a little appeased, she appeared suddenly to
become aware how strange her conduct
had been, or it may have been that other
more agitating thoughts recurred to her
mind, for she began to weep bitterly and to
wring her hands.

'Oh! send for a minister of God,' said
she; 'I am not safe till he comes; send
for him speedily.'

Gerard Douw despatched a messenger
instantly, and prevailed on his niece to
allow him to surrender his bedchamber to
her use; he also persuaded her to retire
to it at once and to rest; her consent was
extorted upon the condition that they would
not leave her for a moment.

'Oh that the holy man were here!' she
said; 'he can deliver me. The dead and
the living can never be one--God has
forbidden it.'

With these mysterious words she
surrendered herself to their guidance, and
they proceeded to the chamber which
Gerard Douw had assigned to her use.

'Do not--do not leave me for a