The Mysteries of Udolpho

mily threw her veil over her, and went down to walk upon the ramparts,

the only walk, indeed, which was open to her, though she often wished,

that she might be permitted to ramble among the woods below, and

still more, that she might sometimes explore the sublime scenes of the

surrounding country. But, as Montoni would not suffer her to pass the

gates of the castle, she tried to be contented with the romantic views

she beheld from the walls. The peasants, who had been employed on the

fortifications, had left their work, and the ramparts were silent and

solitary.

Their lonely appearance, together with the gloom of a lowering

sky, assisted the musings of her mind, and threw over it a kind of

melancholy tranquillity, such as she often loved to indulge. She turned

to observe a fine effect of the sun, as his rays, suddenly streaming

from behind a heavy cloud, lighted up the west towers of the castle,

while the rest of the edifice was in deep shade, except, that, through

a lofty gothic arch, adjoining the tower, which led to another terrace,

the beams darted in full splendour, and shewed the three strangers

she had observed in the morning. Perceiving them, she started, and a

momentary fear came over her, as she looked up the long rampart, and saw

no other persons.

While she hesitated, they approached. The gate at the

end of the terrace, whither they were advancing, she knew, was always

locked, and she could not depart by the opposite extremity, without

meeting them; but, before she passed them, she hastily drew a thin

veil over her face, which did, indeed, but ill conceal her beauty. They

looked earnestly at her, and spoke to each other in bad Italian,

of which she caught only a few words; but the fierceness of their

countenances, now that she was near enough to discriminate them, struck

her yet more than the wild singularity of their air and dress had

formerly done. It was the countenance and figure of him, who walked

between the other two, that chiefly seized her attention, which

expressed a sullen haughtiness and a kind of dark watchful villany, that

gave a thrill of horror to her heart. All this was so legibly written on

his features, as to be seen by a single glance, for she passed the group

swiftly, and her timid eyes scarcely rested on them a moment. Having

reached the terrace, she stopped, and perceived the strangers standing

in the shadow of one of the turrets, gazing after her, and seemingly, by

their action, in earnest conversation. She immediately left the rampart,

and retired to her apartment.