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most unusual screaming or grating soundthe exact counterpart of what
my fancy had already conjured up for the dragon's unnatural shriek as
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The Fall of the House of Usher
described by the romancer。
Oppressed； as I certainly was； upon the occurrence of the second and
most extraordinary coincidence； by a thousand conflicting sensations； in
which wonder and extreme terror were predominant； I still retained
sufficient presence of mind to avoid exciting； by any observation； the
sensitive nervousness of my companion。 I was by no means certain that he
had noticed the sounds in question； although； assuredly； a strange
alteration had； during the last few minutes； taken place in his demeanour。
From a position fronting my own； he had gradually brought round his
chair； so as to sit with his face to the door of the chamber； and thus I could
but partially perceive his features； although I saw that his lips trembled as
if he were murmuring inaudibly。 His head had dropped upon his breast
yet I knew that he was not asleep； from the wide and rigid opening of the
eye as I caught a glance of it in profile。 The motion of his body； too； was at
variance with this ideafor he rocked from side to side with a gentle yet
constant and uniform sway。 Having rapidly taken notice of all this； I
resumed the narrative of Sir Launcelot； which thus proceeded：
〃And now； the champion； having escaped from the terrible fury of the
dragon； bethinking himself of the brazen shield； and of the breaking up of
the enchantment which was upon it； removed the carcass from out of the
way before him； and approached valorously over the silver pavement of
the castle to where the shield was upon the wall； which in sooth tarried not
for his full coming； but fell down at his feet upon the silver floor； with a
mighty great and terrible ringing sound。〃
No sooner had these syllables passed my lips； thanas if a shield of
brass had indeed； at the moment； fallen heavily upon a floor of silverI
became aware of a distinct； hollow； metallic； and clangorous； yet
apparently muffled reverberation。 Completely unnerved； I leaped to my
feet； but the measured rocking movement of Usher was undisturbed。 I
rushed to the chair in which he sat。 His eyes were bent fixedly before him；
and throughout his whole countenance there reigned a stony rigidity。 But；
as I placed my hand upon his shoulder； there came a strong shudder over
his whole person； a sickly smile quivered about his lips； and I saw that he
spoke in a low； hurried； and gibbering murmur； as if unconscious of my
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presence。 Bending closely over him； I at length drank in the hideous
import of his words。
〃Not hear it？yes； I hear it； and have heard it。 Long… …longlong
many minutes； many hours； many days； have I heard ityet I dared not
oh； pity me； miserable wretch that I am！I dared notI dared not speak！
We have put her living in the tomb！ Said I not that my senses were acute？
I now tell you that I heard her first feeble movements in the hollow coffin。
I heard themmany； many days agoyet I dared notI dared not speak！
And nowto…nightEthelredha！ ha！the breaking of the hermit's door；
and the death…cry of the dragon； and the clangour of the shield！say； rather；
the rending of her coffin； and the grating of the iron hinges of her prison；
and her struggles within the coppered archway of the vault！ Oh whither
shall I fly？ Will she not be here anon？ Is she not hurrying to upbraid me
for my haste？ Have I not heard her footsteps on the stair？ Do I not
distinguish that heavy and horrible beating of her heart？ Madman！〃 here
he sprang furiously to his feet； and shrieked out his syllables； as if in the
effort he were giving up his soul〃Madman！ I tell you that she now stands
without the door！〃
As if in the superhuman energy of his utterance there had been found
the potency of a spellthe huge antique panels to which the speaker
pointed； threw slowly back； upon the instant； their ponderous and ebony
jaws。 It was the work of the rushing gustbut then without those doors
there DID stand the lofty and enshrouded figure of the lady Madeline of
Usher。 There was blood upon her white robes； and the evidence of some
bitter struggle upon every portion of her emaciated frame。 For a moment
she remained trembling and reeling to and fro upon the threshold； then；
with a low moaning cry； fell heavily inward upon the person of her brother；
and in her violent and now final death…agonies； bore him to the floor a
corpse； and a victim to the terrors he had anticipated。
From that chamber； and from that mansion； I fled aghast。 The storm
was still abroad in all its wrath as I found myself crossing the old
causeway。 Suddenly there shot along the path a wild light； and I turned to
see whence a gleam so unusual could have issued； for the vast house and
its shadows were alone behind me。 The radiance was that of the full；
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setting； and blood…red moon which now shone vividly through that once
barely…discernible fissure of which I have before spoken as extending from
the roof of the building； in a zigzag direction； to the base。 While I gazed；
this fissure rapidly widenedthere came a fierce breath of the whirlwind
the entire orb of the satellite burst at once upon my sightmy brain reeled
as I saw the mighty walls rushing asunderthere was a long tumultuous
shouting sound like the voice of a thousand watersand the deep and dank
tarn at my feet closed sullenly and silently over the fragments of the
〃House of Usher〃。
* Watson； Dr Percival； Spallanzani； and especially the Bishop of
Landaff。
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