第11章

Whenmydiseaseabated，Pleyelhadforbornehisvisits，andhadlatelysetoutuponthisjourney。Thisamountedtoaproofthatmyguiltwasstillbelievedbyhim。Iwasgrievedforhiserrors，buttrustedthatmyvindicationwould，soonerorlater，bemade。

Meanwhile，tumultuousthoughtswereagainsetafloatbyaproposalmadetomebymyuncle。Heimaginedthatnewairswouldrestoremylanguishingconstitution，andavariedsuccessionofobjectstendtorepairtheshockwhichmymindhadreceived。Forthisend，heproposedtometotakeupmyabodewithhiminFranceorItaly。

Atamoreprosperousperiod，thisschemewouldhavepleasedforitsownsake。Nowmyheartsickenedattheprospectofnature。Theworldofmanwasshrowdedinmiseryandblood，andconstitutedaloathsomespectacle。Iwillinglyclosedmyeyesinsleep，andregrettedthattherespiteitaffordedmewassoshort。Imarkedwithsatisfactiontheprogressofdecayinmyframe，andconsentedtolive，merelyinthehopethatthecourseofnaturewouldspeedilyrelievemefromtheburthen。

Nevertheless，ashepersistedinhisscheme，Iconcurredinitmerelybecausehewasentitledtomygratitude，andbecausemyrefusalgavehimpain。

Nosoonerwasheinformedofmyconsent，thanhetoldmeI

mustmakeimmediatepreparationtoembark，astheshipinwhichhehadengagedapassagewouldbereadytodepartinthreedays。

Thisexpeditionwasunexpected。Therewasanimpatienceinhismannerwhenheurgedthenecessityofdispatchthatexcitedmysurprize。WhenIquestionedhimastothecauseofthishaste，hegenerallystatedreasonswhich，atthattime，Icouldnotdenytobeplausible；butwhich，onthereview，appearedinsufficient。Isuspectedthatthetruemotiveswereconcealed，andbelievedthatthesemotiveshadsomeconnectionwithmybrother"sdestiny。

InowrecollectedthattheinformationrespectingWielandwhichhad，fromtimetotime，beenimpartedtome，wasalwaysaccompaniedwithairsofreserveandmysteriousness。Whathadappearedsufficientlyexplicitatthetimeitwasuttered，Inowrememberedtohavebeenfalteringandambiguous。Iwasresolvedtoremovemydoubts，byvisitingtheunfortunatemaninhisdungeon。

Heretoforetheideaofthisvisithadoccurredtome；butthehorrorsofhisdwelling-place，hiswildyetplacidphysiognomy，hisneglectedlocks，thefetterswhichconstrainedhislimbs，terribleastheywereindescription，howcouldIenduretobehold!

Now，however，thatIwaspreparingtotakeaneverlastingfarewellofmycountry，nowthatanoceanwashenceforthtoseparatemefromhim，howcouldIpartwithoutaninterview？I

wouldexaminehissituationwithmyowneyes。Iwouldknowwhethertherepresentationswhichhadbeenmadetomeweretrue。

Perhapsthesightofthesisterwhomhewaswonttolovewithapassionmorethanfraternal，mighthaveanauspiciousinfluenceonhismalady。

Havingformedthisresolution，IwaitedtocommunicateittoMr。Cambridge。Iwasawarethat，withouthisconcurrence，I

couldnothopetocarryitintoexecution，andcoulddiscovernoobjectiontowhichitwasliable。IfIhadnotbeendeceivedastohiscondition，noinconveniencecouldarisefromthisproceeding。Hisconsent，therefore，wouldbethetestofhissincerity。

Iseizedthisopportunitytostatemywishesonthishead。

Mysuspicionswereconfirmedbythemannerinwhichmyrequestaffectedhim。Aftersomepause，inwhichhiscountenancebetrayedeverymarkofperplexity，hesaidtome，"Whywouldyoupaythisvisit？Whatusefulpurposecanitserve？"

"Wearepreparing，"saidI，"toleavethecountryforever:

WhatkindofbeingshouldIbetoleavebehindmeabrotherincalamitywithoutevenapartinginterview？Indulgemeforthreeminutesinthesightofhim。MyheartwillbemucheasierafterIhavelookedathim，andshedafewtearsinhispresence。"

"Ibelieveotherwise。Thesightofhimwouldonlyaugmentyourdistress，withoutcontributing，inanydegree，tohisbenefit。"

"Iknownotthat，"returnedI。"Surelythesympathyofhissister，proofsthathertendernessisaslivelyasever，mustbeasourceofsatisfactiontohim。Atpresenthemustregardallmankindashisenemiesandcalumniators。Hissisterhe，probably，conceivestopartakeinthegeneralinfatuation，andtojoininthecryofabhorrencethatisraisedagainsthim。Tobeundeceivedinthisrespect，tobeassuredthat，howeverImayimputehisconducttodelusion，Istillretainallmyformeraffectionforhisperson，andvenerationforthepurityofhismotives，cannotbutaffordhimpleasure。WhenhehearsthatI

haveleftthecountry，withouteventheceremoniousattentionofavisit，whatwillhethinkofme？Hismagnanimitymayhinderhimfromrepining，buthewillsurelyconsidermybehaviourassavageandunfeeling。Indeed，dearSir，Imustpaythisvisit。

Toembarkwithyouwithoutpayingit，willbeimpossible。Itmaybeofnoservicetohim，butwillenablemetoacquitmyselfofwhatIcannotbutesteemaduty。Besides，"continuedI，"ifitbeamerefitofinsanitythathasseizedhim，maynotmypresencechancetohaveasalutaryinfluence？Themeresightofme，itisnotimpossible，mayrectifyhisperceptions。"

"Ay，"saidmyuncle，withsomeeagerness；"itisbynomeansimpossiblethatyourinterviewmayhavethateffect；andforthatreason，beyondallothers，wouldIdissuadeyoufromit。"

Iexpressedmysurprizeatthisdeclaration。"Isitnottobedesiredthatanerrorsofatalasthisshouldberectified？"

"Iwonderatyourquestion。Reflectontheconsequencesofthiserror。Hashenotdestroyedthewifewhomheloved，thechildrenwhomheidolized？Whatisitthatenableshimtobeartheremembrance，butthebeliefthatheactedashisdutyenjoined？Wouldyourashlybereavehimofthisbelief？Wouldyourestorehimtohimself，andconvincehimthathewasinstigatedtothisdreadfuloutragebyaperversionofhisorgans，oradelusionfromhell？

"Nowhisvisionsarejoyousandelate。Heconceiveshimselftohavereachedaloftierdegreeofvirtue，thananyotherhumanbeing。Themeritofhissacrificeisonlyenhancedintheeyesofsuperiorbeings，bythedetestationthatpursueshimhere，andthesufferingstowhichheiscondemned。Thebeliefthatevenhissisterhasdesertedhim，andgoneovertohisenemies，addstohissublimityoffeelings，andhisconfidenceindivineapprobationandfuturerecompense。

"Lethimbeundeceivedinthisrespect，andwhatfloodsofdespairandofhorrorwilloverwhelmhim!Insteadofglowingapprobationandserenehope，willhenothateandtorturehimself？Self-violence，oraphrenzyfarmoresavageanddestructivethanthis，maybeexpectedtosucceed。Ibeseechyou，therefore，torelinquishthisscheme。Ifyoucalmlyreflectuponit，youwilldiscoverthatyourdutyliesincarefullyshunninghim。"

Mr。Cambridge"sreasoningssuggestedviewstomyunderstanding，thathadnothithertooccurred。Icouldnotbutadmittheirvalidity，buttheyshewed，inanewlight，thedepthofthatmisfortuneinwhichmybrotherwasplunged。Iwassilentandirresolute。

Presently，Iconsidered，thatwhetherWielandwasamaniac，afaithfulservantofhisGod，thevictimofhellishillusions，orthedupeofhumanimposture，wasbynomeanscertain。InthisstateofmyminditbecamemetobesilentduringthevisitthatIprojected。Thisvisitshouldbebrief:Ishouldbesatisfiedmerelytosnatchalookathim。Admittingthatachangeinhisopinionswerenottobedesired，therewasnodangerfromtheconductwhichIshouldpursue，thatthischangeshouldbewrought。

ButIcouldnotconquermyuncle"saversiontothisscheme。

YetIpersisted，andhefoundthattomakemevoluntarilyrelinquishit，itwasnecessarytobemoreexplicitthanhehadhithertobeen。Hetookbothmyhands，andanxiouslyexaminingmycountenanceashespoke，"Clara，"saidhe，"thisvisitmustnotbepaid。Wemusthastenwiththeutmostexpeditionfromthisshore。Itisfollytoconcealthetruthfromyou，and，sinceitisonlybydisclosingthetruththatyoucanbeprevailedupontolayasidethisproject，thetruthshallbetold。

"Omydeargirl!"continuedhewithincreasingenergyinhisaccent，"yourbrother"sphrenzyis，indeed，stupendousandfrightful。Thesoulthatformerlyactuatedhisframehasdisappeared。Thesameformremains；butthewiseandbenevolentWielandisnomore。Afurythatisrapaciousofblood，thatliftshisstrengthalmostabovethatofmortals，thatbendsallhisenergiestothedestructionofwhateverwasoncedeartohim，possesseshimwholly。

"Youmustnotenterhisdungeon；hiseyeswillnosoonerbefixeduponyou，thananexertionofhisforcewillbemade。Hewillshakeoffhisfettersinamoment，andrushuponyou。Nointerpositionwillthenbestrongorquickenoughtosaveyou。

"ThephantomthathasurgedhimtothemurderofCatharineandherchildrenisnotyetappeased。Yourlife，andthatofPleyel，areexactedfromhimbythisimaginarybeing。Heiseagertocomplywiththisdemand。Twicehehasescapedfromhisprison。Thefirsttime，henosoonerfoundhimselfatliberty，thanhehastedtoPleyel"shouse。Itbeingmidnight，thelatterwasinbed。Wielandpenetratedunobservedtohischamber，andopenedhiscurtain。Happily，Pleyelawokeatthecriticalmoment，andescapedthefuryofhiskinsman，byleapingfromhischamber-windowintothecourt。Happily，hereachedthegroundwithoutinjury。Alarmsweregiven，andafterdiligentsearch，yourbrotherwasfoundinachamberofyourhouse，whither，nodoubt，hehadsoughtyou。

"Hischains，andthewatchfulnessofhisguards，wereredoubled；butagain，bysomemiracle，herestoredhimselftoliberty。Hewasnowincautiouslyapprizedoftheplaceofyourabode:andhadnotinformationofhisescapebeeninstantlygiven，yourdeathwouldhavebeenaddedtothenumberofhisatrociousacts。

"Younowseethedangerofyourproject。Youmustnotonlyforbeartovisithim，butifyouwouldsavehimfromthecrimeofembruinghishandsinyourblood，youmustleavethecountry。

Thereisnohopethathismaladywillendbutwithhislife，andnoprecautionwillensureyoursafety，butthatofplacingtheoceanbetweenyou。

"IconfessIcameoverwithanintentiontoresideamongyou，butthesedisastershavechangedmyviews。Yourownsafetyandmyhappinessrequirethatyoushouldaccompanymeinmyreturn，andIentreatyoutogiveyourcheerfulconcurrencetothismeasure。"

Aftertheserepresentationsfrommyuncle，itwasimpossibletoretainmypurpose。IreadilyconsentedtosecludemyselffromWieland"spresence。IlikewiseacquiescedintheproposaltogotoEurope；notthatIeverexpectedtoarrivethere，butbecause，sincemyprinciplesforbadmetoassailmyownlife，changehadsometendencytomakesupportablethefewdayswhichdiseaseshouldsparetome。

Whatatalehadthusbeenunfolded!Iwashuntedtodeath，notbyonewhommymisconducthadexasperated，whowasconsciousofillicitmotives，andwhosoughthisendbycircumventionandsurprize；butbyonewhodeemedhimselfcommissionedforthisactbyheaven；whoregardedthiscareerofhorrorasthelastrefinementofvirtue；whoseimplacabilitywasproportionedtothereverenceandlovewhichhefeltforme，andwhowasinaccessibletothefearofpunishmentandignominy!

InvainshouldIendeavourtostayhishandbyurgingtheclaimsofasisterorfriend:thesewerehisonlyreasonsforpursuingmydestruction。HadIbeenastrangertohisblood；

hadIbeenthemostworthlessofhumankind；mysafetyhadnotbeenendangered。

Surely，saidI，myfateiswithoutexample。Thephrenzywhichischargeduponmybrother，mustbelongtomyself。Myfoeismanacledandguarded；butIderivenosecurityfromtheserestraints。Ilivenotinacommunityofsavages；yet，whetherIsitorwalk，gointocrouds，orhidemyselfinsolitude，mylifeismarkedforapreytoinhumanviolence；Iaminperpetualdangerofperishing；ofperishingunderthegraspofabrother!

Irecollectedtheomensofthisdestiny；Irememberedthegulftowhichmybrother"sinvitationhadconductedme；I

rememberedthat，whenonthebrinkofdanger，theauthorofmyperilwasdepictedbymyfearsinhisform:Thusrealized，werethecreaturesofpropheticsleep，andofwakefulterror!

TheseimageswereunavoidablyconnectedwiththatofCarwin。

Inthisparoxysmofdistress，myattentionfastenedonhimasthegranddeceiver；theauthorofthisblackconspiracy；theintelligencethatgovernedinthisstorm。

Somereliefisaffordedinthemidstofsuffering，whenitsauthorisdiscoveredorimagined；andanobjectfoundonwhichwemaypouroutourindignationandourvengeance。Iranovertheeventsthathadtakenplacesincetheoriginofourintercoursewithhim，andreflectedonthetenorofthatdescriptionwhichwasreceivedfromLudloe。Mixedupwithnotionsofsupernaturalagency，werethevehementsuspicionswhichIentertained，thatCarwinwastheenemywhosemachinationshaddestroyedus。

Ithirstedforknowledgeandforvengeance。Iregardedmyhastydeparturewithreluctance，sinceitwouldremovemefromthemeansbywhichthisknowledgemightbeobtained，andthisvengeancegratified。Thisdeparturewastotakeplaceintwodays。AttheendoftwodaysIwastobidaneternaladieutomynativecountry。ShouldInotpayapartingvisittothesceneofthesedisasters？ShouldInotbedewwithmytearsthegravesofmysisterandherchildren？ShouldInotexploretheirdesolatehabitation，andgatherfromthesightofitswallsandfurniturefoodformyeternalmelancholy？

Thissuggestionwassucceededbyasecretshuddering。Somedisastrousinfluenceappearedtooverhangthescene。HowmanymemorialsshouldImeetwithservingtorecalltheimagesofthoseIhadlost!

Iwastemptedtorelinquishmydesign，whenitoccurredtomethatIhadleftamongmypapersajournaloftransactionsinshorthand。IwasemployedinthismanuscriptonthatnightwhenPleyel"sincautiouscuriositytemptedhimtolookovermyshoulder。IwasthenrecordingmyadventureinTHERECESS，animperfectsightofwhichledhimintosuchfatalerrors。

Ihadregulatedthedispositionofallmyproperty。Thismanuscript，however，whichcontainedthemostsecrettransactionsofmylife，Iwasdesirousofdestroying。ForthisendImustreturntomyhouse，andthisIimmediatelydeterminedtodo。

Iwasnotwillingtoexposemyselftooppositionfrommyfriends，bymentioningmydesign；IthereforebespoketheuseofMr。Hallet"schaise，underpretenceofenjoyinganairing，asthedaywasremarkablybright。

Thisrequestwasgladlycompliedwith，andIdirectedtheservanttoconductmetoMettingen。Idismissedhimatthegate，intendingtouse，inreturning，acarriagebelongingtomybrother。

ChapterXXII

TheinhabitantsoftheHUTreceivedmewithamixtureofjoyandsurprize。Theirhomelywelcome，andtheirartlesssympathy，weregratefultomyfeelings。Inthemidstoftheirinquiries，astomyhealth，theyavoidedallallusionstothesourceofmymalady。Theywerehonestcreatures，andIlovedthemwell。I

participatedinthetearswhichtheyshedwhenImentionedtothemmyspeedydepartureforEurope，andpromisedtoacquaintthemwithmywelfareduringmylongabsence。

TheyexpressedgreatsurprizewhenIinformedthemofmyintentiontovisitmycottage。Alarmandforebodingoverspreadtheirfeatures，andtheyattemptedtodissuademefromvisitinganhousewhichtheyfirmlybelievedtobehauntedbyathousandghastlyapparitions。

Theseapprehensions，however，hadnopowerovermyconduct。

Itookanirregularpathwhichledmetomyownhouse。Allwasvacantandforlorn。Asmallenclosure，nearwhichthepathled，wastheburying-groundbelongingtothefamily。ThisIwasobligedtopass。OnceIhadintendedtoenterit，andponderontheemblemsandinscriptionswhichmyunclehadcausedtobemadeonthetombsofCatharineandherchildren；butnowmyheartfalteredasIapproached，andIhastenedforward，thatdistancemightconcealitfrommyview。

WhenIapproachedtherecess，myheartagainsunk。Iavertedmyeyes，andleftitbehindmeasquicklyaspossible。Silencereignedthroughmyhabitation，andadarknesswhichcloseddoorsandshuttersproduced。Everyobjectwasconnectedwithmineormybrother"shistory。Ipassedtheentry，mountedthestair，andunlockedthedoorofmychamber。ItwaswithdifficultythatIcurbedmyfancyandsmotheredmyfears。Slightmovementsandcasualsoundsweretransformedintobeckoningshadowsandcallingshapes。

Iproceededtothecloset。Iopenedandlookedrounditwithfearfulness。Allthingswereintheiraccustomedorder。I

soughtandfoundthemanuscriptwhereIwasusedtodepositit。

Thisbeingsecured，therewasnothingtodetainme；yetIstoodandcontemplatedawhilethefurnitureandwallsofmychamber。

Irememberedhowlongthisapartmenthadbeenasweetandtranquilasylum；Icompareditsformerstatewithitspresentdreariness，andreflectedthatInowbehelditforthelasttime。

HereitwasthattheincomprehensiblebehaviourofCarwinwaswitnessed:thisthestageonwhichthatenemyofmanshewedhimselfforamomentunmasked。Herethemenacesofmurderwerewaftedtomyear；andherethesemenaceswereexecuted。

Thesethoughtshadatendencytotakefrommemyself-command。Myfeeblelimbsrefusedtosupportme，andIsunkuponachair。Incoherentandhalf-articulateexclamationsescapedmylips。ThenameofCarwinwasuttered，andeternalwoes，woeslikethatwhichhismalicehadentaileduponus，wereheapeduponhim。Iinvokedall-seeingheaventodragtolightandtopunishthisbetrayer，andaccuseditsprovidenceforhavingthuslongdelayedtheretributionthatwasduetosoenormousaguilt。

Ihavesaidthatthewindowshutterswereclosed。Afeeblelight，however，foundentrancethroughthecrevices。Asmallwindowilluminatedthecloset，andthedoorbeingclosed，adimraystreamedthroughthekey-hole。Akindoftwilightwasthuscreated，sufficientforthepurposesofvision；but，atthesametime，involvingallminuterobjectsinobscurity。

Thisdarknesssuitedthecolourofmythoughts。Isickenedattheremembranceofthepast。Theprospectofthefutureexcitedmyloathing。Imutteredinalowvoice，WhyshouldI

livelonger？WhyshouldIdragamiserablebeing？All，forwhomIoughttolive，haveperished。AmInotmyselfhuntedtodeath？

Atthatmoment，mydespairsuddenlybecamevigorous。Mynerveswerenolongerunstrung。Mypowers，thathadlongbeendeadened，wererevived。Mybosomswelledwithasuddenenergy，andtheconvictiondartedthroughmymind，thattoendmytormentswas，atonce，practicableandwise。

Iknewhowtofindwaytotherecessesoflife。Icouldusealancetwithsomeskill，andcoulddistinguishbetweenveinandartery。Bypiercingdeepintothelatter，Ishouldshuntheevilswhichthefuturehadinstoreforme，andtakerefugefrommywoesinquietdeath。

Istartedonmyfeet，formyfeeblenesswasgone，andhastedtothecloset。AlancetandothersmallinstrumentswerepreservedinacasewhichIhaddepositedhere。InattentiveasIwastoforeignconsiderations，myearswerestillopentoanysoundofmysteriousimportthatshouldoccur。IthoughtIheardastepintheentry。Mypurposewassuspended，andIcastaneagerglanceatmychamberdoor，whichwasopen。Nooneappeared，unlesstheshadowwhichIdiscerneduponthefloor，wastheoutlineofaman。Ifitwere，Iwasauthorizedtosuspectthatsomeonewaspostedclosetotheentrance，whopossiblyhadoverheardmyexclamations。

Myteethchattered，andawildconfusiontookplaceofmymomentarycalm。Thusitwaswhenaterrificvisagehaddiscloseditselfonaformernight。ThusitwaswhentheevildestinyofWielandassumedthelineamentsofsomethinghuman。

Whathorridapparitionwaspreparingtoblastmysight？

StillIlistenedandgazed。Notlong，fortheshadowmoved；

afoot，unshapelyandhuge，wasthrustforward；aformadvancedfromitsconcealment，andstalkedintotheroom。ItwasCarwin!

WhileIhadbreathIshrieked。WhileIhadpowerovermymuscles，Imotionedwithmyhandthatheshouldvanish。Myexertionscouldnotlastlong；Isunkintoafit。

Othatthisgratefuloblivionhadlastedforever!TooquicklyIrecoveredmysenses。Thepowerofdistinctvisionwasnosoonerrestoredtome，thanthishatefulformagainpresenteditself，andIoncemorerelapsed。

Asecondtime，untowardnaturerecalledmefromthesleepofdeath。Ifoundmyselfstretcheduponthebed。WhenIhadpowertolookup，IrememberedonlythatIhadcausetofear。Mydistemperedfancyfashionedtoitselfnodistinguishableimage。

Ithrewalanguidglanceroundme；oncemoremyeyeslighteduponCarwin。

Hewasseatedonthefloor，hisbackrestedagainstthewall，hiskneesweredrawnup，andhisfacewasburiedinhishands。

Thathisstationwasatsomedistance，thathisattitudewasnotmenacing，thathisominousvisagewasconcealed，mayaccountformynowescapingashock，violentasthosewhichwerepast。I

withdrewmyeyes，butwasnotagaindesertedbymysenses。

OnperceivingthatIhadrecoveredmysensibility，heliftedhishead。Thismotionattractedmyattention。Hiscountenancewasmild，butsorrowandastonishmentsatuponhisfeatures。I

avertedmyeyesandfeeblyexclaimed——"O!fly——flyfarandforever!——Icannotbeholdyouandlive!"

Hedidnotriseuponhisfeet，butclaspedhishands，andsaidinatoneofdeprecation——"Iwillfly。Iambecomeafiend，thesightofwhomdestroys。Yettellmemyoffence!Youhavelinkedcurseswithmyname；youascribetomeamalicemonstrousandinfernal。Ilookaround；allislonelinessanddesert!Thishouseandyourbrother"saresolitaryanddismantled!Youdieawayatthesightofme!Myfearwhispersthatsomedeedofhorrorhasbeenperpetrated；thatIamtheundesigningcause。"

Whatlanguagewasthis？Hadhenotavowedhimselfaravisher？Hadnotthischamberwitnessedhisatrociouspurposes？Ibesoughthimwithnewvehemencetogo。

Heliftedhiseyes——"Greatheaven!whathaveIdone？IthinkIknowtheextentofmyoffences。Ihaveacted，butmyactionshavepossiblyeffectedmorethanIdesigned。Thisfearhasbroughtmebackfrommyretreat。Icometorepairtheevilofwhichmyrashnesswasthecause，andtopreventmoreevil。I

cometoconfessmyerrors。"

"Wretch!"Icriedwhenmysuffocatingemotionswouldpermitmetospeak，"theghostsofmysisterandherchildren，dotheynotrisetoaccusethee？WhowasitthatblastedtheintellectsofWieland？Whowasitthaturgedhimtofury，andguidedhimtomurder？Who，butthouandthedevil，withwhomthouartconfederated？"

Atthesewordsanewspiritpervadedhiscountenance。Hiseyesoncemoreappealedtoheaven。"IfIhavememory，ifIhavebeing，Iaminnocent。Iintendednoill；butmyfolly，indirectlyandremotely，mayhavecausedit；butwhatwordsarethese!Yourbrotherlunatic!Hischildrendead!"

WhatshouldIinferfromthisdeportment？Wastheignorancewhichthesewordsimpliedrealorpretended？——YethowcouldI

imagineamerehumanagencyintheseevents？Butiftheinfluencewaspreternaturalormaniacalinmybrother"scase，theymustbeequallysoinmyown。ThenIrememberedthatthevoiceexerted，wastosavemefromCarwin"sattempts。Theseideastendedtoabatemyabhorrenceofthisman，andtodetecttheabsurdityofmyaccusations。

"Alas!"saidI，"Ihavenoonetoaccuse。Leavemetomyfate。Flyfromascenestainedwithcruelty；devotedtodespair。"

Carwinstoodforatimemusingandmournful。Atlengthhesaid，"Whathashappened？Icametoexpiatemycrimes:letmeknowthemintheirfullextent。Ihavehorribleforebodings!

Whathashappened？"

Iwassilent；butrecollectingtheintimationgivenbythismanwhenhewasdetectedinmycloset，whichimpliedsomeknowledgeofthatpowerwhichinterferedinmyfavor，Ieagerlyinquired，"WhatwasthatvoicewhichcalleduponmetoholdwhenIattemptedtoopenthecloset？WhatfacewasthatwhichIsawatthebottomofthestairs？Answermetruly。"

"Icametoconfessthetruth。Yourallusionsarehorribleandstrange。PerhapsIhavebutfaintconceptionsoftheevilswhichmyinfatuationhasproduced；butwhatremainsIwillperform。ItwasmyVOICEthatyouheard!ItwasmyFACEthatyousaw!"

ForamomentIdoubtedwhethermyremembranceofeventswerenotconfused。Howcouldhebeatoncestationedatmyshoulderandshutupinmycloset？Howcouldhestandnearmeandyetbeinvisible？ButifCarwin"swerethethrillingvoiceandthefieryvisagewhichIhadheardandseen，thenwashetheprompterofmybrother，andtheauthorofthesedismaloutrages。

OncemoreIavertedmyeyesandstruggledforspeech。

"Begone!thoumanofmischief!Remorselessandimplacablemiscreant!begone!"

"Iwillobey，"saidheinadisconsolatevoice；"yet，wretchasIam，amIunworthytorepairtheevilsthatIhavecommitted？Icameasarepentantcriminal。ItisyouwhomI

haveinjured，andatyourbaramIwillingtoappear，andconfessandexpiatemycrimes。Ihavedeceivedyou:Ihavesportedwithyourterrors:Ihaveplottedtodestroyyourreputation。Icomenowtoremoveyourerrors；tosetyoubeyondthereachofsimilarfears；torebuildyourfameasfarasIamable。

"Thisistheamountofmyguilt，andthisthefruitofmyremorse。Willyounothearme？Listentomyconfession，andthendenouncepunishment。AllIaskisapatientaudience。"

"What!"Ireplied，"wasnotthinethevoicethatcommandedmybrothertoimbruehishandsinthebloodofhischildren——tostranglethatangelofsweetnesshiswife？Hashenotvowedmydeath，andthedeathofPleyel，atthybidding？Hastthounotmadehimthebutcherofhisfamily；changedhimwhowasthegloryofhisspeciesintoworsethanbrute；robbedhimofreason，andconsignedtherestofhisdaystofettersandstripes？"

Carwin"seyesglared，andhislimbswerepetrifiedatthisintelligence。Nowordswererequisitetoprovehimguiltlessoftheseenormities:atthetime，however，Iwasnearlyinsensibletotheseexculpatorytokens。Hewalkedtothefartherendoftheroom，andhavingrecoveredsomedegreeofcomposure，hespoke——

"Iamnotthisvillain；Ihaveslainnoone；Ihavepromptednonetoslay；Ihavehandledatoolofwonderfulefficacywithoutmalignantintentions，butwithoutcaution；amplewillbethepunishmentofmytemerity，ifmyconducthascontributedtothisevil。"Hepaused——

Ilikewisewassilent。Istruggledtocommandmyselfsofarastolistentothetalewhichheshouldtell。Observingthis，hecontinued——

"YouarenotapprizedoftheexistenceofapowerwhichI

possess。Iknownotbywhatnametocallit。*Itenablesmetomimicexactlythevoiceofanother，andtomodifythesoundsothatitshallappeartocomefromwhatquarter，andbeutteredatwhatdistanceIplease。

"Iknownotthateveryonepossessesthispower。Perhaps，thoughacasualpositionofmyorgansinmyyouthshewedmethatIpossessedit，itisanartwhichmaybetaughttoall。WouldtoGodIhaddiedunknowingofthesecret!Ithasproducednothingbutdegradationandcalamity。

"Foratimethepossessionofsopotentandstupendousanendowmentelatedmewithpride。Unfortifiedbyprinciple，subjectedtopoverty，stimulatedbyheadlongpassions，Imadethispowerfulenginesubservienttothesupplyofmywants，andthegratificationofmyvanity。IshallnotmentionhowdiligentlyIcultivatedthisgift，whichseemedcapableofunlimitedimprovement；nordetailthevariousoccasionsonwhichitwassuccessfullyexertedtoleadsuperstition，conqueravarice，orexciteawe。

"IleftAmerica，whichismynativesoil，inmyyouth。I

havebeenengagedinvariousscenesoflife，inwhichmypeculiartalenthasbeenexercisedwithmoreorlesssuccess。

Iwasfinallybetrayedbyonewhocalledhimselfmyfriend，intoactswhichcannotbejustified，thoughtheyaresusceptibleofapology。

"TheperfidyofthismancompelledmetowithdrawfromEurope。Ireturnedtomynativecountry，uncertainwhethersilenceandobscuritywouldsavemefromhismalice。Iresidedinthepurlieusofthecity。Iputonthegarbandassumedthemannersofaclown。

"Mychiefrecreationwaswalking。MyprincipalhauntswerethelawnsandgardensofMettingen。Inthisdelightfulregiontheluxuriancesofnaturehadbeenchastenedbyjudiciousart，andeachsuccessivecontemplationunfoldednewenchantments。

"Iwasstudiousofseclusion:Iwassatiatedwiththeintercourseofmankind，anddiscretionrequiredmetoshuntheirintercourse。ForthesereasonsIlongavoidedtheobservationofyourfamily，andchieflyvisitedtheseprecinctsatnight。

"IwasneverwearyofadmiringthepositionandornamentsofTHETEMPLE。ManyanighthaveIpassedunderitsroof，revolvingnopleasingmeditations。When，inmyfrequentrambles，Iperceivedthisapartmentwasoccupied，Igaveadifferentdirectiontomysteps。Oneevening，whenashowerhadjustpassed，judgingbythesilencethatnoonewaswithin，I

ascendedtothisbuilding。Glancingcarelesslyround，I

perceivedanopenletteronthepedestal。Toreaditwasdoubtlessanoffenceagainstpoliteness。Ofthisoffence，however，Iwasguilty。

"ScarcelyhadIgonehalfthroughwhenIwasalarmedbytheapproachofyourbrother。Toscrambledownthecliffontheoppositesidewasimpracticable。Iwasunpreparedtomeetastranger。Besidestheaukwardnessattendingsuchaninterviewinthesecircumstances，concealmentwasnecessarytomysafety。

AthousandtimeshadIvowedneveragaintoemploythedangeroustalentwhichIpossessed；butsuchwastheforceofhabitandtheinfluenceofpresentconvenience，thatIusedthismethodofarrestinghisprogressandleadinghimbacktothehouse，withhiserrand，whateveritwas，unperformed。Ihadoftencaughtparts，frommystationbelow，ofyourconversationinthisplace，andwaswellacquaintedwiththevoiceofyoursister。

"SomeweeksafterthisIwasagainquietlyseatedinthisrecess。Thelatenessofthehoursecuredme，asIthought，fromallinterruption。Inthis，however，Iwasmistaken，forWielandandPleyel，asIjudgedbytheirvoices，earnestindispute，ascendedthehill。

"Iwasnotsensiblethatanyinconveniencecouldpossiblyhaveflowedfrommyformerexertion；yetitwasfollowedwithcompunction，becauseitwasadeviationfromapathwhichIhadassignedtomyself。Nowmyaversiontothismeansofescapewasenforcedbyanunauthorizedcuriosity，andbytheknowledgeofabushyhollowontheedgeofthehill，whereIshouldbesafefromdiscovery。IntothishollowIthrustmyself。

"TheproprietyofremovaltoEuropewasthequestioneagerlydiscussed。PleyelintimatedthathisanxietytogowasaugmentedbythesilenceofTheresadeStolberg。Thetemptationtointerfereinthisdisputewasirresistible。InvainI

contendedwithinveteratehabits。Idisguisedtomyselftheimproprietyofmyconduct，byrecollectingthebenefitswhichitmightproduce。Pleyel"sproposalwasunwise，yetitwasenforcedwithplausibleargumentsandindefatigablezeal。Yourbrothermightbepuzzledandwearied，butcouldnotbeconvinced。Iconceivedthattoterminatethecontroversyinfavorofthelatterwasconferringabenefitonallparties。

ForthisendIprofitedbyanopeningintheconversation，andassuredthemofCatharine"sirreconcilableaversiontothescheme，andofthedeathoftheSaxonbaroness。Thelattereventwasmerelyaconjecture，butrenderedextremelyprobablebyPleyel"srepresentations。Mypurpose，youneednotbetold，waseffected。

"Mypassionformystery，andaspeciesofimposture，whichI

deemedharmless，wasthusawakenedafresh。Thissecondlapseintoerrormademyrecoverymoredifficult。IcannotconveytoyouanadequateideaofthekindofgratificationwhichI