in the breeze, and then by the distant bell of the convent, ftriking one. She now withdrew from the window, and, as the fat at her bed-fide, indulging melancholy reveries, which the loneliness of the hour affifted, the ftillness was fuddenly interrupted, not by mufic, but by very uncommon founds, that feemed to come either from the room adjoining her own, or from one below. The terrible catastrophe, that had been related to her, together with the myfterious circumftances, faid to have fince occurred in the chateau, had fo much fhocked her fpirits, that he now funk, for a moment, under the weakness of fuperftition. The founds, however, did not return, and she retired, to forget in fleep the disastrous ftory she had heard.

CHAP.

CHAP. IV.

Now it is the time of night,
That, the graves all gaping wide,...
Every one lets forth his fprite,

In the church-way path to glide."

SHAKESPEARE.

ON the next night, about the fame hour

as before, Dorothée came to Emily's chamber, with the keys of that fuite of rooms, which had been particularly appropriated. to the late Marchionefs. Thefe extended

along the north fide of the chateau, forming part of the old building; and, as Emily's room was in the fouth, they had to pafs over a great extent of the castle, and by the chambers of several of the family, whose obfervations Dorothée was anxious to avoid, fince it might excite enquiry and raise reports, fuch as would difplease the Count. She, therefore, requested that Emily would wait half an hour, before they ventured forth,

D 2

forth, that they might be

fervants were gone to bed.

certain all the

It was nearly one, before the chateau was perfectly still, or Dorothée thought it prudent to leave the chamber. In this interval, her fpirits feemed to be greatly affected by the remembrance of past events, and by the profpect of entering again upon places, where these had occurred, and in which he had not been for fo many years. Emily too was affected, but her feelings had more of folemnity, and lefs of fear. From the filence, into which reflection and expectation had thrown them, they, at length, roufed themfelves, and left the chamber. at first, carried the lamp, but her hand trembled so much with infirmity and alarm, that Emily took it from her, and offered her arm, to fupport her feeble steps.

1

Dorothée,

They had to defcend the great flair-cafe, and, after paffing over a wide extent of the chateau, to ascend another, which led to the fuite of rooms they were in queft of. They stepped cautiously along the open corridor,

that

that ran round the great hall, and into which the chambers of the Count, Countefs, and the Lady Blanche, opened, and, from thence, defcending the chief stair-case, they croffed the hall itself. Proceeding through the fervants-hall, where the dying embers of a wood fire ftill glimmered on the hearth, and the fupper table was furrounded by chairs, that obftructed their paffage, they came to the foot of the back ftair-cafe. Old Dorothée here paufed, and looked around: "Let us liften," faid fhe, "if any thing is stirring; Ma'amfelle, do you hear any voice?" "None," faid Emily, "there certainly is no perfon up in the chateau, besides ourselves."-"No, ma'amfelle," said Dorothée," but I have never been here at this hour before, and, after what I know, my fears are not wonderful."-" What do you know?" faid Emily." O ma'amfelle, we have no time for talking now; let us go on. That door on the left is the one we muit open."

They proceeded, and, having reached the

top

of the ftair-case, Dorothée applied the key to the lock. “Ah,” said fe, as the endeavoured to turn it, "fo many years have paffed fince this was opened, that I fear it will not move." Emily was more fuccessful, and they presently entered a spacious and ancient chamber.

"Alas!" exclaimed Dorothée, as she entered, the last time I paffed through this door-I followed my poor lady's corpfe!"

Emily, ftruck with the circumstance, and affected by the dusky and folemn air of the apartment, remained filent, and they paffed on through a long fuite of rooms, till they came to one more fpacious than the reft, and rich in the remains of faded magnificence.

"Let us reft here awhile, madam," faid Dorothée faintly, "we are going into the chamber, where my lady died! that door opens into it. Ah, ma'amfelle! why did you perfuade me to come?"

Emily drew one of the maffy arm-chairs, with which the apartment was furnished,

and