第1章

TheTapestriedChamberbySirWalterScottandDeathoftheLaird’sJockINTRODUCTION。 ThisisanotherlittlestoryfromTheKeepsakeof1828。ItwastoldtomemanyyearsagobythelateMissAnnaSeward，who，amongotheraccomplishmentsthatrenderedheranamusinginmateinacountryhouse，hadthatofrecountingnarrativesofthissortwithveryconsiderableeffect——muchgreater，indeed，thananyonewouldbeapttoguessfromthestyleofherwrittenperformances。Therearehoursandmoodswhenmostpeoplearenotdispleasedtolistentosuchthings；andIhaveheardsomeofthegreatestandwisestofmycontemporariestaketheirshareintellingthem。 AUGUST1831 * THETAPESTRIEDCHAMBER； OR，THELADYINTHESACQUE。 Thefollowingnarrativeisgivenfromthepen，sofarasmemorypermits，inthesamecharacterinwhichitwaspresentedtotheauthor’sear；norhasheclaimtofurtherpraise，ortobemoredeeplycensured，thaninproportiontothegoodorbadjudgmentwhichhehasemployedinselectinghismaterials，ashehasstudiouslyavoidedanyattemptatornamentwhichmightinterferewiththesimplicityofthetale。 Atthesametime，itmustbeadmittedthattheparticularclassofstorieswhichturnsonthemarvellouspossessesastrongerinfluencewhentoldthanwhencommittedtoprint。Thevolumetakenupatnoonday，thoughrehearsingthesameincidents，conveysamuchmorefeebleimpressionthanisachievedbythevoiceofthespeakeronacircleoffiresideauditors，whohanguponthenarrativeasthenarratordetailstheminuteincidentswhichservetogiveitauthenticity，andlowershisvoicewithanaffectationofmysterywhileheapproachesthefearfulandwonderfulpart。Itwaswithsuchadvantagesthatthepresentwriterheardthefollowingeventsrelated，morethantwentyyearssince，bythecelebratedMissSewardofLitchfield，who，tohernumerousaccomplishments，added，inaremarkabledegree，thepowerofnarrativeinprivateconversation。Initspresentformthetalemustnecessarilylosealltheinterestwhichwasattachedtoitbytheflexiblevoiceandintelligentfeaturesofthegiftednarrator。Yetstill，readaloudtoanundoubtingaudiencebythedoubtfullightoftheclosingevening，orinsilencebyadecayingtaper，andamidstthesolitudeofahalf— lightedapartment，itmayredeemitscharacterasagoodghoststory。MissSewardalwaysaffirmedthatshehadderivedherinformationfromanauthenticsource，althoughshesuppressedthenamesofthetwopersonschieflyconcerned。IwillnotavailmyselfofanyparticularsImayhavesincereceivedconcerningthelocalitiesofthedetail，butsufferthemtorestunderthesamegeneraldescriptioninwhichtheywerefirstrelatedtome； andforthesamereasonIwillnotaddtoordiminishthenarrativebyanycircumstance，whethermoreorlessmaterial，butsimplyrehearse，asIheardit，astoryofsupernaturalterror。 AbouttheendoftheAmericanwar，whentheofficersofLordCornwallis’sarmy，whichsurrenderedatYorktown，andothers，whohadbeenmadeprisonersduringtheimpoliticandill—fatedcontroversy，werereturningtotheirowncountry，torelatetheiradventures，andreposethemselvesaftertheirfatigues，therewasamongstthemageneralofficer，towhomMissS。gavethenameofBrowne，butmerely，asIunderstood，tosavetheinconvenienceofintroducinganamelessagentinthenarrative。Hewasanofficerofmerit，aswellasagentlemanofhighconsiderationforfamilyandattainments。 SomebusinesshadcarriedGeneralBrowneuponatourthroughthewesterncounties，when，intheconclusionofamorningstage，hefoundhimselfinthevicinityofasmallcountrytown，whichpresentedasceneofuncommonbeauty，andofacharacterpeculiarlyEnglish。 Thelittletown，withitsstatelyoldchurch，whosetowerboretestimonytothedevotionofageslongpast，layamidstpasturesandcornfieldsofsmallextent，butboundedanddividedwithhedgerowtimberofgreatageandsize。Therewerefewmarksofmodernimprovement。Theenvironsoftheplaceintimatedneitherthesolitudeofdecaynorthebustleofnovelty；thehouseswereold，butingoodrepair；andthebeautifullittlerivermurmuredfreelyonitswaytotheleftofthetown，neitherrestrainedbyadamnorborderedbyatowing—path。 Uponagentleeminence，nearlyamiletothesouthwardofthetown，wereseen，amongstmanyvenerableoaksandtangledthickets，theturretsofacastleasoldasthewallsofYorkandLancaster，butwhichseemedtohavereceivedimportantalterationsduringtheageofElizabethandhersuccessor，Ithadnotbeenaplaceofgreatsize；butwhateveraccommodationitformerlyaffordedwas，itmustbesupposed，stilltobeobtainedwithinitswalls。Atleast，suchwastheinferencewhichGeneralBrownedrewfromobservingthesmokearisemerrilyfromseveraloftheancientwreathedandcarvedchimney—stalks。Thewalloftheparkranalongsideofthehighwayfortwoorthreehundredyards；andthroughthedifferentpointsbywhichtheeyefoundglimpsesintothewoodlandscenery，itseemedtobewellstocked。 Otherpointsofviewopenedinsuccession——nowafulloneofthefrontoftheoldcastle，andnowasideglimpseatitsparticulartowers，theformerrichinallthebizarrerieoftheElizabethanschool，whilethesimpleandsolidstrengthofotherpartsofthebuildingseemedtoshowthattheyhadbeenraisedmorefordefencethanostentation。 Delightedwiththepartialglimpseswhichheobtainedofthecastlethroughthewoodsandgladesbywhichthisancientfeudalfortresswassurrounded，ourmilitarytravellerwasdeterminedtoinquirewhetheritmightnotdeserveanearerview，andwhetheritcontainedfamilypicturesorotherobjectsofcuriosityworthyofastranger’svisit，when，leavingthevicinityofthepark，herolledthroughacleanandwell—pavedstreet，andstoppedatthedoorofawell—frequentedinn。 Beforeorderinghorses，toproceedonhisjourney，GeneralBrownemadeinquiriesconcerningtheproprietorofthechateauwhichhadsoattractedhisadmiration，andwasequallysurprisedandpleasedathearinginreplyanoblemannamed，whomweshallcallLordWoodville。Howfortunate！MuchofBrowne’searlyrecollections，bothatschoolandatcollege，hadbeenconnectedwithyoungWoodville，whom，byafewquestions，henowascertainedtobethesamewiththeownerofthisfairdomain。 Hehadbeenraisedtothepeeragebythedeceaseofhisfatherafewmonthsbefore，and，astheGenerallearnedfromthelandlord，thetermofmourningbeingended，wasnowtakingpossessionofhispaternalestateinthejovialseasonofmerry，autumn，accompaniedbyaselectpartyoffriends，toenjoythesportsofacountryfamousforgame。 Thiswasdelightfulnewstoourtraveller。FrankWoodvillehadbeenRichardBrowne’sfagatEton，andhischosenintimateatChristChurch；theirpleasuresandtheirtaskshadbeenthesame； andthehonestsoldier’sheartwarmedtofindhisearlyfriendinpossessionofsodelightfularesidence，andofanestate，asthelandlordassuredhimwithanodandawink，fullyadequatetomaintainandaddtohisdignity。Nothingwasmorenaturalthanthatthetravellershouldsuspendajourney，whichtherewasnothingtorenderhurried，topayavisittoanoldfriendundersuchagreeablecircumstances。 Thefreshhorses，therefore，hadonlythebrieftaskofconveyingtheGeneral’stravellingcarriagetoWoodvilleCastle。AporteradmittedthematamodernGothiclodge，builtinthatstyletocorrespondwiththecastleitself，andatthesametimerangabelltogivewarningoftheapproachofvisitors。Apparentlythesoundofthebellhadsuspendedtheseparationofthecompany，bentonthevariousamusementsofthemorning；for，onenteringthecourtofthechateau，severalyoungmenwereloungingaboutintheirsportingdresses，lookingatandcriticizingthedogswhichthekeepersheldinreadinesstoattendtheirpastime。AsGeneralBrownealighted，theyounglordcametothegateofthehall，andforaninstantgazed，asatastranger，uponthecountenanceofhisfriend，onwhichwar，withitsfatiguesanditswounds，hadmadeagreatalteration。Buttheuncertaintylastednolongerthantillthevisitorhadspoken，andtheheartygreetingwhichfollowedwassuchascanonlybeexchangedbetwixtthosewhohavepassedtogetherthemerrydaysofcarelessboyhoodorearlyyouth。 \"IfIcouldhaveformedawish，mydearBrowne，\"saidLordWoodville，\"itwouldhavebeentohaveyouhere，ofallmen，uponthisoccasion，whichmyfriendsaregoodenoughtoholdasasortofholiday。Donotthinkyouhavebeenunwatchedduringtheyearsyouhavebeenabsentfromus。Ihavetracedyouthroughyourdangers，yourtriumphs，yourmisfortunes，andwasdelightedtoseethat，whetherinvictoryordefeat，thenameofmyoldfriendwasalwaysdistinguishedwithapplause。\" TheGeneralmadeasuitablereply，andcongratulatedhisfriendonhisnewdignities，andthepossessionofaplaceanddomainsobeautiful。 \"Nay，youhaveseennothingofitasyet，\"saidLordWoodville，\"andItrustyoudonotmeantoleaveustillyouarebetteracquaintedwithit。Itistrue，Iconfess，thatmypresentpartyisprettylarge，andtheoldhouse，likeotherplacesofthekind，doesnotpossesssomuchaccommodationastheextentoftheoutwardwallsappearstopromise。Butwecangiveyouacomfortableold—fashionedroom，andIventuretosupposethatyourcampaignshavetaughtyoutobegladofworsequarters。\" TheGeneralshruggedhisshoulders，andlaughed。\"Ipresume，\"hesaid，\"theworstapartmentinyourchateauisconsiderablysuperiortotheoldtobacco—caskinwhichIwasfaintotakeupmynight’slodgingwhenIwasintheBush，astheVirginianscallit，withthelightcorps。ThereIlay，likeDiogeneshimself，sodelightedwithmycoveringfromtheelements，thatImadeavainattempttohaveitrolledontomynextquarters；butmycommanderforthetimewouldgivewaytonosuchluxuriousprovision，andItookfarewellofmybelovedcaskwithtearsinmyeyes。\" \"Well，then，sinceyoudonotfearyourquarters，\"saidLordWoodville，\"youwillstaywithmeaweekatleast。Ofguns，dogs，fishing—rods，flies，andmeansofsportbyseaandland，wehaveenoughandtospare——youcannotpitchonanamusementbutwewillfindthemeansofpursuingit。Butifyoupreferthegunandpointers，Iwillgowithyoumyself，andseewhetheryouhavemendedyourshootingsinceyouhavebeenamongsttheIndiansofthebacksettlements。\" TheGeneralgladlyacceptedhisfriendlyhost’sproposalinallitspoints。Afteramorningofmanlyexercise，thecompanymetatdinner，whereitwasthedelightofLordWoodvilletoconducetothedisplayofthehighpropertiesofhisrecoveredfriend，soastorecommendhimtohisguests，mostofwhomwerepersonsofdistinction。HeledGeneralBrownetospeakofthesceneshehadwitnessed；andaseverywordmarkedalikethebraveofficerandthesensibleman，whoretainedpossessionofhiscooljudgmentunderthemostimminentdangers，thecompanylookeduponthesoldierwithgeneralrespect，asononewhohadprovedhimselfpossessedofanuncommonportionofpersonalcourage——thatattributeofallothersofwhicheverybodydesirestobethoughtpossessed。 ThedayatWoodvilleCastleendedasusualinsuchmansions。Thehospitalitystoppedwithinthelimitsofgoodorder。Music，inwhichtheyounglordwasaproficient，succeededtothecirculationofthebottle；cardsandbilliards，forthosewhopreferredsuchamusements，wereinreadiness；buttheexerciseofthemorningrequiredearlyhours，andnotlongaftereleveno’clocktheguestsbegantoretiretotheirseveralapartments。 Theyounglordhimselfconductedhisfriend，GeneralBrowne，tothechamberdestinedforhim，whichansweredthedescriptionhehadgivenofit，beingcomfortable，butold—fashioned，Thebedwasofthemassiveformusedintheendoftheseventeenthcentury，andthecurtainsoffadedsilk，heavilytrimmedwithtarnishedgold。Butthenthesheets，pillows，andblanketslookeddelightfultothecampaigner，whenhethoughtofhis\"mansion，thecask。\"Therewasanairofgloominthetapestryhangings，which，withtheirworn—outgraces，curtainedthewallsofthelittlechamber，andgentlyundulatedastheautumnalbreezefounditswaythroughtheancientlatticewindow，whichpatteredandwhistledastheairgainedentrance。Thetoilet，too，withitsmirror，turbanedafterthemannerofthebeginningofthecentury，withacoiffureofmurrey—colouredsilk，anditshundredstrange—shapedboxes，providingforarrangementswhichhadbeenobsoleteformorethanfiftyyears，hadanantique，andinsofaramelancholy，aspect。Butnothingcouldblazemorebrightlyandcheerfullythanthetwolargewaxcandles；orifaughtcouldrivalthem，itwastheflaming，bickeringfagotsinthechimney，thatsentatoncetheirgleamandtheirwarmththroughthesnugapartment，which，notwithstandingthegeneralantiquityofitsappearance，wasnotwantingintheleastconveniencethatmodernhabitsrenderedeithernecessaryordesirable。 \"Thisisanold—fashionedsleepingapartment，General，\"saidtheyounglord；\"butIhopeyoufindnothingthatmakesyouenvyyouroldtobacco—cask。\" \"Iamnotparticularrespectingmylodgings，\"repliedtheGeneral；\"yetwereItomakeanychoice，Iwouldpreferthischamberbymanydegreestothegayerandmoremodernroomsofyourfamilymansion。Believemethat，whenIuniteitsmodernairofcomfortwithitsvenerableantiquity，andrecollectthatitisyourlordship’sproperty，IshallfeelinbetterquartersherethanifIwereinthebesthotelLondoncouldafford。\" \"Itrust——Ihavenodoubt——thatyouwillfindyourselfascomfortableasIwishyou，mydearGeneral，\"saidtheyoungnobleman；andoncemorebiddinghisguestgood—night，heshookhimbythehand，andwithdrew。 TheGeneraloncemorelookedroundhim，andinternallycongratulatinghimselfonhisreturntopeacefullife，thecomfortsofwhichwereendearedbytherecollectionofthehardshipsanddangershehadlatelysustained，undressedhimself，andpreparedforaluxuriousnight’srest。 Here，contrarytothecustomofthisspeciesoftale，weleavetheGeneralinpossessionofhisapartmentuntilthenextmorning。 Thecompanyassembledforbreakfastatanearlyhour，butwithouttheappearanceofGeneralBrowne，whoseemedtheguestthatLordWoodvillewasdesirousofhonouringaboveallwhomhishospitalityhadassembledaroundhim。HemorethanonceexpressedsurpriseattheGeneral’sabsence，andatlengthsentaservanttomakeinquiryafterhim。ThemanbroughtbackinformationthatGeneralBrownehadbeenwalkingabroadsinceanearlyhourofthemorning，indefianceoftheweather，whichwasmistyandungenial。 \"Thecustomofasoldier，\"saidtheyoungnoblemantohisfriends。\"Manyofthemacquirehabitualvigilance，andcannotsleepaftertheearlyhouratwhichtheirdutyusuallycommandsthemtobealert。\" YettheexplanationwhichLordWoodvillethusofferedtothecompanyseemedhardlysatisfactorytohisownmind，anditwasinafitofsilenceandabstractionthathewaitedthereturnoftheGeneral。Ittookplacenearanhourafterthebreakfastbellhadrung。Helookedfatiguedandfeverish。Hishair，thepowderingandarrangementofwhichwasatthistimeoneofthemostimportantoccupationsofaman’swholeday，andmarkedhisfashionasmuchasinthepresenttimethetyingofacravat，orthewantofone，wasdishevelled，uncurled，voidofpowder，anddankwithdew。Hisclotheswerehuddledonwithacarelessnegligence，remarkableinamilitaryman，whoserealorsupposeddutiesareusuallyheldtoincludesomeattentiontothetoilet； andhislookswerehaggardandghastlyinapeculiardegree。 \"Soyouhavestolenamarchuponusthismorning，mydearGeneral，\"saidLordWoodville；\"oryouhavenotfoundyourbedsomuchtoyourmindasIhadhopedandyouseemedtoexpect。Howdidyourestlastnight？\" \"Oh，excellentlywell！remarkablywell！neverbetterinmylife，\"saidGeneralBrownerapidly，andyetwithanairofembarrassmentwhichwasobvioustohisfriend。Hethenhastilyswallowedacupoftea，andneglectingorrefusingwhateverelsewasoffered，seemedtofallintoafitofabstraction。 \"Youwilltakethegunto—day，General？\"saidhisfriendandhost，buthadtorepeatthequestiontwiceerehereceivedtheabruptanswer，\"No，mylord；IamsorryIcannothavetheopportunityofspendinganotherdaywithyourlordship；myposthorsesareordered，andwillbeheredirectly。\" Allwhowerepresentshowedsurprise，andLordWoodvilleimmediatelyreplied\"Posthorses，mygoodfriend！Whatcanyoupossiblywantwiththemwhenyoupromisedtostaywithmequietlyforatleastaweek？\" \"Ibelieve，\"saidtheGeneral，obviouslymuchembarrassed，\"thatImight，inthepleasureofmyfirstmeetingwithyourlordship，havesaidsomethingaboutstoppinghereafewdays；butIhavesincefounditaltogetherimpossible。\" \"Thatisveryextraordinary，\"answeredtheyoungnobleman。\"Youseemedquitedisengagedyesterday，andyoucannothavehadasummonsto—day，forourposthasnotcomeupfromthetown，andthereforeyoucannothavereceivedanyletters。\" GeneralBrowne，withoutgivinganyfurtherexplanation，mutteredsomethingaboutindispensablebusiness，andinsistedontheabsolutenecessityofhisdepartureinamannerwhichsilencedalloppositiononthepartofhishost，whosawthathisresolutionwastaken，andforboreallfurtherimportunity。 \"Atleast，however，\"hesaid，\"permitme，mydearBrowne，sincegoyouwillormust，toshowyoutheviewfromtheterrace，whichthemist，thatisnowrising，willsoondisplay。\" Hethrewopenasash—window，andsteppeddownupontheterraceashespoke。TheGeneralfollowedhimmechanically，butseemedlittletoattendtowhathishostwassaying，as，lookingacrossanextendedandrichprospect，hepointedoutthedifferentobjectsworthyofobservation。ThustheymovedontillLordWoodvillehadattainedhispurposeofdrawinghisguestentirelyapartfromtherestofthecompany，when，turningrounduponhimwithanairofgreatsolemnity，headdressedhimthus：—— \"RichardBrowne，myoldandverydearfriend，wearenowalone。 Letmeconjureyoutoanswermeuponthewordofafriend，andthehonourofasoldier。Howdidyouinrealityrestduringlastnight？\" \"Mostwretchedlyindeed，mylord，\"answeredtheGeneral，inthesametoneofsolemnity——\"somiserably，thatIwouldnotruntheriskofsuchasecondnight，notonlyforallthelandsbelongingtothiscastle，butforallthecountrywhichIseefromthiselevatedpointofview。\" \"Thisismostextraordinary，\"saidtheyounglord，asifspeakingtohimself；\"thentheremustbesomethinginthereportsconcerningthatapartment。\"AgainturningtotheGeneral，hesaid，\"ForGod’ssake，mydearfriend，becandidwithme，andletmeknowthedisagreeableparticularswhichhavebefallenyouunderaroof，where，withconsentoftheowner，youshouldhavemetnothingsavecomfort。\" TheGeneralseemeddistressedbythisappeal，andpausedamomentbeforehereplied。\"Mydearlord，\"heatlengthsaid，\"whathappenedtomelastnightisofanaturesopeculiarandsounpleasant，thatIcouldhardlybringmyselftodetailiteventoyourlordship，wereitnotthat，independentofmywishtogratifyanyrequestofyours，Ithinkthatsincerityonmypartmayleadtosomeexplanationaboutacircumstanceequallypainfulandmysterious。Toothers，thecommunicationIamabouttomake，mightplacemeinthelightofaweak—minded，superstitiousfool，whosufferedhisownimaginationtodeludeandbewilderhim；butyouhaveknownmeinchildhoodandyouth，andwillnotsuspectmeofhavingadoptedinmanhoodthefeelingsandfrailtiesfromwhichmyearlyyearswerefree。\"Herehepaused，andhisfriendreplied，—— \"Donotdoubtmyperfectconfidenceinthetruthofyourcommunication，howeverstrangeitmaybe，\"repliedLordWoodville。\"Iknowyourfirmnessofdispositiontoowell，tosuspectyoucouldbemadetheobjectofimposition，andamawarethatyourhonourandyourfriendshipwillequallydeteryoufromexaggeratingwhateveryoumayhavewitnessed。\" \"Well，then，\"saidtheGeneral，\"IwillproceedwithmystoryaswellasIcan，relyinguponyourcandour，andyetdistinctlyfeelingthatIwouldratherfaceabatterythanrecalltomymindtheodiousrecollectionsoflastnight。\" Hepausedasecondtime，andthenperceivingthatLordWoodvilleremainedsilentandinanattitudeofattention，hecommenced，thoughnotwithoutobviousreluctance，thehistoryofhisnight’sadventuresintheTapestriedChamber。 \"Iundressedandwenttobedsosoonasyourlordshipleftmeyesterdayevening；butthewoodinthechimney，whichnearlyfrontedmybed，blazedbrightlyandcheerfully，and，aidedbyahundredexcitingrecollectionsofmychildhoodandyouth，whichhadbeenrecalledbytheunexpectedpleasureofmeetingyourlordship，preventedmefromfallingimmediatelyasleep。Iought，however，tosaythatthesereflectionswereallofapleasantandagreeablekind，groundedonasenseofhavingforatimeexchangedthelabour，fatigues，anddangersofmyprofessionfortheenjoymentsofapeacefullife，andthereunionofthosefriendlyandaffectionatetieswhichIhadtornasunderattherudesummonsofwar。 \"Whilesuchpleasingreflectionswerestealingovermymind，andgraduallylullingmetoslumber，Iwassuddenlyarousedbyasoundlikethatoftherustlingofasilkengown，andthetappingofapairofhigh—heeledshoes，asifawomanwerewalkingintheapartment。EreIcoulddrawthecurtaintoseewhatthematterwas，thefigureofalittlewomanpassedbetweenthebedandthefire。Thebackofthisformwasturnedtome，andIcouldobserve，fromtheshouldersandneck，itwasthatofanoldwoman，whosedresswasanold—fashionedgown，whichIthinkladiescallasacque——thatis，asortofrobecompletelylooseinthebody，butgatheredintobroadplaitsupontheneckandshoulders，whichfalldowntotheground，andterminateinaspeciesoftrain。 \"Ithoughttheintrusionsingularenough，butneverharbouredforamomenttheideathatwhatIsawwasanythingmorethanthemortalformofsomeoldwomanabouttheestablishment，whohadafancytodresslikehergrandmother，andwho，havingperhaps（asyourlordshipmentionedthatyouwereratherstraitenedforroom） beendislodgedfromherchamberformyaccommodation，hadforgottenthecircumstance，andreturnedbytwelvetoheroldhaunt。UnderthispersuasionImovedmyselfinbedandcoughedalittle，tomaketheintrudersensibleofmybeinginpossessionofthepremises。Sheturnedslowlyround，but，graciousHeaven！ mylord，whatacountenancedidshedisplaytome！Therewasnolongeranyquestionwhatshewas，oranythoughtofherbeingalivingbeing。Uponafacewhichworethefixedfeaturesofacorpsewereimprintedthetracesofthevilestandmosthideouspassionswhichhadanimatedherwhileshelived。Thebodyofsomeatrociouscriminalseemedtohavebeengivenupfromthegrave，andthesoulrestoredfromthepenalfire，inordertoformforaspaceaunionwiththeancientaccompliceofitsguilt。Istartedupinbed，andsatupright，supportingmyselfonmypalms，asIgazedonthishorriblespectre。Thehagmade，asitseemed，asingleandswiftstridetothebedwhereIlay，andsquattedherselfdownuponit，inpreciselythesameattitudewhichIhadassumedintheextremityofhorror，advancingherdiabolicalcountenancewithinhalfayardofmine，withagrinwhichseemedtointimatethemaliceandthederisionofanincarnatefiend。\" HereGeneralBrownestopped，andwipedfromhisbrowthecoldperspirationwithwhichtherecollectionofhishorriblevisionhadcoveredit。 \"Mylord，\"hesaid，\"Iamnocoward，Ihavebeeninallthemortaldangersincidentaltomyprofession，andImaytrulyboastthatnomaneverknewRichardBrownedishonourtheswordhewears；butinthesehorriblecircumstances，undertheeyes，and，asitseemed，almostinthegraspofanincarnationofanevilspirit，allfirmnessforsookme，allmanhoodmeltedfrommelikewaxinthefurnace，andIfeltmyhairindividuallybristle。Thecurrentofmylife—bloodceasedtoflow，andIsankbackinaswoon，asveryavictimtopanicterroraseverwasavillagegirl，orachildoftenyearsold。HowlongIlayinthisconditionIcannotpretendtoguess。