Sosaying，shequittedtheroom，leavingmeverylittledisposedtosleep。
Herewasfoodformyveryworstandmostterriblesuspicions；stilltherewasnotenoughtoremovealldoubt。Ihadnoproofofthetruthofthiswoman’sstatement。
Takenbyitself，therewasnothingtoinducemetoattachweighttoit；butwhenIvieweditinconnectionwiththeextraordinarymysteryofsomeofLordGlen-
fallen’sproceedings，hisstrangeanxietytoexcludemefromcertainportionsofthemansion，doubtlesslestIshouldencounterthisperson——thestronginfluence，nay，commandwhichshepossessedoverhim，acircumstanceclearlyestablishedbytheveryfactofherresidingintheveryplacewhere，ofallothers，heshouldleasthavedesiredtofindher——herthusacting，andcontinuingtoactindirectcontradictiontohiswishes；
when，Isay，Iviewedherdisclosureinconnectionwithallthesecircumstances，Icouldnothelpfeelingthattherewasatleastafearfulverisimilitudeintheallegationswhichshehadmade。
StillIwasnotsatisfied，nornearlyso。
Youngmindshaveareluctancealmostinsurmountabletobelieving，uponanythingshortofunquestionableproof，theexistenceofpremeditatedguiltinanyonewhomtheyhaveevertrusted；andinsupportofthisfeelingIwasassuredthatiftheassertionofLordGlenfallen，whichnothinginthiswoman’smannerhadledmetodisbelieve，weretrue，namelythathermindwasunsound，thewholefabricofmydoubtsandfearsmustfalltotheground。
IdeterminedtostatetoLordGlenfallenfreelyandaccuratelythesubstanceofthecommunicationwhichIhadjustheard，andinhiswordsandlookstoseekforitsprooforrefutation。Fullofthesethoughts，I
remainedwakefulandexcitedallnight，everymomentfancyingthatIheardthesteporsawthefigureofmyrecentvisitor，towardswhomIfeltaspeciesofhorroranddreadwhichIcanhardlydescribe。
Therewassomethinginherface，thoughherfeatureshadevidentlybeenhandsome，andwerenot，atfirstsight，unpleasing，which，uponanearerinspection，seemedtoindicatethehabitualprevalenceandindulgenceofevilpassions，andapowerofexpressingmereanimalanger，withanintensenessthatIhaveseldomseenequalled，andtowhichanalmostunearthlyeffectwasgivenbytheconvulsivequiveringofthesightlesseyes。
Youmayeasilysupposethatitwasnoverypleasingreflectiontometoconsiderthat，whenevercapricemightinducehertoreturn，Iwaswithinthereachofthisviolentand，foraughtIknew，insanewoman，whohad，uponthatverynight，spokentomeinatoneofmenace，ofwhichhermerewords，divestedofthemannerandlookwithwhichsheutteredthem，canconveybutafaintidea。
WillyoubelievemewhenItellyouthatIwasactuallyafraidtoleavemybedinordertosecurethedoor，lestIshouldagainencounterthedreadfulobjectlurkinginsomecornerorpeepingfrombehindthewindow-curtains，soveryachildwasI
inmyfears。
Themorningcame，andwithitLordGlenfallen。Iknewnot，andindeedIcarednot，wherehemighthavebeen；mythoughtswerewhollyengrossedbytheterriblefearsandsuspicionswhichmylastnight’sconferencehadsuggestedtome。
Hewas，asusual，gloomyandabstracted，andIfearedinnoveryfittingmoodtohearwhatIhadtosaywithpatience，whetherthechargesweretrueorfalse。
Iwas，however，determinednottosuffertheopportunitytopass，orLordGlenfallentoleavetheroom，until，atallhazards，Ihadunburdenedmymind。
’Mylord，’saidI，afteralongsilence，summoningupallmyfirmness——’mylord，Iwishtosayafewwordstoyouuponamatterofverygreatimportance，ofverydeepconcernmenttoyouandtome。’
Ifixedmyeyesuponhimtodiscern，ifpossible，whethertheannouncementcausedhimanyuneasiness；butnosymptomofanysuchfeelingwasperceptible。
’Well，mydear，’saidhe，’thisisnodoubtaverygravepreface，andportends，Ihavenodoubt，somethingextraordinary。
Prayletushaveitwithoutmoreado。’
Hetookachair，andseatedhimselfnearlyoppositetome。
’Mylord，’saidI，’Ihaveseenthepersonwhoalarmedmesomuchashorttimesince，theblindlady，again，uponlastnight。’Hisface，uponwhichmyeyeswerefixed，turnedpale；hehesitatedforamoment，andthensaid：
’Anddidyou，pray，madam，sototallyforgetorspurnmyexpresscommand，astoenterthatportionofthehousefromwhichyourpromise，Imightsayyouroath，excludedyou？——answermethat!’headdedfiercely。
’Mylord，’saidI，’IhaveneitherforgottenyourCOMMANDS，sincesuchtheywere，nordisobeyedthem。Iwas，lastnight，wakenedfrommysleep，asIlayinmyownchamber，andaccostedbythepersonwhomIhavementioned。HowshefoundaccesstotheroomIcannotpretendtosay。’
’Ha!thismustbelookedto，’saidhe，halfreflectively；’andpray，’addedhe，quickly，whileinturnhefixedhiseyesuponme，’whatdidthispersonsay？sincesomecommentuponhercommunicationforms，nodoubt，thesequeltoyourpreface。’
’Yourlordshipisnotmistaken，’saidI；
’herstatementwassoextraordinarythatIcouldnotthinkofwithholdingitfromyou。Shetoldme，mylord，thatyouhadawifelivingatthetimeyoumarriedme，andthatshewasthatwife。’
LordGlenfallenbecameashypale，almostlivid；hemadetwoorthreeeffortstoclearhisvoicetospeak，butinvain，andturningsuddenlyfromme，hewalkedtothewindow。Thehorroranddismaywhich，intheoldentime，overwhelmedthewomanofEndorwhenherspellsunexpectedlyconjuredthedeadintoherpresence，werebuttypesofwhatIfeltwhenthuspresentedwithwhatappearedtobealmostunequivocalevidenceoftheguiltwhoseexistenceIhadbeforesostronglydoubted。
Therewasasilenceofsomemoments，duringwhichitwerehardtoconjecturewhetherIormycompanionsufferedmost。
LordGlenfallensoonrecoveredhisself-
command；hereturnedtothetable，againsatdownandsaid：
’Whatyouhavetoldmehassoastonishedme，hasunfoldedsuchatissueofmotivelessguilt，andinaquarterfromwhichIhadsolittlereasontolookforingratitudeortreachery，thatyourannouncementalmostdeprivedmeofspeech；
thepersoninquestion，however，hasoneexcuse，hermindis，asItoldyoubefore，unsettled。Youshouldhaverememberedthat，andhesitatedtoreceiveasunexceptionableevidenceagainstthehonourofyourhusband，theravingsofalunatic。I
nowtellyouthatthisisthelasttimeI
shallspeaktoyouuponthissubject，and，inthepresenceoftheGodwhoistojudgeme，andasIhopeformercyinthedayofjudgment，Iswearthatthechargethusbroughtagainstmeisutterlyfalse，unfounded，andridiculous；Idefytheworldinanypointtotaintmyhonour；and，asIhavenevertakentheopinionofmadmentouchingyourcharacterormorals，I
thinkitbutfairtorequirethatyouwillevincealiketendernessforme；andnow，onceforall，neveragaindaretorepeattomeyourinsultingsuspicions，ortheclumsyandinfamouscalumniesoffools。
Ishallinstantlylettheworthyladywhocontrivedthissomewhatoriginaldevice，understandfullymyopinionuponthematter。Goodmorning；’andwiththesewordsheleftmeagainindoubt，andinvolvedinallhorrorsofthemostagonisingsuspense。
IhadreasontothinkthatLordGlenfallenwreakedhisvengeanceupontheauthorofthestrangestorywhichIhadheard，withaviolencewhichwasnotsatisfiedwithmerewords，foroldMartha，withwhomIwasagreatfavourite，whileattendingmeinmyroom，toldmethatshefearedhermasterhadill-usedthepoorblindDutchwoman，forthatshehadheardherscreamasiftheverylifewereleavingher，butaddedarequestthatIshouldnotspeakofwhatshehadtoldmetoanyone，particularlytothemaster。
’HowdoyouknowthatsheisaDutchwoman？’inquiredI，anxioustolearnanythingwhateverthatmightthrowalightuponthehistoryofthisperson，whoseemedtohaveresolvedtomixherselfupinmyfortunes。
’Why，mylady，’answeredMartha，’themasteroftencallshertheDutchhag，andothernamesyouwouldnotliketohear，andIamsuresheisneitherEnglishnorIrish；for，whenevertheytalktogether，theyspeaksomequeerforeignlingo，andfastenough，I’llbebound。ButIoughtnottotalkaboutheratall；itmightbeasmuchasmyplaceisworthtomentionher——onlyyousawherfirstyourself，sotherecanbenogreatharminspeakingofhernow。’
’Howlonghasthisladybeenhere？’
continuedI。
’Shecameearlyonthemorningafteryourladyship’sarrival，’answeredshe；’butdonotaskmeanymore，forthemasterwouldthinknothingofturningmeoutofdoorsfordaringtospeakofheratall，muchlesstoyou，mylady。’
Ididnotliketopressthepoorwomanfurther，forherreluctancetospeakonthistopicwasevidentandstrong。
Youwillreadilybelievethatupontheveryslightgroundswhichmyinformationafforded，contradictedasitwasbythesolemnoathofmyhusband，andderivedfromwhatwas，atbest，averyquestionablesource，Icouldnottakeanyverydecisivemeasurewhatever；andastothemenaceofthestrangewomanwhohadthusunaccountablytwiceintrudedherselfintomychamber，although，atthemoment，itoccasionedmesomeuneasiness，itwasnot，eveninmyeyes，sufficientlyformidabletoinducemydeparturefromCahergillagh。
AfewnightsafterthescenewhichI
havejustmentioned，LordGlenfallenhaving，asusual，earlyretiredtohisstudy，IwasleftaloneintheparlourtoamusemyselfasbestImight。
ItwasnotstrangethatmythoughtsshouldoftenrecurtotheagitatingscenesinwhichIhadrecentlytakenapart。
Thesubjectofmyreflections，thesolitude，thesilence，andthelatenessofthehour，asalsothedepressionofspiritstowhichI
hadoflatebeenaconstantprey，tendedtoproducethatnervousexcitementwhichplacesuswhollyatthemercyoftheimagination。
InordertocalmmyspiritsIwasendeavouringtodirectmythoughtsintosomemorepleasingchannel，whenIheard，orthoughtIheard，uttered，withinafewyardsofme，inanodd，half-sneeringtone，thewords，’Thereisblooduponyourladyship’sthroat。’
SovividwastheimpressionthatI
startedtomyfeet，andinvoluntarilyplacedmyhanduponmyneck。
Ilookedaroundtheroomforthespeaker，butinvain。
Iwentthentotheroom-door，whichI
opened，andpeeredintothepassage，nearlyfaintwithhorrorlestsomeleering，shapelessthingshouldgreetmeuponthethreshold。
WhenIhadgazedlongenoughtoassuremyselfthatnostrangeobjectwaswithinsight，’Ihavebeentoomuchofarakelately；
Iamrackingoutmynerves，’saidI，speakingaloud，withaviewtoreassuremyself。
Irangthebell，and，attendedbyoldMartha，Iretiredtosettleforthenight。
Whiletheservantwas——aswashercustom——arrangingthelampwhichIhavealreadystatedalwaysburnedduringthenightinmychamber，Iwasemployedinundressing，and，indoingso，Ihadrecoursetoalargelooking-glasswhichoccupiedaconsiderableportionofthewallinwhichitwasfixed，risingfromthegroundtoaheightofaboutsixfeet——thismirrorfilledthespaceofalargepanelinthewainscotingoppositethefootofthebed。
Ihadhardlybeenbeforeitforthelapseofaminutewhensomethinglikeablackpallwasslowlywavedbetweenmeandit。
’Oh，God!thereitis，’Iexclaimed，wildly。’Ihaveseenitagain，Martha——
theblackcloth。’
’Godbemercifultous，then!’answeredshe，tremulouslycrossingherself。’Somemisfortuneisoverus。’
’No，no，Martha，’saidI，almostinstantlyrecoveringmycollectedness；for，althoughofanervoustemperament，Ihadneverbeensuperstitious。’Idonotbelieveinomens。YouknowIsaw，orfanciedI
saw，thisthingbefore，andnothingfollowed。’
’TheDutchladycamethenextmorning，’
repliedshe。
’Butsurelyhercomingscarcelydeservedsuchadreadfulwarning，’I
replied。
’Sheisastrangewoman，mylady，’saidMartha；’andsheisnotGONEyet——markmywords。’
’Well，well，Martha，’saidI，’Ihavenotwitenoughtochangeyouropinions，norinclinationtoaltermine；soIwilltalknomoreofthematter。Good-night，’andsoIwaslefttomyreflections。
Afterlyingforaboutanhourawake，Iatlengthfellintoakindofdoze；butmyimaginationwasstillbusy，forIwasstartledfromthisunrefreshingsleepbyfancyingthatIheardavoiceclosetomyfaceexclaimasbefore：
’Thereisblooduponyourladyship’sthroat。’
Thewordswereinstantlyfollowedbyaloudburstoflaughter。
Quakingwithhorror，Iawakened，andheardmyhusbandentertheroom。Eventhiswasitrelief。
ScaredasIwas，however，bythetrickswhichmyimaginationhadplayedme，I
preferredremainingsilent，andpretendingtosleep，toattemptingtoengagemyhusbandinconversation，forIwellknewthathismoodwassuch，thathiswordswouldnot，inallprobability，conveyanythingthathadnotbetterbeunsaidandunheard。
LordGlenfallenwentintohisdressing-
room，whichlayupontheright-handsideofthebed。Thedoorlyingopen，Icouldseehimbyhimself，atfulllengthuponasofa，and，inabouthalfanhour，Ibecameaware，byhisdeepandregularlydrawnrespiration，thathewasfastasleep。
Whenslumberrefusestovisitone，thereissomethingpeculiarlyirritating，nottothetemper，buttothenerves，intheconsciousnessthatsomeoneisinyourimmediatepresence，actuallyenjoyingtheboonwhichyouareseekinginvain；atleast，Ihavealwaysfounditso，andnevermorethanuponthepresentoccasion。
Athousandannoyingimaginationsharassedandexcitedme；everyobjectwhichIlookedupon，thougheversofamiliar，seemedtohaveacquiredastrangephantom-
likecharacter，thevaryingshadowsthrownbytheflickeringofthelamplight，seemedshapingthemselvesintogrotesqueandunearthlyforms，andwhenevermyeyeswanderedtothesleepingfigureofmyhusband，hisfeaturesappearedtoundergothestrangestandmostdemoniacalcontortions。
Hourafterhourwastoldbytheoldclock，andeachsucceedingonefoundme，ifpossible，lessinclinedtosleepthanitspredecessor。