and in this dreadful situation I remained until a third heave, more violent than the last, accompanied with a kind of rumbling noise underneath, entirely took from me my small remaining stock of resolution, and I sunk under the bed-clothes, in all the horrors of extreme affright, while big drops of cold sweat distilled from my clammy brow. I had not been long in this pitiable state, when a piercing shriek, that rung in every corner of the room, roused me into a fit of desperation; and, throwing off my covering, I started half up in bed, when my sight was arrested by a figure, that will for ever be graved in strong lineaments upon my imagination, and my memory still dwells upon her image in dread mingled with terror. The beams of the moon struck full upon a female form that stood at the foot of my bed; her right leg was advanced, and her right hand elevated towards me in a threatening posture: my eyes, as if by a magic power, were riveted upon hers, in a steady immoveable stare; and, like the dangerous fascination of the rattle-snake, the more I endeavoured to remove the charm, the more powerful it became. The pale light that surrounded her gave the fiend-like figure additional horror; her hollow, livid, and haggard cheeks, her glaring eyeballs rolling in phrensied glance on mine, the hideous grin that distorted her ghastly mouth, and her long, black, and dishevelled snaky hair, that only half concealed her naked bosom, which heaved in violent commotion, all contributed to form an object the most horrid I ever beheld. She leaned forwards over the bed, and, shivering with cold (being only covered by an old torn blanket), she fixed her deadly gaze immoveably upon mine, while a chilling torpor crept through all my veins. In this state we remained during a long and dreary pause of death-like silence, which was at length interrupted by an infernal fit ́of laughter, that appalled my very soul; the exulting cry of a fiend let loose from hell could not have had a more terrible effect upon me; and whilst this hellish sound of derision was yet ringing in my ears, the spectre rushed upon me. Scarcely knowing what I did, with a desperate arm I hurled her from me on to the floor; and, to prevent a second attempt from this infernal hag, I darted with frantic speed towards the staircase, which not perceiving, I stumbled, and fell down a considerable distance, the shock of which deprived me of my senses. When I awoke from the delirium the fright and my severe fall had occasioned, I found myself seated in an easy chair by the side of a good fire, in the apartment of my host, who was sitting by me in his night-gown, applying, with the greatest assiduity, some usual restoratives. My head was then racking with pain, in such a degree, that I could only beg to be put to bed immediately; my wish was no sooner expressed, than my kind friend relinquished his own, and I was soon buried in profound slumbers. "How frail men, things! how momentary both, "Thro' flow'ry meadows, and thro' dreary wastes, "'Tis approbation strikes the strings of joy.” CHAP. II. "Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold." NOTWITHSTANDING the fatigue and anxiety I had undergone during the preceding day, I awoke at an early hour in the morning, and all my gloomy apprehensions gave place for more pleasing reflections. The soft blushes of Aurora had tinged the fair face of incense-breathing morn, and I felt alive to all her glowing beauties; the mirky gloom of darkness was filed, with all her host of imaginary dangers; and the bright god of day, once more benignant, smiled upon the earth. I arose, and descended to the breakfast-room: my good friend was not yet risen; and, in order to beguile away the time before breakfast, I sauntered into a rubbishing garden, behind the house, from which I entered the church-yard by a small gate. In a remote corner of this sacred place stood a marble urn, under the shade of a weeping willow a wreath of sculptured flowers encircled the initials of I. C. on its pedestal. Many withered lilies and roses were scattered upon the ground that appeared newly disturbed. As I stood over the tomb, conjecturing the cause of those flowers being there, the good clergyman approached me, and as the tears trickled down his cheeks said, This is poor Julia's tomb; those are the flowers which the six virgins that bore her corpse strewed upon her grave; but come away, you shall hear more of her.' We retired to breakfast; and as soon as the cloth was removed, I begged he would clear up the mysterious affair of the preceding night. Equally astonished as yourself,' said he, I have been enquiring into the matter, and find that the object of your affright is the insane lady of whom you heard Mrs. Parsons speak; and as this unfortunate maniac forms a considerable feature in my narrative, I shall relate her sad story to you in its proper place.— Towards the middle of the eighteenth century, Mr. Courtney (who was then a merchant of the first respectability in the city of London) had realised a fortune in trade sufficiently ample to produce every comfort, or indeed luxury, that a man of his |