Two Ghostly Mysteries | Page 8

I
cannot see any thing 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 was she 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's 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 word 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