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ddenly as it came； but Bridget looked slowly on； as if watching some receding form。 Lucy sat still； white； trembling； droopingI think she would have swooned if I had not been there to uphold her。 While I was attending to her； Bridget passed us； without a word to any one； and； entering her cottage； she barred herself in； and left us without。
All our endeavours were now directed to get Lucy back to the house where she had tarried the night before。 Mistress Clarke told me that； not hearing from me （some letter must have miscarried）； she had grown impatient and despairing； and had urged Lucy to the enterprise of coming to seek her grandmother； not telling her； indeed； of the dread reputation she possessed； or how we suspected her of having so fearfully blighted that innocent girl； but； at the same time； hoping much from the mysterious stirring of blood； which Mistress Clarke trusted in for the removal of the curse。 They had come； by a different route from that which I had taken； to a village inn not far from Coldholme； only the night before。 This was the first interview between ancestress and descendant。
All through the sultry noon I wandered along the tangled brush…wood of the old neglected forest； thinking where to turn for remedy in a matter so complicated and mysterious。 Meeting a countryman； I asked my way to the nearest clergyman； and went； hoping to obtain some counsel from him。 But he proved to be a coarse and common…minded man； giving no time or attention to the intricacies of a case； but dashing out a strong opinion involving immediate action。 For instance； as soon as I named Bridget Fitzgerald； he exclaimed：…
〃The Coldholme witch！ the Irish papist！ I'd have had her ducked long since but for that other papist； Sir Philip Tempest。 He has had to threaten honest folk about here over and over again； or they'd have had her up before the justices for her black doings。 And it's the law of the land that witches should be burnt！ Ay； and of Scripture； too； sir！ Yet you see a papist； if he's a rich squire； can overrule both law and Scripture。 I'd carry a faggot myself to rid the country of her！〃
Such a one could give me no help。 I rather drew back what I had already said； and tried to make the parson forget it； by treating him to several pots of beer； in the village inn； to which we had adjourned for our conference at his suggestion。 I left him as soon as I could； and returned to Coldholme； shaping my way past deserted Starkey Manor…house； and coming upon it by the back。 At that side were the oblong remains of the old moat； the waters of which lay placid and motionless under the crimson rays of the setting sun； with the forest…trees lying straight along each side； and their deep…green foliage mirrored to blackness in the burnished surface of the moat belowand the broken sun…dial at the end nearest the halland the heron； standing on one leg at the water's edge； lazily looking down for fishthe lonely and desolate house scarce needed the broken windows； the weeds on the door…sill； the broken shutter softly flapping to and fro in the twilight breeze； to fill up the picture of desertion and decay。 I lingered about the place until the growing darkness warned me on。 And then I passed along the path； cut by the orders of the last lady of Starkey Manor…House； that led me to Bridget's cottage。 I resolved at once to see her； and； in spite of closed doorsit might be of resolved willshe should see me。 So I knocked at her door； gently； loudly； fiercely。 I shook it so vehemently that a length the old hinges gave way； and with a crash it fell inwards； leaving me suddenly face to face with BridgetI； red； heated； agitated with my so long baffled effortsshe； stiff as any stone； standing right facing me； her eyes dilated with terror； her ashen lips trembling； but her body motionless。 In her hands she held her crucifix； as if by that holy symbol she sought to oppose my entrance。 At sight of me； her whole frame relaxed； and she sank back upon a chair。 Some mighty tension had given way。 Still her eyes looked fearfully into the gloom of the outer air； made more opaque by the glimmer of the lamp inside； which she had placed before the picture of the Virgin。
〃Is she there？〃 asked Bridget； hoarsely。
〃No！ Who？ I am alone。 You remember me。〃
〃Yes；〃 replied she； still terror stricken。 〃But shethat creature has been looking in upon me through that window all day long。 I closed it up with my shawl； and then I saw her feet below the door； as long as it was light； and I knew she heard my very breathingnay； worse； my very prayers； and I could not pray； for her listening choked the words ere they rose to my lips。 Tell me； who is she？ what means that double girl I saw this morning？ One had a look of my dead Mary； but the other curdled my blood； and yet it was the same！〃
She had taken hold of my arm； as if to secure herself some human companionship。 She shook all over with the slight； never…ceasing tremor of intense terror。 I told her my tale as I have told it you； sparing none of the details。
How Mistress Clarke had informed me that the resemblance had driven Lucy forth from her father's househow I had disbelieved； until； with mine own eyes； I had seen another Lucy standing behind my Lucy； the same in form and feature； but with the demon…soul looking out of the eyes。 I told her all； I say； believing that shewhose curse was working so upon the life of her innocent grandchildwas the only person who could find the remedy and the redemption。 When I had done； she sat silent for many minutes。
〃You love Mary's child？〃 she asked。
〃I do； in spite of the fearful working of the curseI love her。 Yet I shrink from her ever since that day on the moor…side。 And men must shrink from one so accompanied； friends and lovers must stand afar off。 Oh； Bridget Fitzgerald！ loosen the curse！ Set her free！〃
〃Where is she？〃
I eagerly caught at the idea that her presence was needed； in order that； by some strange prayer or exorcism； the spell might be reversed。
〃I will go and bring her to you；〃 I exclaimed。 Bridget tightened her hold upon my arm。
〃Not so；〃 said she； in a low； hoarse voice。 〃It would kill me to see her again as I saw her this morning。 And I must live till I have worked my work。 Leave me！〃 said she； suddenly； and again taking up the cross。 〃I defy the demon I have called up。 Leave me to wrestle with it！〃
She stood up； as if in an ecstasy of inspiration； from which all fear was banished。 I lingeredwhy I can hardly telluntil once more she bade me begone。 As I went along the forest way； I looked back； and saw her planting the cross in the empty threshold； where the door had been。
The next morning Lucy and I went to seek her； to bid her join her prayers with ours。 The cottage stood open and wide to our gaze。 No human being was there： the cross remained on the threshold； but Bridget was gone。
CHAPTER III。
What was to be done next？ was the question that I asked myself。 As for Lucy； she would fain have submitted to the doom that lay upon her。 Her gentleness and piety； under the pressure of so horrible a life； seemed over…passive to me。 She never complained。 Mrs。 Clarke compl