The Mysteries of Udolpho

She would have risen to leave the place, but they seemed

to come from the way she must have taken towards the chateau, and she

awaited the event in trembling expectation. The sounds continued to

approach, for some time, and then ceased. Emily sat listening, gazing

and unable to move, when she saw a figure emerge from the shade of the

woods and pass along the bank, at some little distance before her. It

went swiftly, and her spirits were so overcome with awe, that, though

she saw, she did not much observe it.

Having left the spot, with a resolution never again to visit it alone,

at so late an hour, she began to approach the chateau, when she heard

voices calling her from the part of the wood, which was nearest to it.

They were the shouts of the Count's servants, who were sent to search

for her; and when she entered the supper-room, where he sat with Henri

and Blanche, he gently reproached her with a look, which she blushed to

have deserved.

This little occurrence deeply impressed her mind, and, when she withdrew

to her own room, it recalled so forcibly the circumstances she had

witnessed, a few nights before, that she had scarcely courage to remain

alone. She watched to a late hour, when, no sound having renewed

her fears, she, at length, sunk to repose. But this was of short

continuance, for she was disturbed by a loud and unusual noise, that

seemed to come from the gallery, into which her chamber opened. Groans

were distinctly heard, and, immediately after, a dead weight fell

against the door, with a violence, that threatened to burst it open. She

called loudly to know who was there, but received no answer, though,

at intervals, she still thought she heard something like a low moaning.

Fear deprived her of the power to move. Soon after, she heard footsteps

in a remote part of the gallery, and, as they approached, she called

more loudly than before, till the steps paused at her door. She then

distinguished the voices of several of the servants, who seemed too

much engaged by some circumstance without, to attend to her calls; but,

Annette soon after entering the room for water, Emily understood, that

one of the maids had fainted, whom she immediately desired them to bring

into her room, where she assisted to restore her. When this girl had

recovered her speech, she affirmed, that, as she was passing up the back

stair-case, in the way to her chamber, she had seen an apparition on the

second landing-place; she held the lamp low, she said, that she might

pick her way, several of the stairs being infirm and even decayed, and

it was upon raising her eyes, that she saw this appearance. It stood for

a moment in the corner of the landing-place, which she was approaching,

and then, gliding up the stairs, vanished at the door of the apartment,

that had been lately opened.