y lady--a sign that never fails.'

'Explain, explain what you mean, my good woman,' said I, in spite of
myself, catching more than I could account for, of her superstitious
terror.

'Whenever something--something BAD is going to happen to the Glenfallen
family, some one that belongs to them sees a black handkerchief or
curtain just waved or falling before their faces. I saw it myself,'
continued she, lowering her voice, 'when I was only a little girl, and
I'll never forget it. I often heard of it before, though I never saw it
till then, nor since, praised be God. But I was going into Lady Jane's
room to waken her in the morning; and sure enough when I got first to
the bed and began to draw the curtain, something dark was waved across
the division, but only for a moment; and when I saw rightly into the
bed, there was she lying cold and dead, God be merciful to me! So,
my lady, there is small blame to me to be daunted when any one of the
family sees it; for it's many's the story I heard of it, though I saw it
but once.'

I was not of a superstitious turn of mind, yet I could not resist a
feeling of awe very nearly allied to the fear which my companion had
so unreservedly expressed; and when you consider my situation, the
loneliness, antiquity, and gloom of the place, you will allow that the
weakness was not without excuse.

In spite of old Martha's boding predictions, however, time flowed on
in an unruffled course. One little incident however, though trifling
in itself, I must relate, as it serves to make what follows more
intelligible.

Upon the day after my arrival, Lord Glenfallen of course desired to make
me acquainted with the house and domain; and accordingly we set forth
upon our ramble. When returning, he became for some time silent
and moody, a state so unusual with him as considerably to excite my
surprise.

I endeavoured by observations and questions to arouse him--but in
vain. At length, as we approached the house, he said, as if speaking to
himself:

''Twere madness--madness--madness,' repeating the words bitterly--'sure
and speedy ruin.'

There was here a long pause; and at length, turning sharply towards me,
in a tone very unlike that in which he had hitherto addressed me, he
said:

'Do you think it possible that a woman can keep a secret?'

'I am sure,' said I, 'that women are very much belied upon the score
of talkativeness, and that I may answer your question with the same
directness with