regardedtheeventwhichwastoseparateme，asitturnedout，foreverfromasisterwhosetendernessalonehadhithertomorethansuppliedallthatIwantedinmymother’saffection。
ThedaysoonarrivedwhichwastoremovethehappycouplefromAshtownHouse。Thecarriagestoodatthehall-
door，andmypoorsisterkissedmeagainandagain，tellingmethatIshouldseehersoon。
Thecarriagedroveaway，andIgazedafterituntilmyeyesfilledwithtears，and，returningslowlytomychamber，Iweptmorebitterlyand，sotospeak，moredesolately，thaneverIhaddonebefore。
Myfatherhadneverseemedtoloveortotakeaninterestinme。Hehaddesiredason，andIthinkheneverthoroughlyforgavememyunfortunatesex。
Myhavingcomeintotheworldatallashischildheregardedasakindoffraudulentintrusion，andashisantipathytomehaditsorigininanimperfectionofmine，tooradicalforremoval，Ineverevenhopedtostandhighinhisgoodgraces。
Mymotherwas，Idaresay，asfondofmeasshewasofanyone；butshewasawomanofamasculineandaworldlycastofmind。Shehadnotendernessorsympathyfortheweaknesses，orevenfortheaffections，ofwoman’snatureandherdemeanourtowardsmewasperemptory，andoftenevenharsh。
Itisnottobesupposed，then，thatI
foundinthesocietyofmyparentsmuchtosupplythelossofmysister。Aboutayearafterhermarriage，wereceivedlettersfromMr。Carew，containingaccountsofmysister’shealth，which，thoughnotactuallyalarming，werecalculatedtomakeusseriouslyuneasy。Thesymptomsmostdweltuponwerelossofappetiteandcough。
Thelettersconcludedbyintimatingthathewouldavailhimselfofmyfatherandmother’srepeatedinvitationtospendsometimeatAshtown，particularlyasthephysicianwhohadbeenconsultedastomysister’shealthhadstronglyadvisedaremovaltohernativeair。
Therewereaddedrepeatedassurancesthatnothingseriouswasapprehended，asitwassupposedthataderangedstateoftheliverwastheonlysourceofthesymptomswhichatfirsthadseemedtointimateconsumption。
Inaccordancewiththisannouncement，mysisterandMr。CarewarrivedinDublin，whereoneofmyfather’scarriagesawaitedthem，inreadinesstostartuponwhateverdayorhourtheymightchoosefortheirdepartureItwasarrangedthatMr。Carewwas，assoonasthedayuponwhichtheyweretoleaveDublinwasdefinitelyfixed，towritetomyfather，whointendedthatthetwolaststagesshouldbeperformedbyhisownhorses，uponwhosespeedandsafetyfarmorereliancemightbeplacedthanuponthoseoftheordinarypost-horses，whichwereatthattime，almostwithoutexception，oftheveryworstorder。Thejourney，oneofaboutninetymiles，wastobedivided；thelargerportionbeingreservedforthesecondday。
OnSundayaletterreachedus，statingthatthepartywouldleaveDublinonMonday，and，induecourse，reachAshtownuponTuesdayevening。
Tuesdaycametheeveningclosedin，andyetnocarriage；darknesscameon，andstillnosignofourexpectedvisitors。
Hourafterhourpassedaway，anditwasnowpasttwelve；thenightwasremarkablycalm，scarceabreathstirring，sothatanysound，suchasthatproducedbytherapidmovementofavehicle，wouldhavebeenaudibleataconsiderabledistance。ForsomesuchsoundIwasfeverishlylistening。
Itwas，however，myfather’sruletoclosethehouseatnightfall，andthewindow-
shuttersbeingfastened，IwasunabletoreconnoitretheavenueasIwouldhavewished。Itwasnearlyoneo’clock，andwebeganalmosttodespairofseeingthemuponthatnight，whenIthoughtIdistinguishedthesoundofwheels，butsoremoteandfaintastomakemeatfirstveryuncertain。Thenoiseapproached；itbecamelouderandclearer；itstoppedforamoment。
Inowheardtheshrillscreamingoftherustyiron，astheavenue-gaterevolvedonitshinges；againcamethesoundofwheelsinrapidmotion。
’Itisthey，’saidI，startingup；’thecarriageisintheavenue。’
Weallstoodforafewmomentsbreathlesslylistening。Onthunderedthevehiclewiththespeedofawhirlwind；crackwentthewhip，andclatterwentthewheels，asitrattledovertheunevenpavementofthecourt。Ageneralandfuriousbarkingfromallthedogsaboutthehouse，haileditsarrival。
Wehurriedtothehallintimetohearthestepsletdownwiththesharpclangingnoisepeculiartotheoperation，andthehumofvoicesexertedinthebustleofarrival。
Thehall-doorwasnowthrownopen，andweallsteppedforthtogreetourvisitors。
Thecourtwasperfectlyempty；themoonwasshiningbroadlyandbrightlyuponallaround；nothingwastobeseenbutthetalltreeswiththeirlongspectralshadows，nowwetwiththedewsofmidnight。
Westoodgazingfromrighttoleft，asifsuddenlyawakenedfromadream；thedogswalkedsuspiciously，growlingandsnuffingaboutthecourt，andbytotallyandsuddenlyceasingtheirformerloudbarking，expressingthepredominanceoffear。
Westaredoneuponanotherinperplexityanddismay，andIthinkIneverbeheldmorepalefacesassembled。Bymyfather’sdirection，welookedabouttofindanythingwhichmightindicateoraccountforthenoisewhichwehadheard；butnosuchthingwastobeseen——eventhemirewhichlayupontheavenuewasundisturbed。
Wereturnedtothehouse，morepanic-struckthanIcandescribe。
Onthenextday，welearnedbyamessenger，whohadriddenhardthegreaterpartofthenight，thatmysisterwasdead。
OnSundayevening，shehadretiredtobedratherunwell，and，onMonday，herindispositiondeclareditselfunequivocallytobemalignantfever。Shebecamehourlyworseand，onTuesdaynight，alittleaftermidnight，sheexpired。[2]
[2]TheresiduarylegateeofthelateFrancesPurcell，whohasthehonourofselectingsuchofhislamentedoldfriend’smanuscriptsasmayappearfitforpublication，inorderthatthelorewhichtheycontainmayreachtheworldbeforescepticismandutilityhaverobbedourspeciesofthepreciousgiftofcredulity，andscornfullykickedbeforethem，ortrampledintoannihilationthoseharmlessfragmentsofpicturesquesuperstitionwhichitisourobjecttopreserve，hasbeensubjectedtothechargeofdealingtoolargelyinthemarvellous；andithasbeenhalfinsinuatedthatsuchishislovefordiablerie，thatheiscontenttowanderamileoutofhisway，inordertomeetafiendoragoblin，andthustosacrificeallregardfortruthandaccuracytotheidlehopeofaffrightingtheimagination，andthuspanderingtothebadtasteofhisreader。Hebegsleave，then，totakethisopportunityofassertinghisperfectinnocenceofallthecrimeslaidtohischarge，andtoassurehisreaderthatheneverPANDEREDTOHIS
BADTASTE，norwentoneinchoutofhiswaytointroducewitch，fairy，devil，ghost，oranyotherofthegrimfraternityoftheredoubtedRaw-head-and-bloody-bones。Hisprovince，touchingthesetales，hasbeenattendedwithnodifficultyandlittleresponsibility；indeed，heisaccountablefornothingmorethananalterationinthenamesofpersonsmentionedtherein，whensuchastepseemednecessary，andforanoccasionalnote，wheneverheconceiveditpossible，innocently，toedgeinaword。
ThesetaleshavebeenWRITTENDOWN，astheheadingofeachannounces，bytheRev。FrancisPurcell，P。P。，ofDrumcoolagh；andinalltheinstances，whicharemany，inwhichthepresentwriterhashadanopportunityofcomparingthemanuscriptofhisdepartedfriendwiththeactualtraditionswhicharecurrentamongstthefamilieswhosefortunestheypretendtoillustrate，hehasuniformlyfoundthatwhateverofsupernaturaloccurredinthestory，sofarfromhavingbeenexaggeratedbyhim，hadbeenrathersofteneddown，and，whereveritcouldbeattempted，accountedfor。
Imentionthiscircumstance，becauseitwasoneuponwhichathousandwildandfantasticalreportswerefounded，thoughonewouldhavethoughtthatthetruthscarcelyrequiredtobeimprovedupon；
andagain，becauseitproducedastrongandlastingeffectuponmyspirits，andindeed，Iaminclinedtothink，uponmycharacter。
Iwas，forseveralyearsafterthisoccurrence，longaftertheviolenceofmygriefsubsided，sowretchedlylow-spiritedandnervous，thatIcouldscarcelybesaidtolive；andduringthistime，habitsofindecision，arisingoutofalistlessacquiescenceinthewillofothers，afearofencounteringeventheslightestopposition，andadispositiontoshrinkfromwhatarecommonlycalledamusements，grewuponmesostrongly，thatIhavescarcelyevenyetaltogetherovercomethem。
WesawnothingmoreofMr。Carew。
HereturnedtoEnglandassoonasthemelancholyritesattendantupontheeventwhichIhavejustmentionedwereperformed；
andnotbeingaltogetherinconsolable，hemarriedagainwithintwoyears；
afterwhich，owingtotheremotenessofourrelativesituations，andothercircumstances，wegraduallylostsightofhim。
Iwasnowanonlychild；and，asmyeldersisterhaddiedwithoutissue，itwasevidentthat，intheordinarycourseofthings，myfather’sproperty，whichwasaltogetherinhispower，wouldgotome；
andtheconsequencewas，thatbeforeIwasfourteen，AshtownHousewasbesiegedbyahostofsuitors。However，whetheritwasthatIwastooyoung，orthatnoneoftheaspirantstomyhandstoodsufficientlyhighinrankorwealth，IwassufferedbybothparentstodoexactlyasIpleased；andwellwasitforme，asIafterwardsfound，thatfortune，orratherProvidence，hadsoordainedit，thatIhadnotsufferedmyaffectionstobecomeinanydegreeengaged，formymotherwouldneverhavesufferedanySILLYFANCYofmine，asshewasinthehabitofstylinganattachment，tostandinthewayofherambitiousviews——
viewswhichshewasdeterminedtocarryintoeffect，indefianceofeveryobstacle，andinordertoaccomplishwhichshewouldnothavehesitatedtosacrificeanythingsounreasonableandcontemptibleasagirlishpassion。
WhenIreachedtheageofsixteen，mymother’splansbegantodevelopthem-
selves；and，athersuggestion，wemovedtoDublintosojournforthewinter，inorderthatnotimemightbelostindisposingofmetothebestadvantage。
Ihadbeentoolongaccustomedtoconsidermyselfasofnoimportancewhatever，tobelieveforamomentthatIwasinrealitythecauseofallthebustleandpreparationwhichsurroundedme，andbeingthusrelievedfromthepainwhichaconsciousnessofmyrealsituationwouldhaveinflicted，Ijourneyedtowardsthecapitalwithafeelingoftotalindifference。
Myfather’swealthandconnectionhadestablishedhiminthebestsociety，and，consequently，uponourarrivalinthemetropoliswecommandedwhateverenjoymentoradvantagesitsgaietiesafforded。
ThetumultandnoveltyofthescenesinwhichIwasinvolveddidnotfailcon-
siderablytoamuseme，andmymindgraduallyrecovereditstone，whichwasnaturallycheerful。
ItwasalmostimmediatelyknownandreportedthatIwasanheiress，andofcoursemyattractionswereprettygenerallyacknowledged。
Amongthemanygentlemenwhomitwasmyfortunetoplease，one，erelong，establishedhimselfinmymother’sgoodgraces，totheexclusionofalllessimportantaspirants。However，Ihadnotunderstoodorevenremarkedhisattentions，norintheslightestdegreesuspectedhisormymother’splansrespectingme，whenI
wasmadeawareofthemratherabruptlybymymotherherself。
Wehadattendedasplendidball，givenbyLordM——，athisresidenceinStephen’sGreen，andIwas，withtheassist-
anceofmywaiting-maid，employedinrapidlydivestingmyselfoftherichornamentswhich，inprofusenessandvalue，couldscarcelyhavefoundtheirequalsinanyprivatefamilyinIreland。
Ihadthrownmyselfintoalounging-
chairbesidethefire，listlessandexhausted，afterthefatiguesoftheevening，whenI
wasarousedfromthereverieintowhichI
hadfallenbythesoundoffootstepsapproachingmychamber，andmymotherentered。
’Fanny，mydear，’saidshe，inhersoftesttone，’IwishtosayawordortwowithyoubeforeIgotorest。Youarenotfatigued，love，Ihope？’
’No，no，madam，Ithankyou，’saidI，risingatthesametimefrommyseat，withtheformalrespectsolittlepractisednow。
’Sitdown，mydear，’saidshe，placingherselfuponachairbesideme；’Imustchatwithyouforaquarterofanhourorso。
Saunders’tothemaid’youmayleavetheroom；donotclosetheroom-door，butshutthatofthelobby。’
Thisprecautionagainstcuriousearshavingbeentakenasdirected，mymotherproceeded。
’Youhaveobserved，Ishouldsuppose，mydearestFanny——indeed，youMUSThaveobservedLordGlenfallen’smarkedattentionstoyou？’
’Iassureyou，madam——’Ibegan。
’Well，well，thatisallright，’interruptedmymother；’ofcourseyoumustbemodestuponthematter；butlistentomeforafewmoments，mylove，andIwillprovetoyoursatisfactionthatyourmodestyisquiteunnecessaryinthiscase。Youhavedonebetterthanwecouldhavehoped，atleastsoverysoon。LordGlenfallenisinlovewithyou。Igiveyoujoyofyourconquest；’andsayingthis，mymotherkissedmyforehead。
’Inlovewithme!’Iexclaimed，inunfeignedastonishment。
’Yes，inlovewithyou，’repeatedmymother；’devotedly，distractedlyinlovewithyou。Why，mydear，whatistherewonderfulinit？Lookintheglass，andlookatthese，’shecontinued，pointingwithasmiletothejewelswhichIhadjustremovedfrommyperson，andwhichnowlayaglitteringheapuponthetable。
’Maytherenot，’saidI，hesitatingbetweenconfusionandrealalarm——’isitnotpossiblethatsomemistakemaybeatthebottomofallthis？’
’Mistake，dearest!none，’saidmymother。’None；noneintheworld。Judgeforyourself；readthis，mylove。’Andsheplacedinmyhandaletter，addressedtoherself，thesealofwhichwasbroken。I
readitthroughwithnosmallsurprise。
Aftersomeveryfinecomplimentaryflourishesuponmybeautyandperfections，asalsoupontheantiquityandhighreputationofourfamily，itwentontomakeaformalproposalofmarriage，tobecommunicatedornottomeatpresent，asmymothershoulddeemexpedient；andtheletterwoundupbyarequestthatthewritermightbepermitted，uponourreturntoAshtownHouse，whichwassoontotakeplace，asthespringwasnowtolerablyadvanced，tovisitusforafewdays，incasehissuitwasapproved。
’Well，well，mydear，’saidmymother，impatiently；’doyouknowwhoLordGlenfallenis？’
’Ido，madam，’saidIrathertimidly，forIdreadedanaltercationwithmymother。