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and your apprehension is broken like glass。'
'Will he … will he ever come again？' asked mistress。
'Again？ Why； surely； over and over again！ Are you cold？' （she
shivered）。
'No； dear … but … he terrifies me： are you sure that he need come
again？'
'The surer for the question； Clara！' replied master； cheerfully。
But； he was very hopeful of her complete recovery now； and grew
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more and more so every day。 She was beautiful。 He was happy。
'All goes well； Baptista？' he would say to me again。
'Yes； signore； thank God； very well。'
We were all （said the Genoese courier； constraining himself to speak a
little louder）； we were all at Rome for the Carnival。 I had been out； all
day； with a Sicilian； a friend of mine； and a courier； who was there with an
English family。 As I returned at night to our hotel； I met the little
Carolina； who never stirred from home alone； running distractedly along
the Corso。
'Carolina！ What's the matter？'
'O Baptista！ O； for the Lord's sake！ where is my mistress？'
'Mistress； Carolina？'
'Gone since morning … told me； when master went out on his day's
journey； not to call her； for she was tired with not resting in the night
（having been in pain）； and would lie in bed until the evening； then get up
refreshed。 She is gone！ … she is gone！ Master has come back； broken
down the door； and she is gone！ My beautiful； my good； my innocent
mistress！'
The pretty little one so cried； and raved； and tore herself that I could
not have held her； but for her swooning on my arm as if she had been shot。
Master came up … in manner； face； or voice； no more the master that I
knew； than I was he。 He took me （I laid the little one upon her bed in the
hotel； and left her with the chamber…women）； in a carriage； furiously
through the darkness； across the desolate Campagna。 When it was day；
and we stopped at a miserable post…house； all the horses had been hired
twelve hours ago； and sent away in different directions。 Mark me！ by the
Signor Dellombra； who had passed there in a carriage； with a frightened
English lady crouching in one corner。
I never heard （said the Genoese courier； drawing a long breath） that
she was ever traced beyond that spot。 All I know is； that she vanished
into infamous oblivion； with the dreaded face beside her that she had seen
in her dream。
'What do you call THAT？' said the German courier； triumphantly。
'Ghosts！ There are no ghosts THERE！ What do you call this； that I am
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going to tell you？ Ghosts！ There are no ghosts HERE！'
I took an engagement once （pursued the German courier） with an
English gentleman； elderly and a bachelor； to travel through my country；
my Fatherland。 He was a merchant who traded with my country and
knew the language； but who had never been there since he was a boy … as I
judge； some sixty years before。
His name was James； and he had a twin…brother John； also a bachelor。
Between these brothers there was a great affection。 They were in business
together； at Goodman's Fields； but they did not live together。 Mr。 James
dwelt in Poland Street； turning out of Oxford Street； London； Mr。 John
resided by Epping Forest。
Mr。 James and I were to start for Germany in about a week。 The
exact day depended on business。 Mr。 John came to Poland Street （where
I was staying in the house）； to pass that week with Mr。 James。 But； he
said to his brother on the second day； 'I don't feel very well； James。
There's not much the matter with me； but I think I am a little gouty。 I'll
go home and put myself under the care of my old housekeeper； who
understands my ways。 If I get quite better； I'll come back and see you
before you go。 If I don't feel well enough to resume my visit where I
leave it off； why YOU will come and see me before you go。' Mr。 James；
of course； said he would； and they shook hands … both hands； as they
always did … and Mr。 John ordered out his old…fashioned chariot and
rumbled home。
It was on the second night after that … that is to say； the fourth in the
week … when I was awoke out of my sound sleep by Mr。 James coming
into my bedroom in his flannel…gown； with a lighted candle。 He sat upon
the side of my bed； and looking at me； said：
'Wilhelm； I have reason to think I have got some strange illness upon
me。'
I then perceived that there was a very unusual expression in his face。
'Wilhelm；' said he； 'I am not afraid or ashamed to tell you what I might
be afraid or ashamed to tell another man。 You come from a sensible
country； where mysterious things are inquired into and are not settled to
have been weighed and measured … or to have been unweighable and
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unmeasurable … or in either case to have been completely disposed of； for
all time … ever so many years ago。 I have just now seen the phantom of
my brother。'
I confess （said the German courier） that it gave me a little tingling of
the blood to hear it。
'I have just now seen；' Mr。 James repeated； looking full at me； that I
might see how collected he was； 'the phantom of my brother John。 I was
sitting up in bed； unable to sleep； when it came into my room； in a white
dress； and regarding me earnestly； passed up to the end of the room；
glanced at some papers on my writing…desk； turned； and； still looking
earnestly at me as it passed the bed； went out at the door。 Now； I am not
in the least mad； and am not in the least disposed to invest that phantom
with any external existence out of myself。 I think it is a warning to me
that I am ill； and I think I had better be bled。'
I got