Падіння будинку Ашерів

           Noticingthesethings,Irodeoverashortcausewaytothehouse. Aservantinwaitingtookmyhorse,andIenteredtheGothicarchwayofthehall. Avalet,ofstealthystep,thenceconductedme,insilence,throughmanydarkandintricatepassagesinmyprogresstothestudioofhismaster. MuchthatIencounteredonthewaycontributed,Iknownothow,toheightenthevaguesentimentsofwhichIhavealreadyspoken. Whiletheobjectsaroundme—whilethecarvingsoftheceilings,thesombretapestriesofthewalls,theebonyblacknessofthefloors,andthephantasmagoricarmorialtrophieswhichrattledasIstrode,werebutmatterstowhich,ortosuchaswhich,Ihadbeenaccustomedfrommyinfancy—whileIhesitatednottoacknowledgehowfamiliarwasallthis—Istillwonderedtofindhowunfamiliarwerethefancieswhichordinaryimageswerestirringup. Ononeofthestaircases,Imetthephysicianofthefamily. Hiscountenance,Ithought,woreamingledexpressionoflowcunningandperplexity. Heaccostedmewithtrepidationandpassedon. Thevaletnowthrewopenadoorandusheredmeintothepresenceofhismaster. 

           TheroominwhichIfoundmyselfwasverylargeandlofty. Thewindowswerelong,narrow,andpointed,andatsovastadistancefromtheblackoakenfloorastobealtogetherinaccessiblefromwithin. Feeblegleamsofencrimsonedlightmadetheirwaythroughthetrellisedpanes,andservedtorendersufficientlydistinctthemoreprominentobjectsaround;theeye,however,struggledinvaintoreachtheremoteranglesofthechamber,ortherecessesofthevaultedandfrettedceiling.