The sounding river, which rolled forever,

Stood dumb and stagnant after.”

Just then a cloud swept over the noonday sun; a chill struck through the open window; the wind which blew in, fluttering the page, could not have been more dreary had it blown across a churchyard. Shivering, I continued to read:

It trembled on the grass

With a low, shadowy laughter;

And the wind did toll, as a passing soul

Were sped by church-bell after;

And shadows ’stead of light,

Fell from the stars above,

In flakes of darkness on her face