第11章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"WIELAND,OR THE TRANSFORMATION",免费读到尾

  Whenmydiseaseabated,Pleyelhadforbornehisvisits,andhadlatelysetoutuponthisjourney。Thisamountedtoaproofthatmyguiltwasstillbelievedbyhim。Iwasgrievedforhiserrors,buttrustedthatmyvindicationwould,soonerorlater,bemade。

  Meanwhile,tumultuousthoughtswereagainsetafloatbyaproposalmadetomebymyuncle。Heimaginedthatnewairswouldrestoremylanguishingconstitution,andavariedsuccessionofobjectstendtorepairtheshockwhichmymindhadreceived。Forthisend,heproposedtometotakeupmyabodewithhiminFranceorItaly。

  Atamoreprosperousperiod,thisschemewouldhavepleasedforitsownsake。Nowmyheartsickenedattheprospectofnature。Theworldofmanwasshrowdedinmiseryandblood,andconstitutedaloathsomespectacle。Iwillinglyclosedmyeyesinsleep,andregrettedthattherespiteitaffordedmewassoshort。Imarkedwithsatisfactiontheprogressofdecayinmyframe,andconsentedtolive,merelyinthehopethatthecourseofnaturewouldspeedilyrelievemefromtheburthen。

  Nevertheless,ashepersistedinhisscheme,Iconcurredinitmerelybecausehewasentitledtomygratitude,andbecausemyrefusalgavehimpain。

  Nosoonerwasheinformedofmyconsent,thanhetoldmeI

  mustmakeimmediatepreparationtoembark,astheshipinwhichhehadengagedapassagewouldbereadytodepartinthreedays。

  Thisexpeditionwasunexpected。Therewasanimpatienceinhismannerwhenheurgedthenecessityofdispatchthatexcitedmysurprize。WhenIquestionedhimastothecauseofthishaste,hegenerallystatedreasonswhich,atthattime,Icouldnotdenytobeplausible;butwhich,onthereview,appearedinsufficient。Isuspectedthatthetruemotiveswereconcealed,andbelievedthatthesemotiveshadsomeconnectionwithmybrother\'sdestiny。

  InowrecollectedthattheinformationrespectingWielandwhichhad,fromtimetotime,beenimpartedtome,wasalwaysaccompaniedwithairsofreserveandmysteriousness。Whathadappearedsufficientlyexplicitatthetimeitwasuttered,Inowrememberedtohavebeenfalteringandambiguous。Iwasresolvedtoremovemydoubts,byvisitingtheunfortunatemaninhisdungeon。

  Heretoforetheideaofthisvisithadoccurredtome;butthehorrorsofhisdwelling-place,hiswildyetplacidphysiognomy,hisneglectedlocks,thefetterswhichconstrainedhislimbs,terribleastheywereindescription,howcouldIenduretobehold!

  Now,however,thatIwaspreparingtotakeaneverlastingfarewellofmycountry,nowthatanoceanwashenceforthtoseparatemefromhim,howcouldIpartwithoutaninterview?I

  wouldexaminehissituationwithmyowneyes。Iwouldknowwhethertherepresentationswhichhadbeenmadetomeweretrue。

  Perhapsthesightofthesisterwhomhewaswonttolovewithapassionmorethanfraternal,mighthaveanauspiciousinfluenceonhismalady。

  Havingformedthisresolution,IwaitedtocommunicateittoMr。Cambridge。Iwasawarethat,withouthisconcurrence,I

  couldnothopetocarryitintoexecution,andcoulddiscovernoobjectiontowhichitwasliable。IfIhadnotbeendeceivedastohiscondition,noinconveniencecouldarisefromthisproceeding。Hisconsent,therefore,wouldbethetestofhissincerity。

  Iseizedthisopportunitytostatemywishesonthishead。

  Mysuspicionswereconfirmedbythemannerinwhichmyrequestaffectedhim。Aftersomepause,inwhichhiscountenancebetrayedeverymarkofperplexity,hesaidtome,\"Whywouldyoupaythisvisit?Whatusefulpurposecanitserve?\"

  \"Wearepreparing,\"saidI,\"toleavethecountryforever:

  WhatkindofbeingshouldIbetoleavebehindmeabrotherincalamitywithoutevenapartinginterview?Indulgemeforthreeminutesinthesightofhim。MyheartwillbemucheasierafterIhavelookedathim,andshedafewtearsinhispresence。\"

  \"Ibelieveotherwise。Thesightofhimwouldonlyaugmentyourdistress,withoutcontributing,inanydegree,tohisbenefit。\"

  \"Iknownotthat,\"returnedI。\"Surelythesympathyofhissister,proofsthathertendernessisaslivelyasever,mustbeasourceofsatisfactiontohim。Atpresenthemustregardallmankindashisenemiesandcalumniators。Hissisterhe,probably,conceivestopartakeinthegeneralinfatuation,andtojoininthecryofabhorrencethatisraisedagainsthim。Tobeundeceivedinthisrespect,tobeassuredthat,howeverImayimputehisconducttodelusion,Istillretainallmyformeraffectionforhisperson,andvenerationforthepurityofhismotives,cannotbutaffordhimpleasure。WhenhehearsthatI

  haveleftthecountry,withouteventheceremoniousattentionofavisit,whatwillhethinkofme?Hismagnanimitymayhinderhimfromrepining,buthewillsurelyconsidermybehaviourassavageandunfeeling。Indeed,dearSir,Imustpaythisvisit。

  Toembarkwithyouwithoutpayingit,willbeimpossible。Itmaybeofnoservicetohim,butwillenablemetoacquitmyselfofwhatIcannotbutesteemaduty。Besides,\"continuedI,\"ifitbeamerefitofinsanitythathasseizedhim,maynotmypresencechancetohaveasalutaryinfluence?Themeresightofme,itisnotimpossible,mayrectifyhisperceptions。\"

  \"Ay,\"saidmyuncle,withsomeeagerness;\"itisbynomeansimpossiblethatyourinterviewmayhavethateffect;andforthatreason,beyondallothers,wouldIdissuadeyoufromit。\"

  Iexpressedmysurprizeatthisdeclaration。\"Isitnottobedesiredthatanerrorsofatalasthisshouldberectified?\"

  \"Iwonderatyourquestion。Reflectontheconsequencesofthiserror。Hashenotdestroyedthewifewhomheloved,thechildrenwhomheidolized?Whatisitthatenableshimtobeartheremembrance,butthebeliefthatheactedashisdutyenjoined?Wouldyourashlybereavehimofthisbelief?Wouldyourestorehimtohimself,andconvincehimthathewasinstigatedtothisdreadfuloutragebyaperversionofhisorgans,oradelusionfromhell?

  \"Nowhisvisionsarejoyousandelate。Heconceiveshimselftohavereachedaloftierdegreeofvirtue,thananyotherhumanbeing。Themeritofhissacrificeisonlyenhancedintheeyesofsuperiorbeings,bythedetestationthatpursueshimhere,andthesufferingstowhichheiscondemned。Thebeliefthatevenhissisterhasdesertedhim,andgoneovertohisenemies,addstohissublimityoffeelings,andhisconfidenceindivineapprobationandfuturerecompense。

  \"Lethimbeundeceivedinthisrespect,andwhatfloodsofdespairandofhorrorwilloverwhelmhim!Insteadofglowingapprobationandserenehope,willhenothateandtorturehimself?Self-violence,oraphrenzyfarmoresavageanddestructivethanthis,maybeexpectedtosucceed。Ibeseechyou,therefore,torelinquishthisscheme。Ifyoucalmlyreflectuponit,youwilldiscoverthatyourdutyliesincarefullyshunninghim。\"

  Mr。Cambridge\'sreasoningssuggestedviewstomyunderstanding,thathadnothithertooccurred。Icouldnotbutadmittheirvalidity,buttheyshewed,inanewlight,thedepthofthatmisfortuneinwhichmybrotherwasplunged。Iwassilentandirresolute。

  Presently,Iconsidered,thatwhetherWielandwasamaniac,afaithfulservantofhisGod,thevictimofhellishillusions,orthedupeofhumanimposture,wasbynomeanscertain。InthisstateofmyminditbecamemetobesilentduringthevisitthatIprojected。Thisvisitshouldbebrief:Ishouldbesatisfiedmerelytosnatchalookathim。Admittingthatachangeinhisopinionswerenottobedesired,therewasnodangerfromtheconductwhichIshouldpursue,thatthischangeshouldbewrought。

  ButIcouldnotconquermyuncle\'saversiontothisscheme。

  YetIpersisted,andhefoundthattomakemevoluntarilyrelinquishit,itwasnecessarytobemoreexplicitthanhehadhithertobeen。Hetookbothmyhands,andanxiouslyexaminingmycountenanceashespoke,\"Clara,\"saidhe,\"thisvisitmustnotbepaid。Wemusthastenwiththeutmostexpeditionfromthisshore。Itisfollytoconcealthetruthfromyou,and,sinceitisonlybydisclosingthetruththatyoucanbeprevailedupontolayasidethisproject,thetruthshallbetold。

  \"Omydeargirl!\"continuedhewithincreasingenergyinhisaccent,\"yourbrother\'sphrenzyis,indeed,stupendousandfrightful。Thesoulthatformerlyactuatedhisframehasdisappeared。Thesameformremains;butthewiseandbenevolentWielandisnomore。Afurythatisrapaciousofblood,thatliftshisstrengthalmostabovethatofmortals,thatbendsallhisenergiestothedestructionofwhateverwasoncedeartohim,possesseshimwholly。

  \"Youmustnotenterhisdungeon;hiseyeswillnosoonerbefixeduponyou,thananexertionofhisforcewillbemade。Hewillshakeoffhisfettersinamoment,andrushuponyou。Nointerpositionwillthenbestrongorquickenoughtosaveyou。

  \"ThephantomthathasurgedhimtothemurderofCatharineandherchildrenisnotyetappeased。Yourlife,andthatofPleyel,areexactedfromhimbythisimaginarybeing。Heiseagertocomplywiththisdemand。Twicehehasescapedfromhisprison。Thefirsttime,henosoonerfoundhimselfatliberty,thanhehastedtoPleyel\'shouse。Itbeingmidnight,thelatterwasinbed。Wielandpenetratedunobservedtohischamber,andopenedhiscurtain。Happily,Pleyelawokeatthecriticalmoment,andescapedthefuryofhiskinsman,byleapingfromhischamber-windowintothecourt。Happily,hereachedthegroundwithoutinjury。Alarmsweregiven,andafterdiligentsearch,yourbrotherwasfoundinachamberofyourhouse,whither,nodoubt,hehadsoughtyou。

  \"Hischains,andthewatchfulnessofhisguards,wereredoubled;butagain,bysomemiracle,herestoredhimselftoliberty。Hewasnowincautiouslyapprizedoftheplaceofyourabode:andhadnotinformationofhisescapebeeninstantlygiven,yourdeathwouldhavebeenaddedtothenumberofhisatrociousacts。

  \"Younowseethedangerofyourproject。Youmustnotonlyforbeartovisithim,butifyouwouldsavehimfromthecrimeofembruinghishandsinyourblood,youmustleavethecountry。

  Thereisnohopethathismaladywillendbutwithhislife,andnoprecautionwillensureyoursafety,butthatofplacingtheoceanbetweenyou。

  \"IconfessIcameoverwithanintentiontoresideamongyou,butthesedisastershavechangedmyviews。Yourownsafetyandmyhappinessrequirethatyoushouldaccompanymeinmyreturn,andIentreatyoutogiveyourcheerfulconcurrencetothismeasure。\"

  Aftertheserepresentationsfrommyuncle,itwasimpossibletoretainmypurpose。IreadilyconsentedtosecludemyselffromWieland\'spresence。IlikewiseacquiescedintheproposaltogotoEurope;notthatIeverexpectedtoarrivethere,butbecause,sincemyprinciplesforbadmetoassailmyownlife,changehadsometendencytomakesupportablethefewdayswhichdiseaseshouldsparetome。

  Whatatalehadthusbeenunfolded!Iwashuntedtodeath,notbyonewhommymisconducthadexasperated,whowasconsciousofillicitmotives,andwhosoughthisendbycircumventionandsurprize;butbyonewhodeemedhimselfcommissionedforthisactbyheaven;whoregardedthiscareerofhorrorasthelastrefinementofvirtue;whoseimplacabilitywasproportionedtothereverenceandlovewhichhefeltforme,andwhowasinaccessibletothefearofpunishmentandignominy!

  InvainshouldIendeavourtostayhishandbyurgingtheclaimsofasisterorfriend:thesewerehisonlyreasonsforpursuingmydestruction。HadIbeenastrangertohisblood;

  hadIbeenthemostworthlessofhumankind;mysafetyhadnotbeenendangered。

  Surely,saidI,myfateiswithoutexample。Thephrenzywhichischargeduponmybrother,mustbelongtomyself。Myfoeismanacledandguarded;butIderivenosecurityfromtheserestraints。Ilivenotinacommunityofsavages;yet,whetherIsitorwalk,gointocrouds,orhidemyselfinsolitude,mylifeismarkedforapreytoinhumanviolence;Iaminperpetualdangerofperishing;ofperishingunderthegraspofabrother!

  Irecollectedtheomensofthisdestiny;Irememberedthegulftowhichmybrother\'sinvitationhadconductedme;I

  rememberedthat,whenonthebrinkofdanger,theauthorofmyperilwasdepictedbymyfearsinhisform:Thusrealized,werethecreaturesofpropheticsleep,andofwakefulterror!

  TheseimageswereunavoidablyconnectedwiththatofCarwin。

  Inthisparoxysmofdistress,myattentionfastenedonhimasthegranddeceiver;theauthorofthisblackconspiracy;theintelligencethatgovernedinthisstorm。

  Somereliefisaffordedinthemidstofsuffering,whenitsauthorisdiscoveredorimagined;andanobjectfoundonwhichwemaypouroutourindignationandourvengeance。Iranovertheeventsthathadtakenplacesincetheoriginofourintercoursewithhim,andreflectedonthetenorofthatdescriptionwhichwasreceivedfromLudloe。Mixedupwithnotionsofsupernaturalagency,werethevehementsuspicionswhichIentertained,thatCarwinwastheenemywhosemachinationshaddestroyedus。

  Ithirstedforknowledgeandforvengeance。Iregardedmyhastydeparturewithreluctance,sinceitwouldremovemefromthemeansbywhichthisknowledgemightbeobtained,andthisvengeancegratified。Thisdeparturewastotakeplaceintwodays。AttheendoftwodaysIwastobidaneternaladieutomynativecountry。ShouldInotpayapartingvisittothesceneofthesedisasters?ShouldInotbedewwithmytearsthegravesofmysisterandherchildren?ShouldInotexploretheirdesolatehabitation,andgatherfromthesightofitswallsandfurniturefoodformyeternalmelancholy?

  Thissuggestionwassucceededbyasecretshuddering。Somedisastrousinfluenceappearedtooverhangthescene。HowmanymemorialsshouldImeetwithservingtorecalltheimagesofthoseIhadlost!

  Iwastemptedtorelinquishmydesign,whenitoccurredtomethatIhadleftamongmypapersajournaloftransactionsinshorthand。IwasemployedinthismanuscriptonthatnightwhenPleyel\'sincautiouscuriositytemptedhimtolookovermyshoulder。IwasthenrecordingmyadventureinTHERECESS,animperfectsightofwhichledhimintosuchfatalerrors。

  Ihadregulatedthedispositionofallmyproperty。Thismanuscript,however,whichcontainedthemostsecrettransactionsofmylife,Iwasdesirousofdestroying。ForthisendImustreturntomyhouse,andthisIimmediatelydeterminedtodo。

  Iwasnotwillingtoexposemyselftooppositionfrommyfriends,bymentioningmydesign;IthereforebespoketheuseofMr。Hallet\'schaise,underpretenceofenjoyinganairing,asthedaywasremarkablybright。

  Thisrequestwasgladlycompliedwith,andIdirectedtheservanttoconductmetoMettingen。Idismissedhimatthegate,intendingtouse,inreturning,acarriagebelongingtomybrother。

  ChapterXXII

  TheinhabitantsoftheHUTreceivedmewithamixtureofjoyandsurprize。Theirhomelywelcome,andtheirartlesssympathy,weregratefultomyfeelings。Inthemidstoftheirinquiries,astomyhealth,theyavoidedallallusionstothesourceofmymalady。Theywerehonestcreatures,andIlovedthemwell。I

  participatedinthetearswhichtheyshedwhenImentionedtothemmyspeedydepartureforEurope,andpromisedtoacquaintthemwithmywelfareduringmylongabsence。

  TheyexpressedgreatsurprizewhenIinformedthemofmyintentiontovisitmycottage。Alarmandforebodingoverspreadtheirfeatures,andtheyattemptedtodissuademefromvisitinganhousewhichtheyfirmlybelievedtobehauntedbyathousandghastlyapparitions。

  Theseapprehensions,however,hadnopowerovermyconduct。

  Itookanirregularpathwhichledmetomyownhouse。Allwasvacantandforlorn。Asmallenclosure,nearwhichthepathled,wastheburying-groundbelongingtothefamily。ThisIwasobligedtopass。OnceIhadintendedtoenterit,andponderontheemblemsandinscriptionswhichmyunclehadcausedtobemadeonthetombsofCatharineandherchildren;butnowmyheartfalteredasIapproached,andIhastenedforward,thatdistancemightconcealitfrommyview。

  WhenIapproachedtherecess,myheartagainsunk。Iavertedmyeyes,andleftitbehindmeasquicklyaspossible。Silencereignedthroughmyhabitation,andadarknesswhichcloseddoorsandshuttersproduced。Everyobjectwasconnectedwithmineormybrother\'shistory。Ipassedtheentry,mountedthestair,andunlockedthedoorofmychamber。ItwaswithdifficultythatIcurbedmyfancyandsmotheredmyfears。Slightmovementsandcasualsoundsweretransformedintobeckoningshadowsandcallingshapes。

  Iproceededtothecloset。Iopenedandlookedrounditwithfearfulness。Allthingswereintheiraccustomedorder。I

  soughtandfoundthemanuscriptwhereIwasusedtodepositit。

  Thisbeingsecured,therewasnothingtodetainme;yetIstoodandcontemplatedawhilethefurnitureandwallsofmychamber。

  Irememberedhowlongthisapartmenthadbeenasweetandtranquilasylum;Icompareditsformerstatewithitspresentdreariness,andreflectedthatInowbehelditforthelasttime。

  HereitwasthattheincomprehensiblebehaviourofCarwinwaswitnessed:thisthestageonwhichthatenemyofmanshewedhimselfforamomentunmasked。Herethemenacesofmurderwerewaftedtomyear;andherethesemenaceswereexecuted。

  Thesethoughtshadatendencytotakefrommemyself-command。Myfeeblelimbsrefusedtosupportme,andIsunkuponachair。Incoherentandhalf-articulateexclamationsescapedmylips。ThenameofCarwinwasuttered,andeternalwoes,woeslikethatwhichhismalicehadentaileduponus,wereheapeduponhim。Iinvokedall-seeingheaventodragtolightandtopunishthisbetrayer,andaccuseditsprovidenceforhavingthuslongdelayedtheretributionthatwasduetosoenormousaguilt。

  Ihavesaidthatthewindowshutterswereclosed。Afeeblelight,however,foundentrancethroughthecrevices。Asmallwindowilluminatedthecloset,andthedoorbeingclosed,adimraystreamedthroughthekey-hole。Akindoftwilightwasthuscreated,sufficientforthepurposesofvision;but,atthesametime,involvingallminuterobjectsinobscurity。

  Thisdarknesssuitedthecolourofmythoughts。Isickenedattheremembranceofthepast。Theprospectofthefutureexcitedmyloathing。Imutteredinalowvoice,WhyshouldI

  livelonger?WhyshouldIdragamiserablebeing?All,forwhomIoughttolive,haveperished。AmInotmyselfhuntedtodeath?

  Atthatmoment,mydespairsuddenlybecamevigorous。Mynerveswerenolongerunstrung。Mypowers,thathadlongbeendeadened,wererevived。Mybosomswelledwithasuddenenergy,andtheconvictiondartedthroughmymind,thattoendmytormentswas,atonce,practicableandwise。

  Iknewhowtofindwaytotherecessesoflife。Icouldusealancetwithsomeskill,andcoulddistinguishbetweenveinandartery。Bypiercingdeepintothelatter,Ishouldshuntheevilswhichthefuturehadinstoreforme,andtakerefugefrommywoesinquietdeath。

  Istartedonmyfeet,formyfeeblenesswasgone,andhastedtothecloset。AlancetandothersmallinstrumentswerepreservedinacasewhichIhaddepositedhere。InattentiveasIwastoforeignconsiderations,myearswerestillopentoanysoundofmysteriousimportthatshouldoccur。IthoughtIheardastepintheentry。Mypurposewassuspended,andIcastaneagerglanceatmychamberdoor,whichwasopen。Nooneappeared,unlesstheshadowwhichIdiscerneduponthefloor,wastheoutlineofaman。Ifitwere,Iwasauthorizedtosuspectthatsomeonewaspostedclosetotheentrance,whopossiblyhadoverheardmyexclamations。

  Myteethchattered,andawildconfusiontookplaceofmymomentarycalm。Thusitwaswhenaterrificvisagehaddiscloseditselfonaformernight。ThusitwaswhentheevildestinyofWielandassumedthelineamentsofsomethinghuman。

  Whathorridapparitionwaspreparingtoblastmysight?

  StillIlistenedandgazed。Notlong,fortheshadowmoved;

  afoot,unshapelyandhuge,wasthrustforward;aformadvancedfromitsconcealment,andstalkedintotheroom。ItwasCarwin!

  WhileIhadbreathIshrieked。WhileIhadpowerovermymuscles,Imotionedwithmyhandthatheshouldvanish。Myexertionscouldnotlastlong;Isunkintoafit。

  Othatthisgratefuloblivionhadlastedforever!TooquicklyIrecoveredmysenses。Thepowerofdistinctvisionwasnosoonerrestoredtome,thanthishatefulformagainpresenteditself,andIoncemorerelapsed。

  Asecondtime,untowardnaturerecalledmefromthesleepofdeath。Ifoundmyselfstretcheduponthebed。WhenIhadpowertolookup,IrememberedonlythatIhadcausetofear。Mydistemperedfancyfashionedtoitselfnodistinguishableimage。

  Ithrewalanguidglanceroundme;oncemoremyeyeslighteduponCarwin。

  Hewasseatedonthefloor,hisbackrestedagainstthewall,hiskneesweredrawnup,andhisfacewasburiedinhishands。

  Thathisstationwasatsomedistance,thathisattitudewasnotmenacing,thathisominousvisagewasconcealed,mayaccountformynowescapingashock,violentasthosewhichwerepast。I

  withdrewmyeyes,butwasnotagaindesertedbymysenses。

  OnperceivingthatIhadrecoveredmysensibility,heliftedhishead。Thismotionattractedmyattention。Hiscountenancewasmild,butsorrowandastonishmentsatuponhisfeatures。I

  avertedmyeyesandfeeblyexclaimed——\"O!fly——flyfarandforever!——Icannotbeholdyouandlive!\"

  Hedidnotriseuponhisfeet,butclaspedhishands,andsaidinatoneofdeprecation——\"Iwillfly。Iambecomeafiend,thesightofwhomdestroys。Yettellmemyoffence!Youhavelinkedcurseswithmyname;youascribetomeamalicemonstrousandinfernal。Ilookaround;allislonelinessanddesert!Thishouseandyourbrother\'saresolitaryanddismantled!Youdieawayatthesightofme!Myfearwhispersthatsomedeedofhorrorhasbeenperpetrated;thatIamtheundesigningcause。\"

  Whatlanguagewasthis?Hadhenotavowedhimselfaravisher?Hadnotthischamberwitnessedhisatrociouspurposes?Ibesoughthimwithnewvehemencetogo。

  Heliftedhiseyes——\"Greatheaven!whathaveIdone?IthinkIknowtheextentofmyoffences。Ihaveacted,butmyactionshavepossiblyeffectedmorethanIdesigned。Thisfearhasbroughtmebackfrommyretreat。Icometorepairtheevilofwhichmyrashnesswasthecause,andtopreventmoreevil。I

  cometoconfessmyerrors。\"

  \"Wretch!\"Icriedwhenmysuffocatingemotionswouldpermitmetospeak,\"theghostsofmysisterandherchildren,dotheynotrisetoaccusethee?WhowasitthatblastedtheintellectsofWieland?Whowasitthaturgedhimtofury,andguidedhimtomurder?Who,butthouandthedevil,withwhomthouartconfederated?\"

  Atthesewordsanewspiritpervadedhiscountenance。Hiseyesoncemoreappealedtoheaven。\"IfIhavememory,ifIhavebeing,Iaminnocent。Iintendednoill;butmyfolly,indirectlyandremotely,mayhavecausedit;butwhatwordsarethese!Yourbrotherlunatic!Hischildrendead!\"

  WhatshouldIinferfromthisdeportment?Wastheignorancewhichthesewordsimpliedrealorpretended?——YethowcouldI

  imagineamerehumanagencyintheseevents?Butiftheinfluencewaspreternaturalormaniacalinmybrother\'scase,theymustbeequallysoinmyown。ThenIrememberedthatthevoiceexerted,wastosavemefromCarwin\'sattempts。Theseideastendedtoabatemyabhorrenceofthisman,andtodetecttheabsurdityofmyaccusations。

  \"Alas!\"saidI,\"Ihavenoonetoaccuse。Leavemetomyfate。Flyfromascenestainedwithcruelty;devotedtodespair。\"

  Carwinstoodforatimemusingandmournful。Atlengthhesaid,\"Whathashappened?Icametoexpiatemycrimes:letmeknowthemintheirfullextent。Ihavehorribleforebodings!

  Whathashappened?\"

  Iwassilent;butrecollectingtheintimationgivenbythismanwhenhewasdetectedinmycloset,whichimpliedsomeknowledgeofthatpowerwhichinterferedinmyfavor,Ieagerlyinquired,\"WhatwasthatvoicewhichcalleduponmetoholdwhenIattemptedtoopenthecloset?WhatfacewasthatwhichIsawatthebottomofthestairs?Answermetruly。\"

  \"Icametoconfessthetruth。Yourallusionsarehorribleandstrange。PerhapsIhavebutfaintconceptionsoftheevilswhichmyinfatuationhasproduced;butwhatremainsIwillperform。ItwasmyVOICEthatyouheard!ItwasmyFACEthatyousaw!\"

  ForamomentIdoubtedwhethermyremembranceofeventswerenotconfused。Howcouldhebeatoncestationedatmyshoulderandshutupinmycloset?Howcouldhestandnearmeandyetbeinvisible?ButifCarwin\'swerethethrillingvoiceandthefieryvisagewhichIhadheardandseen,thenwashetheprompterofmybrother,andtheauthorofthesedismaloutrages。

  OncemoreIavertedmyeyesandstruggledforspeech。

  \"Begone!thoumanofmischief!Remorselessandimplacablemiscreant!begone!\"

  \"Iwillobey,\"saidheinadisconsolatevoice;\"yet,wretchasIam,amIunworthytorepairtheevilsthatIhavecommitted?Icameasarepentantcriminal。ItisyouwhomI

  haveinjured,andatyourbaramIwillingtoappear,andconfessandexpiatemycrimes。Ihavedeceivedyou:Ihavesportedwithyourterrors:Ihaveplottedtodestroyyourreputation。Icomenowtoremoveyourerrors;tosetyoubeyondthereachofsimilarfears;torebuildyourfameasfarasIamable。

  \"Thisistheamountofmyguilt,andthisthefruitofmyremorse。Willyounothearme?Listentomyconfession,andthendenouncepunishment。AllIaskisapatientaudience。\"

  \"What!\"Ireplied,\"wasnotthinethevoicethatcommandedmybrothertoimbruehishandsinthebloodofhischildren——tostranglethatangelofsweetnesshiswife?Hashenotvowedmydeath,andthedeathofPleyel,atthybidding?Hastthounotmadehimthebutcherofhisfamily;changedhimwhowasthegloryofhisspeciesintoworsethanbrute;robbedhimofreason,andconsignedtherestofhisdaystofettersandstripes?\"

  Carwin\'seyesglared,andhislimbswerepetrifiedatthisintelligence。Nowordswererequisitetoprovehimguiltlessoftheseenormities:atthetime,however,Iwasnearlyinsensibletotheseexculpatorytokens。Hewalkedtothefartherendoftheroom,andhavingrecoveredsomedegreeofcomposure,hespoke——

  \"Iamnotthisvillain;Ihaveslainnoone;Ihavepromptednonetoslay;Ihavehandledatoolofwonderfulefficacywithoutmalignantintentions,butwithoutcaution;amplewillbethepunishmentofmytemerity,ifmyconducthascontributedtothisevil。\"Hepaused——

  Ilikewisewassilent。Istruggledtocommandmyselfsofarastolistentothetalewhichheshouldtell。Observingthis,hecontinued——

  \"YouarenotapprizedoftheexistenceofapowerwhichI

  possess。Iknownotbywhatnametocallit。*Itenablesmetomimicexactlythevoiceofanother,andtomodifythesoundsothatitshallappeartocomefromwhatquarter,andbeutteredatwhatdistanceIplease。

  \"Iknownotthateveryonepossessesthispower。Perhaps,thoughacasualpositionofmyorgansinmyyouthshewedmethatIpossessedit,itisanartwhichmaybetaughttoall。WouldtoGodIhaddiedunknowingofthesecret!Ithasproducednothingbutdegradationandcalamity。

  \"Foratimethepossessionofsopotentandstupendousanendowmentelatedmewithpride。Unfortifiedbyprinciple,subjectedtopoverty,stimulatedbyheadlongpassions,Imadethispowerfulenginesubservienttothesupplyofmywants,andthegratificationofmyvanity。IshallnotmentionhowdiligentlyIcultivatedthisgift,whichseemedcapableofunlimitedimprovement;nordetailthevariousoccasionsonwhichitwassuccessfullyexertedtoleadsuperstition,conqueravarice,orexciteawe。

  \"IleftAmerica,whichismynativesoil,inmyyouth。I

  havebeenengagedinvariousscenesoflife,inwhichmypeculiartalenthasbeenexercisedwithmoreorlesssuccess。

  Iwasfinallybetrayedbyonewhocalledhimselfmyfriend,intoactswhichcannotbejustified,thoughtheyaresusceptibleofapology。

  \"TheperfidyofthismancompelledmetowithdrawfromEurope。Ireturnedtomynativecountry,uncertainwhethersilenceandobscuritywouldsavemefromhismalice。Iresidedinthepurlieusofthecity。Iputonthegarbandassumedthemannersofaclown。

  \"Mychiefrecreationwaswalking。MyprincipalhauntswerethelawnsandgardensofMettingen。Inthisdelightfulregiontheluxuriancesofnaturehadbeenchastenedbyjudiciousart,andeachsuccessivecontemplationunfoldednewenchantments。

  \"Iwasstudiousofseclusion:Iwassatiatedwiththeintercourseofmankind,anddiscretionrequiredmetoshuntheirintercourse。ForthesereasonsIlongavoidedtheobservationofyourfamily,andchieflyvisitedtheseprecinctsatnight。

  \"IwasneverwearyofadmiringthepositionandornamentsofTHETEMPLE。ManyanighthaveIpassedunderitsroof,revolvingnopleasingmeditations。When,inmyfrequentrambles,Iperceivedthisapartmentwasoccupied,Igaveadifferentdirectiontomysteps。Oneevening,whenashowerhadjustpassed,judgingbythesilencethatnoonewaswithin,I

  ascendedtothisbuilding。Glancingcarelesslyround,I

  perceivedanopenletteronthepedestal。Toreaditwasdoubtlessanoffenceagainstpoliteness。Ofthisoffence,however,Iwasguilty。

  \"ScarcelyhadIgonehalfthroughwhenIwasalarmedbytheapproachofyourbrother。Toscrambledownthecliffontheoppositesidewasimpracticable。Iwasunpreparedtomeetastranger。Besidestheaukwardnessattendingsuchaninterviewinthesecircumstances,concealmentwasnecessarytomysafety。

  AthousandtimeshadIvowedneveragaintoemploythedangeroustalentwhichIpossessed;butsuchwastheforceofhabitandtheinfluenceofpresentconvenience,thatIusedthismethodofarrestinghisprogressandleadinghimbacktothehouse,withhiserrand,whateveritwas,unperformed。Ihadoftencaughtparts,frommystationbelow,ofyourconversationinthisplace,andwaswellacquaintedwiththevoiceofyoursister。

  \"SomeweeksafterthisIwasagainquietlyseatedinthisrecess。Thelatenessofthehoursecuredme,asIthought,fromallinterruption。Inthis,however,Iwasmistaken,forWielandandPleyel,asIjudgedbytheirvoices,earnestindispute,ascendedthehill。

  \"Iwasnotsensiblethatanyinconveniencecouldpossiblyhaveflowedfrommyformerexertion;yetitwasfollowedwithcompunction,becauseitwasadeviationfromapathwhichIhadassignedtomyself。Nowmyaversiontothismeansofescapewasenforcedbyanunauthorizedcuriosity,andbytheknowledgeofabushyhollowontheedgeofthehill,whereIshouldbesafefromdiscovery。IntothishollowIthrustmyself。

  \"TheproprietyofremovaltoEuropewasthequestioneagerlydiscussed。PleyelintimatedthathisanxietytogowasaugmentedbythesilenceofTheresadeStolberg。Thetemptationtointerfereinthisdisputewasirresistible。InvainI

  contendedwithinveteratehabits。Idisguisedtomyselftheimproprietyofmyconduct,byrecollectingthebenefitswhichitmightproduce。Pleyel\'sproposalwasunwise,yetitwasenforcedwithplausibleargumentsandindefatigablezeal。Yourbrothermightbepuzzledandwearied,butcouldnotbeconvinced。Iconceivedthattoterminatethecontroversyinfavorofthelatterwasconferringabenefitonallparties。

  ForthisendIprofitedbyanopeningintheconversation,andassuredthemofCatharine\'sirreconcilableaversiontothescheme,andofthedeathoftheSaxonbaroness。Thelattereventwasmerelyaconjecture,butrenderedextremelyprobablebyPleyel\'srepresentations。Mypurpose,youneednotbetold,waseffected。

  \"Mypassionformystery,andaspeciesofimposture,whichI

  deemedharmless,wasthusawakenedafresh。Thissecondlapseintoerrormademyrecoverymoredifficult。IcannotconveytoyouanadequateideaofthekindofgratificationwhichI

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