'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 Inever 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 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 Iwas 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 bonnet and shawl.
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.
'Madam,'said I,'there must be some mistake here--this is my bed-chamber.'
'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?'