interred in consecrated ground, with all holy honours and rites. Thus, should she receive in death all the atonement which mortal could offer her for the cruel wrongs which she sustained while living.
I was now alive to the anxious inquiries of the Baron and Adelaide, whom my strange trance had much alarmed. Unwilling, however, to incur the risk of renewing the horrible sensations which I had escaped, I evaded all explanation at that moment; and, addressing myself to Hartmann, desired, with the Baron’s permission, that the corse should be conveyed to the castle, and preparations immediately commenced for its solemn interment in the family vault.
The Baron approved of my design; for both he and Adelaide believed that in the inhabitant of the coffin, beneficent even in death, they beheld the ancestress of my house.
Previously to the conclusion of the performance of the funereal ceremonies, I resolved to look once more on the ring which had occasioned me so much horror, and still caused me many anxious thoughts. For this purpose, the lid of the coffin was raised, when I discovered that the corse, lately so lovely, had fallen to ashes; a mournful and painful, yet a consolatory change, for I believed it to indicate that the soul of the wronged wanderer was at last at rest. Among this mortal dust my ring had disappeared; but, as I should have deemed it sacrilege to have disturbed her remains, I was compelled to deny myself the gratification of my curiosity. The sacred service therefore proceeded; the lid of the coffin was secured, and at last all that was still material of the Silver Lady was left to its final repose.
A few weeks afterwards, my betrothment to Adelaide was solemnized; when another strange and inexplicable circumstance occurred. I had caused a ring to be made, with which
