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fatality no more。 I returned to the Abbey； and tried to resign
myself to my misery。 But this was not to be。 I had a hope that
was dearer to me than my own life； I had one treasure belonging
to me that I shuddered at the prospect of losing； and when the
phantom presence stood a warning obstacle between me and this one
treasure； this dearest hope； then my misery grew heavier than I
could bear。 You must know what I am alluding to； you must have
heard often that I was engaged to be married？〃
〃Yes； often。 I have some acquaintance myself with Miss Elmslie。〃
〃You never can know all that she has sacrificed for menever can
imagine what I have felt for years and years past〃his voice
trembled； and the tears came into his eyes〃but I dare not trust
myself to speak of that； the thought of the old happy days in the
Abbey almost breaks my heart now。 Let me get back to the other
subject。 I must tell you that I kept the frightful vision which
pursued me； at all times and in all places； a secret from
everybody； knowing the vile reports about my having inherited
madness from my family； and fearing that an unfair advantage
would be taken of any confession that I might make。 Though the
phantom always stood opposite to me； and therefore always
appeared either before or by the side of any person to whom I
spoke； I soon schooled myself to hide from others that I was
looking at it except on rare occasions； when I have perhaps
betrayed myself to you。 But my self…possession availed me nothing
with Ada。 The day of our marriage was approaching。〃
He stopped and shuddered。 I waited in silence till he had
controlled himself。
〃Think；〃 he went on； 〃think of what I must have suffered at
looking always on that hideous vision whenever I looked on my
betrothed wife！ Think of my taking her hand； and seeming to take
it through the figure of the apparition！ Think of the calm
angel…face and the tortured specter…face being always together
whenever my eyes met hers！ Think of this； and you will not wonder
that I betrayed my secret to her。 She eagerly entreated to know
the worstnay； more； she insisted on knowing it。 At her bidding
I told all； and then left her free to break our engagement。 The
thought of death was in my heart as I spoke the parting
wordsdeath by my own act； if life still held out after our
separation。 She suspected that thought； she knew it； and never
left me till her good influence had destroyed it forever。 But for
her I should not have been alive now； but for her I should never
have attempted the project which has brought me here。〃
〃Do you mean that it was at Miss Elmslie's suggestion that you
came to Naples？〃 I asked； in amazement。
〃I mean that what she said suggested the design which has brought
me to Naples；〃 he answered。 〃While I believed that the phantom
had appeared to me as the fatal messenger of death； there was no
comfortthere was misery； rather； in hearing her say that no
power on earth should make her desert me； and that she would live
for me； and for me only； through every trial。 But it was far
different when we afterward reasoned together about the purpose
which the apparition had come to fulfillfar different when she
showed me that its mission might be for good instead of for evil；
and that the warning it was sent to give might be to my profit
instead of to my loss。 At those words； the new idea which gave
the new hope of life came to me in an instant。 I believed then；
what I believe now； that I have a supernatural warrant for my
errand here。 In that faith I live； without it I should die。 _She_
never ridiculed it； never scorned it as insanity。 Mark what I
say！ The spirit that appeared to me in the Abbeythat has never
left me sincethat stands there now by your side； warns me to
escape from the fatality which hangs over our race； and commands
me； if I would avoid it； to bury the unburied dead。 Mortal loves
and mortal interests must bow to that awful bidding。 The
specter…presence will never leave me till I have sheltered the
corpse that cries to the earth to cover it！ I dare not returnI
dare not marry till I have filled the place that is empty in
Wincot vault。〃
His eyes flashed and dilatedhis voice deepeneda fanatic
ecstasy shone in his expression as he uttered these words。
Shocked and grieved as I was； I made no attempt to remonstrate or
to reason with him。 It would have been useless to have referred
to any of the usual commonplaces about optical delusions or
diseased imaginationsworse than useless to have attempted to
account by natural causes for any of the extraordinary
coincidences and events of which he had spoken。 Briefly as he had
referred to Miss Elmslie； he had said enough to show me that the
only hope of the poor girl who loved him best and had known him
longest of any one was in humoring his delusions to the last。 How
faithfully she still clung to the belief that she could restore
him！ How resolutely was she sacrificing herself to his morbid
fancies； in the hope of a happy future that might never come！
Little as I knew of Miss Elmslie； the mere thought of her
situation； as I now reflected on it； made me feel sick at heart。
〃They call me Mad Monkton！〃 he exclaimed； suddenly breaking the
silence between us during the last few minutes； 〃Here and in
England everybody believes I am out of my senses except Ada and
you。 She has been my salvation； and you will be my salvation too。
Something told me that when I first met you walking in the Villa
Peale。 I struggled against the strong desire that was in me to
trust my secret to you； but I could resist it no longer when I
saw you to…night at the ball； the phantom seemed to draw me on to
you as you stood alone in the quiet room。 Tell me more of that
idea of yours about finding the place where the duel was fought。
If I set out to…morrow to seek for it myself； where must I go to
first？ where？〃 He stopped； his strength was evidently becoming
exhausted； and his mind was growing confused。 〃What am I to do？ I
can't remember。 You know everythingwill you not help me？ My
misery has made me unable to help myself。〃
He stopped； murmured something about failing if he went to the
frontier alone； and spoke confusedly of delays that might be
fatal； then tried to utter the name of 〃Ada〃； but； in pronouncing
the first letter； his voice faltered； and； turning abruptly from
me； he burst into tears。
My pity for him got the better of my prudence at that moment； and
without thinking of responsibilities； I promised at once to do
for him whatever he asked。 The wild triumph in his expression as
he started up and seized my hand showed me that I had better have
been more cautious； but it was too late now to retract what I had
said。 The next best thing to do was to try if I could not induce
him to compose himself a little； and then to go away and think
coolly over the whole affair by myself。
〃Yes； yes；〃 he rejoined； in answer to the few words I now spoke
to try and calm him； 〃don't be afraid about me。 After what you
have said； I'll answer for my own coolness and composure under
all emergencies。 I have been so long used to the apparition that
I hardly feel its presence at all except on rare oc