THE THREE RAVENS. 481 



members, and suggest probable apoplexy to the more robust ; and 

 by dint of this hearse language (as a wag in the town termed it) 

 he had succeeded in making himself an object of mortal terror and 

 aversion to a great portion of the inhabitants of Greystone. 



But, in the science of direful prognostication and Acherontic pro- 

 phecy, Mrs. Raven was assuredly Simon's better half. She might 

 cry out in joyous and successful emulation of her husband's peculiar 

 talent, " I too am an 'Arcadian ;" for me, it will be sufficient with more 

 calmness to state that they were e< Arcades ambo" both Arcadians. 



It was Mrs. Raven's delight, habited in a black velvet cloak (a pall 

 in former days), every morning to descend her door-steps (two obli- 

 terated gravestones, a present from the sexton), and to go forth with 

 the humane intention of visiting the sick. She had acquired, by dint 

 of incessant practice, a wonderful skill in the closing of eyes, and the 

 folding together of shutters ; and " coming events cast their shadows 

 before" so distinctly to the vision of Mrs. Raven, that she would 

 often bespeak the mutes, and hoist the funereal feathers, before the 

 breath was out of her friends' bodies. 



This worthy couple delighted (but their joy was of a grave and 

 solemn character) in the existence of a daughter, Miss Niobe Raven. 

 This young lady partook largely of the mournful merits of her re- 

 spected parents. Her reading was choice, and her accustomed resort 

 was the church-porch. Here she would pore over the exhilirating 

 pages of Drelincourt, Sherlock, Hervey, Mrs. Rowe, and Dr. Dodd; 

 and sometimes, to interpose a little ease, she would solace her soul 

 with the lighter effusions of poetry. It need scarcely be added, that 

 Young's " Night Thoughts" and Blair's " Grave" obtained and se- 

 cured her preference. 



" Passing well 



She loved the passing bell," 



and her favourite musical performance was the Dead March in Saul. 

 But one thing was calculated to encourage the growth of this me- 

 lancholy disposition. Miss Niobe Raven, for a much greater length 

 of time than she could have anticipated, had been floundering in the 

 unpleasant slough of celibacy. She had long wished to obtain a set- 

 tlement in the parish, or neighbourhood, or indeed any where ; but 

 it so happened no one came forward to win or to wear her. No one 

 would stick this branch of cypress in his bosom. Young Mangle 

 Wurzel the farmer, indeed, some years before, had bethought him 

 that the church-yard was a field out of which Mr. Simon Raven had 

 probably reaped more profitable crops than his father had been ena- 

 bled to do from his own acres ; but, like a discreet shepherd, he had 

 never ventured to go beyond sheep' s-eyes in his attentions to Miss 

 Niobe Raven. Midge, the magnanimous but minute barber, as he 

 strutted from chin to chin, like a self-satisfied bantam with a fine 

 comb stuck upon his head, had sometimes lingered on his way to ex- 

 change compliments with her ; nay, he had once presented her with 

 a silver- wire tooth-brush and a many-coloured wash-ball; but 

 from this time forth he never would speak word. Neither by sign 

 look, or gesture had he even hinted a wish to establish her as 



