been recalled by the
unexpected pleasure of meeting your lordship, prevented me from falling
immediately asleep. I ought, however, to say that these reflections were
all of a pleasant and agreeable kind, grounded on a sense of having for
a time exchanged the labour, fatigues, and dangers of my profession for
the enjoyments of a peaceful life, and the reunion of those friendly and
affectionate ties which I had torn asunder at the rude summons of war.

"While such pleasing reflections were stealing over my mind, and
gradually lulling me to slumber, I was suddenly aroused by a sound like
that of the rustling of a silken gown, and the tapping of a pair of
high-heeled shoes, as if a woman were walking in the apartment. Ere
I could draw the curtain to see what the matter was, the figure of a
little woman passed between the bed and the fire. The back of this form
was turned to me, and I could observe, from the shoulders and neck, it
was that of an old woman, whose dress was an old-fashioned gown, which I
think ladies call a sacque--that is, a sort of robe completely loose in
the body, but gathered into broad plaits upon the neck and shoulders,
which fall down to the ground, and terminate in a species of train.

"I thought the intrusion singular enough, but never harboured for a
moment the idea that what I saw was anything more than the mortal form
of some old woman about the establishment, who had a fancy to dress like
her grandmother, and who, having perhaps (as your lordship mentioned
that you were rather straitened for room) been dislodged from her
chamber for my accommodation, had forgotten the circumstance, and
returned by twelve to her old haunt. Under this persuasion I moved
myself in bed and coughed a little, to make the intruder sensible of
my being in possession of the premises. She turned slowly round, but,
gracious Heaven! my lord, what a countenance did she display to me!
There was no longer any question what she was, or any thought of her
being a living being. Upon a face which wore the fixed features of a
corpse were imprinted the traces of the vilest and most hideous passions
which had animated her while she lived. The body of some atrocious
criminal seemed to have been given up from the grave, and the soul
restored from the penal fire, in order to form for a space a union
with the ancient accomplice of its guilt. I started up in bed, and sat
upright, supporting myself on my palms, as I gazed on this horrible