vivid, and in less than a week she was enabled to resume her
accustomed habits.

Her return was more warmly greeted by Lord Greville than she had
expected. There was something of "long syne," in his manner of welcoming
her to her sitting apartment, which rejoiced her warm and affectionate
heart. She did not, however, approach it without trembling; for it was
the lady's chamber. Her feelings were fortunately too much occupied by
the unusual kindness displayed by Lord Greville, and as she silently and
gratefully pressed the hand which led her to her seat, she was thankful
that he made no inquiries into the particular cause of her illness. She
knew that he treated all supernatural terrors with especial contempt,
and considered them as fit subjects for the discussion of the low-minded
and ignorant. She had formerly heard him reason soundly, and express
himself strongly, on the subject, and her own scepticism on the
possibility of spectral visitation, was principally owing to the
arguments she had heard from his lips. Frequently had he praised her in
former times, for her composure of mind in peril, and for her unfeminine
superiority to all ideal terrors; and she did not now dare provoke
his surprise and contempt by a revocation of her principles, or by a
relation of the mysterious event which had befallen her.

As soon as he left her, she descended into the court enclosed by the
quadrangle of the mansion; and as long as daylight lasted she continued
to walk there, in order to avoid the solitude of her own dreaded
apartment. As she traversed the pavement with hurried steps, she gazed
on the huge iron cross, and no longer regarded with indifference the
terrific legends attached to it. But at length the closing evening,
accompanied by tempestuous winds, compelled her to retire to the house.

Once more she found herself installed for the evening in the abhorred
chamber. All was as before--her husband was seated opposite to her in
the same chair, by the same lamp-light--the ticking of the time-piece
was again painfully audible from the wearisome stillness of the
apartment; and her own trembling hands were again lingering over the
embroidery-frame from which she dared not lift her eyes. Her heart beat
painfully, her breath became oppressed, and she ventured to steal a look
at her husband, who to her surprise was regarding her with an air
of affectionate interest. Relieved for a moment, she returned to her
occupation; but her f