The Banshee

seems that Lady Fanshawe experienced this haunting when on a visit to Lady Honora O'Brien, daughter of Henry, fifth Earl of Thomond,[4] wh

oman. The moonlight being very strong and fully focussed on it, she could see every feature with startling distinctness; but at the same time her attention was apparently riveted on the extraordinary pallor of the cheeks and the intense redness

during this disorder I was in, but at last was much surprised to find me in this fright, and more when I related the story and showed

y Fanshawe that a cousin of hers had died in the house at about two o'clock in the morn

explanation, "there is the shape of a woman appe

centuries before, had been seduced by the owner of the castle and murdered, her

way of apology, "I thought not

of armour, and feeling more than usually cheerful and fit, marched out of his castle at the head of a numerous body of his retainers, who were all, like their chief, in good spirits, and talking and singing gaily. They had not proceeded far, however, when a sudden and quite inexplicable silence ensued-a silence that was abruptly broken by a series of agonising screams, that seemed to come from just over their heads. Instantly everyone was sobered, and naturally looked up, expecting to see something that

ould, she could not sleep, when she was suddenly terrified by a succession of the most awful shrieks, coming, apparently, from just beneath her window, and which sounded like the cries of some woman in the direst trouble or pain. She looked, but as she instinctively felt would be the case, she could see no one. She then knew that she had heard the Banshee; and on the morrow her for

e moment at length arrived, when it was obvious that he could not possibly survive another twenty-four hours. At about noon, the room in which the patient lay was flooded with a stream of sunlight, which came pouring through the windows from the cloudless expanse of sky overhead. The weather, indeed, was so gorgeous that it seemed almost incredible that death could be hovering quite so near the house. One by one, members of the family stole into the chamber to take what each one felt might be a last look at the sick boy, whilst he was still alive. Presently the doctor arrived, and, as they were all discussing in h

the listeners exclaimed. "I've n

omeone else whispere

beloved patient, unnoticed by them, had passed out. Indeed, it seemed as if the boy's soul, with the last whispering notes of the dirge, had joined the beauti

a certain family that used to live there. According to my source of information the family

Michael did not stand very well in the graces of either of Norah's parents, but Terence liked him, and he was reputed to be rich-that is to say rich for that part of Irel

no sooner was her troth plighted than they both heard, just over their heads, a

eks later, however, Norah noticed a sudden change in her lover; he was colder and more distant, and, whilst he was with her, she invariably found him preoccupied. At last the blow fell. He failed to present himself at the house one evening, though he was expected as usu

ght before she died, however, that the Banshee paid her a second visit. She was lying on a couch in the parlour of the farmhouse, with her mother sitting beside her, when a noise was heard that soun

ed, immediately crossing herself, and,

thing but that tapping at the window and the w

ith her face buried in her hands, sobbing bitte

rough the night she could still be heard, every now and again, crying quietly and whispering to herself "'Twas the Banshee! B

y pathetic was once related to me in connection with

re of scolding. This, of course, may or may not have been true. It is certain that he was left very much to himself, and, all alone, in a big, empty room at the top of the house, was forced to amuse himself as he best could. Occasionally one of the servants, inspired by a fellow-feeling-for the lot of servants in those days, especially when serving under such severe and exacting mistresses as Mrs McGrath, was none too rosy-used to look in to see how he was getting on and bring him a toy, boug

o his bedroom to tidy himself, as he was wanted immediately i

t cross. She came and stood by the window and looked as if she wanted to

ve been dreaming as usual," Is

all screwed up on her head, but was hanging in curls on her shoulders. She had very white hands which were clasped in f

" Isa laughed again. "But come along,

ward, was in the drawing-room being introduced to a

tly after the marriage took place, he became subjected to the very strictest discipline. Morning and afternoon alike he was kept hard at his books, and any slowness or inability to master a lesson was treated as idle

the new regime, gave notice and left, and there was soon no one in

ks, and then a day came, when he really fel

g a wellnigh impossibility. It was in vain he pleaded, however; his entreaties were only taken for excuses; and, when, in an unguarded moment, he

m an hour or so afterwards, was greatly astonished at hearing him seemingly engaged in conversation. Peeping slyly in at the door, in order to find out wi

" she asked, "and wh

d round and, in tones of the

gone. You've frig

bbish!" Isa exclaimed. "Lie down a

y any serious heed to Isa's threat. "My green lady, and she told me I shou

to go to sleep at once, she speedily withdrew and we

ce, apparently proceeding from the hall. Greatly alarmed she got up, and, on opening her door, perceiv

her spake about it when I was a child. She sings, says he, more beauti

hy, we are all of us perfectly sound and well." As she spoke the singing

t time came, there was no David; and a hue and cry being raised and a thoroug