THE FATHER. Yes, child; open the window a little. I begin to feel the want of air myself. [_The girl opens the window._] THE UNCLE. I really believe we have stayed shut up too long. THE GRANDFATHER. Is the window open? THE DAUGHTER. Yes, grandfather; it is wide open. THE GRANDFATHER. One would not have thought it was open; there was not a sound outside. THE DAUGHTER. No, grandfather; there is not the slightest sound. THE FATHER. The silence is extraordinary! THE DAUGHTER. One could hear an angel tread! THE UNCLE. That is why I do not like the country. THE GRANDFATHER. I wish I could hear some sound. What o'clock is it, Ursula? THE DAUGHTER. It will soon be midnight, grandfather. [_Here the Uncle begins to pace up and down the room._] THE GRANDFATHER. Who is that walking round us like that? THE UNCLE. Only I! only I! Do not be frightened! I want to walk about a little. [_Silence._]--But I am going to sit down again;--I cannot see where I am going. [_Silence._] THE GRANDFATHER. I wish I were out of this place. THE DAUGHTER. Where would you like to go, grandfather? THE GRANDFATHER. I do not know where--into another room, no matter where! no matter where! THE FATHER. Where could we go? THE UNCLE. It is too late to go anywhere else. [_Silence. They are sitting, motionless, round the table._] THE GRANDFATHER. What is that I hear, Ursula? THE DAUGHTER. Nothing, grandfather; it is the leaves falling.--Yes, it is the leaves falling on the terrace. THE GRANDFATHER. Go and shut the window, Ursula. THE DAUGHTER. Yes, grandfather. [_She shuts the window, comes back, and sits down._] THE GRANDFATHER. I am cold. [_Silence. The Three Sisters kiss each other._] What is that I hear now? THE FATHER. It is the three sisters kissing each other. THE UNCLE. It seems to me they are very pale this evening. [_Silence._] THE GRANDFATHER. What is that I hear now, Ursula? THE DAUGHTER. Nothing, grandfather; it is the clasping of my hands. [_Silence._] THE GRANDFATHER. And that?... THE DAUGHTER. I do not know, grandfather ... perhaps my sisters are trembling a little?... THE GRANDFATHER. I am afraid, too, my children. [_Here a ray of moonlight penetrates through a corner of the stained glass, and throws strange gleams here and there in the room. A clock strikes midnight; at the last stroke there is a very vague sound, as of some one rising in haste._] THE GRANDFATHER [_shuddering with peculiar horror_]. Who is that who got up? THE UNCLE. No one got up! THE FATHER. I did not get up! THE THREE DAUGHTERS. Nor I!--Nor I!--Nor I! THE GRANDFATHER. Some one got up from the table! THE UNCLE. Light the lamp!... [_Cries of terror are suddenly heard from the child's room, on the right; these cries continue, with gradations of horror, until the end of the scene._] THE FATHER. Listen to the child! THE UNCLE. He has never cried before! THE FATHER. Let us go and see him!