her for assistance. The good lady had far more regard than the owners of
it for the library, and was delighted with the pains I was taking to
re-arrange and clean it. She would allow no one to help me but herself;
and to many a long-winded story, most of which I forgot as soon as I
heard them, did I listen, or seem to listen, while she dusted the
shelves and I the books.

One day I had sent a servant to ask Mrs. Wilson to come to me. I had
taken down all the books from a hitherto undisturbed corner, and had
seated myself on a heap of them, no doubt a very impersonation of the
genius of the place; for while I waited for the housekeeper, I was
consuming a morsel of an ancient metrical romance. After waiting for
some time, I glanced towards the door, for I had begun to get impatient
for the entrance of my helper. To my surprise, there stood Lady Alice,
her eyes fixed upon me with an expression I could not comprehend. Her
face instantly altered to its usual look of indifference, dashed with
the least possible degree of scorn, as she turned and walked slowly
away. I rose involuntarily. An old cavalry sword, which I had just taken
down from the wall, and had placed leaning against the books from which
I now rose, fell with a clash to the floor. I started; for it was a
sound that always startled me; and stooping I lifted the weapon. But
what was my surprise when I raised my head, to see once more the face of
Lady Alice staring in at the door! yet not the same face, for it had
changed in the moment that had passed. It was pale with fear--not
fright; and her great black eyes were staring beyond me as if she saw
something through the wall of the room. Once more her face altered to
the former scornful indifference, and she vanished. Keen of hearing as I
was, I had never yet heard the footstep of Lady Alice.