Page:Edgar Huntly, or The Sleep Walker.djvu/120

 I placed it on the ground, and crushed it to pieces with my heel.

Something was within: I brought it to the light, and after loosing numerous folds, at length drew forth a volume: no object in the circle of nature was more adapted than this to rouse up all my faculties: my feelings were anew excited on observing that it was a manuscript. I bolted the door, and drawing near the light, opened and began to read.

A few pages were sufficient to explain the nature of the work: Clithero had mentioned that his lady had composed a vindication of her conduct towards her brother when her intercession in his favour was solicited and refused; this performance had never been published, but had been read by many, and was preserved by her friends as a precious monument of her genius and her virtue: this manuscript was now before me.

That Clithero should preserve this manuscript amidst the wreck of his hopes and fortunes, was apparently conformable to his temper; that having formed the resolution to die, he should seek to hide this volume from the profane curiosity of survivors, was a natural proceeding: to bury it, rather than to burn or disperse it into fragments, would be suggested by the wish to conceal, without committing what his heated fancy would regard as sacrilege: to bury it be. neath the elm was dictated by no fortuitous or inexplicable caprice: this event could scarcely fail of exercising some influence on the perturbations of his sleep; and thus, in addition to other causes, might his hovering near this trunk, and throwing up this earth, in the intervals of slumber, be accounted for. Clithero, indeed, had not mentioned this proceeding in the c0urse of his narrative; but that would have contravened the end for which he had provided a grave for this book.

I read this copious tale with unspeakable eagerness: it essentially agreed with that which had been told by Clithero: by drawing forth events into all their circumstances, more distinct impressions were produced on the mind, and proofs of fortitude and equanimity were here given, to which I had hitherto known no parallel. No wonder that a soul like