358



The Channings



  It may be difficult for some of you to understand this
excessive terror, albeit the situation was not a par-
ticularly desirable one.  A college boy, in these en-
lightened days, laughs at supernatural tales as the
delusions of ignorance in past ages; but for those w'ho
have had the misfortune to be imbued in infancy with
superstition, as was Charles Channing, the terror still
exists, college boys though they may be. He could not
have told (had he been collected enough to tell any-
thing) what his precise dread was, as he flew through
the cloisters. None can, at these moments. A sort of
bugbear rises up in the mind, and they shrink from it,
though they see not what its exact nature may be; but
it is a bugbear that can neither be faced nor borne.
  Feeling as one about to die, feeling as if death, in
that awful moment, might be a boon, rather than the
contrary, Charles sped down the cast quadrangle, and
turned into the north. At the extremitv of the north
side, forming the angle between it and the west, com-
menced the narrow passage similar to the one he had
just traversed, which led to the west gate of entrance.
A faint glimmering of the white flagged stones beyond
this gate, gave promise that it was open. A half-uttered
sound of thankfulness escaped him, and he sped on.
  Ah ! but what was that 'What was it that he came
upon in the middle of the north quadrangle, standing
within the niches  A towering white form, With a
ghastly face, telling of the dead; a mysterious, super-
natural-looking blue flame lighting it up round about.
It came out of the niche, and advanced slowvly upon
him. An awful cry escaped from his heart, and wvent
ringing up to the roof of the cloisters. Oh ! that the
good dean, sitting in his deanery contiguous to the
chapter-house, could have heard that helpless cry of
anguish !-that Dr. Burrows, still nearer, could have
heard it and burst forth into the cloisters With the
succour of his presence! No, no; there could be no
succour for a spot supposed to be empty and closed.
  Back to the locked gate-with perhaps the apparition
following him or forward past IT to the open door
Which was it to be In these moments there can be
no reason to guide the course; but there is instinct; and
instinct took that ill-fated child to the open door.
  How he got past the sight, it is impossible to tell.