按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
not fail to produce。
V
Order could not readily be introduced into my thoughts。 The voice
still rung in my ears。 Every accent that was uttered by Carwin was
fresh in my remembrance。 His unwelcome approach； the recognition
of his person； his hasty departure； produced a complex impression
on my mind which no words can delineate。 I strove to give a slower
motion to my thoughts； and to regulate a confusion which became
painful； but my efforts were nugatory。 I covered my eyes with my
hand； and sat； I know not how long； without power to arrange or
utter my conceptions。
I had remained for hours； as I believed； in absolute solitude。 No
thought of personal danger had molested my tranquillity。 I had
made no preparation for defense。 What was it that suggested the
design of perusing my father's manuscript？ If； instead of this； I
had retired to bed and to sleep； to what fate might I not have been
reserved。 The ruffian； who must almost have suppressed his
breathings to screen himself from discovery； would have noticed
this signal； and I should have awakened only to perish with
affright； and to abhor myself。 Could I have remained unconscious
of my danger？ Could I have tranquilly slept in the midst of so
deadly a snare？
And who was he that threatened to destroy me？ By what means could
he hide himself in this closet？ Surely he is gifted with
supernatural power。 Such is the enemy of whose attempts I was
forewarned。 Daily I had seen him and conversed with him。 Nothing
could be discerned through the impenetrable veil of his duplicity。
When busied in conjectures as to the author of the evil that was
threatened； my mind did not light for a moment upon his image。 Yet
has he not avowed himself my enemy？ Why should he be here if he
had not meditated evil？
He confesses that this has been his second attempt。 What was the
scene of his former conspiracy？ Was it not he whose whispers
betrayed him？ Am I deceived？ or was there not a faint resemblance
between the voice of this man and that which talked of grasping my
throat and extinguishing my life in a moment？ Then he had a
colleague in his crime； now he is alone。 Then death was the scope
of his thoughts； now an injury unspeakably more dreadful。 How
thankful should I be to the power that has interposed to save me！
That power is invisible。 It is subject to the cognizance of one of
my senses。 What are the means that will inform me of what nature
it is？ He has set himself to counter…work the machinations of this
man； who had menaced destruction to all that is dear to me； and
whose coming had surmounted every human impediment。 There was none
to rescue me from his grasp。 My rashness even hastened the
completion of his scheme； and precluded him from the benefits of
deliberation。 I had robbed him of the power to repent and forbear。
Had I been apprised of the danger； I should have regarded my
conduct as the means of rendering my escape from it impossible。
Such； likewise； seem to have been the fears of my invisible
protector。 Else why that startling entreaty to refrain from
opening the closet？ By what inexplicable infatuation was I
compelled to proceed？
〃Surely；〃 said I； 〃there is omnipotence in the cause that changed
the views of a man like Carwin。 The divinity that shielded me from
his attempts will take suitable care of my future safety。 Thus to
yield to my fears is to deserve that they should be real。〃
Scarcely had I uttered these words； when my attention was startled
by the sound of footsteps。 They denoted some one stepping into the
piazza in front of my house。 My new…born confidence was
extinguished in a moment。 Carwin； I thought； had repented his
departure； and was hastily returning。 The possibility that his
return was prompted by intentions consistent with my safety found
no place in my mind。 Images of violation and murder assailed me
anew； and the terrors which succeeded almost incapacitated me from
taking any measures for my defense。 It was an impulse of which I
was scarcely conscious that made me fasten the lock and draw the
bolts of my chamber door。 Having done this； I threw myself on a
seat； for I trembled to a degree which disabled me from standing；
and my soul was so perfectly absorbed in the act of listening； that
almost the vital motions were stopped。
The door below creaked on its hinges。 It was not again thrust to；
but appeared to remain open。 Footsteps entered； traversed the
entry； and began to mount the stairs。 How I detested the folly of
not pursuing the man when he withdrew； and bolting after him the
outer door！ Might he not conceive this omission to be a proof that
my angel had deserted me； and be thereby fortified in guilt？
Every step on the stairs which brought him nearer to my chamber
added vigor to my desperation。 The evil with which I was menaced
was to be at any rate eluded。 How little did I preconceive the
conduct which； in an exigence like this； I should be prone to
adopt！ You will suppose that deliberation and despair would have
suggested the same course of action； and that I should have
unhesitatingly resorted to the best means of personal defense
within my power。 A penknife lay open upon my table。 I remembered
that it was there； and seized it。 For what purpose you will
scarcely inquire。 It will be immediately supposed that I meant it
for my last refuge； and that； if all other means should fail； I
should plunge it into the heart of my ravisher。
I have lost all faith in the steadfastness of human resolves。 It
was thus that in periods of calm I had determined to act。 No
cowardice had been held by me in greater abhorrence than that which
prompted an injured female to destroy； not her injurer ere the
injury was perpetrated； but herself when it was without remedy。
Yet now this penknife appeared to me of no other use than to baffle
my assailant and prevent the crime by destroying myself。 To
deliberate at such a time was impossible； but； among the tumultuous
suggestions of the moment； I do not recollect that it once occurred
to me to use it as an instrument of direct defense。
The steps had now reached the second floor。 Every footfall
accelerated the completion without augmenting the certainty of
evil。 The consciousness that the door was fast； now that nothing
but that was interposed between me and danger； was a source of some
consolation。 I cast my eye toward the window。 This； likewise； was
a new suggestion。 If the door should give way； it was my sudden
resolution to throw myself from the window。 Its height from the
ground； which was covered beneath by a brick pavement； would insure
my destruction； but I thought not of that。
When opposite to my door the footsteps ceased。 Was he listening
whether my fears were allayed and my caution were asleep？ Did he
hope to take me by surprise？ Yet； if so； why did he allow so many
noisy signals to betray his