dress, therefore, that it struck me as differing from those I
had lately seen in the hall, both in fashion and material. I remember
hearing a rustling as of silk, and I think there was some white lace
about the neck and hair.

But what struck me most was the woman's face. I had looked in her
direction, lest I might seem discourteous to some acquaintance; but this
was a stranger. The face was that of a woman in an agony of suffering!
The wide-open eyes were full of trouble; the whole countenance expressed
pain and something like terror. (I am describing the impression made
upon me at the moment, for the incident passed more quickly than it takes
to tell, however brief the narration.)

As my eyes met hers, the woman stretched out her hands with an appealing
gesture, and seemed to be hastening swiftly toward me. But just as she
was almost near enough to touch me, she suddenly disappeared--having
turned, as it seemed to me, into a door close by.

For a moment I stood bewildered. Then that look of appeal for help came
back to mind; it was evident something was wrong. I at once entered the
open door into which the figure had passed, determined to do what I could
to assist one in such unmistakable need of help. To my astonishment I
found that the place was a mere housemaid's closet, for the keeping of
brooms, dusting appliances, and the like. It was but a tiny room, too; a
glance from the threshold was enough to convince me that no human being
was there!

It was not so much surprise as terror that seized me at such a discovery.
I found myself wiping from my brow the cold sweat that stood there in
great drops. I felt certain that I had been face to face with something
unexplainable by the ordinary laws of nature. I was as well as usual. I
had read nothing of late that could have conjured up such a figure. As
to preternatural manifestations of such a kind--I had but that very day,
and but an hour or two ago, passed supercilious judgment on what I
thought the credulity of ignorant rustics. And yet here I was, the
victim to some such hallucination--unless it was possible that I had
really seen the figure with my bodily eyes! My knees were shaking under
me as I managed to reach my room, my whole being agitated by an
unaccountable sense of fear.

Luckily we were allowed an unusually long time for dressing, and I was
able to get a smoke and take a bath; by dinner-time I was more like
myself.

I tried hard at fir