nedandmyheartagainsank:inexpressiblesadnessweigheditdown.

    “Doyoufeelasifyoushouldsleep,Miss?”askedBessie,rathersoftly.

    ScarcelydaredIanswerher;forIfearedthesentencemightberough.“Iwilltry.”

    “Wouldyouliketodrink,orcouldyoueatanything?”

    “No,thankyou,Bessie.”

    “ThenIthinkIshallgotobed,foritispasttwelveo’clock;butyoumaycallmeifyouwantanythinginthenight.”

    Wonderfulcivilitythis!Itemboldeoaskaquestion.

    “Bessie,whatisthematterwithme?AmIill?”

    “Youfellsick,Isuppose,inthered-roomwithg;you’llbebettersoon,nodoubt.”

    Bessiewentintothehousemaid’sapartment,whichwasnear.Iheardhersay—

    “Sarah,eandsleepwithmeinthenursery;Idaren’tformylifebealohthatpoorchildto-night:shemightdie;it’ssuchastrahingsheshouldhavethatfit:Iwonderifshesawanything.Missiswasrathertoohard.”

    Sarahcamebackwithher;theybothwenttobed;theywerewhisperingtogetherforhalf-an-hourbeforetheyfellasleep.Icaughtscrapsoftheirversation,fromwhichIwasableonlytoodistinctlytoihemainsubjectdiscussed.

    “Somethingpassedher,alldressedinwhite,andvanished”—“Agreatblackdogbehindhim”—“Threeloudrapsonthechamberdoor”—“Alightinthechurchyardjustrave,”&c.&c.

    Atlastbothslept:thefireandthedlewentout.Forme,thewatchesofthatlongnightpassedinghastlywakefulness;strainedbydread:suchdreadaschildrenonlyfeel.

    Nosevereorprolongedbodilyillnessfollowedthisiofthered-room;itonlygavemynervesashockofwhichIfeelthereverberationtothisday.Yes,Mrs.Reed,toyouIowesomefearfulpangsof