Page:Edgar Huntly, or The Sleep Walker.djvu/257

 of Sarsefield, and watched every emotion as it rose or declined: with the progress of my tale, his indignation and his fury grew less, and at length gave place to horror and compassion.

His seat became uneasy—his pulse throbbed with new vehemence. When I came to the motives which prompted the unhappy man to visit the chamber of his mistress, he started from his seat, and sometimes strode across the floor in a troubled mood, and sometimes stood before me with his breath almost suspended in the eagerness of his attention. When I mentioned the lifted dagger, the shriek from behind, and the apparition that interposed, he shuddered and drew back as if a dagger had been aimed at his breast.

When the tale was done, some time elapsed in mutual and profound silence. My friend's thoughts were involved in a mournful and indefinable reverie: from this he at length recovered, and spoke.

"It is true; a tale like this could never be the fruit of invention, or be invented to deceive. He has done himself injustice: his character was spotless and fair; all his moral properties seemed to have resolved themselves into gratitude, fidelity, and honour.

"We parted at the door late in the evening, as he mentioned; and he guessed truly that subsequent reflection had induced me to return and to disclose the truth to Mrs. Lorimer. Clarice, relieved by the sudden death of her friend, and unexpectedly by all, arrived at the same hour.

"These tidings astonished, afflicted, and delighted Mrs. Lorimer: her brother's death had been long believed by all but herself; to find her doubts verified, and his existence ascertained, was the dearest consolation that he ever could bestow. She was afflicted at the proofs that had been noted of the continuance of his depravity; but she dreaded no danger to herself from his malignity or vengeance.

"The ignorance and prepossessions of this woman were remarkable: on this subject only she was perverse, headlong, obstinate. Her anxiety to benefit this arch-ruffian occupied her whole thoughts, and allowed her no time to