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parts； and the crumbling condition of the individual stones。 In this there
was much that reminded me of the specious totality of old wood…work
which has rotted for long years in some neglected vault； with no
disturbance from the breath of the external air。 Beyond this indication of
extensive decay； however； the fabric gave little token of instability。
Perhaps the eye of a scrutinizing observer might have discovered a barely
perceptible fissure； which； extending from the roof of the building in front；
made its way down the wall in a zigzag direction； until it became lost in
the sullen waters of the tarn。
Noticing these things； I rode over a short causeway to the house。 A
servant in waiting took my horse； and I entered the Gothic archway of the
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hall。 A valet； of stealthy step； thence conducted me； in silence； through
many dark and intricate passages in my progress to the studio of his
master。 Much that I encountered on the way contributed； I know not how；
to heighten the vague sentiments of which I have already spoken。 While
the objects around mewhile the carvings of the ceilings； the sombre
tapestries of the walls； the ebon blackness of the floors； and the
phantasmagoric armorial trophies which rattled as I strode； were but
matters to which； or to such as which； I had been accustomed from my
infancywhile I hesitated not to acknowledge how familiar was all thisI
still wondered to find how unfamiliar were the fancies which ordinary
images were stirring up。 On one of the staircases； I met the physician of
the family。 His countenance； I thought； wore a mingled expression of low
cunning and perplexity。 He accosted me with trepidation and passed on。
The valet now threw open a door and ushered me into the presence of his
master。
The room in which I found myself was very large and lofty。 The
windows were long； narrow； and pointed； and at so vast a dis… tance from
the black oaken floor as to be altogether inaccessible from within。 Feeble
gleams of encrimsoned light made their way through the trellised panes；
and served to render sufficiently distinct the more prominent objects
around； the eye； however； struggled in vain to reach the remoter angles of
the chamber； or the recesses of the vaulted and fretted ceiling。 Dark
draperies hung upon the walls。 The general furniture was profuse；
comfortless； antique； and tattered。 Many books and musical instruments
lay scattered about； but failed to give any vitality to the scene。 I felt that I
breathed an atmosphere of sorrow。 An air of stern； deep； and irredeemable
gloom hung over and pervaded all。
Upon my entrance； Usher rose from a sofa on which he had been lying
at full length； and greeted me with a vivacious warmth which had much in
it； I at first thought； of an overdone cordialityof the constrained effort of
the ennuye man of the world。 A glance； however； at his countenance；
convinced me of his perfect sincerity。 We sat down； and for some
moments； while he spoke not； I gazed upon him with a feeling half of pity；
half of awe。 Surely； man had never before so terribly altered； in so brief a
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period； as had Roderick Usher！ It was with difficulty that I could bring
myself to admit the identity of the wan being before me with the
companion of my early boyhood。 Yet the character of his face had been at
all times remarkable。 A cadaverousness of complexion； an eye large； liquid；
and luminous beyond comparison； lips somewhat thin and very pallid； but
of a surpassingly beautiful curve； a nose of a delicate Hebrew model； but
with a breadth of nostril unusual in similar formations； a finely…moulded
chin； speaking； in its want of prominence； of a want of moral energy； hair
of a more than web…like softness and tenuity； these features； with an
inordinate expansion above the regions of the temple； made up altogether
a countenance not easily to be forgotten。 And now in the mere
exaggeration of the prevailing character of these features； and of the
expression they were wont to convey； lay so much of change that I
doubted to whom I spoke。 The now ghastly pallor of the skin； and the now
miraculous lustre of the eye； above all things startled and even awed me。
The silken hair； too； had been suffered to grow all unheeded； and as； in its
wild gossamer texture； it floated rather than fell about the face； I could not；
even with effort； connect its Arabesque expression with any idea of simple
humanity。
In the manner of my friend I was at once struck with an incoherence
an inconsistency； and I soon found this to arise from a series of feeble and
futile struggles to overcome an habitual trepidancyan excessive nervous
agitation。 For something of this nature I had indeed been prepared； no less
by his letter； than by reminiscences of certain boyish traits； and by
conclusions deduced from his peculiar physical conformation and
temperament。 His action was alternately vivacious and sullen。 His voice
varied rapidly from a tremulous indecision （when the animal spirits
seemed utterly in abeyance） to that species of energetic concisionthat
abrupt； weighty； unhurried； and hollow…sounding enunciationthat leaden；
self… balanced and perfectly modulated guttural utterance； which may be
observed in the lost drunkard； or the irreclaimable eater of opium； during
the periods of his most intense excitement。
It was thus that he spoke of the object of my visit； of his earnest desire
to see me； and of the solace he expected me to afford him。 He entered； at
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The Fall of the House of Usher
some length； into what he conceived to be the nature of his malady。 It was；
he said； a constitutional and a family evil； and one for which he despaired
to find a remedya mere nervous affection； he immediately added； which
would undoubtedly soon pass off。 It displayed itself in a host of unnatural
sensations。 Some of these； as he detailed them； interested and bewildered
me； although； perhaps； the terms； and the general manner of the narration
had their weight。 He suffered much from a morbid acuteness of the senses；
the most insipid food was alone endurable； he could wear only garments
of certain texture； the odours of all flowers were oppressive； his eyes were
tortured by even a faint light； and there were but peculiar sounds； and
these from stringed instruments； which did not inspire him with horror。
To an anomalous species of terror I found him a bounden slave。 〃I
shall perish；〃 said he； 〃I must perish in this deplorable folly。 Thus； thus；
and not otherwise； shall I be lost。 I dread the events of the future； not in
themselves； but in their results。 I shudder at the thought of any； even the
most trivial； incident； which may operate upon this intolerable agitation of
soul。 I have； indeed； no abhorrence of d