The Old English Baron: a Gothic Story

by Clara Reeve

theBaron; he defended Edmund's cause and his own, and laid open as much ashe knew of the malice and designs of his enemies. The Baron expressedmuch concern at the untimely deaths of Lord and Lady Lovel, anddesired Oswald to be circumspect in regard to what he had to say of thecircumstances attending them; adding, that he was both innocent andignorant of any treachery towards either of them. Oswald excused himselffor his communications to Edmund, saying, they fell undesignedly intothe subject, and that he mentioned it in confidence to him only.

  The Baron sent orders to the young men to come to dinner; but theyrefused to meet Edmund at table; accordingly he ate in the steward'sapartment. After dinner, the Baron tried to reconcile his kinsmen toEdmund; but found it impossible. They saw their designs were laid open;and, judging of him by themselves, thought it impossible to forgive orbe forgiven. The Baron ordered them to keep in separate apartments; hetook his eldest son for his own companion, as being the most reasonableof the malcontents; and ordered his kinsmen to keep their own apartment,with a servant to watch their motions. Mr. William had Oswald for hiscompanion. Old Joseph was bid to attend on Edmund; to serve himat supper; and, at the hour of nine, to conduct him to the hauntedapartment. Edmund desired that he might have a light and his sword,lest his enemies should endeavour to surprise him. The Baron thought hisrequest reasonable, and complied with it.

  There was a great search to find the key of the apartment; at last itwas discovered by Edmund, himself, among a parcel of old rusty keys ina lumber room. The Baron sent the young men their suppers to theirrespective apartments. Edmund declined eating, and desired to beconducted to his apartment. He was accompanied by most of the servantsto the door of it; they wished him success, and prayed for him as if hehad been going to execution.

  The door was with great difficulty unlocked, and Joseph gave Edmund alighted lamp, and wished him a good night; he returned his good wishesto them all with the utmost cheerfulness, took the key on the inside ofthe door, and dismissed them.

  He then took a survey of his chamber; the furniture, by long neglect,was decayed and dropping to pieces; the bed was devoured by the moths,and occupied by the rats, who had built their nests there with impunityfor many generations. The bedding was very damp, for the rain had forcedits way through the ceiling; he determined, therefore, to lie down inhis clothes. There were two doors on the further side of the room, withkeys in them; being not at all sleepy, he resolved to examine them;he attempted one lock, and opened it with ease; he went into a largedining-room, the furniture of which was in the same tattered condition;out of this was a large closet with some books in it, and hung roundwith coats of arms, with genealogies and alliances of the house ofLovel; he amused himself here some minutes, and then returned into thebed-chamber.

  He recollected the other door, and resolved to see where it led to; thekey was rusted into the lock, and resisted his attempts; he set the lampon the ground, and, exerting all his strength, opened the door, and atthe same instant the wind of it blew out the lamp, and left him in utterdarkness. At the same moment he heard a hollow rustling noise, like thatof a person coming through a narrow passage. Till this moment not oneidea of fear had approached the mind of Edmund; but, just then, all theconcurrent circumstances of his situation struck upon his heart, andgave him a new and disagreeable sensation. He paused a while; and,recollecting himself, cried out aloud. "What should I fear? I have notwilfully offended God or man; why then should I doubt protection? But Ihave not yet implored the divine assistance; how then can I expectit!" Upon this, he kneeled down and prayed earnestly, resigning himselfwholly to the will of heaven; while he was yet speaking, his couragereturned, and he resumed his usual confidence; again he approached thedoor from whence the noise proceeded; he thought he saw a glimmeringlight upon a staircase before him. "If," said he, "this apartment ishaunted, I will use my endeavours to discover the cause of it; and ifthe spirit appears visibly, I will speak to it."

  He was preparing to descend the staircase, when he heard several knocksat the door by which he first entered the room; and, stepping backward,the door was clapped to with great violence. Again fear attacked him,but he resisted it, and boldly cried out, "Who is there?"

  A voice at the outer door answered, "It's I; Joseph, your friend!"

  "What do you want?" said Edmund.

  "I have brought you some wood to make a fire," said Joseph.

  "I thank you kindly," said Edmund; "but my lamp is gone out; I will tryto find the door, however."

  After some trouble he found, and opened it; and was not sorry to see hisfriend Joseph, with a light in one hand, a flagon of beer in the other,and a fagot upon his shoulder. "I come," said the good old man, "tobring you something to keep up your spirits; the evening is cold; I knowthis room wants airing; and beside that, my master, I think your presentundertaking requires a little assistance."

  "My good friend," said Edmund, "I never shall be able to deserve orrequite your kindness to me."

  "My dear sir, you always deserved more than I could do for you; and Ithink I shall yet live to see you defeat the designs of your enemies,and acknowledge the services of your friends."

  "Alas!" said Edmund, "I see little prospect of that!"

  "I see," said Joseph, "something that persuades me you are designed forgreat things; and I perceive that things are working about to some greatend: have courage, my Master, my heart beats strangely high upon youraccount!"

  "You make me smile," said Edmund.

  "I am glad to see it, sir; may you smile all the rest of your life!"

  "I thank your honest affection," returned Edmund, "though it is toopartial to me. You had better go to bed, however; if it is known thatyou visit me here, it will be bad for us both."

  "So I will presently; but, please God, I will come here again to-morrownight, when all the family are a-bed; and I will tell you some thingsthat you never yet heard."

  "But pray tell me," said Edmund, "where does that door lead to?"

  "Upon a passage that ends in a staircase that leads to the lower rooms;and there is likewise a door out of that passage into the dining-room."

  "And what rooms are there below stairs," said Edmund?

  "The same as above," replied he.

  "Very well; then I wish you a good night, we will talk furtherto-morrow."

  "Aye, to-morrow night; and in this place, my dear master."

  "Why do you call me your master? I never was, nor ever can be, yourmaster."

  "God only knows that," said the good old man; "good-night, and heavenbless you!"

  "Good-night, my worthy friend!"

  Joseph withdrew, and Edmund returned to the other door, and attemptedseveral times to open it in vain; his hands were benumbed and tired; atlength he gave over. He made a fire in the chimney, placed the lamp on atable, and opened one of the window-shutters to admit the day-light;he then recommended himself to the Divine protection, and threw himselfupon the bed; he presently fell asleep, and continued in that state,till the sun saluted him with his orient beams through the window he hadopened.

  As soon as he was perfectly awake, he strove to recollect his dreams.He thought that he heard people coming up the staircase that he had aglimpse of; that the door opened, and there entered a warrior, leading alady by the hand, who was young and beautiful, but pale and wan; The manwas dressed in complete armour, and his helmet down. They approachedthe bed; they undrew the curtains. He thought the man said, "Is this ourchild?" The woman replied, "It is; and the hour approaches that he shallbe known for such." They then separated, and one stood on each sideof the bed; their hands met over his head, and they gave him a solemnbenediction. He strove to rise and pay them his respects, but theyforbad him; and the lady said, "Sleep in peace, oh my Edmund! forthose who are the true possessors of this apartment are employed inthy preservation; sleep on, sweet hope of a house that is thought pasthope!"

  Upon this, they withdrew, and went out at the same door by which theyentered, and he heard them descend the stairs. After this, he followeda fu
neral as chief mourner; he saw the whole procession, and heard theceremonies performed. He was snatched away from this mournful scene toone of a contrary kind, a stately feast, at which he presided; andhe heard himself congratulated as a husband, and a father; hisfriend William sat by his side; and his happiness was complete. Everysucceeding idea was happiness without allay; and his mind was not idlea moment till the morning sun awakened him. He perfectly remembered hisdreams, and meditated on what all these things should portend. "Am Ithen," said he, "not Edmund Twyford, but somebody of consequence inwhose fate so many people are interested? Vain thought, that must havearisen from the partial suggestion of my two friends, Mr. William andold Joseph."

  He lay