to the library; ah! thought she, what transport, if I should find the dear lady returned! but no such happiness awaited her; she entered the apartments with a beating heart, and remained near ten minutes in the library before Joseph made his appearance. "Well, Joseph, (said she, hastily, on his entering the room) how are things below stairs?" "All the same as they were yesterday, madam; the doors were fast, and every thing as I left them." "I have a very great desire, (said she) to see that room where the inscriptions are, and which I find is locked up, can you open it?" "Yes, I can; the key is below, but if I may speak my mind, I think you had better not go." "Why so, (demanded she.) "Why, because, to my thinking, its a dismal place, and will put me in mind of sad doings." "You make me more curious—pray indulge me, Joseph?" "Well, madam, I'll go with you, but 'tis sore against my mind." He went down and soon returned with two keys, but with evident reluctance in his countenance; "I believe one of these is the key (said he;) there used to hang three upon a peg, the other is gone, or left in the closet door yet: I don't think my lady ever came up to open these rooms." Whilst he was talking he was trying the keys; neither of them would open the first door, the second he unlocked presently; they entered; it was a dressing room, handsomely furnished; they tried the door which opened into the other room, it was fastened on the inside. "This is very strange, (said Joseph;) I will go down again and see if I can find the other key, if you are not afraid to stay alone." "Not in the least," (said Matilda, who was examining the room very carefully.) The windows were very high and grated with bars of iron, the hangings were dark green damask, every thing was handsome, yet the grated windows made it appear gloomy.
Joseph now returned with a countenance of horror and dismay—"O, my lady, I can find no key, but looking about the kitchen, behind the door I found a large knife, all over blood." "Gracious heaven!
