WYLDER'S HAJVI).
93
"I thought I'd look in, miss, before I went to bed, just
to see if you wanted anything."
"No — nothing, thank you, dear Tamar."
"And I don't think, Miss Rachel, you are quite well
to-night, though you are so gay — you're pale, dear;
and there's something on your mind. Don't be thinking
about Master Stanley; he's out of the army now, and I'm
thankful for it; and make your mind easy about him; and
would not it be better, dear, you went to your bed, you
rise so early."
"Very true, good old Tamar, but to-night I must write
a letter — not a long one, though — and I assure you, I'm
quite well. Good-night, Tamar."
Tamar stood for a moment with her odd weird look upon
her, and then bidding her good-night, glided stiffly away,
shutting the door.
So Rachel sat down to her desk and began to write; but
she could not get into the spirit of her letter; her mind
wandered away, and she found herself listening, every now
and then, and at last she fancied that old Tamar. about
whom that dream, and her unexpected appearance at the
door, had given her a sort of spectral feeling that night,
was up and watching her; and the idea of this white
sentinel outside her door excited her so unpleasantly, that
she opened it, but found no Tamar there; and then she
revisited the kitchen, but that was empty too, and the fire
taken down. And, finally, she passed into the old woman's
bed-chamber, whom she saw, her white head upon her
pillow, dreaming again, perhaps. And so, softly closing
her door, she left her to her queer visions and deathlike
slumber.