Harassed by fatigue and pain, I had yet power to ruminate on that series of unparalleled events that had lately happened. I wept; but my tears flowed from a double source: from sorrow, on account of the untimely fate of my uncle; and from joy, that my sisters were preserved—that Sarsefield had returned, and was not unhappy.
I reflected on the untoward destiny of Clithero: part of his calamity consisted in the consciousness of having killed his patroness; but it now appeared, though by some infatuation I had not previously suspected, that the first impulse of sorrow in the lady had been weakened by reflection and by time—that the prejudice persuading her that her life and that of her brother were to endure and to terminate together, was conquered by experience or by argument. She had come, in company with Sarsefield and Clarice, to America. What influence might these events have upon the gloomy meditations of Clithero? Was it possible to bring them together, to win the maniac from his solitude, wrest from him his fatal purposes, and restore him to communion with the beings whose imagined indignation is the torment of his life?
These musings were interrupted by sounds from below; which were easily interpreted into tokens of the return of those with whom Sarsefield had parted at the promontory: voices were confused and busy, but not turbulent. They entered the lower room; and the motion of chairs and tables showed that they were preparing to rest themselves after their toils.
Few of them were unacquainted with me, since they probably were residents in this district: no inconvenience, therefore, would follow from an interview, though on their part wholly unexpected; besides, Sarsefield would speedily return, and none of the present visitants would be likely to withdraw to this apartment.
Meanwhile, I lay upon the bed, with my face turned towards the door, and languidly gazing at the ceiling and walls. Just then a musket was discharged in the room below. The shock affected me mechanically, and the first impulse of surprise made me almost start upon my feet.
The sound was followed by confusion and bustle: some
