hen renewed more gently, as if
the hand that occasioned it was restrained by a fear of discovery.
While Emily kept her eyes fixed on the spot, she saw the door move,
and then slowly open, and perceived something enter the room, but
the extreme duskiness prevented her perceiving what it was. Almost
fainting with terror, she had yet sufficient command over herself
to check the shriek that was escaping from her lips, and, letting
the curtain drop from her hand, continued to observe in silence the
motions of the mysterious figure she saw. It seemed to glide along
the remote obscurity of the apartment, then paused, and, as it
approached the hearth, she perceived, in the stronger light, what
appeared to be a human figure. Certain remembrances now struck upon
her heart, and almost subdued the feeble remains of her spirit. She
continued, however, to watch the figure, which remained for some
time motionless, but then, advancing slowly toward the bed, stood
silently at the feet, where the curtains, being a little open,
allowed her still to see it; terror, however, had now deprived her
of the power of discrimination, as well as that of utterance.[201]

This scene is an excellent example of Mrs. Radcliffe's power of
depicting and exciting fear. The loneliness of Emily in the castle, her
dread of real dangers inclining her mind to expect the unreal, are
shown with an art of which neither Walpole nor Reeve were capable. But,
while these writers would have introduced a real spectre as the
disturber of Emily's slumber, Mrs. Radcliffe is contented with the
terror she has aroused, and hastens to explain its cause.

Having continued there a moment, the form retreated towards the
hearth, when it took the lamp, held it up, surveyed the chamber for
a few moments, and then again advanced towards the bed. The light
at that instant awakening the dog that had slept at Emily's feet,
he barked loudly, and, jumping to the floor, flew at the stranger,
who struck the animal smartly with a sheathed sword, and springing
towards the bed, Emily discovered--Count Morano.

These passages afford evidence of both the strength and the weakness of
Mrs. Radcliffe's work. She chose a scene calculated to inspire horror,
she subjected to its influence a lonely female, and she then described
with blood-curdling minuteness each detail which could enhance the
sense of hi