ess, which rose like a
spire to the building. A vague misgiving crossed my mind when I saw it;
but I must needs go closer, and look through a little half-open door,
near the opposite end from the cypress. Window I saw none. On peeping
in, and looking towards the further end, I saw a lamp burning, with
a dim, reddish flame, and the head of a woman, bent downwards, as if
reading by its light. I could see nothing more for a few moments. At
length, as my eyes got used to the dimness of the place, I saw that the
part of the rude building near me was used for household purposes;
for several rough utensils lay here and there, and a bed stood in the
corner.

An irresistible attraction caused me to enter. The woman never raised
her face, the upper part of which alone I could see distinctly; but, as
soon as I stepped within the threshold, she began to read aloud, in a
low and not altogether unpleasing voice, from an ancient little volume
which she held open with one hand on the table upon which stood the
lamp. What she read was something like this:

"So, then, as darkness had no beginning, neither will it ever have
an end. So, then, is it eternal. The negation of aught else, is its
affirmation. Where the light cannot come, there abideth the darkness.
The light doth but hollow a mine out of the infinite extension of the
darkness. And ever upon the steps of the light treadeth the darkness;
yea, springeth in fountains and wells amidst it, from the secret
channels of its mighty sea. Truly, man is but a passing flame, moving
unquietly amid the surrounding rest of night; without which he yet could
not be, and whereof he is in part compounded."

As I drew nearer, and she read on, she moved a little to turn a leaf
of the dark old volume, and I saw that her face was sallow and slightly
forbidding. Her forehead was high, and her black eyes repressedly quiet.
But she took no notice of me. This end of the cottage, if cottage it
could be called, was destitute of furniture, except the table with the
lamp, and the chair on which the woman sat. In one corner was a door,
apparently of a cupboard in the wall, but which might lead to a room
beyond. Still the irresistible desire which had made me enter the
building urged me: I must open that door, and see what was beyond it.
I approached, and laid my hand on the rude latch. Then the woman spoke,
but without lifting her head or looking at me: "You had better not open
that door." This was uttered q