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Welshwomen will； and though I was very melancholy I am sure I was
not superstitious； and I was certainly not timid。 Only； as in a
far…off dream； I seemed to see her standing with the light in her
hand and muttering； 〃The heavy oneall of lead；〃 and then leading
a little boy through the long corridors to see his father lying
dead in a great easy chair before a smoldering fire。 So we went
over the house； and I chose the rooms where I would live； and the
servants I had brought with me ordered and arranged everything； and
I had no more trouble。 I did not care what they did provided I was
left in peace and was not expected to give directions； for I was
more listless than ever； owing to the effects of my illness at
college。
I dined in solitary state； and the melancholy grandeur of the vast
old dining…room pleased me。 Then I went to the room I had selected
for my study； and sat down in a deep chair； under a bright light；
to think； or to let my thoughts meander through labyrinths of their
own choosing； utterly indifferent to the course they might take。
The tall windows of the room opened to the level of the ground upon
the terrace at the head of the garden。 It was in the end of July；
and everything was open； for the weather was warm。 As I sat alone
I heard the unceasing splash of the great fountains； and I fell to
thinking of the Woman of the Water。 I rose and went out into the
still night； and sat down upon a seat on the terrace； between two
gigantic Italian flower pots。 The air was deliciously soft and
sweet with the smell of the flowers； and the garden was more
congenial to me than the house。 Sad people always like running
water and the sound of it at night； though I cannot tell why。 I
sat and listened in the gloom； for it was dark below； and the pale
moon had not yet climbed over the hills in front of me； though all
the air above was light with her rising beams。 Slowly the white
halo in the eastern sky ascended in an arch above the wooded
crests； making the outlines of the mountains more intensely black
by contrast； as though the head of some great white saint were
rising from behind a screen in a vast cathedral； throwing misty
glories from below。 I longed to see the moon herself； and I tried
to reckon the seconds before she must appear。 Then she sprang up
quickly； and in a moment more hung round and perfect in the sky。 I
gazed at her； and then at the floating spray of the tall fountains；
and down at the pools； where the water lilies were rocking softly
in their sleep on the velvet surface of the moonlit water。 Just
then a great swan floated out silently into the midst of the basin；
and wreathed his long neck； catching the water in his broad bill；
and scattering showers of diamonds around him。
Suddenly； as I gazed； something came between me and the light。 I
looked up instantly。 Between me and the round disk of the moon
rose a luminous face of a woman； with great strange eyes； and a
woman's mouth； full and soft； but not smiling； hooded in black；
staring at me as I sat still upon my bench。 She was close to me
so close that I could have touched her with my hand。 But I was
transfixed and helpless。 She stood still for a moment； but her
expression did not change。 Then she passed swiftly away； and my
hair stood up on my head； while the cold breeze from her white
dress was wafted to my temples as she moved。 The moonlight；
shining through the tossing spray of the fountain； made traceries
of shadow on the gleaming folds of her garments。 In an instant she
was gone and I was alone。
I was strangely shaken by the vision； and some time passed before I
could rise to my feet； for I was still weak from my illness； and
the sight I had seen would have startled anyone。 I did not reason
with myself； for I was certain that I had looked on the unearthly；
and no argument could have destroyed that belief。 At last I got up
and stood unsteadily； gazing in the direction in which I thought
the face had gone； but there was nothing to be seennothing but
the broad paths； the tall； dark evergreen hedges； the tossing water
of the fountains and the smooth pool below。 I fell back upon the
seat and recalled the face I had seen。 Strange to say； now that
the first impression had passed； there was nothing startling in the
recollection； on the contrary； I felt that I was fascinated by the
face； and would give anything to see it again。 I could retrace the
beautiful straight features； the long dark eyes； and the wonderful
mouth most exactly in my mind； and when I had reconstructed every
detail from memory I knew that the whole was beautiful； and that I
should love a woman with such a face。
〃I wonder whether she is the Woman of the Water！〃 I said to myself。
Then rising once more； I wandered down the garden； descending one
short flight of steps after another from terrace to terrace by the
edge of the marble basins； through the shadow and through the
moonlight； and I crossed the water by the rustic bridge above the
artificial grotto； and climbed slowly up again to the highest
terrace by the other side。 The air seemed sweeter； and I was very
calm； so that I think I smiled to myself as I walked； as though a
new happiness had come to me。 The woman's face seemed always
before me； and the thought of it gave me an unwonted thrill of
pleasure； unlike anything I had ever felt before。
I turned as I reached the house； and looked back upon the scene。
It had certainly changed in the short hour since I had come out；
and my mood had changed with it。 Just like my luck； I thought； to
fall in love with a ghost！ But in old times I would have sighed；
and gone to bed more sad than ever； at such a melancholy
conclusion。 To…night I felt happy； almost for the first time in my
life。 The gloomy old study seemed cheerful when I went in。 The
old pictures on the walls smiled at me； and I sat down in my deep
chair with a new and delightful sensation that I was not alone。
The idea of having seen a ghost； and of feeling much the better for
it； was so absurd that I laughed softly； as I took up one of the
books I had brought with me and began to read。
That impression did not wear off。 I slept peacefully； and in the
morning I threw open my windows to the summer air and looked down
at the garden； at the stretches of green and at the colored flower…
beds； at the circling swallows and at the bright water。
〃A man might make a paradise of this place；〃 I exclaimed。 〃A man
and a woman together！〃
From that day the old Castle no longer seemed gloomy； and I think I
ceased to be sad； for some time； too； I began to take an interest
in the place； and to try and make it more alive。 I avoided my old
Welsh nurse； lest she should damp my humor with some dismal
prophecy； and recall my old self by bringing back memories of my
dismal childhood。 But what I thought of most was the ghostly
figure I had seen in the garden that first night afte