much overcome that my senses had forsaken me.
“Seraphina’s eyes were scarcely closed, when I returned to a life which then appeared to me insupportable. I was apprehensive that the state of stupefaction into which I was thrown by the dread of the loss that threatened me, had appeared to my sister a want of attachment. And from that time I have never thought of the melancholy scene without experiencing a violent shuddering.
“‘You must be aware,’ said my father to me (it was at the precise hour, and before the same chimney we are at this moment placed)—you must be aware, that the pretended vision should still be kept quite secret.’ I was of his opinion; but could not help adding, ‘What! still, my father, though one part of the prediction has in so afflicting a manner been verified, you continue to call it a pretended vision?’
“‘Yes, my child; you know not what a dangerous enemy to man is his own imagination. Seraphina will not be the last of its victims.’
“We were seated, as I before said, just as we now are; and I was about to name a motive which I had before omitted, when I perceived that his eyes were fixed in a disturbed manner on the door. I was ignorant of the cause, and could discover nothing extraordinary there: notwithstand-
