Of the various forms that were visible along the walls, some projected so far, that, in the play of light and shadow, they almost moved and started into life. Others were only painted on the stone,--shadows themselves among the grotesque shades, which, by the lamp-light, were cast from other figures upon them. It seemed as if all this imagery must in some way or another be connected with his father’s past life; of which his knowledge was only like that which he had just now acquired of the chapel walls. There were certain scenes and events clear and intelligible, others only faintly guessed at or imagined, and the plan or connexion of the whole lost in dim twilight. So much was here plainly visible,--that there were divers sepulchral monuments, with their sombre adornments,--divers trophies formed of ponderous weapons and gigantic armour; for Sir Hugh had been a great conqueror,--had travelled not only in the holy oriental lands, and in the blooming west of Europe, but into the wild regions of the north, where there is far more winter than summer, and where the sun remains for many weeks under the horizon. It might be supposed, that from all these distant climes certain spoils or tokens had been brought hither, in order to collect, within the narrow space, proofs how wide and venturous had been the achievements of that ancient knight, whose career was now fast verging to its final close, when he would be confined within far narrower limits than even those of the chapel. Great banners and Mohommetan horse-tails waved here and there in the night wind; crooked sabres, with their richly-adorned hilts, shone beside them, mingled with old rusty swords and halberts. There were whole coats of mail ranged as if in battle-array; and between them appeared sometimes the hard features of old men carved in stone on the walls, and sometimes mild female visages, on which the lamp-light shone like pale moonshine. Among these there was one by which the knight was earnestly and irresistibly attracted. He could scarcely view it properly, on account of the grim statues and armorial trophies by which it was environed, and yet he was convinced that it could only be the monument of his revered mother. It seemed as if the figure, with its right hand outstretched, made signs to him that he should approach nearer. He would have gone thither immediately, but knew not whether it was permitted him by the laws of knighthood to move so far from his armour, for the monument was at the further end of the chapel. A strange conflict then arose in his mind, which he could by no means tranquillize. His mother seemed constantly repeating her signals, till at last he even thought that he heard her voice, the same sweet tones recollected from his childhood, which had often soothed him in his dreams. “Dearest Otto,” said she, “come hither, though it were but for one moment! I have been so long among the dead, and so far removed