froze her. But the moonlight is
uncertain, and may play wild freaks with the character of an excited
face.

"Yes, dear Lucille; alas! yes," she answered, in a tone that was almost
deprecatory.

"Well, well, I am better now," she said, after a second interval. "My
head, Julie--my poor head!"

"Have you a pain there, dear Lucille?"

"Yes, yes, it's all there," she said, abstractedly; and, returning, she
kissed her gentle companion, bade her good night, and was alone.

Julie was strangely perplexed by the scene which had just occurred. She
could account for it upon no theory but the supposition that some
flickering vein of insanity was shooting athwart her reason, and as
suddenly disappeared. As soon as she was partially composed, she kneeled
down at the bedside, and prayed long and fervently; and for far the
greater part of the time poor Lucille was the sole theme of her
supplications. At last she lay down, and composed herself to sleep.
Spite of the unpleasant images with which her mind was filled, slumber
ere long overpowered her. But these painful impressions made teasing and
fantastic shapes to themselves. Her pillow was haunted, and strange
dreams troubled her slumbering senses. From one of these visions she
awoke with a start, and found herself sitting upright in her bed, with
her heart beating fast with terror. A burst of passionate wailing from
Lucille's apartments thrilled her with a sort of terror at the same
moment. In hushed uncertainty she listened for a repetition of the
sound; but in vain. She was prompted to go and try whether she needed
any help or comfort; but something again withheld her; and, after
another interval of somewhat excited reflection, she once more gradually
fell asleep. Again, however, hateful visions tormented her. She dreamed
that a phantom, said to have haunted the chateau for ages, and known by
the familiar title of "La Belle Colombe," was pursuing her from chamber
to chamber, dressed in her accustomed shroud of white; and had at last
succeeded in chasing her into a chamber from which there was no second
door of escape--when she awoke with a start; and, behold! there was a
light in the room, and a female form, dressed in white, standing between
the bedside and the door. For some moments she fancied that she saw but
the continuation of her dream, and awaited the further movements of the
figure with the fascination of terror. But gradually her senses reported
more truly, and she pe