The Duke of Clarence (Volume 3); An Historical Novel (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: terrified, vainly attempted to force her way back through the iron door, which had closed upon them. Too late she repented her rash temerity, as she now thought it. The cold damps that surrounded her, chilled her blood; and the horror of remaining in such a comfortless situation, determined her, at all e- vents, to proceed, though uncertain but that every step she took might prove fatal. Slowly they descended the spiral stairs, dreading every moment to meet with some terrific circumstance. Ellen's fancy continually conjured up to itself hideous forms, vomiting forth flames of fire, or shrouded ghosts with threatening aspects. Hardly suffering herself to breathe, through the excess of her apprehensions, she kept close to her lady, deriving all the courage that supported her from the assumed composure Elfrida shewed, for the purpose of quieting the fears of her terrified companion. At length they reached the bottom of the stairs, and groping with difficulty chapter{Section 4their way, they followed a narrow turning, which led immediately from the steps, at the end of which seemed a door, arched, but low. The key fortunately being on the outside, Elfrida, after pausing a second or two, had collected courage sufficient to open; and the door giving way to her efforts, she found herself in a small oratory, at the farther end of which appeared a tall and elegant female figure, habited in black, and apparently in an attitude of astonishment and wonder. On a desk or table stood a burning taper; and the book which she still held in her hand, appeared the subject of those meditations from which the presence of Elfrida had disturbed her. Ellen, in an agony of terror, began to pour forth her orisons, firmly persuaded that this was a supernatural appearance; whilst our heroine, un...