In this situation I heard the
clock, which hung in the room, give the signal for twelve. It was
the same instrument which formerly hung in my father's chamber, and
which, on account of its being his workmanship, was regarded by
everyone of our family with veneration. It had fallen to me in the
division of his property, and was placed in this asylum. The sound
awakened a series of reflections respecting his death. I was not
allowed to pursue them; for scarcely had the vibrations ceased,
when my attention was attracted by a whisper, which, at first,
appeared to proceed from lips that were laid close to my ear.
No wonder that a circumstance like this startled me. In the first
impulse of my terror, I uttered a slight scream and shrunk to the
opposite side of the bed. In a moment, however, I recovered from
my trepidation. I was habitually indifferent to all the causes of
fear by which the majority are afflicted. I entertained no
apprehension of either ghosts or robbers. Our security had never
been molested by either, and I made use of no means to prevent or
counterwork their machinations.
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