Theresa Marchmont | Page 6

of her soft and melancholy
song, when raising her eyes from the strings to her still sleeping
husband, she beheld with panic-struck and breathless amazement, a
female figure, standing opposite resting her hand on the back of his
chair--silent, and motionless, and with fixed and glassy eyes gazing
mournfully on herself. She saw--yes!--distinctly saw, as described by
little Hugh, "a Lady in rich attire, but pale, very pale;" and in the
stillness and gloom of the apartment and the hour,
"'Twas frightful there to see A lady richly clad as she, Beautiful
exceedingly."
The paleness of that pensive face did not lessen its loveliness, and the
hair which hung in bright curls on her shoulders and gorgeous apparel,

was white and glossy as silver. Helen gazed for a moment spell-bound;
for she beheld in that countenance without the possibility of doubt, the
resemblance of the deceased Lady Greville, whose portrait, in a similar
dress, hung in the picture gallery at Silsea Castle. She shuddered; for
the eyes of the spectre remained steadfastly fixed upon her; and its lips
moved as if about to address her--"Mother of God--protect me!"
exclaimed Helen convulsively, and she fell insensible on the floor.

CHAPTER II.
"Sorrow seems pleased to dwell with so much sweetness; And now and
then a melancholy smile Breaks loose like lightning on a winter's night
And shows a moment's day."--DRYDEN
On the succeeding morning, when Lady Greville recovered sufficiently
from a succession of fainting fits to collect her remembrances of the
dreadful cause of her illness, she eagerly demanded of her attendants in
what manner, and by whom, she had been placed in her usual
sleeping-room. They replied, that Lord Greville had conveyed her there
insensible in his arms; and had summoned them in great agitation to her
assistance. He had since frequently sent to inquire after her health, and
had expressed great delight when the last message, announcing her
recovery, had reached him. But he came not himself to watch over her;
and though the shock she had received, had brought on an alarming
degree of fever, which confined her for several days to her room, he
never visited her chamber. Helen was the more surprised and pained by
this neglect, as she knew he made frequent visits to the sick bed of old
Alice, and she wept secretly and bitterly over this fresh proof of his
alienated love.
During the tedious hours of illness, the mental sufferings of the
neglected wife far exceeded those of her corporal frame. She could
reflect but on one subject--one idea, one pervading horrible idea had
taken possession of her soul. She felt that through every person to
whom she might impart her tale would listen with incredibility, and
mockery, that the truth of that awful visitation could not be questioned

by her own better judgment. She considered herself one
"To whom the world unknown In all its shadowy shapes is shown."
She shuddered over the remembrance of the past, she trembled from
apprehension of the future. The approach of night was beginning to be
terrible to her feelings; the very air appeared, to her disordered
imagination, instinct with being; low whisperings seemed to approach
her ears; and if the female attendant whom she had stationed by her
bedside disappeared for a moment, she instantly fancied she saw the
noble figure approach, that pale soft countenance once more gazing
upon her, and those cold lips about to address her; and in an agony of
approaching insanity, she prayed aloud to the God of all Grace, for
deliverance from the torture that assailed her. Her prayers were heard;
for as her constitution recovered from the shocks it had sustained, her
mind gradually returned to its wonted serenity; the impression of the
event became less vivid, and in less than a week she was enabled to
resume her accustomed habits.
Her return was more warmly greeted by Lord Greville than she had
expected. There was something of "long syne," in his manner of
welcoming her to her sitting apartment, which rejoiced her warm and
affectionate heart. She did not, however, approach it without trembling;
for it was the lady's chamber. Her feelings were fortunately too much
occupied by the unusual kindness displayed by Lord Greville, and as
she silently and gratefully pressed the hand which led her to her seat,
she was thankful that he made no inquiries into the particular cause of
her illness. She knew that he treated all supernatural terrors with
especial contempt, and considered them as fit subjects for the
discussion of the low-minded and ignorant. She had formerly heard
him reason soundly, and express himself strongly, on the subject, and
her own scepticism on the possibility of spectral visitation, was
principally owing to the arguments she had heard from his lips.
Frequently