Day after day now elapsed, and nothing more was seen of this singular
personage. Colonel Wildman at length arrived at the Abbey, and his
sister mentioned to him her encounter and fright in the garden. It
brought to mind his own adventure with the Little White Lady in the
wood of Undine, and he was surprised to find that she still continued
her mysterious wanderings about the Abbey. The mystery was soon
explained. Immediately after his arrival he received a letter written
in the most minute and delicate female hand, and in elegant and even
eloquent language. It was from the Little White Lady. She had noticed
and been shocked by the abrupt retreat of Colonel Wildman's sister on
seeing her in the garden walk, and expressed her unhappiness at being
an object of alarm to any of his family. She explained the motives of
her frequent and long visits to the Abbey, which proved to be a
singularly enthusiastic idolatry of the genius of Lord Byron, and a
solitary and passionate delight in haunting the scenes he had once
inhabited. She hinted at the infirmities which cut her off from all
social communion with her fellow beings, and at her situation in life
as desolate and bereaved; and concluded by hoping that he would not
deprive her of her only comfort, the permission of visiting the Abbey
occasionally, and lingering about the walks and gardens.
Pages:
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206