digmeagrave!"soundedagaininherears,andshewouldhavegladlyburiedherself,ifinthegraveshecouldhavefoundforgetfulnessofheractions.

itwasthefirsthourofherawakening,fullofanguishandhorror.superstitionmadeheralternatelyshudderwithcoldorburnwiththeheatoffever.manythings,ofwhichshehadfearedeventospeak,cameintohermind.silently,asthecloud-shadowsinthemoonshine,aspectralapparitionflittedbyher;shehadheardofitbefore.closebyhergallopedfoursnortingsteeds,withfireflashingfromtheireyesandnostrils.theydraggedaburningcoach,andwithinitsatthewickedlordofthemanor,whohadruledthereahundredyearsbefore.thelegendsaysthateverynight,attwelveo'clock,hedroveintohiscastleyardandoutagain.hewasnotaspaleasdeadmenare,butblackasacoal.henodded,andpointedtoannelisbeth,cryingout,"holdfast!holdfast!andthenyoumayrideagaininanobleman'scarriage,andforgetyourchild."

shegatheredherselfup,andhastenedtothechurchyard;butblackcrossesandblackravensdancedbeforehereyes,andshecouldnotdistinguishonefromtheother.theravenscroakedastheravenhaddonewhichshesawinthedaytime,butnowsheunderstoodwhattheysaid."iamtheraven-mother;iamtheraven-mother,"eachravencroaked,andannelisbethfeltthatthenamealsoappliedtoher;andshefanciedsheshouldbetransformedintoablackbird,andhavetocryastheycried,ifshedidnotdigthegrave.andshethrewherselfupontheearth,andwithherhandsdugagraveinthehardground,sothatthebloodranfromherfingers."agrave!digmeagrave!"stillsoundedinherears;shewasfearfulthatthecockmightcrow,andthefirstredstreakappearintheeast,beforeshehadfinishedherwork;andthenshewouldbelost.andthecockcrowed,andthedaydawnedintheeast,andthegravewasonlyhalfdug.anicyhandpassedoverherheadandface,anddowntowardsherheart."onlyhalfagrave,"avoicewailed,andfledaway.yes,itfledawayoverthesea;itwastheoceanspectre;and,exhaustedandoverpowered,annelisbethsunktotheground,andhersenseslefther.

itwasabrightdaywhenshecametoherself,andtwomenwereraisingherup;butshewasnotlyinginthechurchyard,butonthesea-shore,whereshehaddugadeepholeinthesand,andcutherhandwithapieceofbrokenglass,whosesharpsternwasstuckinalittleblockofpaintedwood.annelisbethwasinasciencehadrousedthememoriesofsuperstitions,andhadsoacteduponhermind,thatshefanciedshehadonlyhalfasoul,andthatherchildhadtakentheotherhalfdownintothesea.neverwouldshebeabletoclingtothemercyofheaventillshehadrecoveredthisotherhalfwhichwasnowheldfastinthedeepwater.

annelisbethreturnedtoherhome,butshewasnolongerthewomanshehadbeen.herthoughtswerelikeaconfused,tangledskein;onlyonethread,onlyonethoughtwascleartoher,namelythatshemustcarrythespectreofthesea-shoretothechurchyard,anddigagraveforhimthere;thatbysodoingshemightwinbackheryanightshewasmissedfromherhome,andwasalwaysfoundonthesea-shorewaitingforthespectre.

inthiswayawholeyearpassed;andthenonenightshevanishedagain,andwasnottobefound.thewholeofthenextdaywasspentinauselesssearchafterher.

towardsevening,whentheclerkenteredthechurchtotollthevesperbell,hesawbythealtarannelisbeth,whohadspentthewholedaythere.herpowersofbodywerealmostexhausted,buthereyesflashedbrightly,andonhercheekswasarosyflush.thelastraysofthesettingsunshoneuponher,andgleamedoverthealtarupontheshiningclaspsofthebible,whichlayopenatthewordsoftheprophetjoel,"rendyourheartsandnotyourgarments,andturnuntothelord."

"thatwasjustachance,"peoplesaid;butdothingshappenbychance?