Two Ghostly Mysteries | Page 7

have before mentioned, through the leafy arcade formed
by whose boughs and trunks the level beams of the setting sun were
pouring; in the distance, a group of dairy maids were plying their task,
which they accompanied throughout with snatches of Irish songs which,
mellowed by the distance, floated not unpleasingly to the ear; and
beside them sat or lay, with all the grave importance of conscious
protection, six or seven large dogs of various kinds; farther in the
distance, and through the cloisters of the arching wood, two or three
ragged urchins were employed in driving such stray kine as had
wandered farther than the rest to join their fellows. As I looked upon
this scene which I have described, a feeling of tranquillity and
happiness came upon me, which I have never experienced in so strong
a degree; and so strange to me was the sensation that my eyes filled
with tears. Lord Glenfallen mistook the cause of my emotion, and
taking me kindly 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 controul 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 depository 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 apologising 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 stair-case 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 backwards, 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 sunk
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 any thing 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