The Woodman
"Theresoon,however,appearedsomedrawbacks.Inthefirstplace,Millarcacomplainedofextremelanguor—theweaknessthatremainedafterherlateillness—andsheneveremergedfromherroomtilltheafternoonwasprettyfaradvanced.Inthenextplace,itwasaccidentallydiscovered,althoughshealwayslockedherdoorontheinside,andneverdisturbedthekeyfromitsplacetillsheadmittedthemaidtoassistathertoilet,thatshewasundoubtedlysometimesabsentfromherroomintheveryearlymorning,andatvarioustimeslaterintheday,beforeshewishedittobeunderstoodthatshewasstirring.Shewasrepeatedlyseenfromthewindowsoftheschloss,inthefirstfaintgreyofthemorning,walkingthroughthetrees,inaneasterlydirection,andlookinglikeapersoninatrance.Thisconvincedmethatshewalkedinhersleep.Butthishypothesisdidnotsolvethepuzzle.Howdidshepassoutfromherroom,leavingthedoorlockedontheinside?Howdidsheescapefromthehousewithoutunbarringdoororwindow?
"Inthemidstofmyperplexities,ananxietyofafarmoreurgentkindpresenteditself.
"Mydearchildbegantoloseherlooksandhealth,andthatinamannersomysterious,andevenhorrible,thatIbecamethoroughlyfrightened.
"Shewasatfirstvisitedbyappallingdreams;then,asshefancied,byaspecter,sometimesresemblingMillarca,sometimesintheshapeofabeast,indistinctlyseen,walkingroundthefootofherbed,fromsidetoside.
"Lastlycamesensations.