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candles； a decanter of port； and some biscuits； on a tableplaced
there； no doubt； by the kind hands of Euphra。 He vowed to himself
that he would not touch the wine。 〃I have had enough of that for one
night；〃 said he。 But he lighted the candles； and then saw that the
couch was provided with plenty of wraps for the night。 One of
themhe recognised to his delightwas a Cameron tartan； often worn
by Euphra。 He buried his face in it for a moment； and drew from it
fresh courage。 He then went into the furthest recess； lifted the
tapestry； and proceeded to fasten the concealed door。 But； to his
discomfiture； he could find no fastening upon it。 〃No doubt；〃
thought he； 〃it does fasten； in some secret way or other。〃 But he
could discover none。 There was no mark of bolt or socket to show
whence one had been removed； nor sign of friction to indicate that
the door had ever been made secure in such fashion。 It closed with
a spring。
〃Then；〃 said Hugh； apostrophising the door； 〃I must watch you。〃
As； however； it was not yet near the time when ghosts are to be
expected； and as he felt very tired； he drank one glass of the wine；
and throwing himself on the couch； drew Euphra's shawl over him；
opened his book； and began to read。 But the words soon vanished in
a bewildering dance； and he slept。
He started awake in that agony of fear in which I suppose most
people have awaked in the night； once or twice in their lives。 He
felt that he was not alone。 But the feeling seemed； when he
recalled it； to have been altogether different from that with which
we recognise the presence of the most unwelcome bodily visitor。 The
whole of his nervous skeleton seemed to shudder and contract。 Every
sense was intensified to the acme of its acuteness； while the powers
of volition were inoperative。 He could not move a finger。
The moment in which he first saw the object I am about to describe；
he could not recall。 The impression made seemed to have been too
strong for the object receiving it； destroying thus its own traces；
as an overheated brand…iron would in dry timber。 Or it may be that；
after such a pre…sensation； the cause of it could not surprise him。
He saw； a few paces off； bending as if looking down upon him； a face
which； if described as he described it； would be pronounced as far
past the most liberal boundary…line of art； as itself had passed
beyond that degree of change at which a human countenance is fit for
the upper world no longer； and must be hidden away out of sight。
The lips were dark； and drawn back from the closed teeth； which
were white as those of a skull。 There were spotsin fact； the face
corresponded exactly to the description given by Funkelstein of the
reported ghost of Lady Euphrasia。 The dress was point for point
correspondent to that in the picture。 Had the portrait of Lady
Euphrasia been hanging on the wall above； instead of the portrait of
the unknown nun； Hugh would have thought； as far as dress was
concerned； that it had come alive； and stepped from its
frameexcept for one thing： there was no ring on the thumb。
It was wonderful to himself afterwards； that he should have observed
all these particulars； but the fact was； that they rather burnt
themselves in upon his brain； than were taken notice of by him。
They returned upon him afterwards by degrees； as one becomes
sensible of the pain of a wound。
But there was one sign of life。 Though the eyes were closed； tears
flowed from them； and seemed to have worn channels for their
constant flow down this face of death； which ought to have been
lying still in the grave； returning to its dust； and was weeping
above ground instead。 The figure stood for a moment； as one who
would gaze； could she but open her heavy； death…rusted eyelids。
Then； as if in hopeless defeat； she turned away。 And then； to
crown the horror literally as well as figuratively； Hugh saw that
her hair sparkled and gleamed goldenly； as the hair of a saint
might； if the aureole were combed down into it。 She moved towards
the door with a fettered pace； such as one might attribute to the
dead if they walked；to the dead body； I say； not to the living
ghost； to that which has lain in the prison…hold； till the joints
are decayed with the grave…damps； and the muscles are stiff with
more than deathly cold。 She dragged one limb after the other slowly
and； to appearance； painfully； as she moved towards the door which
Hugh had locked。
When she had gone half…way to the door； Hugh； lying as he was on a
couch； could see her feet； for her dress did not reach the ground。
They were bare； as the feet of the dead ought to be； which are
about to tread softly in the realm of Hades； But how stained and
mouldy and iron…spotted； as if the rain had been soaking through the
spongy coffin； did the dress show beside the pure whiteness of those
exquisite feet！ Not a sign of the tomb was upon them。 Small；
living； delicately formed； Hugh； could he have forgot the face they
bore above； might have envied the floor which in their nakedness
they seemed to caress； so lingeringly did they move from it in their
noiseless progress。
She reached the door； put out her hand； and touched it。 Hugh saw it
open outwards and let her through。 Nor did this strike him as in
the smallest degree marvellous。 It closed again behind her；
noiseless as her footfalls。
The moment she vanished； the power of motion returned to him； and
Hugh sprang to his feet。 He leaped to the door。 With trembling
hand he inserted the key； and the lock creaked as he turned it。
In proof of his being in tolerable possession of his faculties at
the moment； and that what he was relating to me actually occurred；
he told me that he remembered at once that he had heard that
peculiar creak； a few moments before Euphra and he discovered that
they were left alone in this very chamber。 He had never thought of
it before。
Still the door would not open： it was bolted as well； and the bolt
was very stiff to withdraw。 But at length he succeeded。
When he reached the passage outside； he thought he saw the glimmer
of a light； perhaps in the picture…gallery beyond。 Towards this he
groped his way。He could never account for the fact； that he left
the candles burning in the room behind him and went forward into the
darkness； except by supposing that his wits had gone astray； in
consequence of the shock the apparition had occasioned them。When
he reached the gallery； there was no light there； but somewhere in
the distance he saw； or fancied； a faint shimmer。
The impulse to go towards it was too strong to be disputed with。 He
advanced with outstretched arms； groping。 After a few steps； he had
lost all idea of where he was； or how he ought to proceed in order
to reach any known quarter。 The light had vanished。 He stood。Was
that a stealthy step he heard beside him in the dark？ He had no
time to speculate； for the next moment he fell senseless。
CHAPTER XXV。
NEXT MORNING。
Darkness is fled： look； infant morn hath drawn
Bright silver curtains 'bout the couch of night；
And now Aurora's horse trots azure rings；
Breathing fair light about the firmament。
S