"ButIwasrousedbythecastleclockstrikingone，soloudthatitseemedasifitwereintheveryroom。ItwassometimebeforeIdaredopenmyeyes，lesttheyshouldagainencounterthehorriblespectacle。When，however，Isummonedcouragetolookup，shewasnolongervisible。Myfirstideawastopullmybell，waketheservants，andremovetoagarretorahay—loft，tobeensuredagainstasecondvisitation。Nay，Iwillconfessthetruththatmyresolutionwasaltered，notbytheshameofexposingmyself，butbythefearthat，asthebell—cordhungbythechimney，Imight，inmakingmywaytoit，beagaincrossedbythefiendishhag，who，Ifiguredtomyself，mightbestilllurkingaboutsomecorneroftheapartment。
　　"Iwillnotpretendtodescribewhathotandcoldfever—fitstormentedmefortherestofthenight，throughbrokensleep，wearyvigils，andthatdubiousstatewhichformstheneutralgroundbetweenthem。Ahundredterribleobjectsappearedtohauntme；buttherewasthegreatdifferencebetwixtthevisionwhichIhavedescribed，andthosewhichfollowed，thatIknewthelasttobedeceptionsofmyownfancyandover—excitednerves。
　　"Dayatlastappeared，andIrosefrommybedillinhealthandhumiliatedinmind。Iwasashamedofmyselfasamanandasoldier，andstillmoresoatfeelingmyownextremedesiretoescapefromthehauntedapartment，which，however，conqueredallotherconsiderations；sothat，huddlingonmyclotheswiththemostcarelesshaste，Imademyescapefromyourlordship’smansion，toseekintheopenairsomerelieftomynervoussystem，shakenasitwasbythishorriblerencounterwithavisitant，forsuchImustbelieveher，fromtheotherworld。
　　Yourlordshiphasnowheardthecauseofmydiscomposure，andofmysuddendesiretoleaveyourhospitablecastle。InotherplacesItrustwemayoftenmeet，butGodprotectmefromeverspendingasecondnightunderthatroof！"
　　StrangeastheGeneral’stalewas，hespokewithsuchadeepairofconvictionthatitcutshortalltheusualcommentarieswhicharemadeonsuchstories。LordWoodvilleneveronceaskedhimifhewassurehedidnotdreamoftheapparition，orsuggestedanyofthepossibilitiesbywhichitisfashionabletoexplainsupernaturalappearancesaswildvagariesofthefancy，ordeceptionsoftheopticnerves，Onthecontrary，heseemeddeeplyimpressedwiththetruthandrealityofwhathehadheard；and，afteraconsiderablepauseregretted，withmuchappearanceofsincerity，thathisearlyfriendshouldinhishousehavesufferedsoseverely。
　　"Iamthemoresorryforyourpain，mydearBrowne，"hecontinued，"thatitistheunhappy，thoughmostunexpected，resultofanexperimentofmyown。Youmustknowthat，formyfatherandgrandfather’stime，atleast，theapartmentwhichwasassignedtoyoulastnighthadbeenshutonaccountofreportsthatitwasdisturbedbysupernaturalsightsandnoises。WhenI
　　came，afewweekssince，intopossessionoftheestate，Ithoughttheaccommodationwhichthecastleaffordedformyfriendswasnotextensiveenoughtopermittheinhabitantsoftheinvisibleworldtoretainpossessionofacomfortablesleepingapartment。
　　IthereforecausedtheTapestriedChamber，aswecallit，tobeopened，and，withoutdestroyingitsairofantiquity，Ihadsuchnewarticlesoffurnitureplacedinitasbecamethemoderntimes。Yet，astheopinionthattheroomwashauntedverystronglyprevailedamongthedomestics，andwasalsoknownintheneighbourhoodandtomanyofmyfriends，IfearedsomeprejudicemightbeentertainedbythefirstoccupantoftheTapestriedChamber，whichmighttendtorevivetheevilreportwhichithadlabouredunder，andsodisappointmypurposeofrenderingitausefulpartorthehouse。Imustconfess，mydearBrowne，thatyourarrivalyesterday，agreeabletomeforathousandreasonsbesides，seemedthemostfavourableopportunityofremovingtheunpleasantrumourswhichattachedtotheroom，sinceyourcouragewasindubitable，andyourmindfreeofanypreoccupationonthesubject。Icouldnot，therefore，havechosenamorefittingsubjectformyexperiment。"
　　"Uponmylife，"saidGeneralBrowne，somewhathastily，"Iaminfinitelyobligedtoyourlordship——veryparticularlyindebtedindeed。Iamlikelytorememberforsometimetheconsequencesoftheexperiment，asyourlordshipispleasedtocallit。"
　　"Nay，nowyouareunjust，mydearfriend，"saidLordWoodville。
　　"Youhaveonlytoreflectforasinglemoment，inordertobeconvincedthatIcouldnotaugurthepossibilityofthepaintowhichyouhavebeensounhappilyexposed。Iwasyesterdaymorningacompletescepticonthesubjectofsupernaturalappearances。Nay，Iamsurethat，hadItoldyouwhatwassaidaboutthatroom，thoseveryreportswouldhaveinducedyou，byyourownchoice，toselectitforyouraccommodation。Itwasmymisfortune，perhapsmyerror，butreallycannotbetermedmyfault，thatyouhavebeenafflictedsostrangely。"
　　"Strangelyindeed！"saidtheGeneral，resuminghisgoodtemper；
　　"andIacknowledgethatIhavenorighttobeoffendedwithyourlordshipfortreatingmelikewhatIusedtothinkmyself——amanofsomefirmnessandcourage。ButIseemyposthorsesarearrived，andImustnotdetainyourlordshipfromyouramusement。"
　　"Nay，myoldfriend，"saidLordWoodville，"sinceyoucannotstaywithusanotherday——which，indeed，Icannolongerurge——givemeatleasthalfanhourmore。Youusedtolovepictures，andI
　　haveagalleryofportraits，someofthembyVandyke，representingancestrytowhomthispropertyandcastleformerlybelonged。Ithinkthatseveralofthemwillstrikeyouaspossessingmerit。"
　　GeneralBrowneacceptedtheinvitation，thoughsomewhatunwillingly。ItwasevidenthewasnottobreathefreelyorateasetillheleftWoodvilleCastlefarbehindhim。Hecouldnotrefusehisfriend’sinvitation，however；andthelessso，thathewasalittleashamedofthepeevishnesswhichhehaddisplayedtowardshiswell—meaningentertainer。
　　TheGeneral，therefore，followedLordWoodvillethroughseveralroomsintoalonggalleryhungwithpictures，whichthelatterpointedouttohisguest，tellingthenames，andgivingsomeaccountofthepersonageswhoseportraitspresentedthemselvesinprogression。GeneralBrownewasbutlittleinterestedinthedetailswhichtheseaccountsconveyedtohim。Theywere，indeed，ofthekindwhichareusuallyfoundinanoldfamilygallery。
　　HerewasaCavalierwhohadruinedtheestateintheroyalcause；
　　thereafineladywhohadreinstateditbycontractingamatchwithawealthyRoundhead。TherehungagallantwhohadbeenindangerforcorrespondingwiththeexiledCourtatSaintGermain’s；hereonewhohadtakenarmsforWilliamattheRevolution；andthereathirdthathadthrownhisweightalternatelyintothescaleofWhigandTory。
　　WhilelordWoodvillewascrammingthesewordsintohisguest’sear，"againstthestomachofhissense，"theygainedthemiddleofthegallery，whenhebeheldGeneralBrownesuddenlystart，andassumeanattitudeoftheutmostsurprise，notunmixedwithfear，ashiseyesweresuddenlycaughtandrivetedbyaportraitofanoldladyinasacque，thefashionabledressoftheendoftheseventeenthcentury。
　　"Theresheis！"heexclaimed——"theresheis，informandfeatures，thoughInferiorindemoniacexpressiontotheaccursedhagwhovisitedmelastnight！"
　　"Ifthatbethecase，"saidtheyoungnobleman，"therecanremainnolongeranydoubtofthehorriblerealityofyourapparition。
　　Thatisthepictureofawretchedancestressofmine，ofwhosecrimesablackandfearfulcatalogueisrecordedinafamilyhistoryinmycharter—chest。Therecitalofthemwouldbetoohorrible；itisenoughtosay，thatinyonfatalapartmentincestandunnaturalmurderwerecommitted。Iwillrestoreittothesolitudetowhichthebetterjudgmentofthosewhoprecededmehadconsignedit；andnevershallanyone，solongasIcanpreventit，beexposedtoarepetitionofthesupernaturalhorrorswhichcouldshakesuchcourageasyours。"
　　Thusthefriends，whohadmetwithsuchglee，partedinaverydifferentmood——LordWoodvilletocommandtheTapestriedChambertobeunmantled，andthedoorbuiltup；andGeneralBrownetoseekinsomelessbeautifulcountry，andwithsomelessdignifiedfriend，forgetfulnessofthepainfulnightwhichhehadpassedinWoodvilleCastle。
　　ENDOFTHETAPESTRIEDCHAMBER。
　　*
　　DEATHOFTHELAIRD’SJOCKbySirWalterScott。
　　[ThemannerinwhichthistriflewasintroducedatthetimetoMr。F。M。Reynolds，editorofTheKeepsakeof1828，leavesnooccasionforapreface。]
　　AUGUST1831。
　　TOTHEEDITOROFTHEKEEPSAKE。
　　Youhaveaskedme，sir，topointoutasubjectforthepencil，andIfeelthedifficultyofcomplyingwithyourrequest，althoughIamnotcertainlyunaccustomedtoliterarycomposition，oratotalstrangertothestoresofhistoryandtradition，whichaffordthebestcopiesforthepainter’sart。ButalthoughSICUT
　　PICTURAPOESISisanancientandundisputedaxiom——althoughpoetryandpaintingbothaddressthemselvestothesameobjectofexcitingthehumanimagination，bypresentingtoitpleasingorsublimeimagesofidealscenes——yettheoneconveyingitselfthroughtheearstotheunderstanding，andtheotherapplyingitselfonlytotheeyes，thesubjectswhicharebestsuitedtothebardortale—tellerareoftentotallyunfitforpainting，wheretheartistmustpresentinasingleglanceallthathisarthaspowertotellus。Theartistcanneitherrecapitulatethepastnorintimatethefuture。ThesingleNOWisallwhichhecanpresent；andhence，unquestionably，manysubjectswhichdelightusinpoetryorinnarrative，whetherrealorfictitious，cannotwithadvantagebetransferredtothecanvas。
　　Beinginsomedegreeawareofthesedifficulties，thoughdoubtlessunacquaintedbothwiththeirextentandthemeansbywhichtheymaybemodifiedorsurmounted，Ihave，nevertheless，venturedtodrawupthefollowingtraditionalnarrativeasastoryinwhich，whenthegeneraldetailsareknown，theinterestissomuchconcentratedinonestrongmomentofagonizingpassion，thatitcanbeunderstoodandsympathizedwithatasingleglance。IthereforepresumethatitmaybeacceptableasahinttosomeoneamongthenumerousartistswhohaveoflateyearsdistinguishedthemselvesasrearingupandsupportingtheBritishschool。
　　Enoughhasbeensaidandsungabout"Thewell—contestedground，ThewarlikeBorder—land，"
　　torenderthehabitsofthetribeswhoinhabiteditbeforetheunionofEnglandandScotlandfamiliartomostofyourreaders。
　　Therougherandsternerfeaturesoftheircharacterweresoftenedbytheirattachmenttothefinearts，fromwhichhasarisenthesayingthatonthefrontierseverydalehaditsbattle，andeveryriveritssong。Arudespeciesofchivalrywasinconstantuse，andsinglecombatswerepractisedastheamusementofthefewintervalsoftrucewhichsuspendedtheexerciseofwar。Theinveteracyofthiscustommaybeinferredfromthefollowingincident：——
　　BernardGilpin，theapostleofthenorth，thefirstwhoundertooktopreachtheProtestantdoctrinestotheBorderdalesmen，wassurprised，onenteringoneoftheirchurches，toseeagauntletormail—glovehangingabovethealtar。Uponinquiring；themeaningofasymbolsoindecorousbeingdisplayedinthatsacredplace，hewasinformedbytheclerkthattheglovewasthatofafamousswordsman，whohungitthereasanemblemofageneralchallengeandgageofbattletoanywhoshoulddaretotakethefataltokendown。"Reachittome，"saidthereverendchurchman。
　　Theclerkandthesextonequallydeclinedtheperilousoffice，andthegoodBernardGilpinwasobligedtoremovetheglovewithhisownhands，desiringthosewhowerepresenttoinformthechampionthathe，andnoother，hadpossessedhimselfofthegageofdefiance。ButthechampionwasasmuchashamedtofaceBernardGilpinastheofficialsofthechurchhadbeentodisplacehispledgeofcombat。
　　ThedateofthefollowingstoryisaboutthelatteryearsofQueenElizabeth’sreign；andtheeventstookplaceinLiddesdale，ahillyandpastoraldistrictofRoxburghshire，which，onapartofitsboundary，isdividedfromEnglandonlybyasmallriver。
　　DuringthegoodoldtimesofRUGGINGANDRIVING——thatis，tuggingandtearing——underwhichtermthedisorderlydoingsofthewarlikeageareaffectionatelyremembered，thisvalleywasprincipallycultivatedbytheseptorclanoftheArmstrongs。
　　ThechiefofthiswarlikeracewastheLairdofMangerton。AttheperiodofwhichIspeak，theestateofMangerton，withthepoweranddignityofchief，waspossessedbyJohnArmstrong，amanofgreatsize，strength，andcourage。Whilehisfatherwasalive，hewasdistinguishedfromothersofhisclanwhoborethesamename，bytheepithetoftheLAIRD’SJOCK——thatistosay，theLaird’ssonJock，orJack。Thisnamehedistinguishedbysomanyboldanddesperateachievements，thatheretaineditevenafterhisfather’sdeath，andismentionedunderitbothinauthenticrecordsandintradition。SomeofhisfeatsarerecordedintheminstrelsyoftheScottishBorder，andothersarementionedincontemporarychronicles。
　　AtthespeciesofsingularcombatwhichwehavedescribedtheLaird’sJockwasunrivalled，andnochampionofCumberland，Westmoreland，orNorthumberlandcouldenduretheswayofthehugetwo—handedswordwhichhewielded，andwhichfewotherscouldevenlift。This"awfulsword，"asthecommonpeopletermit，wasasdeartohimasDurindanaorFushbertatotheirrespectivemasters，andwasnearlyasformidabletohisenemiesasthoserenownedfalchionsprovedtothefoesofChristendom。TheweaponhadbeenbequeathedtohimbyacelebratedEnglishoutlawnamedHobbieNoble，who，havingcommittedsomedeedforwhichhewasindangerfromjustice，fledtoLiddesdale，andbecameafollower，orratherabrother—in—arms，totherenownedLaird’sJock；till，venturingintoEnglandwithasmallescort，afaithlessguide，andwithalightsingle—handedswordinsteadofhisponderousbrand，HobbieNoble，attackedbysuperiornumbers，wasmadeprisonerandexecuted。
　　Withthisweapon，andbymeansofhisownstrengthandaddress，theLaird’sJockmaintainedthereputationofthebestswordsmanontheBorderside，anddefeatedorslewmanywhoventuredtodisputewithhimtheformidabletitle。
　　Butyearspassonwiththestrongandthebraveaswiththefeebleandthetimid。InprocessoftimetheLaird’sJockgrewincapableofwieldinghisweapons，andfinallyofallactiveexertion，evenofthemostordinarykind。Thedisabledchampionbecameatlengthtotallybedridden，andentirelydependentforhiscomfortonthepiousdutiesofanonlydaughter，hisperpetualattendantandcompanion。
　　Besidesthisdutifulchild，theLaird’sJockhadanonlyson，uponwhomdevolvedtheperiloustaskofleadingtheclantobattle，andmaintainingthewarlikerenownofhisnativecountry，whichwasnowdisputedbytheEnglishuponmanyoccasions。TheyoungArmstrongwasactive，brave，andstrong，andbroughthomefromdangerousadventuresmanytokensofdecidedsuccess。Still，theancientchiefconceived，asitwouldseem，thathissonwasscarceyetentitledbyageandexperiencetobeentrustedwiththetwo—handedsword，bytheuseofwhichhehadhimselfbeensodreadfullydistinguished。
　　AtlengthanEnglishchampion，oneofthenameofFoster（ifI
　　rightlyrecollect），hadtheaudacitytosendachallengetothebestswordsmaninLiddesdale；andyoungArmstrong，burningforchivalrousdistinction，acceptedthechallenge。
　　Theheartofthedisabledoldmanswelledwithjoywhenheheardthatthechallengewaspassedandaccepted，andthemeetingfixedataneutralspot，usedastheplaceofrencontreuponsuchoccasions，andwhichhehimselfhaddistinguishedbynumerousvictories。Heexultedsomuchintheconquestwhichheanticipated，that，tonervehissontostillbolderexertions，heconferreduponhim，aschampionofhisclanandprovince，thecelebratedweaponwhichhehadhithertoretainedinhisowncustody。
　　Thiswasnotall。Whenthedayofcombatarrived，theLaird’sJock，inspiteofhisdaughter’saffectionateremonstrances，determined，thoughhehadnotlefthisbedfortwoyears，tobeapersonalwitnessoftheduel。Hiswillwasstillalawtohispeople，whoborehimontheirshoulders，wrappedinplaidsandblankets，tothespotwherethecombatwastotakeplace，andseatedhimonafragmentofrock，whichisstillcalledtheLaird’sJock’sstone。Thereheremainedwitheyesfixedonthelistsorbarrier，withinwhichthechampionswereabouttomeet。
　　Hisdaughter，havingdoneallshecouldforhisaccommodation，stoodmotionlessbesidehim，dividedbetweenanxietyforhishealth，andfortheeventofthecombattoherbelovedbrother。
　　Ereyetthefightbegan，theoldmengazedontheirchief，nowseenforthefirsttimeafterseveralyears，andsadlycomparedhisalteredfeaturesandwastedframewiththeparagonofstrengthandmanlybeautywhichtheyonceremembered。TheyoungmengazedonhislargeformandpowerfulmakeasuponsomeantediluviangiantwhohadsurvivedthedestructionoftheFlood。
　　Butthesoundofthetrumpetsonbothsidesrecalledtheattentionofeveryonetothelists，surroundedastheywerebynumbersofbothnationseagertowitnesstheeventoftheday。
　　Thecombatantsmetinthelists。Itisneedlesstodescribethestruggle：theScottishchampionfell。Foster，placinghisfootonhisantagonist，seizedontheredoubtedsword，sopreciousintheeyesofitsagedowner，andbrandisheditoverhisheadasatrophyofhisconquest。TheEnglishshoutedintriumph。Butthedespairingcryoftheagedchampion，whosawhiscountrydishonoured，andhissword，longtheterroroftheirrace，inthepossessionofanEnglishman，washeardhighabovetheacclamationsofvictory。Heseemedforaninstantanimatedbyallhiswontedpower；forhestartedfromtherockonwhichhesat，andwhilethegarmentswithwhichhehadbeeninvestedfellfromhiswastedframe，andshowedtheruinsofhisstrength，hetossedhisarmswildlytoheaven，andutteredacryofindignation，horror，anddespair，which，traditionsays，washeardtoapreternaturaldistance，andresembledthecryofadyinglionmorethanahumansound。
　　Hisfriendsreceivedhimintheirarmsashesankutterlyexhaustedbytheeffort，andborehimbacktohiscastleinmutesorrow；whilehisdaughteratonceweptforherbrother，andendeavouredtomitigateandsoothethedespairofherfather。
　　Butthiswasimpossible；theoldman’sonlytietolifewasrentrudelyasunder，andhishearthadbrokenwithit。Thedeathofhissonhadnopartinhissorrow。Ifhethoughtofhimatall，itwasasthedegenerateboythroughwhomthehonourofhiscountryandclanhadbeenlost；andhediedinthecourseofthreedays，neverevenmentioninghisname，butpouringoutunintermittedlamentationsforthelossofhisnoblesword。
　　Iconceivethatthemomentwhenthedisabledchiefwasrousedintoalastexertionbytheagonyofthemomentisfavourabletotheobjectofapainter。Hemightobtainthefulladvantageofcontrastingtheformoftheruggedoldman，intheextremityoffuriousdespair，withthesoftnessandbeautyofthefemaleform。
　　Thefatalfieldmightbethrownintoperspective，soastogivefulleffecttothesetwoprincipalfigures，andwiththesingleexplanationthatthepiecerepresentedasoldierbeholdinghissonslain，andthehonourofhiscountrylost，thepicturewouldbesufficientlyintelligibleatthefirstglance。Ifitwasthoughtnecessarytoshowmoreclearlythenatureoftheconflict，itmightbeindicatedbythepennonofSaintGeorgebeingdisplayedatoneendofthelists，andthatofSaintAndrewattheother。
　　Iremain，sir，Yourobedientservant，THEAUTHOROFWAVERLEY。