The Mysteries of Udolpho

'Go a little farther, and if we see no house then, we will return to the

road,' replied St. Aubert.

Michael proceeded with reluctance, and the extreme slowness of his pace

made St. Aubert look again from the window to hasten him, when again he

saw the same figure. He was somewhat startled: probably the gloominess

of the spot made him more liable to alarm than usual; however this

might be, he now stopped Michael, and bade him call to the person in the

avenue. 'Please your honour, he may be a robber,' said Michael. 'It does not

please me,' replied St. Aubert, who could not forbear smiling at the

simplicity of his phrase, 'and we will, therefore, return to the road,

for I see no probability of meeting here with what we seek.'

Michael turned about immediately, and was retracing his way with

alacrity, when a voice was heard from among the trees on the left. It

was not the voice of command, or distress, but a deep hollow tone, which

seemed to be scarcely human. The man whipped his mules till they went as

fast as possible, regardless of the darkness, the broken ground, and

the necks of the whole party, nor once stopped till he reached the gate,

which opened from the avenue into the high-road, where he went into a

more moderate pace.

'I am very ill,' said St. Aubert, taking his daughter's hand. 'You are

worse, then, sir!' said Emily, extremely alarmed by his manner, 'you

are worse, and here is no assistance. Good God! what is to be done!' He

leaned his head on her shoulder, while she endeavoured to support him

with her arm, and Michael was again ordered to stop. When the rattling

of the wheels had ceased, music was heard on their air; it was to Emily

the voice of Hope. 'Oh! we are near some human habitation!' said she,

'help may soon be had.'

She listened anxiously; the sounds were distant, and seemed to come from

a remote part of the woods that bordered the road; and, as she looked

towards the spot whence they issued, she perceived in the faint

moon-light something like a chateau. It was difficult, however, to reach

this; St. Aubert was now too ill to bear the motion of the carriage;

Michael could not quit his mules; and Emily, who still supported her

father, feared to leave him, and also feared to venture alone to such a

distance, she knew not whither, or to whom. Something, however, it was

necessary to determine upon immediately; St. Aubert, therefore, told

Michael to proceed slowly; but they had not gone far, when he fainted,

and the carriage was again stopped. He lay quite senseless.--'My dear,

dear father!' cried Emily in great agony, who began to fear that he was

dying, 'speak, if it is only one word to let me hear the sound of your

voice!'