neverdoubted—thatifMr.Reedhadbeenalivehewouldhavetreatedmekindly;andnow,asIsatlookingatthewhitebedandovershadowedwalls—occasionallyalsafasatedeyetowardsthedimlygleaningmirror—IbegantorecallwhatIhadheardofdeadmen,troubledintheirgravesbytheviolationoftheirlastwishes,revisitihtopunishtheperjuredaheoppressed;andIthoughtMr.Reed’sspirit,harassedbythewrongsofhissister’schild,mightquititsabode—whetherinthechurchvaultorintheunknownworldofthedeparted—andrisebeforemeinthischamber.Iwipedmytearsandhushedmysobs,fearfullestanysignofviolentgriefmightwakeernaturalvoifortme,orelicitfromthegloomsomehaloedface,bendingovermewithstray.Thisidea,solatoryintheory,Ifeltwouldbeterribleifrealised:withallmymightIendeavouredtostifleit—Iendeavouredtobefirm.Shakingmyhairfrommyeyes,Iliftedmyheadandtriedtolookboldlyroundthedarkroom;atthismomentalightgleamedonthewall.Wasit,Iaskedmyself,arayfromthemooingsomeapertureintheblind?No;moonlightwasstill,andthisstirred;whileIgazed,itglideduptotheceilingandquiveredovermyhead.Iowjecturereadilythatthisstreakoflightwas,inalllikelihood,agleamfromalanterncarriedbysomeoneacrossthelawn:butthen,preparedasmymindwasforhorror,shakenasmynerveswerebyagitation,Ithoughttheswiftdartingbeamwasaheraldofsomeingvisionfromanotherworld.Myheartbeatthick,myheadgrewhot;asoundfilledmyears,whichIdeemedtherushingofwings;somethingseemednearme;Iressed,suffocated:endurancebrokedown;Irushedtothedoorandshookthelodesperateeffort.Stepscamerunningaloerpassage;thekeyturned,BessieandAbbotentered.

    “Mi