26
WYLDER'S HAJVD.
My room was large and old-fashioned, but snug, and
I, beginning to grow very drowsy, was not long in getting
to bed, where I fell asleep indescribably quickly. In all
old houses one is of course liable to adventures. There
was a picture in the outer hall — one of those full-length
gentlemen of George II. 's time, with a dark peruke flow-
ing on his shoulders, a cut velvet coat, and lace cravat and
ruffles. This picture was pale, and had a long chin, and
somehow had impressed my boyhood with a singular sense
of fear. The foot of my bed lay towards the window, dis-
tant at least five-and-twenty feet; and before the window
stood my dressing-table, and on it a large looking-glass.
I dreamed that I was arranging my toilet before this
glass —just as I had done that evening — when on a sud-
den the face of the portrait I have mentioned was present-
ed on its surface, confronting me like a real countenance,
and advancing towards me with a look of fury; and at the
instant I felt myself seized by the throat and unable to stir
or to breathe. After a struggle with this infernal garotter,
I succeeded in awaking myself; and as I did so, I felt a
rather cold hand really resting on my throat, and quietly
passed up over my chin and face. I jumped out of bed
with a roar, and challenged the owner of the hand, but re-
ceived no answer, and heard no sound. I poked up my
fire and lighted my candle. Everything was as I had left
it except the door, which was the least bit open.
In my shirt, candle in hand, I looked out into the pas-
age. There was nothing there in human shape, but in the
- direction of the stairs the green eyes of a large cat were
shining. I was so nervous that even "a harmless, neces-
sary cat'' appalled me, and I clapped my door, as if
against an evil spirit.
In about half an hour's time, however, I had quite
'worked off the effect of this nightmare, and reasoned my-