Thestrangersaidhardlyanythingduringhisvisit，whichdidnotexceedhalfanhour；andthehosthimselfcouldscarcelymustercourageenoughtoutterthefewnecessarysalutationsandcourtesies：and，indeed，suchwasthenervousterrorwhichthepresenceofVanderhauseninspired，thatverylittlewouldhavemadeallhisentertainersflybellowingfromtheroom。
　　Theyhadnotsofarlostallself-
　　possession，however，astofailtoobservetwostrangepeculiaritiesoftheirvisitor。
　　Duringhisstayhedidnotoncesufferhiseyelidstoclose，noreventomoveintheslightestdegree；andfurther，therewasadeath-likestillnessinhiswholeperson，owingtothetotalabsenceoftheheavingmotionofthechest，causedbytheprocessofrespiration。
　　Thesetwopeculiarities，thoughwhentoldtheymayappeartrifling，producedaverystrikingandunpleasanteffectwhenseenandobserved。VanderhausenatlengthrelievedthepainterofLeydenofhisinauspiciouspresence；andwithnosmallgratificationthelittlepartyheardthestreet-doorcloseafterhim。
　　’Dearuncle，’saidRose，’whatafrightfulman!IwouldnotseehimagainforthewealthoftheStates!’
　　’Tush，foolishgirl!’saidDouw，whosesensationswereanythingbutcomfortable。
　　’Amanmaybeasuglyasthedevil，andyetifhisheartandactionsaregood，heisworthallthepretty-faced，perfumedpuppiesthatwalktheMall。Rose，mygirl，itisverytruehehasnotthyprettyface，butIknowhimtobewealthyandliberal；andwerehetentimesmoreugly——’
　　’Whichisinconceivable，’observedRose。
　　’Thesetwovirtueswouldbesufficient，’
　　continuedheruncle，’tocounterbalanceallhisdeformity；andifnotofpowersufficientactuallytoaltertheshapeofthefeatures，atleastofefficacyenoughtopreventonethinkingthemamiss。’
　　’Doyouknow，uncle，’saidRose，’whenIsawhimstandingatthedoor，IcouldnotgetitoutofmyheadthatIsawtheold，painted，woodenfigurethatusedtofrightenmesomuchinthechurchofSt。
　　LaurenceofRotterdam。’
　　Gerardlaughed，thoughhecouldnothelpinwardlyacknowledgingthejustnessofthecomparison。Hewasresolved，however，asfarashecould，tocheckhisniece’sinclinationtoridiculetheuglinessofherintendedbridegroom，althoughhewasnotalittlepleasedtoobservethatsheappearedtotallyexemptfromthatmysteriousdreadofthestrangerwhich，hecouldnotdisguiseitfromhimself，considerablyaffectedhim，asalsohispupilGodfreySchalken。
　　Earlyonthenextdaytherearrived，fromvariousquartersofthetown，richpresentsofsilks，velvets，jewellery，andsoforth，forRose；andalsoapacketdirectedtoGerardDouw，which，onbeingopened，wasfoundtocontainacontractofmarriage，formallydrawnup，betweenWilkenVanderhausenoftheBoom-quay，inRotterdam，andRoseVelderkaustofLeyden，niecetoGerardDouw，masterintheartofpainting，alsoofthesamecity；andcontainingengagementsonthepartofVanderhausentomakesettlementsuponhisbride，farmoresplendidthanhehadbeforeledherguardiantobelievelikely，andwhichweretobesecuredtoheruseinthemostunexceptionablemannerpossible——themoneybeingplacedinthehandsofGerardDouwhimself。
　　Ihavenosentimentalscenestodescribe，nocrueltyofguardians，ormagnanimityofwards，oragoniesoflovers。TherecordI
　　havetomakeisoneofsordidness，levity，andinterest。Inlessthanaweekafterthefirstinterviewwhichwehavejustdescribed，thecontractofmarriagewasfulfilled，andSchalkensawtheprizewhichhewouldhaveriskedanythingtosecure，carriedofftriumphantlybyhisformidablerival。
　　Fortwoorthreedaysheabsentedhimselffromtheschool；hethenreturnedandworked，ifwithlesscheerfulness，withfarmoredoggedresolutionthanbefore；
　　thedreamoflovehadgivenplacetothatofambition。
　　Monthspassedaway，and，contrarytohisexpectation，and，indeed，tothedirectpromiseoftheparties，GerardDouwheardnothingofhisniece，orherworshipfulspouse。Theinterestofthemoney，whichwastohavebeendemandedinquarterlysums，layunclaimedinhishands。Hebegantogrowextremelyuneasy。
　　MynherVanderhausen’sdirectioninRotterdamhewasfullypossessedof。Aftersomeirresolutionhefinallydeterminedtojourneythither——atriflingundertaking，andeasilyaccomplished——andthustosatisfyhimselfofthesafetyandcomfortofhisward，forwhomheentertainedanhonestandstrongaffection。
　　Hissearchwasinvain，however。NooneinRotterdamhadeverheardofMynherVanderhausen。
　　GerardDouwleftnotahouseintheBoom-quayuntried；butallinvain。Noonecouldgivehimanyinformationwhatevertouchingtheobjectofhisinquiry；
　　andhewasobligedtoreturntoLeyden，nothingwiserthanwhenhehadleftit。
　　OnhisarrivalhehastenedtotheestablishmentfromwhichVanderhausenhadhiredthelumberingthough，consideringthetimes，mostluxuriousvehiclewhichthebridalpartyhademployedtoconveythemtoRotterdam。Fromthedriverofthismachinehelearned，thathavingproceededbyslowstages，theyhadlateintheeveningapproachedRotterdam；butthatbeforetheyenteredthecity，andwhileyetnearlyamilefromit，asmallpartyofmen，soberlyclad，andaftertheoldfashion，withpeakedbeardsandmoustaches，standinginthecentreoftheroad，obstructedthefurtherprogressofthecar-
　　riage。Thedriverreinedinhishorses，muchfearing，fromtheobscurityofthehour，andthelonelinessoftheroad，thatsomemischiefwasintended。
　　Hisfearswere，however，somewhatallayedbyhisobservingthatthesestrangemencarriedalargelitter，ofanantiqueshape，andwhichtheyimmediatelysetdownuponthepavement，whereuponthebridegroom，havingopenedthecoach-doorfromwithin，descended，andhavingassistedhisbridetodolikewise，ledher，weepingbitterlyandwringingherhands，tothelitter，whichtheybothentered。Itwasthenraisedbythemenwhosurroundedit，andspeedilycarriedtowardsthecity，andbeforeithadproceededmanyyardsthedarknessconcealeditfromtheviewoftheDutchcharioteer。
　　Intheinsideofthevehiclehefoundapurse，whosecontentsmorethanthricepaidthehireofthecarriageandman。
　　HesawandcouldtellnothingmoreofMynherVanderhausenandhisbeautifullady。ThismysterywasasourceofdeepanxietyandalmostofgrieftoGerardDouw。
　　TherewasevidentlyfraudinthedealingofVanderhausenwithhim，thoughforwhatpurposecommittedhecouldnotimagine。
　　Hegreatlydoubtedhowfaritwaspossibleforamanpossessinginhiscountenancesostronganevidenceofthepresenceofthemostdemoniacfeelings，tobeinrealityanythingbutavillain；andeverydaythatpassedwithouthishearingfromorofhisniece，insteadofinducinghimtoforgethisfears，onthecontrarytendedmoreandmoretoexasperatethem。
　　Thelossofhisniece’scheerfulsocietytendedalsotodepresshisspirits；andinordertodispelthisdespondency，whichoftencreptuponhismindafterhisdailyemploymentwasover，hewaswontfrequentlytoprevailuponSchalkentoaccompanyhimhome，andbyhispresencetodispel，insomedegree，thegloomofhisotherwisesolitarysupper。
　　Oneevening，thepainterandhispupilweresittingbythefire，havingaccomplishedacomfortablesupper，andhadyieldedtothatsilentpensivenesssometimesinducedbytheprocessofdigestion，whentheirreflectionsweredisturbedbyaloudsoundatthestreet-door，asifoccasionedbysomepersonrushingforciblyandrepeatedlyagainstit。Adomestichadrunwithoutdelaytoascertainthecauseofthedisturbance，andtheyheardhimtwiceorthriceinterrogatetheapplicantforadmis-
　　sion，butwithoutproducinganansweroranycessationofthesounds。
　　Theyheardhimthenopenthehall-door，andimmediatelytherefollowedalightandrapidtreaduponthestaircase。Schalkenlaidhishandonhissword，andadvancedtowardsthedoor。Itopenedbeforehereachedit，andRoserushedintotheroom。
　　Shelookedwildandhaggard，andpalewithexhaustionandterror；butherdresssurprisedthemasmuchevenasherunexpectedappearance。Itconsistedofakindofwhitewoollenwrapper，madecloseabouttheneck，anddescendingtotheveryground。Itwasmuchderangedandtravel-soiled。Thepoorcreaturehadhardlyenteredthechamberwhenshefellsenselessonthefloor。Withsomedifficultytheysucceededinrevivingher，andonrecoveringhersensessheinstantlyex-
　　claimed，inatoneofeager，terrifiedimpatience：
　　’Wine，wine，quickly，orI’mlost!’
　　Muchalarmedatthestrangeagitationinwhichthecallwasmade，theyatonceadministeredtoherwishes，andshedranksomewinewithahasteandeagernesswhichsurprisedthem。Shehadhardlyswallowedit，whensheexclaimed，withthesameurgency：
　　’Food，food，atonce，orIperish!’
　　Aconsiderablefragmentofaroastjointwasuponthetable，andSchalkenimmediatelyproceededtocutsome，buthewasanticipated；fornosoonerhadshebecomeawareofitspresencethanshedartedatitwiththerapacityofavulture，and，seizingitinherhandsshetoreoffthefleshwithherteethandswallowedit。
　　Whentheparoxysmofhungerhadbeenalittleappeased，sheappearedsuddenlytobecomeawarehowstrangeherconducthadbeen，oritmayhavebeenthatothermoreagitatingthoughtsrecurredtohermind，forshebegantoweepbitterlyandtowringherhands。
　　’Oh!sendforaministerofGod，’saidshe；’Iamnotsafetillhecomes；sendforhimspeedily。’
　　GerardDouwdespatchedamessengerinstantly，andprevailedonhisniecetoallowhimtosurrenderhisbedchambertoheruse；healsopersuadedhertoretiretoitatonceandtorest；herconsentwasextortedupontheconditionthattheywouldnotleaveherforamoment。
　　’Ohthattheholymanwerehere!’shesaid；’hecandeliverme。Thedeadandthelivingcanneverbeone——Godhasforbiddenit。’
　　Withthesemysteriouswordsshesurrenderedherselftotheirguidance，andtheyproceededtothechamberwhichGerardDouwhadassignedtoheruse。
　　’Donot——donotleavemeforamoment，’saidshe。’Iamlostforeverifyoudo。’
　　GerardDouw’schamberwasapproachedthroughaspaciousapartment，whichtheywerenowabouttoenter。GerardDouwandSchalkeneachcarriedawascandle，sothatasufficientdegreeoflightwascastuponallsurroundingobjects。Theywerenowenteringthelargechamber，which，asIhavesaid，communicatedwithDouw’sapartment，whenRosesuddenlystopped，and，inawhisperwhichseemedtothrillwithhorror，shesaid：
　　’OGod!heishere——heishere!See，see——therehegoes!’
　　Shepointedtowardsthedooroftheinnerroom，andSchalkenthoughthesawashadowyandill-definedformglidingintothatapartment。Hedrewhissword，andraisingthecandlesoastothrowitslightwithincreaseddistinctnessupontheobjectsintheroom，heenteredthechamberintowhichtheshadowhadglided。Nofigurewasthere——nothingbutthefurniturewhichbelongedtotheroom，andyethecouldnotbedeceivedastothefactthatsomethinghadmovedbeforethemintothechamber。
　　Asickeningdreadcameuponhim，andthecoldperspirationbrokeoutinheavydropsuponhisforehead；norwashemorecomposedwhenheheardtheincreasedurgency，theagonyofentreaty，withwhichRoseimploredthemnottoleaveherforamoment。
　　’Isawhim，’saidshe。’He’shere!I
　　cannotbedeceived——Iknowhim。He’sbyme——he’swithme——he’sintheroom。
　　Then，forGod’ssake，asyouwouldsave，donotstirfrombesideme!’
　　Theyatlengthprevaileduponhertoliedownuponthebed，whereshecontinuedtourgethemtostaybyher。Shefrequentlyutteredincoherentsentences，repeatingagainandagain，’Thedeadandthelivingcannotbeone——Godhasforbiddenit!’andthenagain，’Resttothewakeful——sleeptothesleep-walkers。’
　　Theseandsuchmysteriousandbrokensentencesshecontinuedtoutteruntiltheclergymanarrived。
　　GerardDouwbegantofear，naturallyenough，thatthepoorgirl，owingtoterrororill-treatment，hadbecomederanged；andhehalfsuspected，bythesuddennessofherappearance，andtheunseasonablenessofthehour，and，aboveall，fromthewildnessandterrorofhermanner，thatshehadmadeherescapefromsomeplaceofconfinementforlunatics，andwasinimmediatefearofpursuit。Heresolvedtosummonmedicaladviceassoonasthemindofhisniecehadbeeninsomemeasuresetatrestbytheofficesoftheclergymanwhoseattendanceshehadsoearnestlydesired；anduntilthisobjecthadbeenattained，hedidnotventuretoputanyquestionstoher，whichmightpossibly，byrevivingpainfulorhorriblerecollections，increaseheragitation。
　　Theclergymansoonarrived——amanofasceticcountenanceandvenerableage