The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

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The Highland Monthly.
the thought that his presence might have averted the dread
catastrophe, knowing, as he did, his father's precarious condition,
was an unhappy one to David, in a future which
required no accentuation of its sorrows.
The last stroke of twelve was still vibrating when he was-
startled by a loud rapping at the side window of his
chamber. He was not of a nervous temperament, but at
that ill-omened hour, and in the suggestive circumstances,
such an unexpected intrusion upon the silence of the Castle
quickened his .pulse. The knocking was repeated, and
going to the window, he peered out into the darkness..
What he saw made him start back in astonishment, for
nothing could have been more unexpected and startling.
The Witch, pallid and staring, with hair dishevelled and
streaming down both sides of her face, pressed her
demoniac-looking countenance against the window pane!
What should he do ? Elspeth was evidently, as John
had described, mad as a March hare, else she would never
disturb the Castle at this hour of the night—a place she
had never come near since being evicted from the old hut.
If she proved troublesome, it would be necessary to waken
John and have the creature removed.
The knocking, louder and more prolonged, was
renewed. He stood irresolute. That was a strange and
weird account John had given of her ravings—that she saw
a spectre ; that Flora was not dead ; and that she, at firsts
refused, and then resolved to resuscitate the dead. If
there was one department of medicine he would prefer ta
specialise 't would be that of mental diseases. For him
the brain and its mysterious workings had a strong
fascination, and his professional studies had been prefaced!
by a course in psychology, both exhaustive and dis-
tinguished. It might be interesting and instructive, as well
as a distraction—for he felt sleep impossible— to diagnose
l'21speth's case.
The window-rapping was resumed as he reached this
conclusion. Drawing aside the blind, and raising the