er, with the snow deep on the ground was to us
incomprehensible; we lay awake, and in about an hour we heard the growl
of a wolf, close under the window.

"`There is a wolf,' said Caesar. `She will be torn to pieces.'

"`Oh no!' cried Marcella.

"In a few minutes afterwards our mother-in-law appeared; she was in her
night-dress, as Marcella had stated. She let down the latch of the
door, so as to make no noise, went to a pail of water, and washed her
face and hands, and then slipped into the bed where my father lay.

"We all three trembled--we hardly knew why; but we resolved to watch the
next night: we did so; and not only on the ensuing night, but on many
others, and always at about the same hour, would our mother-in-law rise
from her bed and leave the cottage; and after she was gone we invariably
heard the growl of a wolf under our window, and always saw her, on her
return, wash herself before she retired to bed. We observed also that
she seldom sat down to meals, and that when she did she appeared to eat
with dislike; but when the meat was taken down to be prepared for
dinner, she would often furtively put a raw piece into her mouth.

"My brother Caesar was a courageous boy; he did not like to speak to my
father until he knew more. He resolved that he would follow her out,
and ascertain what she did. Marcella and I endeavoured to dissuade him
from this project; but he would not be controlled; and the very next
night he lay down in his clothes, and as soon as our mother-in-law had
left the cottage he jumped up, took down my father's gun, and followed
her.

"You may imagine in what a state of suspense Marcella and I remained
during his absence. After a few minutes we heard the report of a gun.
It did not awaken my father; and we lay trembling with anxiety. In a
minute afterwards we saw our mother-in-law enter the cottage--her dress
was bloody. I put my hand to Marcella's mouth to prevent her crying
out, although I was myself in great alarm. Our mother-in-law approached
my father's bed, looked to see if he was asleep, and then went to the
chimney and blew up the embers into a blaze.

"`Who is there?' said my father, waking up.

"`Lie still, dearest,' replied my mother-in-law; `it is only me; I have
lighted the fire to warm some water; I am not quite well.'

"My father turned round, and was soon asleep; but we hatched our
mother-in-law. She changed her linen, and threw the garments she had
worn into