'Oh! I am so frightened!' cried I.
'You will spend the night here, however,' said she; 'and your whole life too; for the ruffian who brought you hither was employed by Lady Gwyn to entrap you.'
When I heard this terrible sentence, my blood ran cold, and I began crying bitterly.
'Come, my love!' said my mother, 'and let me clasp thee to my heart once more!'
'For goodness sake!' cried I, 'spare me!'
'What!' exclaimed she, 'do you spurn my proffered embrace again?'
'Dear, no, madam,' answered I. 'But—but indeed now, you squeeze one so!'
My mother made a huge stride towards me; then stood groaning and rolling her eyes.
'Help!' cried I, half frantic, 'help! help!'
I was stopped by a suppressed titter of infernal laughter, as if from many demons; and on looking towards the black curtain, whence the sound came, I saw it agitated; while about twenty terrific faces appeared peeping through slits in it, and making grins of a most diabolical nature. I hid my face with my hands.