butinvain，fortotteringtowardsachair，shesankintoit，lookingsodeadlypaleandhorror-struckthatIthoughteverymomentshewouldfaint。
’MercifulGod，keepusfromharmanddanger!’mutteredsheatlength。
’Whatcanhaveterrifiedyouso？’saidI，beginningtofearthatshehadseensomethingmorethanhadmetmyeye。’Youappearill，mypoorwoman!’
’Nothing，nothing，mylady，’saidshe，rising。’Ibegyourladyship’spardonformakingsobold。MaythegreatGoddefendusfrommisfortune!’
’Martha，’saidI，’somethingHASfrightenedyouverymuch，andIinsistonknowingwhatitis；yourkeepingmeinthedarkuponthesubjectwillmakememuchmoreuneasythananythingyoucouldtellme。I
desireyou，therefore，toletmeknowwhatagitatesyou；Icommandyoutotellme。’
’Yourladyshipsaidyousawablackcurtainfallingacrossthedoorwhenyouwerecomingintotheroom，’saidtheoldwoman。
’Idid，’saidI；’butthoughthewholethingappearssomewhatstrange，Icannotseeanythinginthemattertoagitateyousoexcessively。’
’It’sfornogoodyousawthat，mylady，’saidthecrone；’somethingterribleiscoming。It’sasign，mylady——asignthatneverfails。’
’Explain，explainwhatyoumean，mygoodwoman，’saidI，inspiteofmyself，catchingmorethanIcouldaccountfor，ofhersuperstitiousterror。
’Wheneversomething——somethingBADisgoingtohappentotheGlenfallenfamily，someonethatbelongstothemseesablackhandkerchieforcurtainjustwavedorfallingbeforetheirfaces。Isawitmyself，’
continuedshe，loweringhervoice，’whenI
wasonlyalittlegirl，andI’llneverforgetit。Ioftenheardofitbefore，thoughI
neversawittillthen，norsince，praisedbeGod。ButIwasgoingintoLadyJane’sroomtowakenherinthemorning；andsureenoughwhenIgotfirsttothebedandbegantodrawthecurtain，somethingdarkwaswavedacrossthedivision，butonlyforamoment；andwhenIsawrightlyintothebed，therewasshelyingcoldanddead，Godbemercifultome!So，mylady，thereissmallblametometobedauntedwhenanyoneofthefamilyseesit；forit’smany’sthestoryIheardofit，thoughIsawitbutonce。’
Iwasnotofasuperstitiousturnofmind，yetIcouldnotresistafeelingofaweverynearlyalliedtothefearwhichmycompanionhadsounreservedlyexpressed；andwhenyouconsidermysituation，theloneliness，antiquity，andgloomoftheplace，youwillallowthattheweaknesswasnotwithoutexcuse。
InspiteofoldMartha’sbodingpredictions，however，timeflowedoninanunruffledcourse。Onelittleincidenthowever，thoughtriflinginitself，Imustrelate，asitservestomakewhatfollowsmoreintelligible。
Uponthedayaftermyarrival，LordGlenfallenofcoursedesiredtomakemeacquaintedwiththehouseanddomain；andaccordinglywesetforthuponourramble。
Whenreturning，hebecameforsometimesilentandmoody，astatesounusualwithhimasconsiderablytoexcitemysurprise。
Iendeavouredbyobservationsandquestionstoarousehim——butinvain。Atlength，asweapproachedthehouse，hesaid，asifspeakingtohimself：
’’Tweremadness——madness——madness，’
repeatingthewordsbitterly——’sureandspeedyruin。’
Therewasherealongpause；andatlength，turningsharplytowardsme，inatoneveryunlikethatinwhichhehadhithertoaddressedme，hesaid：
’Doyouthinkitpossiblethatawomancankeepasecret？’
’Iamsure，’saidI，’thatwomenareverymuchbelieduponthescoreoftalkativeness，andthatImayansweryourquestionwiththesamedirectnesswithwhichyouputit——IreplythatIDOthinkawomancankeepasecret。’
’ButIdonot，’saidhe，drily。
Wewalkedoninsilenceforatime。I
wasmuchastonishedathisunwontedabruptness——Ihadalmostsaidrudeness。
Afteraconsiderablepauseheseemedtorecollecthimself，andwithaneffortresuminghissprightlymanner，hesaid：
’Well，well，thenextthingtokeepingasecretwellis，nottodesiretopossessone——talkativenessandcuriositygenerallygotogether。NowIshallmaketestofyou，inthefirstplace，respectingthelatterofthesequalities。IshallbeyourBLUEBEARD——
tush，whydoItriflethus？Listentome，mydearFanny；Ispeaknowinsolemnearnest。WhatIdesireisintimately，inseparably，connectedwithyourhappinessandhonouraswellasmyown；andyourcompliancewithmyrequestwillnotbedifficult。Itwillimposeuponyouaverytriflingrestraintduringyoursojournhere，whichcertaineventswhichhaveoccurredsinceourarrivalhavedeterminedmeshallnotbealongone。Youmustpromiseme，uponyoursacredhonour，thatyouwillvisitONLYthatpartofthecastlewhichcanbereachedfromthefrontentrance，leavingthebackentranceandthepartofthebuildingcommandedimmediatelybyittothemenials，asalsothesmallgardenwhosehighwallyouseeyonder；andneveratanytimeseektopryorpeepintothem，nortoopenthedoorwhichcommunicatesfromthefrontpartofthehousethroughthecorridorwiththeback。Idonoturgethisinjestorincaprice，butfromasolemnconvictionthatdangerandmiserywillbethecertainconsequencesofyournotobservingwhatIprescribe。Icannotexplainmyselffurtheratpresent。Promiseme，then，thesethings，asyouhopeforpeacehere，andformercyhereafter。’
Ididmakethepromiseasdesired，andheappearedrelieved；hismannerrecoveredallitsgaietyandelasticity：buttherecollectionofthestrangescenewhichIhavejustdescribeddweltpainfullyuponmymind。
Morethanamonthpassedawaywithoutanyoccurrenceworthrecording；butI
wasnotdestinedtoleaveCahergillaghwithoutfurtheradventure。Oneday，intendingtoenjoythepleasantsunshineinaramblethroughthewoods，Iranuptomyroomtoprocuremybonnetandshawl。
Uponenteringthechamber，Iwassurprisedandsomewhatstartledtofinditoccupied。
Besidethefireplace，andnearlyoppositethedoor，seatedinalarge，old-fashionedelbow-chair，wasplacedthefigureofalady。Sheappearedtobenearerfiftythanforty，andwasdressedsuitablytoherage，inahandsomesuitoffloweredsilk；shehadaprofusionoftrinketsandjewelleryaboutherperson，andmanyringsuponherfingers。Butalthoughveryrich，herdresswasnotgaudyorinilltaste。Butwhatwasremarkableintheladywas，thatalthoughherfeatureswerehandsome，anduponthewholepleasing，thepupilofeacheyewasdimmedwiththewhitenessofcataract，andshewasevidentlystone-blind。
Iwasforsomesecondssosurprisedatthisunaccountableapparition，thatIcouldnotfindwordstoaddressher。
’Madam，’saidI，’theremustbesomemistakehere——thisismybed-chamber。’
’Marrycomeup，’saidthelady，sharply；
’YOURchamber!WhereisLordGlenfallen？’
’Heisbelow，madam，’repliedI；’andIamconvincedhewillbenotalittlesurprisedtofindyouhere。’
’Idonotthinkhewill，’saidshe；’withyourgoodleave，talkofwhatyouknowsomethingabout。TellhimIwanthim。
Whydoestheminxdilly-dallyso？’
Inspiteoftheawewhichthisgrimladyinspired，therewassomethinginherairofconfidentsuperioritywhich，whenI
consideredourrelativesituations，wasnotalittleirritating。
’Doyouknow，madam，towhomyouspeak？’saidI。
’Ineitherknownorcare，’saidshe；
’butIpresumethatyouaresomeoneaboutthehouse，soagainIdesireyou，ifyouwishtocontinuehere，tobringyourmasterhitherforthwith。’
’Imusttellyou，madam，’saidI，’thatIamLadyGlenfallen。’
’What’sthat？’saidthestranger，rapidly。
’Isay，madam，’Irepeated，approachingherthatImightbemoredistinctlyheard，’thatIamLadyGlenfallen。’
’It’salie，youtrull!’criedshe，inanaccentwhichmademestart，andatthesametime，springingforward，sheseizedmeinhergrasp，andshookmeviolently，repeating，’It’salie——it’salie!’witharapidityandvehemencewhichswelledeveryveinofherface。Theviolenceofheraction，andthefurywhichconvulsedherface，effectuallyterrifiedme，anddis-
engagingmyselffromhergrasp，IscreamedasloudasIcouldforhelp。Theblindwomancontinuedtopouroutatorrentofabuseuponme，foamingatthemouthwithrage，andimpotentlyshakingherclenchedfiststowardsme。
IheardLordGlenfallen’sstepuponthestairs，andIinstantlyranout；asIpassedhimIperceivedthathewasdeadlypale，andjustcaughtthewords：’Ihopethatdemonhasnothurtyou？’
Imadesomeanswer，Iforgetwhat，andheenteredthechamber，thedoorofwhichhelockedupontheinside。WhatpassedwithinIknownot；butIheardthevoicesofthetwospeakersraisedinloudandangryaltercation。
IthoughtIheardtheshrillaccentsofthewomanrepeatthewords，’Letherlooktoherself；’butIcouldnotbequitesure。Thisshortsentence，however，was，tomyalarmedimagination，pregnantwithfearfulmeaning。
Thestormatlengthsubsided，thoughnotuntilafteraconferenceofmorethantwolonghours。LordGlenfallenthenreturned，paleandagitated。
’Thatunfortunatewoman，’saidhe，’isoutofhermind。Idaresayshetreatedyoutosomeofherravings；butyouneednotdreadanyfurtherinterruptionfromher：I
havebroughthersofartoreason。Shedidnothurtyou，Itrust。’
’No，no，’saidI；’butsheterrifiedmebeyondmeasure。’
’Well，’saidhe，’sheislikelytobehavebetterforthefuture；andIdareswearthatneitheryounorshewoulddesire，afterwhathaspassed，tomeetagain。’
Thisoccurrence，sostartlingandun-
pleasant，soinvolvedinmystery，andgivingrisetosomanypainfulsurmises，affordedmenoveryagreeablefoodforrumination。
Allattemptsonmyparttoarriveatthetruthwerebaffled；LordGlenfallenevadedallmyinquiries，andatlengthperemptorilyforbidanyfurtherallusiontothematter。
IwasthusobligedtorestsatisfiedwithwhatIhadactuallyseen，andtotrusttotimetoresolvetheperplexitiesinwhichthewholetransactionhadinvolvedme。
LordGlenfallen’stemperandspiritsgraduallyunderwentacompleteandmostpainfulchange；hebecamesilentandabstracted，hismannertomewasabruptandoftenharsh，somegrievousanxietyseemedeverpresenttohismind；andunderitsinfluencehisspiritssunkandhistemperbecamesoured。
Isoonperceivedthathisgaietywasratherthatwhichthestirandexcitementofsocietyproduce，thantheresultofahealthyhabitofmind；everydayconfirmedmeintheopinion，thattheconsiderategood-naturewhichIhadsomuchadmiredinhimwaslittlemorethanameremanner；andtomyinfinitegriefandsurprise，thegay，kind，open-heartednoblemanwhohadformonthsfollowedandflatteredme，wasrapidlyassumingtheformofagloomy，morose，andsingularlyselfishman。
Thiswasabitterdiscovery，andIstrovetoconcealitfrommyselfaslongasIcould；
butthetruthwasnottobedenied，andI
wasforcedtobelievethatLordGlenfallennolongerlovedme，andthathewasatlittlepainstoconcealthealterationinhissentiments。
Onemorningafterbreakfast，LordGlen-
fallenhadbeenforsometimewalkingsilentlyupanddowntheroom，buriedinhismoodyreflections，whenpausingsuddenly，andturningtowardsme，heexclaimed：
’Ihaveit——Ihaveit!Wemustgoabroad，andstaytheretoo；andifthatdoesnotanswer，why——why，wemusttrysomemoreeffectualexpedient。LadyGlenfallen，I
havebecomeinvolvedinheavyembarrassments。
Awife，youknow，mustsharethefortunesofherhusband，forbetterforworse；butIwillwaivemyrightifyoupreferremaininghere——hereatCahergillagh。
ForIwouldnothaveyouseenelsewherewithoutthestatetowhichyourrankentitlesyou；besides，itwouldbreakyourpoormother’sheart，’headded，withsneeringgravity。’Somakeupyourmind——
CahergillaghorFrance。Iwillstartifpossibleinaweek，sodeterminebetweenthisandthen。’
Helefttheroom，andinafewmomentsIsawhimridepastthewindow，followedbyamountedservant。Hehaddirectedadomestictoinformmethatheshouldnotbebackuntilthenextday。
IwasinverygreatdoubtastowhatcourseofconductIshouldpursue，astoaccompanyinghiminthecontinentaltoursosuddenlydeterminedupon。Ifeltthatitwouldbeahazardtoogreattoencounter；
foratCahergillaghIhadalwaystheconsciousnesstosustainme，thatifhistemperatanytimeledhimintoviolentorunwarrantabletreatmentofme，Ihadaremedywithinreach，intheprotectionandsupportofmyownfamily，fromallusefulandeffectivecommunicationwithwhom，ifonceinFrance，Ishouldbeentirelydebarred。
AstoremainingatCahergillaghinsolitude，and，foraughtIknew，exposedtohiddendangers，itappearedtomescarcelylessobjectionablethantheformerproposition；
andyetIfearedthatwithoneorotherImustcomply，unlessIwaspreparedtocometoanactualbreachwithLordGlenfallen。Fulloftheseunpleasingdoubtsandperplexities，Iretiredtorest。
Iwaswakened，afterhavingsleptuneasilyforsomehours，bysomepersonshakingmerudelybytheshoulder；asmalllampburnedinmyroom，andbyitslight，tomyhorrorandamazement，Idiscoveredthatmyvisitantwastheself-sameblindoldladywhohadsoterrifiedmeafewweeksbefore。
Istartedupinthebed，withaviewtoringthebell，andalarmthedomestics；butsheinstantlyanticipatedmebysaying：
’Donotbefrightened，sillygirl!IfIhadwishedtoharmyouIcouldhavedoneitwhileyouweresleeping；Ineednothavewakenedyou。Listentome，now，attentivelyandfearlessly，forwhatIhavetosayinterestsyoutothefullasmuchasitdoesme。Tellmehere，inthepresenceofGod，didLordGlenfallenmarryyou——ACTUALLY
MARRYyou？Speakthetruth，woman。’
’AssurelyasIliveandspeak，’I
replied，’didLordGlenfallenmarryme，inpresenceofmorethanahundredwitnesses。’
’Well，’continuedshe，’heshouldhavetoldyouTHEN，beforeyoumarriedhim，thathehadawifeliving，whichwifeIam。I
feelyoutremble——tush!donotbefrightened。
Idonotmeantoharmyou。Markmenow——youareNOThiswife。WhenI
makemystoryknownyouwillbesoneitherintheeyeofGodnorofman。Youmustleavethishouseuponto-morrow。
Lettheworldknowthatyourhusbandhasanotherwifeliving；goyouintoretirement，andleavehimtojustice，whichwillsurelyovertakehim。Ifyouremaininthishouseafterto-morrowyouwillreapthebitterfruitsofyoursin。’