The Mysteries of Udolpho

Soon after twelve, having enjoined Annette to be wakeful, and to call

her, should any change appear for the worse, Emily sorrowfully bade

Madame Montoni good night, and withdrew to her chamber. Her spirits were

more than usually depressed by the piteous condition of her aunt, whose

recovery she scarcely dared to expect. To her own misfortunes she saw no

period, inclosed as she was, in a remote castle, beyond the reach of any

friends, had she possessed such, and beyond the pity even of strangers;

while she knew herself to be in the power of a man capable of any

action, which his interest, or his ambition, might suggest.

Occupied by melancholy reflections and by anticipations as sad, she

did not retire immediately to rest, but leaned thoughtfully on her open

casement. The scene before her of woods and mountains, reposing in the

moon-light, formed a regretted contrast with the state of her mind;

but the lonely murmur of these woods, and the view of this sleeping

landscape, gradually soothed her emotions and softened her to tears.

She continued to weep, for some time, lost to every thing, but to

a gentle sense of her misfortunes. When she, at length, took the

handkerchief from her eyes, she perceived, before her, on the terrace

below, the figure she had formerly observed, which stood fixed and

silent, immediately opposite to her casement. On perceiving it, she

started back, and terror for some time overcame curiosity;--at length,

she returned to the casement, and still the figure was before it, which

she now compelled herself to observe, but was utterly unable to speak,

as she had formerly intended. The moon shone with a clear light, and

it was, perhaps, the agitation of her mind, that prevented her

distinguishing, with any degree of accuracy, the form before her. It

was still stationary, and she began to doubt, whether it was really

animated.

Her scattered thoughts were now so far returned as to remind her, that

her light exposed her to dangerous observation, and she was stepping

back to remove it, when she perceived the figure move, and then wave

what seemed to be its arm, as if to beckon her; and, while she gazed,

fixed in fear, it repeated the action. She now attempted to speak, but

the words died on her lips, and she went from the casement to remove her

light; as she was doing which, she heard, from without, a faint groan.

Listening, but not daring to return, she presently heard it repeated.

'Good God!--what can this mean!' said she. Again she listened, but the sound came no more; and, after a long

interval of silence, she recovered courage enough to go to the casement,

when she again saw the same appearance! It beckoned again, and again

uttered a low sound.