Падіння будинку Ашерів

           Iwasbynomeanscertainthathehadnoticedthesoundsinquestion;although,assuredly,astrangealterationhad,duringthelastfewminutes,takenplaceinhisdemeanor. Fromapositionfrontingmyown,hehadgraduallybroughtroundhischair,soastositwithhisfacetothedoorofthechamber;andthusIcouldbutpartiallyperceivehisfeatures,althoughIsawthathislipstrembledasifheweremurmuringinaudibly. Hisheadhaddroppeduponhisbreast—yetIknewthathewasnotasleep,fromthewideandrigidopeningoftheeyeasIcaughtaglanceofitinprofile. Themotionofhisbody,too,wasatvariancewiththisidea—forherockedfromsidetosidewithagentleyetconstantanduniformsway. Havingrapidlytakennoticeofallthis,IresumedthenarrativeofSirLauncelot,whichthusproceeded: 

           “Andnow,thechampion,havingescapedfromtheterriblefuryofthedragon,bethinkinghimselfofthebrazenshield,andofthebreakingupoftheenchantmentwhichwasuponit,removedthecarcassfromoutofthewaybeforehim,andapproachedvalorouslyoverthesilverpavementofthecastletowheretheshieldwasuponthewall; whichinsoothtarriednotforhisfullcoming,butfelldownathisfeetuponthesilverfloor,withamightygreatandterribleringingsound.” 

           Nosoonerhadthesesyllablespassedmylips,than—asifashieldofbrasshadindeed,atthemoment,fallenheavilyuponafloorofsilver—Ibecameawareofadistinct,hollow,metallic,andclangorous,yetapparentlymuffled,reverberation.