ch I could distinguish the one
from the other. I was certain it was not he, because I had seen the one
going and the other approaching at the same time, and my impression at
the moment was that I looked upon some spirit, or demon, in his
likeness. I felt a chillness creep all round my heart, my knees
tottered, and, withdrawing my head from the open casement that lay in
the dark shade, I said to the man who was with me, 'Good God, what is
this?'

"'What is it, my dear?' said he, as much alarmed as I was.

"'As I live, there stands an apparition!' said I.

"He was not so much afraid when he heard me say so, and, peeping
cautiously out, he looked and listened awhile, and then, drawing back,
he said in a whisper, 'They are both living men, and one of them is he
I passed at the corner.'

"'That he is not,' said I, emphatically. 'To that I will make oath.'

"He smiled and shook his head, and then added, 'I never then saw a man
before, whom I could not know again, particularly if he was the very
last I had seen. But what matters it whether it be or not? As it is no
concern of ours, let us sit down and enjoy ourselves.'

'But it does matter a very great deal with me, sir,' said I. 'Bless me,
my head is giddy--my breath quite gone, and I feel as if I were
surrounded with fiends. Who are you, sir?'

'You shall know that ere we two part, my love,' said he. 'I cannot
conceive why the return of this young gentleman to the spot he so
lately left should discompose you. I suppose he got a glance of you as
he passed, and has returned to look after you, and that is the whole
secret of the matter.'

"'If you will be so civil as to walk out and join him then, it will
oblige me hugely,' said I, 'for I never in my life experienced such
boding apprehensions of evil company. I cannot conceive how you should
come up here without asking my permission. Will it please you to be
gone, sir?' I was within an ace of prevailing. He took out his purse--I
need not say more--I was bribed to let him remain. Ah, had I kept my
frail resolution of dismissing him at that moment, what a world of
shame and misery had been evited! But that, though uppermost still in
my mind, has nothing ado here.

"When I peeped over again, the two men were disputing in a whisper, the
one of them in violent agitation and terror, and the other upbraiding
him, and urging him on to some desperate act. At length I heard the
young man in the Highland garb say indignantly,