Angelina: Or, The Mystery of St. Mark's Abbey — page 16: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE MYSTERY OF ST. MARK'S ABBEY. 3 enthusiastic companion, had advanced to the hall, when a sound, as of music, suddenly vibrated on her ears, and gave rise to the conversation we have quoted at the commencement of the chapter. “ What a timid little simpleton you are, Laura,” said Angelina, trying to urge her forward, *‘ you are always running upon ghosts and hobgoblinss which foolish notions are instilled into your mind by poor old Dame Gertrude , whenever you visit her, and who would almost endeavour to persuade those who will listen (o her awful stories, that she is in the habit of seeing more phantoms than were ever conjured up by the invention of a romance writer.” ‘¢ Well, you may say as you please, cousin,” replied Laura, “ but I am cer tain there are such things, and there cannot possibly be a more likely place for them to resort to than this frightful old abbey. See how the darkness in- creates; we shall never be able to reach home before the storm commences, if we do not hasten from hence directly.” “Tt will only be a shower,” exclaimed Angelina, ‘‘and therefore it will be more advisable for us to remain where we are, under shelter, until it has passed over. My ancle will not be alarmed, for be will think we are only paying a visit to Dame Gertrude, who is ill.” At that moment, a vivid flash of lightning darted in at one of the broken casements, and was quickly followed by a loud peal of thunder, which reverbe - rated above their heads, and seemed to shake every stone in the venerable fabric. Laura trembled, and clang to the arm of her cousin, and the next moment the rain descended in torrents. “ There, Angelina, I told you how it would be,” ejaculated Laura, “ how obstinate it was of you to persist in remaining here. How shall we get home now! and I’m sure. if we stay here, it will be at the very risk of our lives, for we shall have the old walls rattling about our ears directly. ’ Angelina endeavoured to appease the apprehensions of Laura, and consented o postpone the object of examining the ruins to a future day; and she ha scarcely formed this resolution, when between the pauses of the thander, Strange noise, like the banging to of a ponderous door, followed by a loud volley of rude laughter from the farther end of the hall, sounded in their ears and made them both start with amazement and alarm. ‘‘ Oh, Heavens !” ejaculated Laura, ‘* what is that? let us fly, Angelina, do pot delay another moment—Hark ”’ ‘¢ Hush, Laura, I pray, said her cousin, who, having in vain looked around her, to discover if there was any object present to justify their fears, had be- come more collected; “ it was only the wind after all ; compose yourself, we cannot venture forth in such a storm as this.” Another awful flash of lightning now darted in at the broken casement, and Laura uttered a faint scream, and clinging to Angelina, with terrified gestures, directed ber attention to the centre of the hall. Angelina gazed as the fright- ened girl pointed, and the object which her eyes encountered, standing in the ghastly light which the elemental fire, ever and anon, darted in at the large gothic window, transfixed her to the spot in mute astonishment and awe. It was the tall and majestic figure of a female, clad completely in white, and bearing in one hand a white wand. Her countenance was ghastly pale, and her eyes, which were fixed upen Angelina, had an expression so unearthly, that i¢ thrilled the soul with horror to behold them. A thin blue vapour seemed to ‘4 JOO (SO)