regardedtheeventwhichwastoseparateme，asitturnedout，foreverfromasisterwhosetendernessalonehadhithertomorethansuppliedallthatIwantedinmymother’saffection。
　　ThedaysoonarrivedwhichwastoremovethehappycouplefromAshtownHouse。Thecarriagestoodatthehall-
　　door，andmypoorsisterkissedmeagainandagain，tellingmethatIshouldseehersoon。
　　Thecarriagedroveaway，andIgazedafterituntilmyeyesfilledwithtears，and，returningslowlytomychamber，Iweptmorebitterlyand，sotospeak，moredesolately，thaneverIhaddonebefore。
　　Myfatherhadneverseemedtoloveortotakeaninterestinme。Hehaddesiredason，andIthinkheneverthoroughlyforgavememyunfortunatesex。
　　Myhavingcomeintotheworldatallashischildheregardedasakindoffraudulentintrusion，andashisantipathytomehaditsorigininanimperfectionofmine，tooradicalforremoval，Ineverevenhopedtostandhighinhisgoodgraces。
　　Mymotherwas，Idaresay，asfondofmeasshewasofanyone；butshewasawomanofamasculineandaworldlycastofmind。Shehadnotendernessorsympathyfortheweaknesses，orevenfortheaffections，ofwoman’snatureandherdemeanourtowardsmewasperemptory，andoftenevenharsh。
　　Itisnottobesupposed，then，thatI
　　foundinthesocietyofmyparentsmuchtosupplythelossofmysister。Aboutayearafterhermarriage，wereceivedlettersfromMr。Carew，containingaccountsofmysister’shealth，which，thoughnotactuallyalarming，werecalculatedtomakeusseriouslyuneasy。Thesymptomsmostdweltuponwerelossofappetiteandcough。
　　Thelettersconcludedbyintimatingthathewouldavailhimselfofmyfatherandmother’srepeatedinvitationtospendsometimeatAshtown，particularlyasthephysicianwhohadbeenconsultedastomysister’shealthhadstronglyadvisedaremovaltohernativeair。
　　Therewereaddedrepeatedassurancesthatnothingseriouswasapprehended，asitwassupposedthataderangedstateoftheliverwastheonlysourceofthesymptomswhichatfirsthadseemedtointimateconsumption。
　　Inaccordancewiththisannouncement，mysisterandMr。CarewarrivedinDublin，whereoneofmyfather’scarriagesawaitedthem，inreadinesstostartuponwhateverdayorhourtheymightchoosefortheirdepartureItwasarrangedthatMr。Carewwas，assoonasthedayuponwhichtheyweretoleaveDublinwasdefinitelyfixed，towritetomyfather，whointendedthatthetwolaststagesshouldbeperformedbyhisownhorses，uponwhosespeedandsafetyfarmorereliancemightbeplacedthanuponthoseoftheordinarypost-horses，whichwereatthattime，almostwithoutexception，oftheveryworstorder。Thejourney，oneofaboutninetymiles，wastobedivided；thelargerportionbeingreservedforthesecondday。
　　OnSundayaletterreachedus，statingthatthepartywouldleaveDublinonMonday，and，induecourse，reachAshtownuponTuesdayevening。
　　Tuesdaycametheeveningclosedin，andyetnocarriage；darknesscameon，andstillnosignofourexpectedvisitors。
　　Hourafterhourpassedaway，anditwasnowpasttwelve；thenightwasremarkablycalm，scarceabreathstirring，sothatanysound，suchasthatproducedbytherapidmovementofavehicle，wouldhavebeenaudibleataconsiderabledistance。ForsomesuchsoundIwasfeverishlylistening。
　　Itwas，however，myfather’sruletoclosethehouseatnightfall，andthewindow-
　　shuttersbeingfastened，IwasunabletoreconnoitretheavenueasIwouldhavewished。Itwasnearlyoneo’clock，andwebeganalmosttodespairofseeingthemuponthatnight，whenIthoughtIdistinguishedthesoundofwheels，butsoremoteandfaintastomakemeatfirstveryuncertain。Thenoiseapproached；itbecamelouderandclearer；itstoppedforamoment。
　　Inowheardtheshrillscreamingoftherustyiron，astheavenue-gaterevolvedonitshinges；againcamethesoundofwheelsinrapidmotion。
　　’Itisthey，’saidI，startingup；’thecarriageisintheavenue。’
　　Weallstoodforafewmomentsbreathlesslylistening。Onthunderedthevehiclewiththespeedofawhirlwind；crackwentthewhip，andclatterwentthewheels，asitrattledovertheunevenpavementofthecourt。Ageneralandfuriousbarkingfromallthedogsaboutthehouse，haileditsarrival。
　　Wehurriedtothehallintimetohearthestepsletdownwiththesharpclangingnoisepeculiartotheoperation，andthehumofvoicesexertedinthebustleofarrival。
　　Thehall-doorwasnowthrownopen，andweallsteppedforthtogreetourvisitors。
　　Thecourtwasperfectlyempty；themoonwasshiningbroadlyandbrightlyuponallaround；nothingwastobeseenbutthetalltreeswiththeirlongspectralshadows，nowwetwiththedewsofmidnight。
　　Westoodgazingfromrighttoleft，asifsuddenlyawakenedfromadream；thedogswalkedsuspiciously，growlingandsnuffingaboutthecourt，andbytotallyandsuddenlyceasingtheirformerloudbarking，expressingthepredominanceoffear。
　　Westaredoneuponanotherinperplexityanddismay，andIthinkIneverbeheldmorepalefacesassembled。Bymyfather’sdirection，welookedabouttofindanythingwhichmightindicateoraccountforthenoisewhichwehadheard；butnosuchthingwastobeseen——eventhemirewhichlayupontheavenuewasundisturbed。
　　Wereturnedtothehouse，morepanic-struckthanIcandescribe。
　　Onthenextday，welearnedbyamessenger，whohadriddenhardthegreaterpartofthenight，thatmysisterwasdead。
　　OnSundayevening，shehadretiredtobedratherunwell，and，onMonday，herindispositiondeclareditselfunequivocallytobemalignantfever。Shebecamehourlyworseand，onTuesdaynight，alittleaftermidnight，sheexpired。[2]
　　[2]TheresiduarylegateeofthelateFrancesPurcell，whohasthehonourofselectingsuchofhislamentedoldfriend’smanuscriptsasmayappearfitforpublication，inorderthatthelorewhichtheycontainmayreachtheworldbeforescepticismandutilityhaverobbedourspeciesofthepreciousgiftofcredulity，andscornfullykickedbeforethem，ortrampledintoannihilationthoseharmlessfragmentsofpicturesquesuperstitionwhichitisourobjecttopreserve，hasbeensubjectedtothechargeofdealingtoolargelyinthemarvellous；andithasbeenhalfinsinuatedthatsuchishislovefordiablerie，thatheiscontenttowanderamileoutofhisway，inordertomeetafiendoragoblin，andthustosacrificeallregardfortruthandaccuracytotheidlehopeofaffrightingtheimagination，andthuspanderingtothebadtasteofhisreader。Hebegsleave，then，totakethisopportunityofassertinghisperfectinnocenceofallthecrimeslaidtohischarge，andtoassurehisreaderthatheneverPANDEREDTOHIS
　　BADTASTE，norwentoneinchoutofhiswaytointroducewitch，fairy，devil，ghost，oranyotherofthegrimfraternityoftheredoubtedRaw-head-and-bloody-bones。Hisprovince，touchingthesetales，hasbeenattendedwithnodifficultyandlittleresponsibility；indeed，heisaccountablefornothingmorethananalterationinthenamesofpersonsmentionedtherein，whensuchastepseemednecessary，andforanoccasionalnote，wheneverheconceiveditpossible，innocently，toedgeinaword。
　　ThesetaleshavebeenWRITTENDOWN，astheheadingofeachannounces，bytheRev。FrancisPurcell，P。P。，ofDrumcoolagh；andinalltheinstances，whicharemany，inwhichthepresentwriterhashadanopportunityofcomparingthemanuscriptofhisdepartedfriendwiththeactualtraditionswhicharecurrentamongstthefamilieswhosefortunestheypretendtoillustrate，hehasuniformlyfoundthatwhateverofsupernaturaloccurredinthestory，sofarfromhavingbeenexaggeratedbyhim，hadbeenrathersofteneddown，and，whereveritcouldbeattempted，accountedfor。
　　Imentionthiscircumstance，becauseitwasoneuponwhichathousandwildandfantasticalreportswerefounded，thoughonewouldhavethoughtthatthetruthscarcelyrequiredtobeimprovedupon；
　　andagain，becauseitproducedastrongandlastingeffectuponmyspirits，andindeed，Iaminclinedtothink，uponmycharacter。
　　Iwas，forseveralyearsafterthisoccurrence，longaftertheviolenceofmygriefsubsided，sowretchedlylow-spiritedandnervous，thatIcouldscarcelybesaidtolive；andduringthistime，habitsofindecision，arisingoutofalistlessacquiescenceinthewillofothers，afearofencounteringeventheslightestopposition，andadispositiontoshrinkfromwhatarecommonlycalledamusements，grewuponmesostrongly，thatIhavescarcelyevenyetaltogetherovercomethem。
　　WesawnothingmoreofMr。Carew。
　　HereturnedtoEnglandassoonasthemelancholyritesattendantupontheeventwhichIhavejustmentionedwereperformed；
　　andnotbeingaltogetherinconsolable，hemarriedagainwithintwoyears；
　　afterwhich，owingtotheremotenessofourrelativesituations，andothercircumstances，wegraduallylostsightofhim。
　　Iwasnowanonlychild；and，asmyeldersisterhaddiedwithoutissue，itwasevidentthat，intheordinarycourseofthings，myfather’sproperty，whichwasaltogetherinhispower，wouldgotome；
　　andtheconsequencewas，thatbeforeIwasfourteen，AshtownHousewasbesiegedbyahostofsuitors。However，whetheritwasthatIwastooyoung，orthatnoneoftheaspirantstomyhandstoodsufficientlyhighinrankorwealth，IwassufferedbybothparentstodoexactlyasIpleased；andwellwasitforme，asIafterwardsfound，thatfortune，orratherProvidence，hadsoordainedit，thatIhadnotsufferedmyaffectionstobecomeinanydegreeengaged，formymotherwouldneverhavesufferedanySILLYFANCYofmine，asshewasinthehabitofstylinganattachment，tostandinthewayofherambitiousviews——
　　viewswhichshewasdeterminedtocarryintoeffect，indefianceofeveryobstacle，andinordertoaccomplishwhichshewouldnothavehesitatedtosacrificeanythingsounreasonableandcontemptibleasagirlishpassion。
　　WhenIreachedtheageofsixteen，mymother’splansbegantodevelopthem-
　　selves；and，athersuggestion，wemovedtoDublintosojournforthewinter，inorderthatnotimemightbelostindisposingofmetothebestadvantage。
　　Ihadbeentoolongaccustomedtoconsidermyselfasofnoimportancewhatever，tobelieveforamomentthatIwasinrealitythecauseofallthebustleandpreparationwhichsurroundedme，andbeingthusrelievedfromthepainwhichaconsciousnessofmyrealsituationwouldhaveinflicted，Ijourneyedtowardsthecapitalwithafeelingoftotalindifference。
　　Myfather’swealthandconnectionhadestablishedhiminthebestsociety，and，consequently，uponourarrivalinthemetropoliswecommandedwhateverenjoymentoradvantagesitsgaietiesafforded。
　　ThetumultandnoveltyofthescenesinwhichIwasinvolveddidnotfailcon-
　　siderablytoamuseme，andmymindgraduallyrecovereditstone，whichwasnaturallycheerful。
　　ItwasalmostimmediatelyknownandreportedthatIwasanheiress，andofcoursemyattractionswereprettygenerallyacknowledged。
　　Amongthemanygentlemenwhomitwasmyfortunetoplease，one，erelong，establishedhimselfinmymother’sgoodgraces，totheexclusionofalllessimportantaspirants。However，Ihadnotunderstoodorevenremarkedhisattentions，norintheslightestdegreesuspectedhisormymother’splansrespectingme，whenI
　　wasmadeawareofthemratherabruptlybymymotherherself。
　　Wehadattendedasplendidball，givenbyLordM——，athisresidenceinStephen’sGreen，andIwas，withtheassist-
　　anceofmywaiting-maid，employedinrapidlydivestingmyselfoftherichornamentswhich，inprofusenessandvalue，couldscarcelyhavefoundtheirequalsinanyprivatefamilyinIreland。
　　Ihadthrownmyselfintoalounging-
　　chairbesidethefire，listlessandexhausted，afterthefatiguesoftheevening，whenI
　　wasarousedfromthereverieintowhichI
　　hadfallenbythesoundoffootstepsapproachingmychamber，andmymotherentered。
　　’Fanny，mydear，’saidshe，inhersoftesttone，’IwishtosayawordortwowithyoubeforeIgotorest。Youarenotfatigued，love，Ihope？’
　　’No，no，madam，Ithankyou，’saidI，risingatthesametimefrommyseat，withtheformalrespectsolittlepractisednow。
　　’Sitdown，mydear，’saidshe，placingherselfuponachairbesideme；’Imustchatwithyouforaquarterofanhourorso。
　　Saunders’tothemaid’youmayleavetheroom；donotclosetheroom-door，butshutthatofthelobby。’
　　Thisprecautionagainstcuriousearshavingbeentakenasdirected，mymotherproceeded。
　　’Youhaveobserved，Ishouldsuppose，mydearestFanny——indeed，youMUSThaveobservedLordGlenfallen’smarkedattentionstoyou？’
　　’Iassureyou，madam——’Ibegan。
　　’Well，well，thatisallright，’interruptedmymother；’ofcourseyoumustbemodestuponthematter；butlistentomeforafewmoments，mylove，andIwillprovetoyoursatisfactionthatyourmodestyisquiteunnecessaryinthiscase。Youhavedonebetterthanwecouldhavehoped，atleastsoverysoon。LordGlenfallenisinlovewithyou。Igiveyoujoyofyourconquest；’andsayingthis，mymotherkissedmyforehead。
　　’Inlovewithme!’Iexclaimed，inunfeignedastonishment。
　　’Yes，inlovewithyou，’repeatedmymother；’devotedly，distractedlyinlovewithyou。Why，mydear，whatistherewonderfulinit？Lookintheglass，andlookatthese，’shecontinued，pointingwithasmiletothejewelswhichIhadjustremovedfrommyperson，andwhichnowlayaglitteringheapuponthetable。
　　’Maytherenot，’saidI，hesitatingbetweenconfusionandrealalarm——’isitnotpossiblethatsomemistakemaybeatthebottomofallthis？’
　　’Mistake，dearest!none，’saidmymother。’None；noneintheworld。Judgeforyourself；readthis，mylove。’Andsheplacedinmyhandaletter，addressedtoherself，thesealofwhichwasbroken。I
　　readitthroughwithnosmallsurprise。
　　Aftersomeveryfinecomplimentaryflourishesuponmybeautyandperfections，asalsoupontheantiquityandhighreputationofourfamily，itwentontomakeaformalproposalofmarriage，tobecommunicatedornottomeatpresent，asmymothershoulddeemexpedient；andtheletterwoundupbyarequestthatthewritermightbepermitted，uponourreturntoAshtownHouse，whichwassoontotakeplace，asthespringwasnowtolerablyadvanced，tovisitusforafewdays，incasehissuitwasapproved。
　　’Well，well，mydear，’saidmymother，impatiently；’doyouknowwhoLordGlenfallenis？’
　　’Ido，madam，’saidIrathertimidly，forIdreadedanaltercationwithmymother。