Sosaying，shequittedtheroom，leavingmeverylittledisposedtosleep。
　　Herewasfoodformyveryworstandmostterriblesuspicions；stilltherewasnotenoughtoremovealldoubt。Ihadnoproofofthetruthofthiswoman’sstatement。
　　Takenbyitself，therewasnothingtoinducemetoattachweighttoit；butwhenIvieweditinconnectionwiththeextraordinarymysteryofsomeofLordGlen-
　　fallen’sproceedings，hisstrangeanxietytoexcludemefromcertainportionsofthemansion，doubtlesslestIshouldencounterthisperson——thestronginfluence，nay，commandwhichshepossessedoverhim，acircumstanceclearlyestablishedbytheveryfactofherresidingintheveryplacewhere，ofallothers，heshouldleasthavedesiredtofindher——herthusacting，andcontinuingtoactindirectcontradictiontohiswishes；
　　when，Isay，Iviewedherdisclosureinconnectionwithallthesecircumstances，Icouldnothelpfeelingthattherewasatleastafearfulverisimilitudeintheallegationswhichshehadmade。
　　StillIwasnotsatisfied，nornearlyso。
　　Youngmindshaveareluctancealmostinsurmountabletobelieving，uponanythingshortofunquestionableproof，theexistenceofpremeditatedguiltinanyonewhomtheyhaveevertrusted；andinsupportofthisfeelingIwasassuredthatiftheassertionofLordGlenfallen，whichnothinginthiswoman’smannerhadledmetodisbelieve，weretrue，namelythathermindwasunsound，thewholefabricofmydoubtsandfearsmustfalltotheground。
　　IdeterminedtostatetoLordGlenfallenfreelyandaccuratelythesubstanceofthecommunicationwhichIhadjustheard，andinhiswordsandlookstoseekforitsprooforrefutation。Fullofthesethoughts，I
　　remainedwakefulandexcitedallnight，everymomentfancyingthatIheardthesteporsawthefigureofmyrecentvisitor，towardswhomIfeltaspeciesofhorroranddreadwhichIcanhardlydescribe。
　　Therewassomethinginherface，thoughherfeatureshadevidentlybeenhandsome，andwerenot，atfirstsight，unpleasing，which，uponanearerinspection，seemedtoindicatethehabitualprevalenceandindulgenceofevilpassions，andapowerofexpressingmereanimalanger，withanintensenessthatIhaveseldomseenequalled，andtowhichanalmostunearthlyeffectwasgivenbytheconvulsivequiveringofthesightlesseyes。
　　Youmayeasilysupposethatitwasnoverypleasingreflectiontometoconsiderthat，whenevercapricemightinducehertoreturn，Iwaswithinthereachofthisviolentand，foraughtIknew，insanewoman，whohad，uponthatverynight，spokentomeinatoneofmenace，ofwhichhermerewords，divestedofthemannerandlookwithwhichsheutteredthem，canconveybutafaintidea。
　　WillyoubelievemewhenItellyouthatIwasactuallyafraidtoleavemybedinordertosecurethedoor，lestIshouldagainencounterthedreadfulobjectlurkinginsomecornerorpeepingfrombehindthewindow-curtains，soveryachildwasI
　　inmyfears。
　　Themorningcame，andwithitLordGlenfallen。Iknewnot，andindeedIcarednot，wherehemighthavebeen；mythoughtswerewhollyengrossedbytheterriblefearsandsuspicionswhichmylastnight’sconferencehadsuggestedtome。
　　Hewas，asusual，gloomyandabstracted，andIfearedinnoveryfittingmoodtohearwhatIhadtosaywithpatience，whetherthechargesweretrueorfalse。
　　Iwas，however，determinednottosuffertheopportunitytopass，orLordGlenfallentoleavetheroom，until，atallhazards，Ihadunburdenedmymind。
　　’Mylord，’saidI，afteralongsilence，summoningupallmyfirmness——’mylord，Iwishtosayafewwordstoyouuponamatterofverygreatimportance，ofverydeepconcernmenttoyouandtome。’
　　Ifixedmyeyesuponhimtodiscern，ifpossible，whethertheannouncementcausedhimanyuneasiness；butnosymptomofanysuchfeelingwasperceptible。
　　’Well，mydear，’saidhe，’thisisnodoubtaverygravepreface，andportends，Ihavenodoubt，somethingextraordinary。
　　Prayletushaveitwithoutmoreado。’
　　Hetookachair，andseatedhimselfnearlyoppositetome。
　　’Mylord，’saidI，’Ihaveseenthepersonwhoalarmedmesomuchashorttimesince，theblindlady，again，uponlastnight。’Hisface，uponwhichmyeyeswerefixed，turnedpale；hehesitatedforamoment，andthensaid：
　　’Anddidyou，pray，madam，sototallyforgetorspurnmyexpresscommand，astoenterthatportionofthehousefromwhichyourpromise，Imightsayyouroath，excludedyou？——answermethat!’headdedfiercely。
　　’Mylord，’saidI，’IhaveneitherforgottenyourCOMMANDS，sincesuchtheywere，nordisobeyedthem。Iwas，lastnight，wakenedfrommysleep，asIlayinmyownchamber，andaccostedbythepersonwhomIhavementioned。HowshefoundaccesstotheroomIcannotpretendtosay。’
　　’Ha!thismustbelookedto，’saidhe，halfreflectively；’andpray，’addedhe，quickly，whileinturnhefixedhiseyesuponme，’whatdidthispersonsay？sincesomecommentuponhercommunicationforms，nodoubt，thesequeltoyourpreface。’
　　’Yourlordshipisnotmistaken，’saidI；
　　’herstatementwassoextraordinarythatIcouldnotthinkofwithholdingitfromyou。Shetoldme，mylord，thatyouhadawifelivingatthetimeyoumarriedme，andthatshewasthatwife。’
　　LordGlenfallenbecameashypale，almostlivid；hemadetwoorthreeeffortstoclearhisvoicetospeak，butinvain，andturningsuddenlyfromme，hewalkedtothewindow。Thehorroranddismaywhich，intheoldentime，overwhelmedthewomanofEndorwhenherspellsunexpectedlyconjuredthedeadintoherpresence，werebuttypesofwhatIfeltwhenthuspresentedwithwhatappearedtobealmostunequivocalevidenceoftheguiltwhoseexistenceIhadbeforesostronglydoubted。
　　Therewasasilenceofsomemoments，duringwhichitwerehardtoconjecturewhetherIormycompanionsufferedmost。
　　LordGlenfallensoonrecoveredhisself-
　　command；hereturnedtothetable，againsatdownandsaid：
　　’Whatyouhavetoldmehassoastonishedme，hasunfoldedsuchatissueofmotivelessguilt，andinaquarterfromwhichIhadsolittlereasontolookforingratitudeortreachery，thatyourannouncementalmostdeprivedmeofspeech；
　　thepersoninquestion，however，hasoneexcuse，hermindis，asItoldyoubefore，unsettled。Youshouldhaverememberedthat，andhesitatedtoreceiveasunexceptionableevidenceagainstthehonourofyourhusband，theravingsofalunatic。I
　　nowtellyouthatthisisthelasttimeI
　　shallspeaktoyouuponthissubject，and，inthepresenceoftheGodwhoistojudgeme，andasIhopeformercyinthedayofjudgment，Iswearthatthechargethusbroughtagainstmeisutterlyfalse，unfounded，andridiculous；Idefytheworldinanypointtotaintmyhonour；and，asIhavenevertakentheopinionofmadmentouchingyourcharacterormorals，I
　　thinkitbutfairtorequirethatyouwillevincealiketendernessforme；andnow，onceforall，neveragaindaretorepeattomeyourinsultingsuspicions，ortheclumsyandinfamouscalumniesoffools。
　　Ishallinstantlylettheworthyladywhocontrivedthissomewhatoriginaldevice，understandfullymyopinionuponthematter。Goodmorning；’andwiththesewordsheleftmeagainindoubt，andinvolvedinallhorrorsofthemostagonisingsuspense。
　　IhadreasontothinkthatLordGlenfallenwreakedhisvengeanceupontheauthorofthestrangestorywhichIhadheard，withaviolencewhichwasnotsatisfiedwithmerewords，foroldMartha，withwhomIwasagreatfavourite，whileattendingmeinmyroom，toldmethatshefearedhermasterhadill-usedthepoorblindDutchwoman，forthatshehadheardherscreamasiftheverylifewereleavingher，butaddedarequestthatIshouldnotspeakofwhatshehadtoldmetoanyone，particularlytothemaster。
　　’HowdoyouknowthatsheisaDutchwoman？’inquiredI，anxioustolearnanythingwhateverthatmightthrowalightuponthehistoryofthisperson，whoseemedtohaveresolvedtomixherselfupinmyfortunes。
　　’Why，mylady，’answeredMartha，’themasteroftencallshertheDutchhag，andothernamesyouwouldnotliketohear，andIamsuresheisneitherEnglishnorIrish；for，whenevertheytalktogether，theyspeaksomequeerforeignlingo，andfastenough，I’llbebound。ButIoughtnottotalkaboutheratall；itmightbeasmuchasmyplaceisworthtomentionher——onlyyousawherfirstyourself，sotherecanbenogreatharminspeakingofhernow。’
　　’Howlonghasthisladybeenhere？’
　　continuedI。
　　’Shecameearlyonthemorningafteryourladyship’sarrival，’answeredshe；’butdonotaskmeanymore，forthemasterwouldthinknothingofturningmeoutofdoorsfordaringtospeakofheratall，muchlesstoyou，mylady。’
　　Ididnotliketopressthepoorwomanfurther，forherreluctancetospeakonthistopicwasevidentandstrong。
　　Youwillreadilybelievethatupontheveryslightgroundswhichmyinformationafforded，contradictedasitwasbythesolemnoathofmyhusband，andderivedfromwhatwas，atbest，averyquestionablesource，Icouldnottakeanyverydecisivemeasurewhatever；andastothemenaceofthestrangewomanwhohadthusunaccountablytwiceintrudedherselfintomychamber，although，atthemoment，itoccasionedmesomeuneasiness，itwasnot，eveninmyeyes，sufficientlyformidabletoinducemydeparturefromCahergillagh。
　　AfewnightsafterthescenewhichI
　　havejustmentioned，LordGlenfallenhaving，asusual，earlyretiredtohisstudy，IwasleftaloneintheparlourtoamusemyselfasbestImight。
　　ItwasnotstrangethatmythoughtsshouldoftenrecurtotheagitatingscenesinwhichIhadrecentlytakenapart。
　　Thesubjectofmyreflections，thesolitude，thesilence，andthelatenessofthehour，asalsothedepressionofspiritstowhichI
　　hadoflatebeenaconstantprey，tendedtoproducethatnervousexcitementwhichplacesuswhollyatthemercyoftheimagination。
　　InordertocalmmyspiritsIwasendeavouringtodirectmythoughtsintosomemorepleasingchannel，whenIheard，orthoughtIheard，uttered，withinafewyardsofme，inanodd，half-sneeringtone，thewords，’Thereisblooduponyourladyship’sthroat。’
　　SovividwastheimpressionthatI
　　startedtomyfeet，andinvoluntarilyplacedmyhanduponmyneck。
　　Ilookedaroundtheroomforthespeaker，butinvain。
　　Iwentthentotheroom-door，whichI
　　opened，andpeeredintothepassage，nearlyfaintwithhorrorlestsomeleering，shapelessthingshouldgreetmeuponthethreshold。
　　WhenIhadgazedlongenoughtoassuremyselfthatnostrangeobjectwaswithinsight，’Ihavebeentoomuchofarakelately；
　　Iamrackingoutmynerves，’saidI，speakingaloud，withaviewtoreassuremyself。
　　Irangthebell，and，attendedbyoldMartha，Iretiredtosettleforthenight。
　　Whiletheservantwas——aswashercustom——arrangingthelampwhichIhavealreadystatedalwaysburnedduringthenightinmychamber，Iwasemployedinundressing，and，indoingso，Ihadrecoursetoalargelooking-glasswhichoccupiedaconsiderableportionofthewallinwhichitwasfixed，risingfromthegroundtoaheightofaboutsixfeet——thismirrorfilledthespaceofalargepanelinthewainscotingoppositethefootofthebed。
　　Ihadhardlybeenbeforeitforthelapseofaminutewhensomethinglikeablackpallwasslowlywavedbetweenmeandit。
　　’Oh，God!thereitis，’Iexclaimed，wildly。’Ihaveseenitagain，Martha——
　　theblackcloth。’
　　’Godbemercifultous，then!’answeredshe，tremulouslycrossingherself。’Somemisfortuneisoverus。’
　　’No，no，Martha，’saidI，almostinstantlyrecoveringmycollectedness；for，althoughofanervoustemperament，Ihadneverbeensuperstitious。’Idonotbelieveinomens。YouknowIsaw，orfanciedI
　　saw，thisthingbefore，andnothingfollowed。’
　　’TheDutchladycamethenextmorning，’
　　repliedshe。
　　’Butsurelyhercomingscarcelydeservedsuchadreadfulwarning，’I
　　replied。
　　’Sheisastrangewoman，mylady，’saidMartha；’andsheisnotGONEyet——markmywords。’
　　’Well，well，Martha，’saidI，’Ihavenotwitenoughtochangeyouropinions，norinclinationtoaltermine；soIwilltalknomoreofthematter。Good-night，’andsoIwaslefttomyreflections。
　　Afterlyingforaboutanhourawake，Iatlengthfellintoakindofdoze；butmyimaginationwasstillbusy，forIwasstartledfromthisunrefreshingsleepbyfancyingthatIheardavoiceclosetomyfaceexclaimasbefore：
　　’Thereisblooduponyourladyship’sthroat。’
　　Thewordswereinstantlyfollowedbyaloudburstoflaughter。
　　Quakingwithhorror，Iawakened，andheardmyhusbandentertheroom。Eventhiswasitrelief。
　　ScaredasIwas，however，bythetrickswhichmyimaginationhadplayedme，I
　　preferredremainingsilent，andpretendingtosleep，toattemptingtoengagemyhusbandinconversation，forIwellknewthathismoodwassuch，thathiswordswouldnot，inallprobability，conveyanythingthathadnotbetterbeunsaidandunheard。
　　LordGlenfallenwentintohisdressing-
　　room，whichlayupontheright-handsideofthebed。Thedoorlyingopen，Icouldseehimbyhimself，atfulllengthuponasofa，and，inabouthalfanhour，Ibecameaware，byhisdeepandregularlydrawnrespiration，thathewasfastasleep。
　　Whenslumberrefusestovisitone，thereissomethingpeculiarlyirritating，nottothetemper，buttothenerves，intheconsciousnessthatsomeoneisinyourimmediatepresence，actuallyenjoyingtheboonwhichyouareseekinginvain；atleast，Ihavealwaysfounditso，andnevermorethanuponthepresentoccasion。
　　Athousandannoyingimaginationsharassedandexcitedme；everyobjectwhichIlookedupon，thougheversofamiliar，seemedtohaveacquiredastrangephantom-
　　likecharacter，thevaryingshadowsthrownbytheflickeringofthelamplight，seemedshapingthemselvesintogrotesqueandunearthlyforms，andwhenevermyeyeswanderedtothesleepingfigureofmyhusband，hisfeaturesappearedtoundergothestrangestandmostdemoniacalcontortions。
　　Hourafterhourwastoldbytheoldclock，andeachsucceedingonefoundme，ifpossible，lessinclinedtosleepthanitspredecessor。