按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The Lady is silent： The Stranger complies。
His vizor lie slowly unclosed：
Oh！ God！ what a sight met Fair Imogine's eyes！
What words can express her dismay and surprize；
When a Skeleton's head was exposed。
All present then uttered a terrified shout；
All turned with disgust from the scene。
The worms； They crept in； and the worms； They crept out；
And sported his eyes and his temples about；
While the Spectre addressed Imogine。
'Behold me； Thou false one！ Behold me！' He cried；
'Remember Alonzo the Brave！
God grants； that to punish thy falsehood and pride
My Ghost at thy marriage should sit by thy side；
Should tax thee with perjury； claim thee as Bride
And bear thee away to the Grave！'
Thus saying； his arms round the Lady He wound；
While loudly She shrieked in dismay；
Then sank with his prey through the wide…yawning ground：
Nor ever again was Fair Imogine found；
Or the Spectre who bore her away。
Not long lived the Baron； and none since that time
To inhabit the Castle presume：
For Chronicles tell； that by order sublime
There Imogine suffers the pain of her crime；
And mourns her deplorable doom。
At midnight four times in each year does her Spright
When Mortals in slumber are bound；
Arrayed in her bridal apparel of white；
Appear in the Hall with the Skeleton…Knight；
And shriek； as He whirls her around。
While They drink out of skulls newly torn from the grave；
Dancing round them the Spectres are seen：
Their liquor is blood； and this horrible Stave
They howl。'To the health of Alonzo the Brave；
And his Consort； the False Imogine！'
The perusal of this story was ill…calculated to dispel Antonia's
melancholy。 She had naturally a strong inclination to the
marvellous； and her Nurse； who believed firmly in Apparitions；
had related to her when an Infant so many horrible adventures of
this kind； that all Elvira's attempts had failed to eradicate
their impressions from her Daughter's mind。 Antonia still
nourished a superstitious prejudice in her bosom： She was often
susceptible of terrors which； when She discovered their natural
and insignificant cause； made her blush at her own weakness。
With such a turn of mind； the adventure which She had just been
reading sufficed to give her apprehensions the alarm。 The hour
and the scene combined to authorize them。 It was the dead of
night： She was alone； and in the chamber once occupied by her
deceased Mother。 The weather was comfortless and stormy： The
wind howled around the House； the doors rattled in their frames；
and the heavy rain pattered against the windows。 No other sound
was heard。 The Taper； now burnt down to the socket； sometimes
flaring upwards shot a gleam of light through the room； then
sinking again seemed upon the point of expiring。 Antonia's heart
throbbed with agitation： Her eyes wandered fearfully over the
objects around her； as the trembling flame illuminated them at
intervals。 She attempted to rise from her seat； But her limbs
trembled so violently that She was unable to proceed。 She then
called Flora； who was in a room at no great distance： But
agitation choaked her voice； and her cries died away in hollow
murmurs。
She passed some minutes in this situation； after which her
terrors began to diminish。 She strove to recover herself； and
acquire strength enough to quit the room： Suddenly She fancied；
that She heard a low sigh drawn near her。 This idea brought back
her former weakness。 She had already raised herself from her
seat； and was on the point of taking the Lamp from the Table。
The imaginary noise stopped her： She drew back her hand； and
supported herself upon the back of a Chair。 She listened
anxiously； but nothing more was heard。
'Gracious God！' She said to herself； 'What could be that sound？
Was I deceived； or did I really hear it？'
Her reflections were interrupted by a noise at the door scarcely
audible： It seemed as if somebody was whispering。 Antonia's
alarm increased： Yet the Bolt She knew to be fastened； and this
idea in some degree reassured her。 Presently the Latch was
lifted up softly； and the Door moved with caution backwards and
forwards。 Excess of terror now supplied Antonia with that
strength； of which She had till then been deprived。 She started
from her place and made towards the Closet door； whence She
might soon have reached the chamber where She expected to find
Flora and Dame Jacintha。 Scarcely had She reached the middle of
the room when the Latch was lifted up a second time。 An
involuntary movement obliged her to turn her head。 Slowly and
gradually the Door turned upon its hinges； and standing upon the
Threshold She beheld a tall thin Figure； wrapped in a white
shroud which covered it from head to foot。
This vision arrested her feet： She remained as if petrified in
the middle of the apartment。 The Stranger with measured and
solemn steps drew near the Table。 The dying Taper darted a blue
and melancholy flame as the Figure advanced towards it。 Over the
Table was fixed a small Clock； The hand of it was upon the stroke
of three。 The Figure stopped opposite to the Clock： It raised
its right arm； and pointed to the hour； at the same time looking
earnestly upon Antonia； who waited for the conclusion of this
scene； motionless and silent。
The figure remained in this posture for some moments。 The clock
struck。 When the sound had ceased； the Stranger advanced yet a
few steps nearer Antonia。
'Yet three days；' said a voice faint； hollow； and sepulchral；
'Yet three days； and we meet again！'
Antonia shuddered at the words。
'We meet again？' She pronounced at length with difficulty：
'Where shall we meet？ Whom shall I meet？'
The figure pointed to the ground with one hand； and with the
other raised the Linen which covered its face。
'Almighty God！ My Mother！'
Antonia shrieked； and fell lifeless upon the floor。
Dame Jacintha who was at work in a neighbouring chamber； was
alarmed by the cry： Flora was just gone down stairs to fetch
fresh oil for the Lamp； by which they had been sitting。 Jacintha
therefore hastened alone to Antonia's assistance； and great was
her amazement to find her extended upon the floor。 She raised
her in her arms； conveyed her to her apartment； and placed her
upon the Bed still senseless。 She then proceeded to bathe her
temples； chafe her hands； and use all possible means of bringing
her to herself。 With some difficulty She succeeded。 Antonia
opened her eyes； and looked round her wildly。
'Where is She？' She cried in a trembling voice； 'Is She gone？ Am
I safe？ Speak to me！ Comfort me！ Oh！ speak to me for God's
sake！'
'Safe from whom； my Child？' replied the astonished Jacintha；
'What alarms you？ Of whom are you afraid？'
'In three days！ She told me that we should meet in three days！ I
heard her say it！ I saw her； Jacintha； I saw her but this
moment！'
She threw herself upon Jacintha's bosom。
'You saw her？ Saw whom？'
'My Mother's Ghost！'
'Christ Jesus！' cried Jacintha； and starting from the Bed； let
fall Antonia upon the pillow； and fled in consternation out of
the room。
As She hastened down stairs； She met Flora ascending them。
'Go to your Mistress； Flora；' said She； 'Here are rare doings！
Oh！ I am the most unfortunate Woman alive！ My House is filled
with Ghosts and dead Bodies； and the Lord knows what besides； Yet
I am sure； nobody likes such company less than I do。 But go
your way to Donna Antonia； Flora； and let me go mine。'
Thus saying； She continued her course to the Street door； which
She opened； and without allowing herself time to throw on her
veil； She made the best of her way to the Capuchin Abbey。 In the
meanwhile； Flora hastened to her Lady's chamber； equally
surprized and alarmed at Jacintha's consternation。 She found
Antonia lying upon the bed insensible。 She used the same means
for her recovery that Jacintha had already employed； But finding
that her Mistress only recovered from one fit to fall into
another； She sent in all haste for a Physician。 While expecting
his arrival； She undrest Antonia； and conveyed her to