act which had attracted my attention in my passage to
her room. During his absence my guide evidently had pulled aside other
curtains than those of the room in which he had left me. The hall, no
longer a tunnel of darkness, gave me a glimpse as we went by, of various
secluded corners, and it seemed as if everywhere I looked I saw--a
clock. I counted four before I reached the staircase, all standing on
the floor and all of ancient make, though differing much in appearance
and value. A fifth one rose grim and tall at the stair foot, and under
an impulse I have never understood I stopped, when I reached it, to note
the time. But it had paused in its task, and faced me with motionless
hands and silent works--a fact which somehow startled me; perhaps,
because just then I encountered the old man's eye watching me with an
expression as challenging as it was unintelligible.

I had expected to see a woman in bed. I saw instead, a woman sitting up.
You felt her influence the moment you entered her presence. She was not
young; she was not beautiful;--never had been I should judge,--she had
not even the usual marks about her of an ultra strong personality; but
that her will was law, had always been, and would continue to be law
so long as she lived, was patent to any eye at the first glance. She
exacted obedience consciously and unconsciously, and she exacted it with
charm. Some few people in the world possess this power. They frown, and
the opposing will weakens; they smile, and all hearts succumb. I was
hers from the moment I crossed the threshold till--But I will relate the
happenings of that instant when it comes.

She was alone, or so I thought, when I made my first bow to her stern
but not unpleasing presence. Seated in a great chair, with a silver tray
before her containing such little matters as she stood in hourly need
of, she confronted me with a piercing gaze startling to behold in eyes
so colourless. Then she smiled, and in obedience to that smile I seated
myself in a chair placed very near her own. Was she too paralysed to
express herself clearly? I waited in some anxiety till she spoke, when
this fear vanished. Her voice betrayed the character her features failed
to express. It was firm, resonant, and instinct with command. Not loud,
but penetrating, and of a quality which made one listen with his heart
as well as with his ears. What she said is immaterial. I was there for
a certain purpose and we entered immediately