Page:Edgar Huntly, or The Sleep Walker.djvu/233

 but my ancient rambles with you made me familiar with it, and I was not afraid of being obstructed or bewildered.

"Just as I gained the southern outlet, I spied a passenger on foot coming towards me with a quick pace: the incident was of no moment; and yet the time of night, the seeming expedition of the walker, recollection of the mazes and obstacles which he was going to encounter, and a vague conjecture that, perhaps, he was unacquainted with the difficulties that awaited him, made me eye him with attention as he passed.

"He came near, and I thought I recognised a friend in this traveller: the form, the gesture, the stature, bore a powerful resemblance to those of Edgar Huntly: this resemblance was so strong, that I stopped, and after he had gone by, called him by your name. That no notice was taken of my call proved that the person was mistaken; but even though it were another, that he should not even hesitate or turn at a summons which he could not but perceive to be addressed, though erroneously, to him, was the source of some surprise: I did not repeat my call, but proceeded on my way.

"All had retired to repose in your uncle's dwelling: I did not scruple to rouse them, and was received with affectionate and joyous greetings. That you allowed your uncle to rise before you, was a new topic of reflection. To my enquiries concerning you, answers were made that accorded with my wishes: I was told that you were in good health, and were then abed. That you had not heard and risen at my knocking, was mentioned with surprise; but your uncle accounted for your indolence by saying that, during the last week, you had fatigued yourself by rambling night and day, in search of some maniac or visionary who was supposed to have retreated into Norwalk.

"I insisted upon awakening you myself:—I anticipated the effect of this sudden and unlooked-for meeting I with some emotions of pride as well as of pleasure: to find, on opening your eyes, your old preceptor standing by your bedside and gazing in your face, would place you, I conceived, in an affecting situation.

"Your chamber door was open, but your bed was