ed Henry; "I have

. "Let us now hurry round to the outsi

across which they hurried, and soon found themselves clear of the garden wall, so that they could make way towards where they ful

went; a kind of breathless anxiety was upon them, and in the speed they disregarded every obstacle,

precise spot which it might be supposed the body had fallen on; but, by

ommencement to its further extremity without finding any

pened that at the precise spot at which the strange being had seemed to topple over, such vegetation had existed. This was to be ascert

thing here,"

" added h

elusion," at length said Mr

he brother! "That is not

ible explanatio

e surpasses all belief, and but for the great interest we

or God's sake, Henry, let us return t

er once looked towards her further than to see that she was, to appearance, dead. God help her!

ow hasten home, where we may find that tears are pr

may be able to give us some acco

aimed Henry; "we

themselves for all leaving home together, and with terror pictured wha

dreadful figure," remarked Mr. Marchdale; "but do not torm

n sight of it, they saw lights flashing from the windows, and the shadows of faces mo

by a terrified servant, who was trembling so much th

rtha," said Henry.

s;

ank God she lives;

enry. Oh, dear-oh, dear, w

George and Mr. Marchdale, nor paused he o

ore he crossed the thr

me in, pray come in, an

said Henry-"come in; we

hen entere

the beautiful girl who had been so fearfully visited, there were two female domestics, who appear

moment she saw Mr. Marchdale, she clung to his arm, evi

dale! Robert Marchdale, you whom I have known even from my child

d is my judge, I am as much puzzled and amazed at the

rung her han

awakened me," added Marchdale

pale; while that she breathed at all could be but very faintly seen. On some of her clothing, about the neck, were spots of blood, and she looked more like one who had suffered

y, as a tear fell from his

e. "This is a swoon, from

circulation, and, after persevering in them for some tim

ed her to look around her, and see that she was surrounded by none but friendly faces, that she would venture agai

Heaven, have mercy upon me, and

e, "but those who love you, and who, in defence

od! Oh

tell us distinctly what has ha

ot without considerable difficulty, to swallow a small portion of some wine from a cup. There could be no doubt but that the stimulati

ou. I shall die if left alone now. Oh, save me-

happened, dear F

our to get some sleep first

"I do not think I sh

posed in a few hours, and then yo

ou now. I will

r a moment, as if to collect her scat

window. I think I screamed, but I could not fly. Oh, God! I could not

eck several times, and Mr. March

o have hurt your ne

, where all saw on the side of Flora's neck a small punctured wound;

blood had come which was obse

ese wounds?"

I feel very faint and weak, as

, for there are not above half-a-doz

upport, and he uttered a deep groan. All eyes were turned upo

r. Marchdale, which will thro

om the appearance of depression that had come over him. "I have nothin

," again screamed Flora.

r Flora," said Henry. "I will si

and while the tears chased each

ll your hopes of Heaven,

romi

f down, with a deep si

will sleep long,"

e fearful thoughts, I feel c

dale, as he pointed to Flor

tand," sa

her s

on. Flora had dropped into a deep slumber. Tha

e, look at th

h we have alluded, and the moment Marchdale loo

Heaven,

" said Henry.

he countenance, and the s

ct-e

sufficient to awaken all her former terrors in poor Flora's brain

him who came here

le. "I have not been in this house long enough

Bannerworth, an ancestor of ours, who first, by his

. How l

ninety

'Tis a long whi

use up

o wish, and

ha

e-not here. We will hold a consultation o

ng from this room until Flora awakens; but there can be no occasion for the detention of any

Marchdale; "and you can, if you please, reload the pist

them on a table by the side of the bed, ready for immediate action, a

uld endeavour to get some sleep to make up for her broken night's repose, and she was indeed so broken down by her alar

ul. It was a mockery to lie down at all, and Henry, full of strange and painful feelings as he was, preferred his present position to the anxiety and apprehension on Flora's acc