ready omitted turning the page, when,
just as the next leaf was played, a long bony finger appeared on it,
quickly turned the leaf at the right time, and the melody proceeded. I
looked round and beheld the terrible Ernestine standing close by me
behind the baroness; I know not how I kept my composure, but I looked
searchingly and almost unmoved at the terrific apparition. She smiled
at me with that malicious expression which, even when living, made her
countenance repelling. She wore her usual dress, her eyes were fiery,
and her face was white as chalk. I felt almost a satisfaction in the
gloomy sensation of awe, remained silent, and was glad that Elizabeth
did not perceive the spirit. Suddenly there was a shriek of terror,
and my wife fell fainting on the ground, while the withered finger was
just going again to turn the page. The music of course ended, my wife
was in a fever, and our friends who had not seen the spectre returned
home."

Here the invalid paused. The physician looked significantly at me,
shaking his head.

"And you have," he at length said, "never before told your present
doctor any thing of that apparition."

"No," replied Francis, "you may call it shame, or fear of his cold,
searching understanding; you may call it weakness or what you please;
suffice it to say I could not prevail on myself to make this
confession."

"But it was very necessary," said the physician, "for how could he
judge correctly of your illness without that information?"

"From that time," resumed Francis in a faint voice, "we determined to
quit the neighbourhood in hopes that the furious spectre would not
follow us beyond the mountains. But while we continued in our house we
often saw her, mostly in the music-room. Our doctor being with us one
morning, he sat down to the instrument and played some passages
extempore. Suddenly the terrible spectre again stood by my wife's
chair, and laid her cold withered hand on her shoulder. Hysterics and
faintings again followed."

"And did your doctor see it also?"

"No," said Francis, "she appeared behind him, but I saw her distinctly
then, as I often did afterwards by broad daylight. We had only to
touch the keys of the instrument when she immediately appeared, so that
to strike a note was a summons. When I once revisited the ancient
Klausenburg, I found her sitting upon a stone staring at me. Thus
persecuted, terrified, and in constant fear and anxiety, we have become