placed the figure of a lady. She
appeared to be nearer fifty than forty, and was dressed suitably to
her age, in a handsome suit of flowered silk; she had a profusion
of trinkets and jewellery about her person, and many rings upon her
fingers. But although very rich, her dress was not gaudy or in ill
taste. But what was remarkable in the lady was, that although her
features were handsome, and upon the whole pleasing, the pupil of each
eye was dimmed with the whiteness of cataract, and she was evidently
stone-blind. I was for some seconds so surprised at this unaccountable
apparition, that I could not find words to address her.

'Madam,' said I, 'there must be some mistake here--this is my
bed-chamber.'

'Marry come up,' said the lady, sharply; 'YOUR chamber! Where is Lord
Glenfallen?'

'He is below, madam,' replied I; 'and I am convinced he will be not a
little surprised to find you here.'

'I do not think he will,' said she; 'with your good leave, talk of
what you know something about. Tell him I want him. Why does the minx
dilly-dally so?'

In spite of the awe which this grim lady inspired, there was something
in her air of confident superiority which, when I considered our
relative situations, was not a little irritating.

'Do you know, madam, to whom you speak?' said I.

'I neither know nor care,' said she; 'but I presume that you are some
one about the house, so again I desire you, if you wish to continue
here, to bring your master hither forthwith.'

'I must tell you, madam,' said I, 'that I am Lady Glenfallen.'

'What's that?' said the stranger, rapidly.

'I say, madam,' I repeated, approaching her that I might be more
distinctly heard, 'that I am Lady Glenfallen.'

'It's a lie, you trull!' cried she, in an accent which made me start,
and at the same time, springing forward, she seized me in her grasp, and
shook me violently, repeating, 'It's a lie--it's a lie!' with a rapidity
and vehemence which swelled every vein of her face. The violence of her
action, and the fury which convulsed her face, effectually terrified me,
and disengaging myself from her grasp, I screamed as loud as I could for
help. The blind woman continued to pour out a torrent of abuse upon
me, foaming at the mouth with rage, and impotently shaking her clenched
fists towards me.

I heard Lord Glenfallen's step upon the stairs, and I instantly ran out;
as I passed him I perceived that he was deadly pale, and just caught the
words: