ScarcelyhadIutteredthesewords，whenmyattentionwasstartledbythesoundoffootsteps。Theydenotedsomeonesteppingintothepiazzainfrontofmyhouse。Mynew-bornconfidencewasextinguishedinamoment。Carwin，Ithought，hadrepentedhisdeparture，andwashastilyreturning。Thepossibilitythathisreturnwaspromptedbyintentionsconsistentwithmysafety，foundnoplaceinmymind。Imagesofviolationandmurderassailedmeanew，andtheterrorswhichsucceededalmostincapacitatedmefromtakinganymeasuresformydefence。ItwasanimpulseofwhichIwasscarcelyconscious，thatmademefastenthelockanddrawtheboltsofmychamberdoor。Havingdonethis，Ithrewmyselfonaseat；forItrembledtoadegreewhichdisabledmefromstanding，andmysoulwassoperfectlyabsorbedintheactoflistening，thatalmostthevitalmotionswerestopped。
Thedoorbelowcreakedonitshinges。Itwasnotagainthrustto，butappearedtoremainopen。Footstepsentered，traversedtheentry，andbegantomountthestairs。HowI
detestedthefollyofnotpursuingthemanwhenhewithdrew，andboltingafterhimtheouterdoor!Mighthenotconceivethisomissiontobeaproofthatmyangelhaddesertedme，andbetherebyfortifiedinguilt？
Everysteponthestairs，whichbroughthimnearertomychamber，addedvigortomydesperation。TheevilwithwhichI
wasmenacedwastobeatanyrateeluded。HowlittledidI