Her prayers were heard; for as her constitution
recovered from the shocks it had sustained, her mind gradually
returned to its wonted serenity; the impression of the event became
less vivid, and in less than a week she was enabled to resume her
accustomed habits.
Her return was more warmly greeted by Lord Greville than she had
expected. There was something of "long syne," in his manner of
welcoming her to her sitting apartment, which rejoiced her warm and
affectionate heart. She did not, however, approach it without
trembling; for it was the lady's chamber. Her feelings were
fortunately too much occupied by the unusual kindness displayed by
Lord Greville, and as she silently and gratefully pressed the hand
which led her to her seat, she was thankful that he made no
inquiries into the particular cause of her illness. She knew that he
treated all supernatural terrors with especial contempt, and
considered them as fit subjects for the discussion of the low-minded
and ignorant. She had formerly heard him reason soundly, and express
himself strongly, on the subject, and her own scepticism on the
possibility of spectral visitation, was principally owing to the
arguments she had heard from his lips. Frequently had he praised her
in former times, for her composure of mind in peril, and for her
unfeminine superiority to all ideal terrors; and she did not now dare
provoke his surprise and contempt by a revocation of her principles,
or by a relation of the mysterious event which had befallen her.
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