626 The Dark Figure : [Dec 



lution. An intense curiosity, and a fixed determination to gratify it, at 

 any risk, were the only feelings distinctly recognizable among the 

 crowd which struggled in my breast. 



I watched with impatience the cortege of my ancestry, as they seemed 

 to disappear, one by one, in the shadow which crept along the wall ; 

 and at length, when the noiseless signal for my sallying forth was given, 

 as before, by my uncle pointing his upraised hand into the gloom, I 

 started from my chair, and hurried to the door. Before going out, 

 however, I turned my eyes once more upon the portrait, now dimly 

 seen, owing to the distance which intervened, and the darkness of the 

 apartment. The drapery of the figure was the full dress of the Cumber- 

 land Hunt, which, at that time, consisted of a great heavy coat falling 

 below the knees ; and this, imperfectly as it was seen, together with the 

 absolute darkness in which the features were shrouded, reminded me so 

 vividly of the stranger of the avenue, that I could with difficulty with- 

 draw my eyes. 



Determining to take the same route as before, I bent my steps towards 

 the sun- bright oasis which had been the original cause of my perplexity. 

 I ascended to its summit, and watched with tranquil admiration the 

 changes in tlie earth and sky which prelude and follow the disappear- 

 ance of the sun. This even presented a succession of the very same 

 phenomena I had observed on the preceding one ; the air, however, was 

 more quiet; and it seemed as if the tumultuous motion of the clouds was 

 caused by some current of wind which did not reach the earth. While 

 passing through the village, I fell in witli a man who had called that morn- 

 ing at the Hall on some business; and walking along, I conversed with him 

 on the subject till we had entered the avenue. Here the discourse dropped, 

 as if by mutual convention, and my companion took the earliest oppor- 

 tunity of bidding me good night. A heavy gust of wind at tlie moment 

 broke upon the avenue, and I could hear him take to his heels, and run 

 as if flying from a tempest. 



Without experiencing a single puerile feeling, I reached the middle 

 of the avenue ; but here a circumstance occurred which produced a thrill 

 of expectation. In the midst of the total darkness which surrounded me^ 

 I saw, suddenly, a light which appeared to be at no great distance, and 

 which vanished in the same moment of its appearance. IMy curiosity was, 

 doubtless, to be gratified. This was the mysterious light of the pre- 

 ceding evening, which bursting upon me in the midst of superstitious 

 terrors, had deprived me of the presence of mind necessary for ascertain- 

 ing its nature. To-night my situation was different. My perceptions 

 were as acute ; but my mind was more composed : imagination was not 

 merely under the cognizance but under the guidance of reason ; a phi- 

 losophical scepticism had assumed the place of childish fe^. If the 

 lamp was tangible it .night be grasped by my hand : if its bearer was a 

 human being he would hear my voice. Half seriously, half in jest, I 

 mustered up every energy of my mind to meet the approaching crisis ; 

 and almost running along the road in the fervour of my curiosity, 

 stretched out my arms to arrest the passer. 



The hypothetical if, however, in which I had indulged was fatal 

 to my composure. What a word of power is that insignificant-sound- 

 ing particle ! Its elements are doubt, and fear, and struggling, 

 and confusion. Tiie portrait-scene came back upon my fancy. The 

 resemblance between the picture and that mysterious wanderer of the 



