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that I should desire to meet at an hour and in a place like this。
My wonder was stifled by my fears。 Assassins had lurked in this
recess。 Some divine voice warned me of danger that at this moment
awaited me。 I had spurned the intimation； and challenged my
adversary。
I recalled the mysterious countenance and dubious character of
Carwin。 What motive but atrocious ones could guide his steps
hither？ I was alone。 My habit suited the hour； and the place； and
the warmth of the season。 All succor was remote。 He had placed
himself between me and the door。 My frame shook with the vehemence
of my apprehensions。
Yet I was not wholly lost to myself； I vigilantly marked his
demeanor。 His looks were grave； but not without perturbation。
What species of inquietude it betrayed the light was not strong
enough to enable me to discover。 He stood still； but his eyes
wandered from one object to another。 When these powerful organs
were fixed upon me； I shrunk into myself。 At length he broke
silence。 Earnestness； and not embarrassment； was in his tone。 He
advanced close to me while he spoke：
〃What voice was that which lately addressed you？〃
He paused for an answer； but； observing my trepidation； he resumed；
with undiminished solemnity； 〃Be not terrified。 Whoever he was； he
has done you an important service。 I need not ask you if it were
the voice of a companion。 That sound was beyond the compass of
human organs。 The knowledge that enabled him to tell you who was
in the closet was obtained by incomprehensible means。
〃You knew that Carwin was there。 Were you not apprised of his
intents？ The same power could impart the one as well as the other。
Yet； knowing these； you persisted。 Audacious girl！ But perhaps
you confided in his guardianship。 Your confidence was just。 With
succor like this at hand you may safely defy me。
〃He is my eternal foe； the baffler of my best…concerted schemes。
Twice have you been saved by his accursed interposition。 But for
him I should long ere now have borne away the spoils of your
honor。〃
He looked at me with greater steadfastness than before。 I became
every moment more anxious for my safety。 It was with difficulty I
stammered out an entreaty that he would instantly depart； or suffer
me to do so。 He paid no regard to my request； but proceeded in a
more impassioned manner：
〃What is it you fear？ Have I not told you you are safe？ Has not
one in whom you more reasonably place trust assured you of it？
Even if I execute my purpose； what injury is done？ Your prejudices
will call it by that name； but it merits it not。
〃I was impelled by a sentiment that does you honor； a sentiment
that would sanctify my deed； but； whatever it be； you are safe。 Be
this chimera still worshiped； I will do nothing to pollute it。〃
There he stopped。
The accents and gestures of this man left me drained of all
courage。 Surely； on no other occasion should I have been thus
pusillanimous。 My state I regarded as a hopeless one。 I was
wholly at the mercy of this being。 Whichever way I turned my eyes；
I saw no avenue by which I might escape。 The resources of my
personal strength； my ingenuity； and my eloquence； I estimated at
nothing。 The dignity of virtue and the force of truth I had been
accustomed to celebrate； and had frequently vaunted of the
conquests which I should make with their assistance。
I used to suppose that certain evils could never befall a being in
possession of a sound mind； that true virtue supplies us with
energy which vice can never resist； that it was always in our power
to obstruct； by his own death； the designs of an enemy who aimed at
less than our life。 How was it that a sentiment like despair had
now invaded me； and that I trusted to the protection of chance； or
to the pity of my persecutor？
His words imparted some notion of the injury which he had
meditated。 He talked of obstacles that had risen in his way。 He
had relinquished his design。 These sources supplied me with
slender consolation。 There was no security but in his absence。
When I looked at myself； when I reflected on the hour and the
place； I was overpowered by horror and dejection。
He was silent； museful； and inattentive to my situation； yet made
no motion to depart。 I was silent in my turn。 What could I say？
I was confident that reason in this contest would be impotent。 I
must owe my safety to his own suggestions。 Whatever purpose
brought him hither； he had changed it。 Why then did he remain？
His resolutions might fluctuate； and the pause of a few minutes
restore to him his first resolutions。
Yet was not this the man whom we had treated with unwearied
kindness？ whose society was endeared to us by his intellectual
elevation and accomplishments？ who had a thousand times expatiated
on the usefulness and beauty of virtue？ Why should such a one be
dreaded？ If I could have forgotten the circumstances in which our
interview had taken place； I might have treated his words as jests。
Presently； he resumed：
〃Fear me not： the space that severs us is small； and all visible
succor is distant。 You believe yourself completely in my power；
that you stand upon the brink of ruin。 Such are your groundless
fears。 I cannot lift a finger to hurt you。 Easier would it be to
stop the moon in her course than to injure you。 The power that
protects you would crumble my sinews and reduce me to a heap of
ashes in a moment； if I were to harbor a thought hostile to your
safety。
〃Thus are appearances at length solved。 Little did I expect that
they originated hence。 What a portion is assigned to you！ Scanned
by the eyes of this intelligence； your path will be without pits to
swallow or snares to entangle you。 Environed by the arms of this
protection； all artifices will be frustrated and all malice
repelled。〃
Here succeeded a new pause。 I was still observant of every gesture
and look。 The tranquil solemnity that had lately possessed his
countenance gave way to a new expression。 All now was trepidation
and anxiety。
〃I must be gone；〃 said he； in a faltering accent。 〃Why do I linger
here？ I will not ask your forgiveness。 I see that your terrors
are invincible。 Your pardon will be extorted by fear； and not
dictated by compassion。 I must fly from you forever。 He that
could plot against your honor must expect from you and your friends
persecution and death。 I must doom myself to endless exile。〃
Saying this； he hastily left the room。 I listened while he
descended the stairs； and； unbolting the outer door； went forth。 I
did not follow him with my eyes； as the moonlight would have
enabled me to do。 Relieved by his absence； and exhausted by the
conflict of my fears； I threw myself on a chair； and resigned
myself to those bewildering ideas which incidents like these could
not fail to produce。
V
Order could not readily be intr