butinvain，fortotteringtowardsachair，shesankintoit，lookingsodeadlypaleandhorror-struckthatIthoughteverymomentshewouldfaint。
　　’MercifulGod，keepusfromharmanddanger!’mutteredsheatlength。
　　’Whatcanhaveterrifiedyouso？’saidI，beginningtofearthatshehadseensomethingmorethanhadmetmyeye。’Youappearill，mypoorwoman!’
　　’Nothing，nothing，mylady，’saidshe，rising。’Ibegyourladyship’spardonformakingsobold。MaythegreatGoddefendusfrommisfortune!’
　　’Martha，’saidI，’somethingHASfrightenedyouverymuch，andIinsistonknowingwhatitis；yourkeepingmeinthedarkuponthesubjectwillmakememuchmoreuneasythananythingyoucouldtellme。I
　　desireyou，therefore，toletmeknowwhatagitatesyou；Icommandyoutotellme。’
　　’Yourladyshipsaidyousawablackcurtainfallingacrossthedoorwhenyouwerecomingintotheroom，’saidtheoldwoman。
　　’Idid，’saidI；’butthoughthewholethingappearssomewhatstrange，Icannotseeanythinginthemattertoagitateyousoexcessively。’
　　’It’sfornogoodyousawthat，mylady，’saidthecrone；’somethingterribleiscoming。It’sasign，mylady——asignthatneverfails。’
　　’Explain，explainwhatyoumean，mygoodwoman，’saidI，inspiteofmyself，catchingmorethanIcouldaccountfor，ofhersuperstitiousterror。
　　’Wheneversomething——somethingBADisgoingtohappentotheGlenfallenfamily，someonethatbelongstothemseesablackhandkerchieforcurtainjustwavedorfallingbeforetheirfaces。Isawitmyself，’
　　continuedshe，loweringhervoice，’whenI
　　wasonlyalittlegirl，andI’llneverforgetit。Ioftenheardofitbefore，thoughI
　　neversawittillthen，norsince，praisedbeGod。ButIwasgoingintoLadyJane’sroomtowakenherinthemorning；andsureenoughwhenIgotfirsttothebedandbegantodrawthecurtain，somethingdarkwaswavedacrossthedivision，butonlyforamoment；andwhenIsawrightlyintothebed，therewasshelyingcoldanddead，Godbemercifultome!So，mylady，thereissmallblametometobedauntedwhenanyoneofthefamilyseesit；forit’smany’sthestoryIheardofit，thoughIsawitbutonce。’
　　Iwasnotofasuperstitiousturnofmind，yetIcouldnotresistafeelingofaweverynearlyalliedtothefearwhichmycompanionhadsounreservedlyexpressed；andwhenyouconsidermysituation，theloneliness，antiquity，andgloomoftheplace，youwillallowthattheweaknesswasnotwithoutexcuse。
　　InspiteofoldMartha’sbodingpredictions，however，timeflowedoninanunruffledcourse。Onelittleincidenthowever，thoughtriflinginitself，Imustrelate，asitservestomakewhatfollowsmoreintelligible。
　　Uponthedayaftermyarrival，LordGlenfallenofcoursedesiredtomakemeacquaintedwiththehouseanddomain；andaccordinglywesetforthuponourramble。
　　Whenreturning，hebecameforsometimesilentandmoody，astatesounusualwithhimasconsiderablytoexcitemysurprise。
　　Iendeavouredbyobservationsandquestionstoarousehim——butinvain。Atlength，asweapproachedthehouse，hesaid，asifspeakingtohimself：
　　’’Tweremadness——madness——madness，’
　　repeatingthewordsbitterly——’sureandspeedyruin。’
　　Therewasherealongpause；andatlength，turningsharplytowardsme，inatoneveryunlikethatinwhichhehadhithertoaddressedme，hesaid：
　　’Doyouthinkitpossiblethatawomancankeepasecret？’
　　’Iamsure，’saidI，’thatwomenareverymuchbelieduponthescoreoftalkativeness，andthatImayansweryourquestionwiththesamedirectnesswithwhichyouputit——IreplythatIDOthinkawomancankeepasecret。’
　　’ButIdonot，’saidhe，drily。
　　Wewalkedoninsilenceforatime。I
　　wasmuchastonishedathisunwontedabruptness——Ihadalmostsaidrudeness。
　　Afteraconsiderablepauseheseemedtorecollecthimself，andwithaneffortresuminghissprightlymanner，hesaid：
　　’Well，well，thenextthingtokeepingasecretwellis，nottodesiretopossessone——talkativenessandcuriositygenerallygotogether。NowIshallmaketestofyou，inthefirstplace，respectingthelatterofthesequalities。IshallbeyourBLUEBEARD——
　　tush，whydoItriflethus？Listentome，mydearFanny；Ispeaknowinsolemnearnest。WhatIdesireisintimately，inseparably，connectedwithyourhappinessandhonouraswellasmyown；andyourcompliancewithmyrequestwillnotbedifficult。Itwillimposeuponyouaverytriflingrestraintduringyoursojournhere，whichcertaineventswhichhaveoccurredsinceourarrivalhavedeterminedmeshallnotbealongone。Youmustpromiseme，uponyoursacredhonour，thatyouwillvisitONLYthatpartofthecastlewhichcanbereachedfromthefrontentrance，leavingthebackentranceandthepartofthebuildingcommandedimmediatelybyittothemenials，asalsothesmallgardenwhosehighwallyouseeyonder；andneveratanytimeseektopryorpeepintothem，nortoopenthedoorwhichcommunicatesfromthefrontpartofthehousethroughthecorridorwiththeback。Idonoturgethisinjestorincaprice，butfromasolemnconvictionthatdangerandmiserywillbethecertainconsequencesofyournotobservingwhatIprescribe。Icannotexplainmyselffurtheratpresent。Promiseme，then，thesethings，asyouhopeforpeacehere，andformercyhereafter。’
　　Ididmakethepromiseasdesired，andheappearedrelieved；hismannerrecoveredallitsgaietyandelasticity：buttherecollectionofthestrangescenewhichIhavejustdescribeddweltpainfullyuponmymind。
　　Morethanamonthpassedawaywithoutanyoccurrenceworthrecording；butI
　　wasnotdestinedtoleaveCahergillaghwithoutfurtheradventure。Oneday，intendingtoenjoythepleasantsunshineinaramblethroughthewoods，Iranuptomyroomtoprocuremybonnetandshawl。
　　Uponenteringthechamber，Iwassurprisedandsomewhatstartledtofinditoccupied。
　　Besidethefireplace，andnearlyoppositethedoor，seatedinalarge，old-fashionedelbow-chair，wasplacedthefigureofalady。Sheappearedtobenearerfiftythanforty，andwasdressedsuitablytoherage，inahandsomesuitoffloweredsilk；shehadaprofusionoftrinketsandjewelleryaboutherperson，andmanyringsuponherfingers。Butalthoughveryrich，herdresswasnotgaudyorinilltaste。Butwhatwasremarkableintheladywas，thatalthoughherfeatureswerehandsome，anduponthewholepleasing，thepupilofeacheyewasdimmedwiththewhitenessofcataract，andshewasevidentlystone-blind。
　　Iwasforsomesecondssosurprisedatthisunaccountableapparition，thatIcouldnotfindwordstoaddressher。
　　’Madam，’saidI，’theremustbesomemistakehere——thisismybed-chamber。’
　　’Marrycomeup，’saidthelady，sharply；
　　’YOURchamber!WhereisLordGlenfallen？’
　　’Heisbelow，madam，’repliedI；’andIamconvincedhewillbenotalittlesurprisedtofindyouhere。’
　　’Idonotthinkhewill，’saidshe；’withyourgoodleave，talkofwhatyouknowsomethingabout。TellhimIwanthim。
　　Whydoestheminxdilly-dallyso？’
　　Inspiteoftheawewhichthisgrimladyinspired，therewassomethinginherairofconfidentsuperioritywhich，whenI
　　consideredourrelativesituations，wasnotalittleirritating。
　　’Doyouknow，madam，towhomyouspeak？’saidI。
　　’Ineitherknownorcare，’saidshe；
　　’butIpresumethatyouaresomeoneaboutthehouse，soagainIdesireyou，ifyouwishtocontinuehere，tobringyourmasterhitherforthwith。’
　　’Imusttellyou，madam，’saidI，’thatIamLadyGlenfallen。’
　　’What’sthat？’saidthestranger，rapidly。
　　’Isay，madam，’Irepeated，approachingherthatImightbemoredistinctlyheard，’thatIamLadyGlenfallen。’
　　’It’salie，youtrull!’criedshe，inanaccentwhichmademestart，andatthesametime，springingforward，sheseizedmeinhergrasp，andshookmeviolently，repeating，’It’salie——it’salie!’witharapidityandvehemencewhichswelledeveryveinofherface。Theviolenceofheraction，andthefurywhichconvulsedherface，effectuallyterrifiedme，anddis-
　　engagingmyselffromhergrasp，IscreamedasloudasIcouldforhelp。Theblindwomancontinuedtopouroutatorrentofabuseuponme，foamingatthemouthwithrage，andimpotentlyshakingherclenchedfiststowardsme。
　　IheardLordGlenfallen’sstepuponthestairs，andIinstantlyranout；asIpassedhimIperceivedthathewasdeadlypale，andjustcaughtthewords：’Ihopethatdemonhasnothurtyou？’
　　Imadesomeanswer，Iforgetwhat，andheenteredthechamber，thedoorofwhichhelockedupontheinside。WhatpassedwithinIknownot；butIheardthevoicesofthetwospeakersraisedinloudandangryaltercation。
　　IthoughtIheardtheshrillaccentsofthewomanrepeatthewords，’Letherlooktoherself；’butIcouldnotbequitesure。Thisshortsentence，however，was，tomyalarmedimagination，pregnantwithfearfulmeaning。
　　Thestormatlengthsubsided，thoughnotuntilafteraconferenceofmorethantwolonghours。LordGlenfallenthenreturned，paleandagitated。
　　’Thatunfortunatewoman，’saidhe，’isoutofhermind。Idaresayshetreatedyoutosomeofherravings；butyouneednotdreadanyfurtherinterruptionfromher：I
　　havebroughthersofartoreason。Shedidnothurtyou，Itrust。’
　　’No，no，’saidI；’butsheterrifiedmebeyondmeasure。’
　　’Well，’saidhe，’sheislikelytobehavebetterforthefuture；andIdareswearthatneitheryounorshewoulddesire，afterwhathaspassed，tomeetagain。’
　　Thisoccurrence，sostartlingandun-
　　pleasant，soinvolvedinmystery，andgivingrisetosomanypainfulsurmises，affordedmenoveryagreeablefoodforrumination。
　　Allattemptsonmyparttoarriveatthetruthwerebaffled；LordGlenfallenevadedallmyinquiries，andatlengthperemptorilyforbidanyfurtherallusiontothematter。
　　IwasthusobligedtorestsatisfiedwithwhatIhadactuallyseen，andtotrusttotimetoresolvetheperplexitiesinwhichthewholetransactionhadinvolvedme。
　　LordGlenfallen’stemperandspiritsgraduallyunderwentacompleteandmostpainfulchange；hebecamesilentandabstracted，hismannertomewasabruptandoftenharsh，somegrievousanxietyseemedeverpresenttohismind；andunderitsinfluencehisspiritssunkandhistemperbecamesoured。
　　Isoonperceivedthathisgaietywasratherthatwhichthestirandexcitementofsocietyproduce，thantheresultofahealthyhabitofmind；everydayconfirmedmeintheopinion，thattheconsiderategood-naturewhichIhadsomuchadmiredinhimwaslittlemorethanameremanner；andtomyinfinitegriefandsurprise，thegay，kind，open-heartednoblemanwhohadformonthsfollowedandflatteredme，wasrapidlyassumingtheformofagloomy，morose，andsingularlyselfishman。
　　Thiswasabitterdiscovery，andIstrovetoconcealitfrommyselfaslongasIcould；
　　butthetruthwasnottobedenied，andI
　　wasforcedtobelievethatLordGlenfallennolongerlovedme，andthathewasatlittlepainstoconcealthealterationinhissentiments。
　　Onemorningafterbreakfast，LordGlen-
　　fallenhadbeenforsometimewalkingsilentlyupanddowntheroom，buriedinhismoodyreflections，whenpausingsuddenly，andturningtowardsme，heexclaimed：
　　’Ihaveit——Ihaveit!Wemustgoabroad，andstaytheretoo；andifthatdoesnotanswer，why——why，wemusttrysomemoreeffectualexpedient。LadyGlenfallen，I
　　havebecomeinvolvedinheavyembarrassments。
　　Awife，youknow，mustsharethefortunesofherhusband，forbetterforworse；butIwillwaivemyrightifyoupreferremaininghere——hereatCahergillagh。
　　ForIwouldnothaveyouseenelsewherewithoutthestatetowhichyourrankentitlesyou；besides，itwouldbreakyourpoormother’sheart，’headded，withsneeringgravity。’Somakeupyourmind——
　　CahergillaghorFrance。Iwillstartifpossibleinaweek，sodeterminebetweenthisandthen。’
　　Helefttheroom，andinafewmomentsIsawhimridepastthewindow，followedbyamountedservant。Hehaddirectedadomestictoinformmethatheshouldnotbebackuntilthenextday。
　　IwasinverygreatdoubtastowhatcourseofconductIshouldpursue，astoaccompanyinghiminthecontinentaltoursosuddenlydeterminedupon。Ifeltthatitwouldbeahazardtoogreattoencounter；
　　foratCahergillaghIhadalwaystheconsciousnesstosustainme，thatifhistemperatanytimeledhimintoviolentorunwarrantabletreatmentofme，Ihadaremedywithinreach，intheprotectionandsupportofmyownfamily，fromallusefulandeffectivecommunicationwithwhom，ifonceinFrance，Ishouldbeentirelydebarred。
　　AstoremainingatCahergillaghinsolitude，and，foraughtIknew，exposedtohiddendangers，itappearedtomescarcelylessobjectionablethantheformerproposition；
　　andyetIfearedthatwithoneorotherImustcomply，unlessIwaspreparedtocometoanactualbreachwithLordGlenfallen。Fulloftheseunpleasingdoubtsandperplexities，Iretiredtorest。
　　Iwaswakened，afterhavingsleptuneasilyforsomehours，bysomepersonshakingmerudelybytheshoulder；asmalllampburnedinmyroom，andbyitslight，tomyhorrorandamazement，Idiscoveredthatmyvisitantwastheself-sameblindoldladywhohadsoterrifiedmeafewweeksbefore。
　　Istartedupinthebed，withaviewtoringthebell，andalarmthedomestics；butsheinstantlyanticipatedmebysaying：
　　’Donotbefrightened，sillygirl!IfIhadwishedtoharmyouIcouldhavedoneitwhileyouweresleeping；Ineednothavewakenedyou。Listentome，now，attentivelyandfearlessly，forwhatIhavetosayinterestsyoutothefullasmuchasitdoesme。Tellmehere，inthepresenceofGod，didLordGlenfallenmarryyou——ACTUALLY
　　MARRYyou？Speakthetruth，woman。’
　　’AssurelyasIliveandspeak，’I
　　replied，’didLordGlenfallenmarryme，inpresenceofmorethanahundredwitnesses。’
　　’Well，’continuedshe，’heshouldhavetoldyouTHEN，beforeyoumarriedhim，thathehadawifeliving，whichwifeIam。I
　　feelyoutremble——tush!donotbefrightened。
　　Idonotmeantoharmyou。Markmenow——youareNOThiswife。WhenI
　　makemystoryknownyouwillbesoneitherintheeyeofGodnorofman。Youmustleavethishouseuponto-morrow。
　　Lettheworldknowthatyourhusbandhasanotherwifeliving；goyouintoretirement，andleavehimtojustice，whichwillsurelyovertakehim。Ifyouremaininthishouseafterto-morrowyouwillreapthebitterfruitsofyoursin。’