and tenderly by the hand, he said:
"Do not suppose, my love, that it is my intention to _settle_ here.
Whenever you desire to leave this, you have only to let me know your
wish, and it shall be complied with; so I must entreat of you not to
suffer any circumstances which I can control to give you one moment's
uneasiness. But here is old Martha; you must be introduced to her, one
of the heirlooms of our family."
A hale, good-humoured, erect old woman was Martha, and an agreeable
contrast to the grim, decrepit hag which my fancy had conjured up, as
the depositary of all the horrible tales in which I doubted not this old
place was most fruitful.
She welcomed me and her master with a profusion of gratulations,
alternately kissing our hands and apologizing for the liberty; until at
length Lord Glenfallen put an end to this somewhat fatiguing ceremonial
by requesting her to conduct me to my chamber, if it were prepared for
my reception.
I followed Martha up an old-fashioned oak staircase into a long, dim
passage, at the end of which lay the door which communicated with the
apartments which had been selected for our use; here the old woman
stopped, and respectfully requested me to proceed.
I accordingly opened the door, and was about to enter, when something
like a mass of black tapestry, as it appeared, disturbed by my sudden
approach, fell from above the door, so as completely to screen the
aperture; the startling unexpectedness of the occurrence, and the
rustling noise which the drapery made in its descent, caused me
involuntarily to step two or three paces backward. I turned, smiling
and half-ashamed, to the old servant, and said,--
"You see what a coward I am."
The woman looked puzzled, and, without saying any more, I was about to
draw aside the curtain and enter the room, when, upon turning to do so,
I was surprised to find that nothing whatever interposed to obstruct the
passage.
I went into the room, followed by the servant-woman, and was amazed to
find that it, like the one below, was wainscoted, and that nothing like
drapery was to be found near the door.
"Where is it?" said I; "what has become of it?"
"What does your ladyship wish to know?" said the old woman.
"Where is the black curtain that fell across the door, when I attempted
first to come to my chamber?" answered I.
"The cross of Christ about us!" said the old woman, turning suddenly
pale.
"What is the matter, my good friend?" said I; "you seem frightened."
"Oh no, no, your ladyship," said the old woman, endeavouring to conceal
her agitation; but in vain, for tottering towards a chair, she sank into
it, looking so deadly pale and horror-struck that I thought every moment
she would faint.
"Merciful God, keep us from harm and danger!" muttered she at length.
"What can have terrified you so?" said I, beginning to fear that she had
seen something more than had met my eye. "You appear ill, my poor
woman!"
"Nothing, nothing, my lady," said she, rising. "I beg your ladyship's
pardon for making so bold. May the great God defend us from misfortune!"
"Martha," said I, "something _has_ frightened you very much, and I
insist on knowing what it is; your keeping me in the dark upon the
subject will make me much more uneasy than anything you could tell me.
I desire you, therefore, to let me know what agitates you; I command you
to tell me."
"Your ladyship said you saw a black curtain falling across the door when
you were coming into the room," said the old woman.
"I did," said I; "but though the whole thing appears somewhat strange, I
cannot see anything in the matter to agitate you so excessively."
"It's for no good you saw that, my lady," said the crone; "something
terrible is coming. It's a sign, my lady--a sign that never fails."
"Explain, explain what you mean, my good woman," said I, in spite of
myself, catching more than I could account for, of her superstitious
terror.
"Whenever something--something _bad_ is going to happen to the
Glenfallen family, some one that belongs to them sees a black
handkerchief or curtain just waved or falling before their faces. I saw
it myself," continued she, lowering her voice, "when I was only a little
girl, and I'll never forget it. I often heard of it before, though I
never saw it till then, nor since, praised be God. But I was going into
Lady Jane's room to waken her in the morning; and sure enough when I got
first to the bed and began to draw the curtain, something dark was waved
across the division, but only for a moment; and when I saw rightly into
the bed, there she was lying cold and dead, God be merciful to me! So,
my lady, there is small blame to me to be daunted when any one of the
family sees it; for it's many the story I heard of it, though I saw it
but once."
I was not of a superstitious turn of mind, yet I could not resist a
feeling of awe very nearly allied to the fear which my companion had
so unreservedly expressed; and when you consider my situation, the
loneliness, antiquity, and gloom of the place, you will allow that the
weakness was not without excuse.
In spite of old Martha's boding predictions, however, time flowed on in
an unruffled course. One little incident, however, though trifling in
itself, I must relate, as it serves to make what follows more
intelligible.
Upon the day after my arrival, Lord Glenfallen of course desired to make
me acquainted with the house and domain; and accordingly we set forth
upon our ramble. When returning, he became for some time silent and
moody, a state so unusual with him as considerably to excite my
surprise.
I endeavoured by observations and questions to arouse him--but in vain.
At length, as we approached the house, he said, as if speaking to
himself,--
"'Twere madness--madness--madness," repeating the words bitterly; "sure
and speedy ruin."
There was here a long pause; and at length, turning sharply towards me,
in a tone very unlike that in which he had hitherto addressed me, he
said,--
"Do you think it possible that a woman can keep a secret?"
"I am sure," said I, "that women are very much belied upon the score of
talkativeness, and that I may answer your question with the same
directness with which you put it--I reply that I _do_ think a woman can
keep a secret."
"But I do not," said he, drily.
We walked on in silence for a time. I was much astonished at his
unwonted abruptness--I had almost said rudeness.
After a considerable pause he seemed to recollect himself, and with an
effort resuming his sprightly manner, he said,--
"Well, well, the next thing to keeping a secret well is not to desire to
possess one; talkativeness and curiosity generally go together. Now I
shall make test of you, in the first place, respecting the latter of
these qualities. I shall be your _Bluebeard_--tush, why do I trifle
thus? Listen to me, my dear Fanny; I speak now in solemn earnest. What I
desire is intimately, inseparably connected with your happiness and
honour as well as my own; and your compliance with my request will not
be difficult. It will impose upon you a very trifling restraint during
your sojourn here, which certain events which have occurred since our
arrival have determined me shall not be a long one. You must promise me,
upon your sacred honour, that you will visit _only_ that part of the
castle which can be reached from the front entrance, leaving the back
entrance and the part of the building commanded immediately by it to the
menials, as also the small garden whose high wall you see yonder; and
never at any time seek to pry or peep into them, nor to open the door
which communicates from the front part of the house through the corridor
with the back. I do not urge this in jest or in caprice, but from
a solemn conviction that danger and misery will be the certain
consequences of your not observing what I prescribe. I cannot explain
myself further at present. Promise me, then, these things, as you hope
for peace here and for mercy hereafter."
I did make the promise as desired, and he appeared relieved; his manner
recovered all its gaiety and elasticity: but the recollection of the
strange scene which I have just described dwelt painfully upon my mind.
More than a month passed away without any occurrence worth recording;
but I was not destined to leave Cahergillagh without further adventure.
One day, intending to enjoy the pleasant sunshine in a ramble through
the woods, I ran up to my room to procure my hat and cloak. Upon
entering the chamber I was surprised and somewhat startled to find it
occupied. Beside the fireplace, and nearly opposite the door, seated in
a large, old-fashioned elbow-chair, was placed the figure of a lady. She
appeared to be nearer fifty than forty, and was dressed suitably to her
age, in a handsome suit of flowered silk; she had a profusion of
trinkets and jewellery about her person, and many rings upon her
fingers. But although very rich, her dress was not gaudy or in ill
taste. But what was remarkable in the lady was, that although her
features were handsome, and upon the whole pleasing, the pupil of each
eye was dimmed with the whiteness of cataract, and she was evidently
stone-blind. I was for some seconds so surprised at this unaccountable
apparition, that I could not find words to address her.
[Illustration: UPON ENTERING THE CHAMBER, I WAS SURPRISED AND SOMEWHAT
STARTLED TO FIND IT OCCUPIED.]
"Madam," said I, "there must be some mistake here--this is my
bedchamber."
"Marry come up," said the lady, sharply; "_your_ chamber! Where is Lord
Glenfallen?"
"He is below, madam," replied I; "and I am convinced he will be not a
little surprised to find you here."
"I do not think he will," said she, "with your good leave; talk of what
you know something about. Tell him I want him. Why does the minx
dilly-dally so?"
In spite of the awe which this grim lady inspired, there was something
in her air of confident superiority which, when I considered our
relative situations, was not a little irritating.
"Do you know, madam, to whom you speak?" said I.
"I neither know nor care," said she; "but I presume that you are some
one about the house, so again I desire you, if you wish to continue
here, to bring your master hither forthwith."
"I must tell you, madam," said I, "that I am Lady Glenfallen."
"What's that?" said the stranger, rapidly.
"I say, madam," I repeated, approaching her that I might be more
distinctly heard, "that I am Lady Glenfallen."
"It's a lie, you trull!" cried she, in an accent which made me start,
and at the same time, springing forward, she seized me in her grasp, and
shook me violently, repeating, "It's a lie--it's a lie!" with a rapidity
and vehemence which swelled every vein of her face. The violence of her
action, and the fury which convulsed her face, effectually terrified me,
and disengaging myself from her grasp, I screamed as loud as I could for
help. The blind woman continued to pour out a torrent of abuse upon me,
foaming at the mouth with rage, and impotently shaking her clenched fist
towards me.
I heard Lord Glenfallen's step upon the stairs, and I instantly ran out;
as I passed him I perceived that he was deadly pale, and just caught the
words: "I hope that demon has not hurt you?"
I made some answer, I forget what, and he entered the chamber, the door
of which he locked upon the inside. What passed within I know not; but I
heard the voices of the two speakers raised in loud and angry
altercation.
I thought I heard the shrill accents of the woman repeat the words,
"Let her look to herself;" but I could not be quite sure. This short
sentence, however, was, to my alarmed imagination, pregnant with fearful
meaning.
The storm at length subsided, though not until after a conference of
more than two long hours. Lord Glenfallen then returned, pale and
agitated.
"That unfortunate woman," said he, "is out of her mind. I daresay she
treated you to some of her ravings; but you need not dread any further
interruption from her: I have brought her so far to reason. She did not
hurt you, I trust."
"No, no," said I; "but she terrified me beyond measure."
"Well," said he, "she is likely to behave better for the future; and I
dare swear that neither you nor she would desire, after what has passed,
to meet again."
This occurrence, so startling and unpleasant, so involved in mystery,
and giving rise to so many painful surmises, afforded me no very
agreeable food for rumination.
All attempts on my part to arrive at the truth were baffled; Lord
Glenfallen evaded all my inquiries, and at length peremptorily forbade
any further allusion to the matter. I was thus obliged to rest satisfied
with what I had actually seen, and to trust to time to resolve the
perplexities in which the whole transaction had involved me.
Lord Glenfallen's temper and spirits gradually underwent a complete and
most painful change; he became silent and abstracted, his manner to me
was abrupt and often harsh, some grievous anxiety seemed ever present to
his mind; and under its influence his spirits sank and his temper became
soured.
I soon perceived that his gaiety was rather that which the stir and
excitement of society produce, than the result of a healthy habit of
mind; every day confirmed me in the opinion, that the considerate
good-nature which I had so much admired in him was little more than
a mere manner; and to my infinite grief and surprise, the gay, kind,
open-hearted nobleman who had for months followed and flattered me, was
rapidly assuming the form of a gloomy, morose, and singularly selfish
man. This was a bitter discovery, and I strove to conceal it from myself
as long as I could; but the truth was not to be denied, and I was forced
to believe that my husband no longer loved me, and that he was at little
pains to conceal the alteration in his sentiments.
One morning after breakfast, Lord Glenfallen had been for some time
walking silently up and down the room, buried in his moody reflections,
when pausing suddenly, and turning towards me, he exclaimed:
"I have it--I have it! We must go abroad, and stay there too; and
if that does not answer, why--why, we must try some more effectual
expedient. Lady Glenfallen, I have become involved in heavy
embarrassments. A wife, you know, must share the fortunes of her
husband, for better for worse; but I will waive my right if you prefer
remaining here--here at Cahergillagh. For I would not have you seen
elsewhere without the state to which your rank entitles you; besides, it
would break your poor mother's heart," he added, with sneering gravity.
"So make up your mind--Cahergillagh or France. I will start if possible
in a week, so determine between this and then."
He left the room, and in a few moments I saw him ride past the window,
followed by a mounted servant. He had directed a domestic to inform me
that he should not be back until the next day.
I was in very great doubt as to what course of conduct I should pursue
as to accompanying him in the continental tour so suddenly determined
upon. I felt that it would be a hazard too great to encounter; for at
Cahergillagh I had always the consciousness to sustain me, that if his
temper at any time led him into violent or unwarrantable treatment of
me, I had a remedy within reach, in the protection and support of my own
family, from all useful and effective communication with whom, if once
in France, I should be entirely debarred.
As to remaining at Cahergillagh in solitude, and, for aught I
knew, exposed to hidden dangers, it appeared to me scarcely less
objectionable than the former proposition; and yet I feared that with
one or other I must comply, unless I was prepared to come to an actual
breach with Lord Glenfallen. Full of these unpleasing doubts and
perplexities, I retired to rest.
I was wakened, after having slept uneasily for some hours, by some
person shaking me rudely by the shoulder; a small lamp burned in my
room, and by its light, to my horror and amazement, I discovered that my
visitant was the self-same blind old lady who had so terrified me a few
weeks before.
I started up in the bed, with a view to ring the bell, and alarm the
domestics; but she instantly anticipated me by saying:
"Do not be frightened, silly girl! If I had wished to harm you, I could
have done it while you were sleeping; I need not have wakened you.
Listen to me, now, attentively and fearlessly, for what I have to say
interests you to the full as much as it does me. Tell me here, in the
presence of God, did Lord Glenfallen marry you--_actually marry you_?
Speak the truth, woman."
"As surely as I live and speak," I replied, "did Lord Glenfallen marry
me, in presence of more than a hundred witnesses."
"Well," continued she, "he should have told you _then_, before you
married him, that he had a wife living,--that I am his wife. I feel you
tremble--tush! do not be frightened. I do not mean to harm you. Mark me
now--you are _not_ his wife. When I make my story known you will be so
neither in the eye of God nor of man. You must leave this house upon
to-morrow. Let the world know that your husband has another wife living;
go you into retirement, and leave him to justice, which will surely
overtake him. If you remain in this house after to-morrow, you will reap
the bitter fruits of your sin."
So saying, she quitted the room, leaving me very little disposed to
sleep.
Here was food for my very worst and most terrible suspicions; still
there was not enough to remove all doubt. I had no proof of the truth of
this woman's statement.
Taken by itself, there was nothing to induce me to attach weight to
it; but when I viewed it in connection with the extraordinary mystery
of some of Lord Glenfallen's proceedings, his strange anxiety to
exclude me from certain portions of the mansion, doubtless lest I
should encounter this person--the strong influence, nay, command which
she possessed over him, a circumstance clearly established by the very
fact of her residing in the very place where, of all others, he should
least have desired to find her--her thus acting, and continuing to act
in direct contradiction to his wishes; when, I say, I viewed her
disclosure in connection with all these circumstances, I could not
help feeling that there was at least a fearful verisimilitude in the
allegations which she had made.
Still I was not satisfied, nor nearly so. Young minds have a
reluctance almost insurmountable to believing, upon anything short of
unquestionable proof, the existence of premeditated guilt in anyone
whom they have ever trusted; and in support of this feeling I was
assured that if the assertion of Lord Glenfallen, which nothing in
this woman's manner had led me to disbelieve, were true, namely that
her mind was unsound, the whole fabric of my doubts and fears must
fall to the ground.
I determined to state to Lord Glenfallen freely and accurately the
substance of the communication which I had just heard, and in his words
and looks to seek for its proof or refutation. Full of these thoughts,
I remained wakeful and excited all night, every moment fancying that I
heard the step or saw the figure of my recent visitor, towards whom I
felt a species of horror and dread which I can hardly describe.
There was something in her face, though her features had evidently been
handsome, and were not, at first sight, unpleasing, which, upon a nearer
inspection, seemed to indicate the habitual prevalence and indulgence
of evil passions, and a power of expressing mere animal anger with an
intenseness that I have seldom seen equalled, and to which an almost
unearthly effect was given by the convulsive quivering of the sightless
eyes.
You may easily suppose that it was no very pleasing reflection to me to
consider that, whenever caprice might induce her to return, I was within
the reach of this violent and, for aught I knew, insane woman, who had,
upon that very night, spoken to me in a tone of menace, of which her
mere words, divested of the manner and look with which she uttered them,
can convey but a faint idea.
Will you believe me when I tell you that I was actually afraid to leave
my bed in order to secure the door, lest I should again encounter the
dreadful object lurking in some corner or peeping from behind the
window-curtains, so very a child was I in my fears?
The morning came, and with it Lord Glenfallen. I knew not, and indeed I
cared not, where he might have been; my thoughts were wholly engrossed
by the terrible fears and suspicions which my last night's conference
had suggested to me. He was, as usual, gloomy and abstracted, and I
feared in no very fitting mood to hear what I had to say with patience,
whether the charges were true or false.
I was, however, determined not to suffer the opportunity to pass, or
Lord Glenfallen to leave the room, until, at all hazards, I had
unburdened my mind.
"My lord," said I, after a long silence, summoning up all my firmness,
"my lord, I wish to say a few words to you upon a matter of very great
importance, of very deep concernment to you and to me."
I fixed my eyes upon him to discern, if possible, whether the
announcement caused him any uneasiness; but no symptom of any such
feeling was perceptible.
"Well, my dear," said he, "this is no doubt a very grave preface, and
portends, I have no doubt, something extraordinary. Pray let us have it
without more ado."
He took a chair, and seated himself nearly opposite to me.
"My lord," said I, "I have seen the person who alarmed me so much a
short time since, the blind lady, again, upon last night." His face,
upon which my eyes were fixed, turned pale; he hesitated for a moment,
and then said:
"And did you, pray, madam, so totally forget or spurn my express
command, as to enter that portion of the house from which your promise,
I might say your oath, excluded you? Answer me that!" he added fiercely.
"My lord," said I, "I have neither forgotten your _commands_, since
such they were, nor disobeyed them. I was, last night, wakened from my
sleep, as I lay in my own chamber, and accosted by the person whom I
have mentioned. How she found access to the room I cannot pretend to
say."
"Ha! this must be looked to," said he, half reflectively. "And pray,"
added he quickly, while in turn he fixed his eyes upon me, "what did
this person say? since some comment upon her communication forms, no
doubt, the sequel to your preface."
"Your lordship is not mistaken," said I; "her statement was so
extraordinary that I could not think of withholding it from you. She
told me, my lord, that you had a wife living at the time you married me,
and that she was that wife."
Lord Glenfallen became ashy pale, almost livid; he made two or three
efforts to clear his voice to speak, but in vain, and turning suddenly
from me, he walked to the window. The horror and dismay which, in the
olden time, overwhelmed the woman of Endor when her spells unexpectedly
conjured the dead into her presence, were but types of what I felt when
thus presented with what appeared to be almost unequivocal evidence of
the guilt whose existence I had before so strongly doubted.
There was a silence of some moments, during which it were hard to
conjecture whether I or my companion suffered most.
Lord Glenfallen soon recovered his self-command; he returned to the
table, again sat down, and said: