510

and, now that my mind had regained its normal condition of calm, the pangs of hunger were returning with renewed insistence.

My sufferings were now of so practical and matter-of-fact a naturc that I could afford to laugh at my previous “ado about nothing * : and so utterly had my imaginary alarms fled that [ found myself calmly contemplating o

prowl below, i the hope that i the beel

had been removed, | might at least lay hands on something catable, which the tired scrvants had left to be eleared away in the morning.

Drawing my wrap closcly about me, and arming m\sc]f with candle and matches (still, thank IHcaven ! m he plural), | opened my door, and peered cautiously around before sallying forth on my vovage of discovery. All was profoundly still, and I ventured out, finding my way enough to the sliding door, which, to my astomshmcnt and (lclwht not so difticult to open as I had Fancicd it might be, A lietle fumbling and prodding, and by good luck, 1 hxt upon the spring at once, passed through. All was now plain sailing, and 1 pushc,d on : but how cheerless and changed everything was! How feeble the light of my solitary candlc compared with thc glare which had previously hrightened up the old hall; and shed its lustre on the crisp holly and evergreen decorations that

now loomed sombrce and dark from its COrners. There was something oppressive in the

profound silence which renewed my uncasy qualms, Silence, did T say? What was that? 1 could have sworn to a distinct, though faint, rust- ling behind me — nay, my cxcited fancy created for me a stealthy foot- fall, as well as a smothered sigh. 1 came to a dead standstill, pceering brcathlcssly ~around, till the fancy died away again. What folly |

All was as still as death, and I could plainly hcar my own heart thump-

THE STRAND

MAGAZINE.

ing absurdly against my ribs. Once more

my fears of 1 l\ngw hot what subsided, and, hurrying on again, 1 gcained the deserted supper-room, there to l)dmld my {riend, the beef, n all s glory. T made lor that bcpf without loss of time, and scizing the carving- knife which lay Dy its side, 1 looked round for - moment among the littered glass and china for a resting-place for the mndlg.

While doing so 1 chanced to raise my cves to the long looking-glass behind the sideboard, and remained frozen with horror, gazing at the sight that there met my view. Mereiful Heaven ! what does it mean ?

A woman stood there, clothed in a long, loose robe of crimson, her beautiful hair in the wildest confusion over her shoulders, and her barve feet flashing white against the red. But the face! It was c\qumtcl) beautiful, but never had it been my lot to witness such o wild, frenzied expression on any countenance. Its startled, hunted look hlled me with a terrible fascination, and 1 was literally incapable of removing my cyes. Flevs, with an agonized horror in them impossible to deseribe, were fixed on my features, and, as she slowly advanced towards me, 1 eathered up the remnant of my Se lttuul nerve, turned and faced her.

As L did so, a change of lightning swift- ness passed over her whole demeanour. She pausced o then, smiling slightly, advanced again until we were within a couple of feet of cach other; her eyes fell, and she was calmness atselll - But the hewildering trans-

(X

P TURNED AND FACED HERD