret"hed arm!, and hand! "ur$ed ready to "lut"h a'ain at

the throat u%on whi"h he had left tho!e %itiful mar*!. (ut the "reature a! !he !%run' eluded hi!

'ra!%, and u!t a! he e8%e"ted to feel her fan'!, he found a woman wee%in' on hi! #o!om, withher arm! around hi! ne"*. The ne8t in!tant, the 'ray wolf #ro*e from him, and #ounded howlin'

u% the "liff. Re"o$erin' him!elf a! he #e!t mi'ht, the youth followed, for it wa! the only way to

the moor a#o$e, a"ro!! whi"h he mu!t now ma*e hi! way to find hi! "om%anion!.

All at on"e he heard the !ound of a "run"hin' of #one!&not a! if a "reature wa! eatin' them, #ut a! if they were 'round #y the teeth of ra'e and di!a%%ointment loo*in' u%, he !aw "lo!e

a#o$e him the mouth of the little "a$ern in whi"h he had ta*en refu'e the day #efore.Summonin' all hi! re!olution, he %a!!ed it !lowly and !oftly. /rom within "ame the !ound! of a

min'led moanin' and 'rowlin'.

)a$in' rea"hed the to%, he ran at full !%eed for !ome di!tan"e a"ro!! the moor #efore$enturin' to loo* #ehind him. 7hen at len'th he did !o, he !aw, a'ain!t the !*y, the 'irl !tandin'

on the ed'e of the "liff, wrin'in' her hand!. One !olitary wail "ro!!ed the !%a"e #etween. She

made no attem%t to follow him, and he rea"hed the o%%o!ite !hore in !afety.

NCLE CORNELIS HIS STORY

It wa! a dull e$enin' in No$em#er. A dri99lin' mi!t had #een fallin' all day a#out the old

farm. )arry )eywood and hi! two !i!ter! !at in the hou!e-%la"e, e8%e"tin' a $i!it from their

un"le, 0orneliu! )eywood. Thi! un"le li$ed alone, o""u%yin' the fir!t floor a#o$e a "hemi!t!!ho% in the town, and had u!t enou'h of money o$er to #uy #oo*! that no#ody !eemed e$er to

ha$e heard of #ut him!elf for he wa! a !tudent in all tho!e re'ion! of !%e"ulation in whi"h

anythin' to #e "alled *nowled'e i! im%o!!i#le.

;7hat a dreary ni'ht=; !aid Kate. ;I wi!h un"le would "ome and tell u! a !tory.;;A "heerful wi!h,; !aid )arry. ;6n"le 0ornie i! a li$ely "om%anion&i!nt he+ )e "ant e$en

#lunder throu'h a <oe Miller without ta"*in' a moral to it, and then tryin' to %er!uade you that

the o*e of it de%end! on the moral.;;)ere he "ome!=; !aid Kate, a! three di!tin"t #low! with the *no# of hi! wal*in'-!ti"*

announ"ed the arri$al of 6n"le 0orneliu!. She ran to the door to o%en it.

The air had #een $ery !till all day, #ut a! he entered he !eemed to ha$e #rou'ht the wind withhim, for the fir!t moan of it %re!!ed a'ain!t rather than !hoo* the "a!ement of the low-"eiled

room.

6n"le 0orneliu! wa! $ery tall, and $ery thin, and $ery %ale, with lar'e 'ray eye! that loo*ed

'reatly lar'er #e"au!e he wore !%e"ta"le! of the mo!t deli"ate hair-!teel, with the lar'e!t %e##le-



;I thou'ht a 'ho!t !tory at lea!t wa! "omin',; !aid <anet.

;You did your #e!t to !to% it, <anet,; !aid )arry.

<anet #e'an an an'ry retort, #ut 0orneliu! interru%ted her. ;You ne$er heard me tell a 'ho!t!tory, <anet.;

;You ha$e u!t told one a#out a drin*in' 'ho!t, un"le,; !aid <anet&in !u"h a tone that

0orneliu! re%lied&;7ell, ta*e that for your !tory, and let u! tal* of !omethin' el!e.;

<anet a%%arently !aw that !he had #een rude, and !aid a! !weetly a! !he mi'ht&;Ah= #ut you

didnt ma*e that one, un"le. You 'ot it out of a German #oo*.;;Ma*e it=&Ma*e a 'ho!t !tory=; re%eated 0orneliu!. ;No that I ne$er did.;

;Su"h thin'! are not to #e trifled with, are they+; !aid <anet.

;I at lea!t ha$e no in"lination to trifle with them.;

;(ut, really and truly, un"le,; %er!i!ted <anet, ;you dont #elie$e in !u"h thin'!+;;7hy !hould I either #elie$e or di!#elie$e in them+ They are not e!!ential to !al$ation, I

%re!ume.;

;You mu!t do the one or the other, I !u%%o!e.;

;I #e' your %ardon. You !u%%o!e wron'. It would ta*e twi"e the %roof I ha$e e$er had to ma*eme #elie$e in them and e8a"tly your %reudi"e, and allow me to !ay i'noran"e, to ma*e me

di!#elie$e in them. Neither i! within my rea"h. I %o!t%one ud'ment. (ut you, youn' %eo%le, of "our!e, are wi!er, and *now all a#out the 1ue!tion.;

;Oh, un"le= Im !o !orry=; !aid Kate. ;Im !ure I did not mean to $e8 you.;

;Not at all, not at all, my dear.&It wa!nt you.;;Do you *now,; Kate went on, an8iou! to %re$ent anythin' un%lea!ant, for there wa!

!omethin' $ery #la"* %er"hed on <anet! forehead, ;I ha$e ta*en to readin' a#out that *ind of

thin'.;

;I #e' you will 'i$e it u% at on"e. You will #ewilder your #rain! till you are ready to #elie$eanythin', if only it #e a#!urd enou'h. Nay, you may "ome to find the element of $ul'arity

e!!ential to #elief. I !hould #e !orry to the heart to #elie$e "on"ernin' a hor!e or do' what they

tell you nowaday! a#out Sha*e!%eare and (urn!. 7hat ha$e you #een readin', my 'irl+;;Dont #e alarmed, un"le. Only !ome )i'hland le'end!, whi"h are too a#!urd either for my

#elief or for your theorie!.;

;I dont *now that, Kate.;;7hy, what "ould you do with !u"h !ha%ele!! "reature! a! haunt their ford! and %ool! for

in!tan"e+ They are a! featurele!! a! the fa"e! of the mountain!.;

;And !o mu"h the more terri#le.;

;(ut that doe! not ma*e it ea!ier to #elie$e in them,; !aid )arry.;I only !aid,; returned hi! un"le, ;that their !ha%ele!!ne!! add! to their horror.;

;(ut you allowed&almo!t, at lea!t, un"le,; !aid Kate, ;that you "ould find a %la"e in your

theorie! e$en for tho!e !ha%ele!! "reature!.;0orneliu! !at !ilent for a moment then, ha$in' fir!t dou#led the len'th of hi! fa"e, and

re!tored it to it! natural "ondition, !aid thou'htfully, ;I !u!%e"t, Katey, if you were to "ome u%on

an i"hthyo!auru! or a %teroda"tyl a!lee% in the !hu##ery, you would hardly e8%e"t your re%ort of it to #e #elie$ed all at on"e either #y )arry or <anet.;

;I !u%%o!e not, un"le. (ut I "ant !ee what&;

;Of "our!e !u"h a thin' "ould not ha%%en here and now. (ut there wa! a time when and a %la"e

where !u"h a thin' may ha$e ha%%ened. Indeed, in my time, a tra$eller or two ha$e 'ot %retty



!oundly di!#elie$ed for re%ortin' what they !aw,&the la!t of an e8%irin' ra"e, whi"h had !trayed

o$er the natural $er'e of it! hi!tory, "omin' to life in !ome ne'le"ted !wam%, it!elf a remnant of

the !lime of 0hao!.;;I ne$er heard you tal* li*e that #efore, un"le,; !aid )arry. ;If you 'o on li*e that, youll land

me in a !wam%, Im afraid.;

;I wa!nt tal*in' to you at all, )arry. Kate "hallen'ed me to find a %la"e for *el%ie!, and !u"hli*e, in the theorie! !he doe! me the honour of !u%%o!in' I "ulti$ate.;

;Then you thin*, un"le, that all the!e !torie! are only le'end! whi"h, if you "ould follow them

u%, would lead you #a"* to !ome one of the awful mon!ter! that ha$e !in"e 1uite di!a%%earedfrom the earth.;

;It i! %o!!i#le tho!e !torie! may #e !u"h le'end! #ut that wa! not what I intended to lead you

to. I 'a$e you that only a! !omethin' li*e what I am 'oin' to !ay now. 7hat if,&mind, I only

!u''e!t it,&what if the direful "reature!, who!e re%ort lin'er! in the!e tale!, !hould ha$e anori'in far older !till+ 7hat if they were the remnant! of a $ani!hin' %eriod of the earth! hi!tory

lon' ante"edent to the #irth of ma!todon and i'uanodon a !ta'e, namely, when the world, a! we

"all it, had not yet #e"ome 1uite $i!i#le, wa! not yet !o far fini!hed a! to %art from the in$i!i#le

world that wa! it! mother, and whi"h, on it! %art, had not then #e"ome 1uite in$i!i#le&wa! onlyalmo!t !u"h and when, a! a "redi#le "on!e1uen"e, !tran'e !ha%e! of tho!e now in$i!i#le re'ion!,

Gor'on! and 0himaera! dire, mi'ht #e e8%e"ted to 'loom out o""a!ionally from the awful /aunaof an e$er-'eneratin' world u%on that one whi"h wa! #ein' #orn of it. )en"e, the life-%eriod! of

a world #ein' lon' and !low, !ome of the!e hu'e, unformed #ul*! of half-"reated matter mi'ht,

!omehow, li*e the me'atherium of later time!,&a #a#y "reation to them,&roll at a'e-lon'inter$al!, "lothed in a mi'hty terror of !ha%ele!!ne!! into the half-re"o'nition of human #ein'!,

who!e "on!ternation at the un"ertain $i!ion were #arrier enou'h to %re$ent all further *nowled'e

of it! !u#!tan"e.;

;I #e'in to ha$e !ome notion of your meanin', un"le,; !aid Kate.;(ut then,; !aid <anet, ;all that mu!t #e o$er #y thi! time. That world ha! #een in$i!i#le now

for many year!.;

;E$er !in"e you were #orn, I !u%%o!e, <anet. The "han'e! of a world are not to #e mea!ured #ythe "han'e! of it! 'eneration!.;

;Oh, #ut, un"le, there "ant #e any !u"h thin'!. You *now that a! well a! I do.;

;Ye!, u!t a! well, and no #etter.;;There "ant #e any 'ho!t! now. No#ody #elie$e! !u"h thin'!.;

;Oh, a! to 'ho!t!, that i! 1uite another thin'. I did not *now you were tal*in' with referen"e to

them. It i! no wonder if one "an 'et nothin' !en!i#le out of you, <anet, when your di!"rimination

i! no 'reater than to lum% e$erythin' mar$ellou!, *el%ie!, 'ho!t!, $am%ire!, dou#le!, wit"he!,fairie!, ni'htmare!, and I dont *now what all, under the one head of 'ho!t! and we ha$ent #een

!ayin' a word a#out them. If one were to di!%ro$e to you the e8i!ten"e of the afreet! of Ea!tern

tale!, you would "on!ider the whole ar'ument "on"ernin' the rea%%earan"e of the de%arted u%!et.I "on'ratulate you on your %ower! of analy!i! and indu"tion, Mi!! <anet. (ut it matter! $ery little

whether we #elie$e in 'ho!t!, a! you !ay, or not, %ro$ided we #elie$e that we are 'ho!t!&that

within thi! #ody, whi"h !o many %eo%le are ready to "on!ider their own $ery !el$e!, their lie! a'ho!tly em#ryo, at lea!t, whi"h ha! an inner !ide to it God only "an !ee, whi"h !ay! I "on"ernin'

it!elf, and whi"h will !oon ha$e to *now whether or not it "an a%%ear to tho!e whom it ha! left

#ehind, and thu! !ol$e the 1ue!tion of 'ho!t! for it!elf, at lea!t.;

;Then you do #elie$e in 'ho!t!, un"le+; !aid <anet, in a tone that "ertainly wa! not re!%e"tful.



;Surely I !aid nothin' of the !ort, <anet. The man mo!t "on$in"ed that he had him!elf had !u"h

an inter$iew a! you hint at, would find&ou'ht to find it im%o!!i#le to "on$in"e any one el!e of

it.;;You are 1uite out of my de%th, un"le,; !aid )arry. ;Surely any hone!t man ou'ht to #e

#elie$ed+;

;)one!ty i! not all, #y any mean!, that i! ne"e!!ary to #ein' #elie$ed. It i! im%o!!i#le to"on$ey a "on$i"tion of anythin'. All you "an do i! to "on$ey a "on$i"tion that you are

"on$in"ed. Of "our!e, what !ati!fied you mi'ht !ati!fy another #ut, till you "an %re!ent him with

the !our"e! of your "on$i"tion, you "annot %re!ent him with the "on$i"tion&and %erha%! note$en then.;

;You "an tell him all a#out, it, "ant you+;

;I! tellin' a man a#out a 'ho!t, affordin' him the !our"e of your "on$i"tion+ I! it the !ame a! a

'ho!t a%%earin' to him+ Really, )arry=&You "annot e$en "on$ey the im%re!!ion a dream ha!made u%on you.;

;(ut i!nt that u!t #e"au!e it i! only a dream+;

;Not at all. The im%re!!ion may #e dee%er and "learer on your mind than any fa"t of the ne8t

mornin' will ma*e. You will for'et the ne8t day alto'ether, #ut the im%re!!ion of the dream willremain throu'h all the followin' whirl and !torm of what you "all fa"t!. Now a "on$i"tion may

#e li*ened to a dee% im%re!!ion on the ud'ment or the rea!on, or #oth. No one "an feel it #ut the %er!on who i! "on$in"ed. It "annot #e "on$eyed.;

;I fan"y that i! u!t what tho!e who #elie$e in !%irit-ra%%in' would !ay.;

;There are the true and fal!e of "on$i"tion!, a! of e$erythin' el!e. I mean that a man may ta*ethat for a "on$i"tion in hi! own mind whi"h i! not a "on$i"tion, #ut only re!em#le! one. (ut

tho!e to whom you refer %rofe!! to a%%eal to fa"t!. It i! on the 'round of tho!e fa"t!, and with the

more earne!tne!! the more rea!on they "an 'i$e for re"ei$in' them a! fa"t!, that I refu!e all their

dedu"tion! with a#horren"e. I mean that, if what they !ay i! true, the thin*er mu!t ree"t with"ontem%t the "laim to anythin' li*e re$elation therein.;

;Then you do not #elie$e in 'ho!t!, after all+; !aid Kate, in a tone of !ur%ri!e.

;I did not !ay !o, my dear. 7ill you #e rea!ona#le, or will you not+;;Dear un"le, do tell u! what you really thin*.;

;I ha$e #een tellin' you what I thin* e$er !in"e I "ame, Katey and you wont ta*e in a word I

!ay.;;I ha$e #een ta*in' in e$ery word, un"le, and tryin' hard to under!tand it a! well.&Did you

e$er !ee a 'ho!t, un"le+;

0orneliu! )eywood wa! !ilent. )e !hut hi! li%! and o%ened hi! aw! till hi! "hee*! almo!t met

in the $a"uum. A !tran'e e8%re!!ion "ro!!ed the !tran'e "ountenan"e, and the 'reat eye! of hi!!%e"ta"le! loo*ed a! if, at the $ery moment, they were !eein' !omethin' no other !%e"ta"le!

"ould !ee. Then hi! aw! "lo!ed with a !na%, hi! "ountenan"e #ri'htened, a fla!h of humour "ame

throu'h the 'o''le eye! of %e##le, and, at len'th, he a"tually !miled a! he !aid&;Really, Katey,you mu!t ta*e me for a !im%leton=;

;)ow, un"le+;

;To thin*, if I had e$er !een a 'ho!t, I would "onfe!! the fa"t #efore a !et of "reature! li*e you &all !%innin' your we#! li*e !o many !%ider! to "at"h and de$our old Daddy 2on'le'!.;

(y thi! time )arry had 'rown 1uite 'ra$e. ;Indeed, I am $ery !orry, un"le,; he !aid, ;if I ha$e

de!er$ed !u"h a re#u*e.;



;No, no, my #oy,; !aid 0orneliu! ;I did not mean it more than half. If I had meant it, I would

not ha$e !aid it. If you really would li*e&; )ere he %au!ed.

;Indeed we !hould, un"le,; !aid Kate, earne!tly. ;You !hould ha$e heard what we were !ayin' u!t #efore you "ame in.;

;All you were !ayin', Katey+;

;Ye!,; an!wered Kate, thou'htfully. ;The wor!t we !aid wa! that you "ould not tell a !torywithout&well, we did !ay ta"*in' a moral to it.;

;7ell, well= I mu!tnt %u!h it. A man ha! no ri'ht to *now what %eo%le !ay a#out him. It unfit!

him for o""u%yin' hi! real %o!ition amon'!t them. )e, lea!t of all, ha! anythin' to do with it. If hi! friend! wont defend him, he "ant defend him!elf. (e!ide!, what %eo%le !ay i! !o often

untrue=&I dont mean to other!, #ut to them!el$e!. Their heart! are more hone!t than their

mouth!. (ut <anet doe!nt want a !tran'e !tory, I am !ure.;

<anet "ertainly wa! not one to ha$e "ho!en for a li!tener to !u"h a tale. )er eye! were !o !mallthat no !ati!fa"tion "ould %o!!i#ly "ome of it. ;Oh= I dont mind, un"le,; !he !aid, with half-

affe"ted indifferen"e, a! !he !ear"hed in her #o8 for !il* to mend her 'lo$e!.

;You are not $ery en"oura'in', I mu!t !ay,; returned her un"le, ma*in' another "ow-fa"e.

;I will 'o away, if you li*e,; !aid <anet, %retendin' to ri!e.;No, ne$er mind,; !aid her un"le ha!tily. ;If you dont want me to tell it, I want you to hear it

and, #efore I ha$e done, that may ha$e "ome to the !ame thin' %erha%!.;;Then you really are 'oin' to tell u! a 'ho!t !tory=; !aid Kate, drawin' her "hair nearer to her

un"le! and then, findin' thi! did not !ati!fy her !en!e of %ro%in1uity to the !our"e of the

e8%e"ted %lea!ure, drawin' a !tool from the "orner, and !eatin' her!elf almo!t on the hearth-ru'at hi! *nee.

;I did not !ay !o,; returned 0orneliu!, on"e more. ;I !aid I would tell you a !tran'e !tory. You

may "all it a 'ho!t !tory if you li*e I do not %retend to determine what it i!. I "onfe!! it will loo*

li*e one, thou'h.;After !o many delay!, 6n"le 0orneliu! now %lun'ed almo!t hurriedly into hi! narration.

;In the year @F,; he !aid, ;in the month of Au'u!t, I fell in lo$e.; )ere the 'irl! 'lan"ed at

ea"h other. The idea of 6n"le 0ornie in lo$e, and in the $ery !ame "entury in whi"h they werenow li!tenin' to the "onfe!!ion, wa! too a!toni!hin' to %a!! without o"ular remar* #ut, if he

o#!er$ed it, he too* no noti"e of it he did not e$en %au!e. ;In the month of Se%tem#er, I wa!

refu!ed. 0on!e1uently, in the month of O"to#er, I wa! ready to fall in lo$e a'ain. Ta*e %arti"ular "are of your!elf, )arry, for a whole month, at lea!t, after your fir!t di!a%%ointment for you will

ne$er #e more li*ely to do a fooli!h thin'. 3lea!e your!elf after the !e"ond. If you are !illy then,

you may ta*e what you 'et, for you will de!er$e it&e8"e%t it #e 'ood fortune.;

;Did you do a fooli!h thin' then, un"le+; a!*ed )arry, demurely.;I did, a! you will !ee for I fell in lo$e a'ain.;

;I dont !ee anythin' !o $ery fooli!h in that.;

;I ha$e re%ented it !in"e, thou'h. Dont interru%t me a'ain, %lea!e. In the middle of O"to#er,then, in the year @F, in the e$enin', I wa! wal*in' a"ro!! Ru!!ell S1uare, on my way home

from the (riti!h Mu!eum, where I had #een readin' all day. You !ee I ha$e a full intention of

#ein' %re"i!e, <anet.;;Im !ure I dont *now why you ma*e the remar* to me, un"le,; !aid <anet, with an in$oluntary

to!! of her head. )er un"le only went on with hi! narrati$e.

;I #e'in at the $ery #e'innin' of my !tory,; he !aid ;for I want to #e %arti"ular a! to

e$erythin' that "an a%%ear to ha$e had anythin' to do with what "ame afterward!. I had #een



readin', I !ay, all the mornin' in the (riti!h Mu!eum and, a! I wal*ed, I too* off my !%e"ta"le!

to ea!e my eye!. I need not tell you that I am !hort-!i'hted now, for that you *now well enou'h.

(ut I mu!t tell you that I wa! !hort-!i'hted then, and hel%le!! enou'h without my !%e"ta"le!,althou'h I wa! not 1uite !o mu"h !o a! I am now&for I find it all non!en!e a#out !hort-!i'hted

eye! im%ro$in' with a'e. 7ell, I wa! wal*in' alon' the !outh !ide of Ru!!ell S1uare, with my

!%e"ta"le! in my hand, and feelin' a little #ewildered in "on!e1uen"e&for it wa! 1uite the du!* of the e$enin', and !hort-!i'hted %eo%le re1uire more li'ht than other!. I wa! feelin', in fa"t,

almo!t #lind. I had 'ot more than half-way to the other !ide, when, from the "ro!!in' that "ut! off

the "orner in the dire"tion of Monta'u 3la"e, u!t a! I wa! a#out to turn toward! it, an old lady!te%%ed u%on the *er#!tone of the %a$ement, loo*ed at me for a moment, and %a!!ed&an

o""urren"e not $ery remar*a#le, "ertainly. (ut the lady wa! remar*a#le, and !o wa! her dre!!. I

am not 'ood at o#!er$in', and I am !till wor!e at de!"ri#in' dre!!, therefore I "an only !ay that

her! reminded me of an old %i"ture&that i!, I had ne$er !een anythin' li*e it, e8"e%t in old %i"ture!. She had no #onnet, and loo*ed a! if !he had wal*ed !trai'ht out of an an"ient drawin'-

room in her e$enin' attire. Of her fa"e I !hall !ay nothin' now. The ne8t in!tant I met a man on

the "ro!!in', who !to%%ed and addre!!ed me. So !hort-!i'hted wa! I that, althou'h I re"o'ni!ed

hi! $oi"e a! one I ou'ht to *now, I "ould not identify him until I had %ut on my !%e"ta"le!, whi"hI did in!tin"ti$ely in the a"t of returnin' hi! 'reetin'. At the !ame moment I 'lan"ed o$er my

!houlder after the old lady. She wa! nowhere to #e !een.;7hat are you loo*in' at+ a!*ed <ame! )etherid'e.

;I wa! loo*in' after that old lady, I an!wered, #ut I "ant !ee her.

;7hat old lady+ !aid )etherid'e, with u!t a tou"h of im%atien"e.;You mu!t ha$e !een her, I returned. You were not more than three yard! #ehind her.

;7here i! !he then+

;She mu!t ha$e 'one down one of the area!, I thin*. (ut !he loo*ed a lady, thou'h an old-

fa!hioned one.;)a$e you #een dinin'+ a!*ed <ame!, in a tone of dou#tful in1uiry.

;No, I re%lied, not !u!%e"tin' the in!inuation I ha$e only u!t "ome from the Mu!eum.

;Then I ad$i!e you to "all on your medi"al man #efore you 'o home.;Medi"al man= I returned I ha$e no medi"al man. 7hat do you mean+ I ne$er wa! #etter in

my life.

;I mean that there wa! no old lady. It wa! an illu!ion, and that indi"ate! !omethin' wron'.(e!ide!, you did not *now me when I !%o*e to you.

;That i! nothin',; I returned. I had u!t ta*en off my !%e"ta"le!, and without them I !houldnt

*now my own father.

;)ow wa! it you !aw the old lady, then+;The affair wa! 'rowin' !eriou! under my friend! "ro!!-1ue!tionin'. I did not at all li*e the

idea of hi! !u%%o!in' me !u#e"t to hallu"ination!. So I an!wered, with a lau'h, Ah= to #e !ure,

that e8%lain! it. I am !o #lind without my !%e"ta"le!, that I !houldnt *now an old lady from a #i'do'.

;There wa! no #i' do', !aid )etherid'e, !ha*in' hi! head, a! the fa"t for the fir!t time

dawned u%on me that, althou'h I had !een the old lady "learly enou'h to ma*e a !*et"h of her,e$en to the feature! of her "are-worn, ea'er old fa"e, I had not #een a#le to re"o'ni!e the well-

*nown "ountenan"e of <ame! )etherid'e.



;That! what "ome! of readin' till the o%ti" ner$e i! wea*ened,; he went on. You will "au!e

your!elf !eriou! inury if you do not %ull u% in time. Ill tell you what Im 'oin' home ne8t wee*

&will you 'o with me+;You are $ery *ind, I an!wered, not alto'ether ree"tin' the %ro%o!al, for I felt that a little

"han'e to the "ountry would #e %lea!ant, and I wa! 1uite my own ma!ter. /or I had unfortunately

mean! e1ual to my want!, and had no o""a!ion to follow any %rofe!!ion&not a $ery de!ira#lethin' for a youn' man, I "an tell you, Ma!ter )arry. I need not *ee% you o$er the "ommon%la"e!

of %re!!in' and yieldin'. It i! enou'h to !ay that he %re!!ed and that I yielded. The day wa! fi8ed

for our de%arture to'ether #ut !omethin' or other, I for'et what, o""urred, to ma*e him ad$an"ethe date, and it wa! re!ol$ed that I !hould follow later in the month.

;It wa! a dri99ly afternoon in the #e'innin' of the la!t wee* of O"to#er when I left the town of

(radford in a %o!t-"hai!e to dri$e to 2ewton Gran'e, the %ro%erty of my friend! father. I had

hardly left the town, and the twili'ht had only #e'un to dee%en, when, 'lan"in' from one of thewindow! of the "hai!e, I fan"ied I !aw, #etween me and the hed'e, the dim fi'ure of a hor!e

*ee%in' %a"e with u!. I thou'ht, in the fir!t inter$al of unrea!on, that it wa! a !hadow from my

own hor!e, #ut reminded my!elf the ne8t moment that there "ould #e no !hadow where there wa!

no li'ht. 7hen I loo*ed a'ain, I wa! at the fir!t 'lan"e "on$in"ed that my eye! had de"ei$ed me.At the !e"ond, I #elie$ed on"e more that a !hadowy !omethin', with the mo$ement! of a hor!e in

harne!!, wa! *ee%in' %a"e with u!. I turned away a'ain with !ome di!"omfort, and not till wehad rea"hed an o%en moorland road, when"e a little watery li'ht wa! $i!i#le on the hori9on,

"ould I !ummon u% "oura'e enou'h to loo* out on"e more. 0ertainly then there wa! nothin' to

#e !een, and I %er!uaded my!elf that it had #een all a fan"y, and li'hted a "i'ar. 7ith my feet onthe "u!hion! #efore me, I had !oon lifted my!elf on the "loud! of to#a""o far a#o$e all the terror!

of the ni'ht, and #elie$ed them #ani!hed for e$er. (ut, my "i'ar "omin' to an end u!t a! we

turned into the a$enue that led u% to the Gran'e, I found my!elf on"e more 'lan"in' ner$ou!ly

out of the window. The moment the tree! were a#out me, there wa!, if not a !hadowy hor!e outthere #y the !ide of the "hai!e, yet "ertainly more than half that "on$i"tion in here in my

"on!"iou!ne!!. 7hen I !aw my friend, howe$er, !tandin' on the door!te%, dar* a'ain!t the 'low

of the hall fire, I for'ot all a#out it and I need not add that I did not ma*e it a !u#e"t of "on$er!ation when I entered, for I wa! well aware that it wa! e!!ential to a man! re%utation that

hi! !en!e! !hould #e a""urate, thou'h hi! heart mi'ht without %reudi"e !warm with !hadow!,

and hi! ud'ment #e a $ery !ta#le of ho##ie!.;I wa! *indly re"ei$ed. Mr!. )etherid'e had #een dead for !ome year!, and 2aetitia, the elde!t

of the family, wa! at the head of the hou!ehold. She had two !i!ter!, little more than 'irl!. The

father wa! a #urly, yet 'entlemanli*e Yor*!hire !1uire, who ate well, dran* well, loo*ed radiant,

and hunted twi"e a wee*. In thi! %a!time hi! !on oined him when in the humour, whi"hha%%ened !"ar"ely !o often. I, who had ne$er "ro!!ed a hor!e in my life, too* hi! a%olo'y for not

#ein' a#le to mount me $ery "oolly, a!!urin' him that I would rather loiter a#out with a #oo*

than #e in at the death of the #e!t-hunted fo8 in Yor*!hire.;I $ery !oon found my!elf at home with the )etherid'e! and $ery !oon a'ain I #e'an to find

my!elf not !o mu"h at home for Mi!! )etherid'e&2aetitia a! I !oon $entured to "all her&wa!

fa!"inatin'. I ha$e told you, Katey, that there wa! an em%ty %la"e in my heart. 2oo* to the door then, Katey. That wa! what made me !o ready to fall in lo$e with 2aetitia. )er fi'ure wa!

'ra"eful, and I thin*, e$en now, her fa"e would ha$e #een #eautiful #ut for a "ertain "ontra"tion

of the !*in o$er the no!tril!, !u''e!tin' an in$i!i#le thum# and forefin'er %in"hin' them, whi"h

re%elled me, althou'h I did not then *now what it indi"ated. I had not #een with her one e$enin'



#efore the im%re!!ion it made on me had $ani!hed, and that !o entirely that I "ould hardly re"all

the %er"e%tion of the %e"uliarity whi"h had o""a!ioned it. )er o#!er$ation wa! remar*a#ly *een,

and her ud'ment 'enerally "orre"t. She had 'reat "onfiden"e in it her!elf nor wa! !he de$oid of !ym%athy with !ome of the form! of human ima'ination, only they ne$er !eemed to %o!!e!! for

her any relation to %ra"ti"al life. That wa! to #e ordered #y the ud'ment alone. I do not mean !he

e$er !aid !o. I am only 'i$in' the "on"lu!ion! I "ame to afterward!. It i! not ne"e!!ary that you!hould ha$e any more thorou'h a"1uaintan"e with her mental "hara"ter. One %oint in her moral

nature, of !%e"ial "on!e1uen"e to my narrati$e, will !how it!elf #y and #y.

;I did all I "ould to ma*e my!elf a'reea#le to her, and the more I !u""eeded the moredeli'htful !he #e"ame in my eye!. 7e wal*ed in the 'arden and 'round! to'ether we read, or

rather I read and !he li!tened&read %oetry, Katey&!ometime! till we "ould not read any more

for "ertain ha9ine!! and hu!*ine!! whi"h loo* now, I am afraid, "on!idera#ly more a#!urd than

they really were, or e$en ou'ht to loo*. In !hort, I "on!idered my!elf thorou'hly in lo$e withher.;

;And wa!nt !he in lo$e with you, un"le+;

;Dont interru%t me, "hild. I dont *now. I ho%ed !o then. I ho%e the "ontrary now. She li*ed

me I am !ure. That i! not mu"h to !ay. 2i*in' i! $ery %lea!ant and $ery "hea%. 2o$e i! a! rare a!a !tar.;

;I thou'ht the !tar! were anythin' #ut rare, un"le.;;That! #e"au!e you ne$er went out to find one for your!elf, Katey. They would %ro$e a few

mile! a%art then.;

;(ut it would #e #i' enou'h when I did find it.;;Ri'ht, my dear. That i! the way with lo$e.&2aetitia wa! a 'ood hou!e*ee%er. E$erythin' wa!

%un"tual a! "lo"*wor*. I u!e the word ad$i!edly. If her father, who wa! %un"tual to one date,&

the dinner-hour,&made any remar* to the "ontrary a! he too* u% the "ar$in'-*nife, 2aetitia

would in!tantly !end one of her !i!ter! to 1ue!tion the old "lo"* in the hall, and re%ort the time tohalf a minute. It wa! !ure to #e found that, if there wa! a mi!ta*e, the mi!ta*e wa! in the "lo"*.

(ut althou'h it wa! "ertainly a $irtue to ha$e her hou!ehold in !u"h %erfe"t order, it wa! not a

$irtue to #e im%atient with e$ery infrin'ement of it! rule! on the %art of other!. She wa! $ery!e$ere, for in!tan"e, u%on her two youn'er !i!ter! if, the moment after the !e"ond #ell had run',

they were not !eated at the dinner-ta#le, wa!hed and a%roned. Order wa! a $ery idol with her.

)en"e the hou!e wa! too tidy for any !en!e of "omfort. If you left an o%en #oo* on the ta#le, youwould, on returnin' to the room a moment after, find it %ut a!ide. 7hat the furniture of the

drawin'-room wa! li*e, I ne$er !aw for not e$en on 0hri!tma! Day, whi"h wa! the la!t day I

!%ent there, wa! it un"o$ered. E$erythin' in it wa! *e%t in #i#! and %inafore!. E$en the "ar%et

wa! "o$ered with a "old and !li%%ery !heet of #rown holland. Mr. )etherid'e ne$er entered thatroom, and therein wa! wi!e. <ame! remon!trated on"e. She an!wered him 1uite *indly, e$en

%layfully, #ut no "han'e followed. 7hat wa! wor!e, !he made $ery wret"hed tea. )er father

ne$er too* tea neither did <ame!. I wa! rather fond of it, #ut I !oon 'a$e it u%. E$erythin' her father %artoo* of wa! fir!t-rate. E$erythin' el!e wa! !omewhat %o$erty-!tri"*en. My %lea!ure in

2aetitia! !o"iety %re$ented me from ma*in' %ra"ti"al dedu"tion! from !u"h trifle!.;

;I !houldnt ha$e thou'ht you *new anythin' a#out eatin', un"le,; !aid <anet.;The le!! a man eat!, the more he li*e! to ha$e it 'ood, <anet. In !hort,&there "an #e no harm

in !ayin' it now,&2aetitia wa! !o far from #ein' li*e the name of her #a%ti!m,&and mo!t name!

are !o 'ood that they are worth thin*in' a#out no "hildren are named after #ad idea!,&2aetitia



wa! !o far unli*e her! a! to #e !tin'y&an a#omina#le fault. (ut, I re%eat, the notion of !u"h a

fa"t wa! far from me then. And now for my !tory.

;The fir!t of No$em#er wa! a $ery lo$ely day, 1uite one of the hal"yon day! of St. Martin!!ummer. I wa! !ittin' in a little ar#our I had u!t di!"o$ered, with a #oo* in my hand,&not

readin', howe$er, #ut day-dreamin',&when, liftin' my eye! from the 'round, I wa! !tartled to

!ee, throu'h a thin !hru# in front of the ar#our, what !eemed the form of an old lady !eated,a%%arently readin' from a #oo* on her *nee. The !i'ht in!tantly re"alled the old lady of Ru!!ell

S1uare. I !tarted to my feet, and then, "lear of the inter$enin' #u!h, !aw only a 'reat !tone !u"h

a! a#ounded on the moor! in the nei'h#ourhood, with a lum% of 1uart9 !et on the to% of it. Some"hildi!h ta!te had %ut it there for an ornament. Smilin' at my own folly, I !at down a'ain, and

reo%ened my #oo*. After readin' for a while, I 'lan"ed u% a'ain, and on"e more !tarted to my

feet, o$er"ome #y the fan"y that there $erily !at the old lady readin'. You will !ay it indi"ated an

e8"ited "ondition of the #rain. 3o!!i#ly #ut I wa!, a! far a! I "an re"all, 1uite "olle"ted andrea!ona#le. I wa! almo!t $e8ed thi! !e"ond time, and !at down on"e more to my #oo*. Still,

e$ery time I loo*ed u%, I wa! !tartled afre!h. I dou#t, howe$er, if the trifle i! worth mentionin',

or ha! any !i'nifi"an"e e$en in relation to what followed.

;After dinner I !trolled out #y my!elf, lea$in' father and !on o$er their "laret. I did not drin* wine and from the lawn I "ould !ee the window! of the li#rary, whither 2aetitia "ommonly

retired from the dinner-ta#le. It wa! a $ery lo$ely !oft ni'ht. There wa! no moon, #ut the !tar!loo*ed wider awa*e than u!ual. Dew wa! fallin', #ut the 'ra!! wa! not yet wet, and I wandered

a#out on it for half an hour. The !tillne!! wa! !omehow !tran'e. It had a wonderful feelin' in it

a! if !omethin' were e8%e"ted&a! if the 1uietne!! were the mould in whi"h !ome e$ent or other wa! a#out to #e "a!t.

;E$en then I wa! a reader of "ertain !ort! of re"ondite lore. Suddenly I remem#ered that thi!

wa! the e$e of All Soul!. Thi! wa! the ni'ht on whi"h the dead "ame out of their 'ra$e! to $i!it

their old home!. 3oor dead= I thou'ht with my!elf ha$e you any %la"e to "all a home now+ If you ha$e, !urely you will not wander #a"* here, where all that you "alled home ha! either

$ani!hed or 'i$en it!elf to other!, to #e their home now and your! no more= 7hat an awful doom

the old fan"y ha! allotted you= To dwell in your 'ra$e! all the year, and "ree% out, thi! one ni'ht,to enter at the midni'ht door, left o%en for wel"ome= A %oor wel"ome truly=&u!t an o%en door,

a "lean-!we%t floor, and a fire to warm your rain-!odden lim#!= The hou!ehold a!lee%, and the

hou!e-%la"e !warmin' with the 'ho!t! of an"ient time!,&the mi!er, the !%endthrift, the %rofli'ate, the "o1uette,&for the 'ood 'ho!t! !lee%, and are trou#led with no wa*in' li*e your!=

Not one man, !lee%le!! li*e your!el$e!, to 1ue!tion you, and #e an!wered after the fa!hion of the

old nur!ery rhyme&

2'hat ma(es yo"r eyes so holed2 22ve lain so long among the mo"ld.2

2'hat ma(es yo"r feet so %road2

22ve *al(ed more than ever rode52 ;Yet who "an tell+ I went on to my!elf. It may #e your hell to return thu!. It may #e that only

on thi! one ni'ht of all the year you "an !how your!el$e! to him who "an !ee you, #ut that the

%la"e where you were wi"*ed i! the )ade! to whi"h you are doomed for a'e!. I thou'ht andthou'ht till I #e'an to feel the air ali$e a#out me, and wa! en$elo%ed in the $a%our! that dim the

eye! of tho!e who !train them for one %ee% throu'h the dull mi"a window! that will not o%en on

the world of 'ho!t!. At len'th I "a!t my fan"ie! away, and fled from them to the li#rary, where

the #odily %re!en"e of 2aetitia made the world of 'ho!t! a%%ear !hadowy indeed.



;7hat a reality there i! a#out a #odily %re!en"e= I !aid to my!elf, a! I too* my "ham#er-

"andle in my hand. (ut what i! there more real in a #ody+ I !aid a'ain, a! I "ro!!ed the hall.

Surely nothin', I went on, a! I a!"ended the #road !tair"a!e to my room. The #ody mu!t $ani!h.If there #e a !%irit, that will remain. A #ody "an #ut $ani!h. A 'ho!t "an a%%ear.

;I wo*e in the mornin' with a !en!e of !u"h di!"omfort a! made me !%rin' out of #ed at on"e.

My foot li'hted u%on my !%e"ta"le!. )ow they "ame to #e on the floor I "ould not tell, for Ine$er too* them off when I went to #ed. 7hen I lifted them I found they were in two %ie"e! the

#rid'e wa! #ro*en. Thi! wa! aw*ward. I wa! !o utterly hel%le!! without them= Indeed, #efore I

"ould lay my hand on my hair-#ru!h I had to %eer throu'h one eye of the %arted %air. 7hen Iloo*ed at my wat"h after I wa! dre!!ed, I found I had ri!en an hour earlier than u!ual. I 'ro%ed

my way down!tair! to !%end the hour #efore #rea*fa!t in the li#rary.

;No !ooner wa! I !eated with a #oo* than I heard the $oi"e of 2aetitia !"oldin' the #utler, in

no $ery 'entle tone!, for lea$in' the 'arden door o%en all ni'ht. The moment I heard thi!, the!tran'e o""urren"e! I am a#out to relate #e'an to dawn u%on my memory. The door had #een

o%en the ni'ht lon' #etween All Saint! and All Soul!. In the middle of that ni'ht I awo*e

!uddenly. I *new it wa! not the mornin' #y the !en!ation! I had, for the ni'ht feel! alto'ether

different from the mornin'. It wa! 1uite dar*. My heart wa! #eatin' $iolently, and I either hardly"ould or hardly dared #reathe. A namele!! terror wa! u%on me, and my !en!e of hearin' wa!,

a%%arently #y the for"e of it! e8%e"tation, unnaturally rou!ed and *een. There it wa!&a !li'htnoi!e in the room=&!li'ht, #ut "lear, and with an un*nown !i'nifi"an"e a#out it= It wa! awful to

thin* it would "ome a'ain. I do #elie$e it wa! only one of tho!e "rea*! in the tim#er! whi"h

announ"e the tor%id, a'e-lon', !in*in' flow of e$ery hou!e #a"* to the du!t&a motion to whi"hthe flow of the 'la"ier i! a! a torrent, #ut whi"h i! no le!! ine$ita#le and !ure. Day and ni'ht it

"ea!e! not #ut only in the ni'ht, when hou!e and heart are !till, do we hear it. No wonder it

!hould !ound fearful= for are we not the immortal dweller! in e$er-"rum#lin' "lay+ The "lay i! !o

near u!, and yet not of u!, that it! e$ery mo$ement !tart! a fre!h di!may. /or what will it! finalruin di!"lo!e+ 7hen it fall! from a#out u!, where !hall we find that we ha$e e8i!ted all the time+

;My !*in tin'led with the #ur!tin' of the moi!ture from it! %ore!. Somethin' wa! in the room

#e!ide me. A "onfu!ed, inde!"ri#a#le !en!e of utter loneline!!, and yet awful %re!en"e, wa! u%onme, min'led with a dreary, ho%ele!! de!olation, a! of #urnt-out lo$e and aimle!! life. All at on"e

I found my!elf !ittin' u%. The terror that a "old hand mi'ht #e laid u%on me, or a "old #reath

#low on me, or a "or%!e-li*e fa"e #end down throu'h the dar*ne!! o$er me, had #ro*en my #ond!=&I would meet half-way whate$er mi'ht #e a%%roa"hin'. The moment that my will #ur!t

into a"tion the terror #e'an to e##.

;The room in whi"h I !le%t wa! a lar'e one, %erfe"tly dreary with tidine!!. I did not *now till

afterward! that it wa! 2aetitia! room, whi"h !he had 'i$en u% to me rather than %re%are another.The furniture, all #ut one arti"le, wa! modern and "ommon%la"e. I "ould not hel% remar*in' to

my!elf afterward! how utterly $oid the room wa! of the namele!! "harm of feminine o""u%an"y.

I had !een nothin' to wa*e a !u!%i"ion of it! #ein' a lady! room. The arti"le I ha$e e8"e%ted wa!an an"ient #ureau, ela#orate and ornate, whi"h !tood on one !ide of the lar'e #ow window. The

$ery mornin' #efore, I had !een a #un"h of *ey! han'in' from the u%%er %art of it, and had

%ee%ed in. /indin' howe$er, that the %i'eon-hole! were full of %a%er!, I "lo!ed it at on"e. I!hould ha$e #een 'lad to u!e it, #ut "learly it wa! not for me. At that #ureau the fi'ure of a

woman wa! now !eated in the %o!ture of one writin'. A !tran'e dim li'ht wa! around her, #ut

when"e it %ro"eeded I ne$er thou'ht of in1uirin'. A! if I, too, had !te%%ed o$er the #ourne, and

wa! a 'ho!t my!elf, all fear wa! now 'one. I 'ot out of #ed, and !oftly "ro!!ed the room to where



!he wa! !eated. If !he !hould #e #eautiful= I thou'ht&for I had often dreamed of a #eautiful

'ho!t that made lo$e to me. The fi'ure did not mo$e. She wa! loo*in' at a faded #rown %a%er.

Some old lo$e-letter, I thou'ht, and !te%%ed nearer. So "ool wa! I now, that I a"tually %ee%edo$er her !houlder. 7ith min'led !ur%ri!e and di!may I found that the dim %a'e o$er whi"h !he

#ent wa! that of an old a""ount-#oo*. An"ient hou!ehold re"ord!, in ru!ty in*, held u% to the

'lim%!e! of the wanin' moon, whi"h !hone throu'h the %artin' in the "urtain!, their entrie! of !hillin'! and %en"e=&Of %ound! there wa! not one. No dou#t %ound! and farthin'! are mu"h the

!ame in the world of thou'ht&the true !%irit-world #ut in the 'ho!t-world thi! ea'erne!! o$er

!hillin'! and %en"e mu!t mean !omethin' awful= I To thin* that "oin! whi"h had !in"e #een worn!mooth in other %o"*et! and %ur!e!, whi"h had 'one #a"* to the Mint, and #een melted down, to

"ome out a'ain and yet a'ain with the head! of new *in'! and 1ueen!,&that dinner!, eaten #y

men and women and "hildren who!e #odie! had !in"e #een eaten #y the worm!,&that %oli!h for

the floor!, in"he! of who!e thi"*ne!! had !in"e #een worn away,&that the hundred namele!!trifle! of a life utterly $ani!hed, !hould #e %er%le8in', annoyin', and wor!t of all, intere!tin' the

!oul of a 'ho!t who had #een in )ade! for "enturie!= The writin' wa! $ery old-fa!hioned, and the

word! were "ontra"ted. I "ould read nothin' #ut the money! and one !in'le entry&0orinth!, 4!.

;0urrant! for a 0hri!tma! %uddin', mo!t li*ely=&Ah, %oor lady= the %uddin' and not the0hri!tma! wa! her "are not the deli'ht of the "hildren o$er it, #ut the #e''arly %en"e whi"h it

"o!t. And !he "annot 'et it out of her head, althou'h her #rain wa! %owdered all a! thin a! floura'e! a'o in the mortar of Death. Ala!, %oor 'ho!t= It need! no trea!ured hoard left #ehind, no

floor !tained with the #lood of the murdered "hild, no wi"*edly hidden %ar"hment of landed

ri'ht!= An old a""ount-#oo* i! enou'h for the hell of the hou!e*ee%in' 'entlewoman=;She ne$er lifted her fa"e, or !eemed to *now that I !tood #ehind her. I left her, and went into

the #ow window, where I "ould !ee her fa"e. I wa! ri'ht. It wa! the !ame old lady I had met in

Ru!!ell S1uare, wal*in' in front of <ame! )etherid'e. )er withered li%! went mo$in' a! if they

would ha$e uttered word! had the #reath #een "ommi!!ioned thither her #row wa! "ontra"tedo$er her thin no!e and on"e and a'ain her !hinin' forefin'er went u% to her tem%le a! if !he

were %onderin' !ome dee% %ro#lem of humanity. )ow lon' I !tood 'a9in' at her I do not *now,

#ut at la!t I withdrew to my #ed, and left her !tru''lin' to !ol$e that whi"h !he "ould ne$er !ol$ethu!. It wa! the !ym#oli" %ro#lem of her own life, and !he had failed to read it. I remem#er

nothin' more. She may #e !ittin' there !till, !ol$in' at the in!ol$a#le.

;I !hould ha$e felt no in"lination, with the #road !un of the !1uire! fa"e, the *een eye! of <ame!, and the #eauty of 2aetitia #efore me at the #rea*fa!t ta#le, to !ay a word a#out what I had

!een, e$en if I had not #een afraid of the dou#t "on"ernin' my !anity whi"h the !tory would

"ertainly awa*en. 7hat with the memorie! of the ni'ht and the want of my !%e"ta"le!, I %a!!ed a

$ery dreary day, dreadin' the return of the ni'ht, for, "ool a! I had #een in her %re!en"e, I "ouldnot re'ard the %o!!i#le rea%%earan"e of the 'ho!t with e1uanimity. (ut when the ni'ht did "ome,

I !le%t !oundly till the mornin'.

;The ne8t day, not #ein' a#le to read with "omfort, I went wanderin' a#out the %la"e, and atlen'th #e'an to fit the out!ide and in!ide of the hou!e to'ether. It wa! a lar'e and ram#lin'

edifi"e, %art! of it $ery old, %art! "om%arati$ely modern. I fir!t found my own window, whi"h

loo*ed out of the #a"*. (elow thi! window, on one !ide, there wa! a door. I wondered whither itled, #ut found it lo"*ed. At the moment <ame! a%%roa"hed from the !ta#le!. 7here doe! thi!

door lead+ I a!*ed him. I will 'et the *ey, he an!wered. It i! rather a 1ueer old %la"e. 7e u!ed

to li*e it when we were "hildren. There! a !tair, you !ee, he !aid, a! he threw the door o%en. It

lead! u% o$er the *it"hen. I followed him u% the !tair. There! a door into your room, he !aid,



#ut it! alway! lo"*ed now.&And here! Grannie! room, a! they "all it, thou'h why, I ha$e not

the lea!t idea, he added, a! he %u!hed o%en the door of an old-fa!hioned %arlour, !mellin' $ery

mu!ty. A few old #oo*! lay on a !ide ta#le. A "hina #owl !tood #e!ide them, with !ome!hri$elled, !"entle!! ro!e-lea$e! in the #ottom of it. The "loth that "o$ered the ta#le wa! riddled

#y moth!, and the !%ider-le''ed "hair! were "o$ered with du!t.

;A "on$i"tion !ei9ed me that the old #ureau mu!t ha$e #elon'ed to thi! room, and I !oonfound the %la"e where I ud'ed it mu!t ha$e !tood. (ut the !ame moment I "au'ht !i'ht of a

%ortrait on the wall a#o$e the !%ot I had fi8ed u%on. (y <o$e= I "ried, in$oluntarily, that! the

$ery old lady I met in Ru!!ell S1uare=;Non!en!e= !aid <ame!. Old-fa!hioned ladie! are li*e #a#ie!&they all loo* the !ame. That! a

$ery old %ortrait.

;So I !ee, I an!wered. It i! li*e a Hu""hero.

;I dont *now who!e it i!,; he an!wered hurriedly, and I thou'ht he loo*ed a little 1ueer.;I! !he one of the family+ I a!*ed.

;They !ay !o #ut who or what !he wa!, I dont *now. You mu!t a!* 2etty,; he an!wered.

;The more I loo* at it, I !aid, the more I am "on$in"ed it i! the !ame old lady.

;7ell, he returned with a lau'h, my old nur!e u!ed to !ay !he wa! rather re!tle!!. (ut it! allnon!en!e.

;That #ureau in my room loo*! a#out the !ame date a! thi! furniture, I remar*ed.;It u!ed to !tand u!t there, he an!wered, %ointin' to the !%a"e under the %i"ture. 7ell I

remem#er with what awe we u!ed to re'ard it for they !aid the old lady *e%t her a""ount! at it

!till. 7e ne$er dared tou"h the #undle! of yellow %a%er! in the %i'eon-hole!. I remem#er thin*in' 2etty a $ery heroine on"e when !he tou"hed one of them with the ti% of her forefin'er.

She had 'ot yet more "oura'eou! #y the time !he had it mo$ed into her own room.

;Then that i! your !i!ter! room I am o""u%yin'+ I !aid.

;Ye!.;I am a!hamed of *ee%in' her out of it.

;Oh= !hell do well enou'h.

;If I were !he thou'h, I added, I would !end that #ureau #a"* to it! own %la"e.;7hat do you mean, )eywood+ Do you #elie$e e$ery old wife! tale that e$er wa! told+

;She may 'et a fri'ht !ome day&that! all= I re%lied.

;)e !miled with !u"h an e$ident mi8ture of %ity and "ontem%t that for the moment I almo!tdi!li*ed him and feelin' "ertain that 2aetitia would re"ei$e any !u"h hint in a !omewhat !imilar

manner, I did not feel in"lined to offer her any ad$i"e with re'ard to the #ureau.

;2ittle o""urred durin' the re!t of my $i!it worthy of remar*. Somehow or other I did not

ma*e mu"h %ro're!! with 2aetitia. I #elie$e I had #e'un to !ee into her "hara"ter a little, andtherefore did not 'et dee%er in lo$e a! the day! went on. I *now I #e"ame le!! a#!or#ed in her

!o"iety, althou'h I wa! !till an8iou! to ma*e my!elf a'reea#le to her&or %erha%!, more %ro%erly,

to 'i$e her a fa$oura#le im%re!!ion of me. I do not *now whether !he %er"ei$ed any differen"e inmy #eha$iour, #ut I remem#er that I #e'an a'ain to remar* the %in"hed loo* of her no!e, and to

#e a little annoyed with her for alway! %uttin' a!ide my #oo*. At the !ame time, I dare!ay I wa!

%ro$o*in', for I ne$er wa! 'i$en to tidine!! my!elf.;At len'th 0hri!tma! Day arri$ed. After #rea*fa!t, the !1uire, <ame!, and the two 'irl!

arran'ed to wal* to "hur"h. 2aetitia wa! not in the room at the moment. I e8"u!ed my!elf on the

'round of a heada"he, for I had had a #ad ni'ht. 7hen they left, I went u% to my room, threw

my!elf on the #ed, and wa! !oon fa!t a!lee%.



;)ow lon' I !le%t I do not *now, #ut I wo*e a'ain with that inde!"ri#a#le yet well-*nown

!en!e of not #ein' alone. The feelin' wa! !"ar"ely le!! terri#le in the dayli'ht than it had #een in

the dar*ne!!. 7ith the !ame !udden effort a! #efore, I !at u% in the #ed. There wa! the fi'ure atthe o%en #ureau, in %re"i!ely the !ame %o!ition a! on the former o""a!ion. (ut I "ould not !ee it

!o di!tin"tly. I ro!e a! 'ently a! I "ould, and a%%roa"hed it, after the fir!t %hy!i"al terror. I am not

a "oward. <u!t a! I 'ot near enou'h to !ee the a""ount #oo* o%en on the foldin' "o$er of the #ureau, !he !tarted u%, and, turnin', re$ealed the fa"e of 2aetitia. She #lu!hed "rim!on.

;I #e' your %ardon, Mr. )eywood, !he !aid in 'reat "onfu!ion I thou'ht you had 'one to

"hur"h with the re!t.;I had lain down with a heada"he, and 'one to !lee%, I re%lied. (ut,&for'i$e me, Mi!!

)etherid'e, I added, for my mind wa! full of the dreadful "oin"iden"e,&dont you thin* you

would ha$e #een #etter at "hur"h than #alan"in' your a""ount! on 0hri!tma! Day+

;The #etter day the #etter deed, !he !aid, with a !omewhat offended air, and turned to wal* from the room.

;E8"u!e me, 2aetitia, I re!umed, $ery !eriou!ly, #ut I want to tell you !omethin'.

;She loo*ed "on!"iou!. It ne$er "ro!!ed me, that %erha%! !he fan"ied I wa! 'oin' to ma*e a

"onfe!!ion. /ar other thin'! were then in my mind. /or I thou'ht how awful it wa!, if !he too,li*e the an"e!tral 'ho!t, !hould ha$e to do an a'e-lon' %enan"e of hauntin' that #ureau and tho!e

horrid fi'ure!, and I had !uddenly re!ol$ed to tell her the whole !tory. She li!tened with $aryin'"om%le8ion and fa"e half turned a!ide. 7hen I had ended, whi"h I fear I did with !omethin' of a

%er!onal a%%eal, !he lifted her head and loo*ed me in the fa"e, with u!t a !li'ht "url on her thin

li%, and an!wered me. If I had wanted a !ermon, Mr. )eywood, I !hould ha$e 'one to "hur"h for it. A! for the 'ho!t, I am !orry for you. So !ayin' !he wal*ed out of the room.

;The re!t of the day I did not find $ery merry. I %leaded my heada"he a! an e8"u!e for 'oin' to

#ed early. )ow I hated the room now= Ne8t mornin', immediately after #rea*fa!t, I too* my

lea$e of 2ewton Gran'e.;;And lo!t a 'ood wife, %erha%!, for the !a*e of a 'ho!t, un"le=; !aid <anet.

;If I lo!t a wife at all, it wa! a !tin'y one. I !hould ha$e #een a!hamed of her all my life lon'.;

;(etter than a !%endthrift,; !aid <anet.;)ow do you *now that+; returned her un"le. ;All the differen"e I !ee i!, that the e8tra$a'ant

ruin! the ri"h, and the !tin'y ro#! the %oor.;

;(ut %erha%! !he re%ented, un"le,; !aid Kate.;I dont thin* !he did, Katey. 2oo* here.;

6n"le 0orneliu! drew from the #rea!t %o"*et of hi! "oat a #la"*-ed'ed letter.

;I ha$e *e%t u% my friend!hi% with her #rother,; he !aid. ;All he *now! a#out the matter i!,

that either we had a 1uarrel, or !he refu!ed me&he i! not !ure whi"h. I mu!t !ay for 2aetitia,that !he wa! no tattler. 7ell, here! a letter I had from <ame! thi! $ery mornin'. I will read it to

you.

;MY DEAR MR. )EY7OOD,&7e ha$e had a terri#le !ho"* thi! mornin'. 2etty did not"ome down to #rea*fa!t, and 2i99ie went to !ee if !he wa! ill. 7e heard her !"ream, and, ru!hin'

u%, there wa! %oor 2etty, !ittin' at the old #ureau, 1uite dead. She had fallen forward on the de!*,

and her hou!e*ee%in'-#oo* wa! "rum%led u% under her. She had #een !o all ni'ht lon', we!u%%o!e, for !he wa! not undre!!ed, and wa! 1uite "old. The do"tor! !ay it wa! di!ea!e of the

heart.

;There=; !aid 6n"le 0ornie, foldin' u% the letter.



;Do you thin* the 'ho!t had anythin' to do with it, un"le+; a!*ed Kate, almo!t under her

#reath.

;)ow !hould I *now, my dear+ 3o!!i#ly.;;It! $ery !ad,; !aid <anet ;#ut I dont !ee the 'ood of it all. If the 'ho!t had "ome to tell that

!he had hidden away money in !ome !e"ret %la"e in the old #ureau, one would !ee why !he had

#een %ermitted to "ome #a"*. (ut what wa! the 'ood of tho!e a""ount! after they were o$er anddone with+ I dont #elie$e in the 'ho!t.;

;Ah, <anet, <anet= #ut tho!e wret"hed a""ount! were not o$er and done with, you !ee. That i!

the mi!ery of it.;6n"le 0orneliu! ro!e without another word, #ade them 'ood-ni'ht, and wal*ed out into the

wind.

G. Macdonald - The Portent and Other Stories

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Transcript of G. Macdonald - The Portent and Other Stories