The Novels of Mrs. Ann Radcliffe; To Which Is Prefixed, a Memoir of the Life of the Author Volume 10

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1824 edition. Excerpt: ... her, as if her dead lather had spoken to her in that strain, to inspire her with comfort and confidence, on the subject which had then occupied her mind. Yet reason told her that this was a wild conjecture, and she was inclined to dismiss it; but, with the inconsistency so natural, when imagination guides the thoughts, she then wavered towards a belief as wild. She remembered the singular event connected with the castle, which had given it into the possession of its present owner; and, when she considered the mysterious manner in which its late possessor had disappeared, and that she had never since been heard of, her mind was impressed with a high degree of solemn awe; so that, though there appeared no clue to connect that event with the lite music, she was inclined fancifully to think they had some relation to each other. At this jecture, a sudden dullness ran through her frame; she looked fearfully upon the duskiness of her chamber, and the dead silence that prevailed there heightened to her fancy its gloomy aspect. At length she left the casement, but her steps faltered as she approached the bed, and she stopped and looked round. The single lamp that burned in her spacious chamber was expiring; for a moment she shrunk from the darkness beyond; and then, ashamed of the weakness, which, however, she could not wholly conquer, went forward to the bed, where her mind did not soon know the soothings of sleep. She still mused on the late occurrence, and looked with anxiety to the next night, when, at the same hour, she determined to watch whether the music returned.--If those sounds were human, said.she, I shall probably hear them again. CHAP. XXVI. Then, oh! you blessed ministers above, Keep me in patience; and, in ripen'd time, Unfold the...