He quickly shut up and locked in the
hated image which had done the mischief; and lifted his wife in his
arms, where in a few instants she opened her eyes. Pressing her
face to his without saying a word, he carried her back to her room,
endeavouring as he went to disperse her terrors by a laugh in her
ear, oddly compounded of causticity, predilection, and brutality.
'Ho--ho--ho!' says he. 'Frightened, dear one, hey? What a baby
'tis! Only a joke, sure, Barbara--a splendid joke! But a baby
should not go to closets at midnight to look for the ghost of the
dear departed! If it do it must expect to be terrified at his
aspect--ho--ho--ho!'
When she was in her bed-chamber, and had quite come to herself;
though her nerves were still much shaken, he spoke to her more
sternly. 'Now, my lady, answer me: do you love him--eh?'
'No--no!' she faltered, shuddering, with her expanded eyes fixed on
her husband. 'He is too terrible--no, no!'
'You are sure?'
'Quite sure!' replied the poor broken-spirited Countess. But her
natural elasticity asserted itself. Next morning he again inquired
of her: 'Do you love him now?'
She quailed under his gaze, but did not reply.
'That means that you do still, by G-!' he continued.
'It means that I will not tell an untruth, and do not wish to
incense my lord,' she answered, with dignity.
'Then suppose we go and have another look at him?' As he spoke, he
suddenly took her by the wrist, and turned as if to lead her towards
the ghastly closet.
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