the minute circumstances crowded so
vividly into her mind, that she thought it could not be that a mere
vision of the night should produce so powerful an effect. But what
convinced her of the reality of these occurrences, was the fact that she
had not undressed for the night: casting her eyes down upon her person,
as she thought this, they fell upon her hand; and there she distinctly
saw the marks left upon her delicate skin by that iron grip to which she
had been subjected! As she saw this, all the crawling horror and choking
fear of the preceding evening came back thick upon her, and a feeling of
faintness which she could scarcely resist: but just then her eye fell
upon the crucifix, and with a sensation of self-reproach that she had so
long forgotten the supports and comforts of religion, she knelt down,
and fervently besought aid from on high. And never, under any
circumstances, is such a prayer in vain: her mind, so fearfully tried,
resumed its self-command, and calmness and peace stole back again into
her heart. She opened her window: it was a lovely day, and the mountain
air, so bracing and reviving, so deadly to sickly fears and nervous
sentimentalities, had an inspiring effect upon her; she laved herself in
the cold spring water, arranged her dress, and sought her sister's room.

When there, she felt her tremors return, as she related to her the
events of the night; but Clara's brave and joyous spirit was not of the
kind to yield, even for a moment, to supernatural terrors. With her arm
around her sister, as if to shield her from all harm, she told her that
the first thing to do was to remove all Magdalena's effects to her
chamber, as she did not think she could trust her out of her sight for
one moment, after such an adventure.

"But, surely, it must have been your excited imagination!"

"How then do you account for my finding myself on top of my bed, and
dressed? And how do you make out these purple marks?"

"True; but it's very certain a ghost could not have carried you in his
arms to your room--it makes me laugh, the very idea! You are not very
heavy, but rather too substantial for a ghost, I should think! And he
must have been a very smart hobgoblin to know so well which was your
room--that seems to me as if he must be an acquaintance of our very
earthly-looking castellan. And just as if a ghost could make such a mark
upon your wrist! Bah! what a clumsy contrivance! I've read of these
amiable spirits _b