This
motion was not unaccompanied with sound. I failed not to snatch a
look and to listen when this motion and this sound occurred. My
belief that my monitor was posted near was strong, and instantly
converted these appearances to tokens of his presence; and yet I
could discern nothing.
When my thoughts were at length permitted to revert to the past,
the first idea that occurred was the resemblance between the words
of the voice which I had just heard and those which had terminated
my dream in the summer-house. There are means by which we are able
to distinguish a substance from a shadow, a reality from the
phantom of a dream. The pit, my brother beckoning me forward, the
seizure of my arm, and the voice behind, were surely imaginary.
That these incidents were fashioned in my sleep is supported by the
same indubitable evidence that compels me to believe myself awake
at present; yet the words and the voice were the same. Then, by
some inexplicable contrivance, I was aware of the danger, while my
actions and sensations were those of one wholly unacquainted with
it. Now, was it not equally true that my actions and persuasions
were at war? Had not the belief that evil lurked in the closet
gained admittance, and had not my actions betokened an
unwarrantable security? To obviate the effects of my infatuation,
the same means had been used.
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