Page:Tragical history of George Barnwell (2).pdf/5

 heard. "What thinks my nephew?" ſaid he, George bluſhed deeply and replid that he muſt confeſs he had been taught to conſider ſtates of this deſcription as ridiculous "Ridiculous! (exclaimed Sir James's Chaplain) ridiculous, young gentleman and wherefore, let me aſk you?" Becauſe being irreconcilable to truth and nature they are beneath the dignity of ſerious argument." Barnwell, whoſe modeſty did not permit her to trouble the company with her obſervations, treaſured in her memory all that had been ſaid concerning the Abbey. When ſhe retired to her chamber the windows of which commanded a view of the ruins ſhe queſtioned the ſervant who attended her concerning the ſtory of the haunted Aiſle; the incongruous narrative of Hannah increaſed her credulity, and ſhe reſolved to pay a viſit to the Abbey on the following morning as ſoon ſhe aroſe.

Sleep did not conquer the ſenſes of Eliza with its uſual eaſe. A ſlight ſlumber brought with it the following dream: Eliza imagined that ſhe had just entered the haunted Aiſle when a tomb that ſtood at the entrance, appeared to rock at her approach. It then became enveloped in an aſcending vapour! the Abbey-ruins echoed the groans of one, as if in the agonies of death! and as the vapour diſperſed there appeared, kneeling on a tomb a moſt beautiful female! Her eyes ſwelled with weeping her hair diſhevelled, and blood trickling from her wounded breaſt, while her hands in vain attempted to remove a dagger whoſe point was buried in her boſom. Eliza's attention