The Mysteries of Udolpho

The intelligent eyes of Emily seemed to read what passed in the mind of

her father, and she fixed them on his face, with an expression of such

tender pity, as recalled his thoughts from every desultory object of

regret, and he remembered only, that he must leave his daughter without

protection. This reflection changed regret to agony; he sighed deeply,

and remained silent, while she seemed to understand that sigh, for

she pressed his hand affectionately, and then turned to the window to

conceal her tears. The sun now threw a last yellow gleam on the waves of

the Mediterranean, and the gloom of twilight spread fast over the scene,

till only a melancholy ray appeared on the western horizon, marking the

point where the sun had set amid the vapours of an autumnal evening. A

cool breeze now came from the shore, and Emily let down the glass; but

the air, which was refreshing to health, was as chilling to sickness,

and St. Aubert desired, that the window might be drawn up. Increasing

illness made him now more anxious than ever to finish the day's journey,

and he stopped the muleteer to enquire how far they had yet to go to the

next post.

He replied, 'Nine miles.' 'I feel I am unable to proceed much

further,' said St. Aubert; 'enquire, as you go, if there is any house on

the road that would accommodate us for the night.' He sunk back in

the carriage, and Michael, cracking his whip in the air, set off, and

continued on the full gallop, till St. Aubert, almost fainting, called

to him to stop. Emily looked anxiously from the window, and saw a

peasant walking at some little distance on the road, for whom they

waited, till he came up, when he was asked, if there was any house in

the neighbourhood that accommodated travellers. He replied, that he knew

of none. 'There is a chateau, indeed, among those woods on the right,'

added he, 'but I believe it receives nobody, and I cannot show you the

way, for I am almost a stranger here.' St. Aubert was going to ask

him some further question concerning the chateau, but the man abruptly

passed on. After some consideration, he ordered Michael to proceed

slowly to the woods. Every moment now deepened the twilight, and

increased the difficulty of finding the road. Another peasant soon after

passed.

'Which is the way to the chateau in the woods?' cried Michael.

'The chateau in the woods!' exclaimed the peasant--'Do you mean that

with the turret, yonder?' 'I don't know as for the turret, as you call it,' said Michael, 'I mean

that white piece of a building, that we see at a distance there, among

the trees.'