hurried, yet breathing and observant, to my grave,
was a more supportable fate.

I dwell, with self-condemnation and shame, upon this part of my story.
To feel extraordinary indignation at vice, merely because we have
partaken in an extraordinary degree of its mischiefs, is unjustifiable.
To regard the wicked with no emotion but pity, to be active in
reclaiming them, in controlling their malevolence, and preventing or
repairing the ills which they produce, is the only province of duty.
This lesson, as well as a thousand others, I have yet to learn; but I
despair of living long enough for that or any beneficial purpose.

My emotions with regard to Colvill were erroneous, but omnipotent. I
started from my bed, and prepared to rush into the street. I was
careless of the lot that should befall me, since no fate could be worse
than that of abiding under the same roof with a wretch spotted with so
many crimes.

I had not set my feet upon the floor before my precipitation was checked
by a sound from above. The door of the study was cautiously and slowly
opened. This incident admitted only of one construction, supposing all
obstructions removed. Colvill was creeping from his hiding-place, and
would probably fly with speed from the house. My belief of his sickness
was now confuted. An illicit design was congenial with his character
and congruous with those appearances already observed.

I had no power or wish to obstruct his flight. I thought of it with
transport, and once more threw myself upon the bed, and wrapped my
averted face in the carpet. He would probably pass this door,
unobservant of me, and my muffled face would save me from the agonies
connected with the sight of him.

The footsteps above were distinguishable, though it was manifest that
they moved with lightsomeness and circumspection. They reached the stair
and descended. The room in which I lay was, like the rest, obscured by
the closed shutters. This obscurity now gave way to a light, resembling
that glimmering and pale reflection which I had noticed in the study. My
eyes, though averted from the door, were disengaged from the folds which
covered the rest of my head, and observed these tokens of Colvill's
approach, flitting on the wall.

My feverish perturbations increased as he drew nearer. He reached the
door, and stopped. The light rested for a moment. Presently he entered
the apartment. My emotions suddenly rose to a height that would not be
controll