ssed our father's cheek, and was going, but went back and kissed him
again, and he blessed her at parting. I had slept some hours, I know
not how long, when I awoke, feeling hot and feverish. I tried again to
sleep, but could not; and at length I arose for the purpose of taking a
walk round the battlements, thinking that the cool night air, which came
off the sea, would calm and refresh me.

"On my way to the small turret gate, which led from a tower to the top
of the castle wall, I had to pass Nina's chamber. The door was open. I
looked in--the chamber was vacant. Surprised, though not much alarmed,
for I thought she had, unknown to me, gone to occupy the one which had
been our sister's, I continued my progress.

"As I opened the gate, the night air, which blew in and circled round
the bower, struck my feelings as peculiarly cold and damp, and a low,
moaning sound came across the waters. There was no moon, and the stars
were obscured by a veil of clouds which had gathered in the sky, so
that, to my eyes, accustomed to the light of the lamp I had carried thus
far, the darkness seemed almost palpable. I, however, could have gone
round the walls blindfold, so that this was to me a matter of
indifference, and I stepped out on the battlements. I had proceeded
some way, when I was startled by seeing the bright rays of a light
flashing across the courtyard before me. I stopped, and watched, with
astonishment, for I could not surmise who could be in that part of the
castle at that hour of the morning. I must state that on the side of
the castle nearest the sea, within the outer walls, was a small chapel,
dedicated to our Lady of the Rock, and here, on saints' days and
Sundays, and on certain other occasions, the priests from a neighbouring
convent used to come and perform the services of the Church; for my
father did not keep a regular chaplain, as is generally the custom. He
was not a man to support the drones they usually are. The light, I was
convinced, whose beams I saw, was in the chapel, through the windows of
which it must come. By going on a little further along the battlements,
I had a more extensive view of the chapel; and I now beheld a bright
light streaming from all the windows. My astonishment was still further
increased by hearing the voices of persons within: they were silent, and
I then distinguished the voice, I thought, of a priest, engaged in the
performance of a service. From a turret, some