The Purcell Papers — Volume 3Le Fanu, Joseph Sheridan
General
The Purcell Papers — Volume 3
Le Fanu, Joseph Sheridan
Fantasy fiction, English; Ireland -- Fiction
'Madam,' said I, 'there must be some mistake here--this is my
bed-chamber.'
'Marry come up,' said the lady, sharply; 'YOUR chamber! Where is Lord
Glenfallen?'
'He is below, madam,' replied I; 'and I am convinced he will be not a
little surprised to find you here.'
'I do not think he will,' said she; 'with your good leave, talk of
what you know something about. Tell him I want him. Why does the minx
dilly-dally so?'
In spite of the awe which this grim lady inspired, there was something
in her air of confident superiority which, when I considered our
relative situations, was not a little irritating.
'Do you know, madam, to whom you speak?' said I.
'I neither know nor care,' said she; 'but I presume that you are some
one about the house, so again I desire you, if you wish to continue
here, to bring your master hither forthwith.'
'I must tell you, madam,' said I, 'that I am Lady Glenfallen.'
'What's that?' said the stranger, rapidly.
'I say, madam,' I repeated, approaching her that I might be more
distinctly heard, 'that I am Lady Glenfallen.'
'It's a lie, you trull!' cried she, in an accent which made me start,
and at the same time, springing forward, she seized me in her grasp, and
shook me violently, repeating, 'It's a lie--it's a lie!' with a rapidity
and vehemence which swelled every vein of her face. The violence of her
action, and the fury which convulsed her face, effectually terrified me,
and disengaging myself from her grasp, I screamed as loud as I could for
help. The blind woman continued to pour out a torrent of abuse upon
me, foaming at the mouth with rage, and impotently shaking her clenched
fists towards me.
I heard Lord Glenfallen's step upon the stairs, and I instantly ran out;
as I passed him I perceived that he was deadly pale, and just caught the
words: 'I hope that demon has not hurt you?'
I made some answer, I forget what, and he entered the chamber, the door
of which he locked upon the inside. What passed within I know not; but
I heard the voices of the two speakers raised in loud and angry
altercation.
I thought I heard the shrill accents of the woman repeat the words,
'Let her look to herself;' but I could not be quite sure. This short
sentence, however, was, to my alarmed imagination, pregnant with fearful
meaning.
The storm at length subsided, though not until after a conference
of more than two long hours. Lord Glenfallen then returned, pale and
agitated.
'That unfortunate woman,' said he, 'is out of her mind. I daresay she
treated you to some of her ravings; but you need not dread any further
interruption from her: I have brought her so far to reason. She did not
hurt you, I trust.'
'No, no,' said I; 'but she terrified me beyond measure.'
'Well,' said he, 'she is likely to behave better for the future; and I
dare swear that neither you nor she would desire, after what has passed,
to meet again.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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