The lady looked up , and there was the withered woman smiling in her face . `` Couldst thou have thought there were such merry times in a mad-house ? '' inquired the latter . `` True , true ! '' said the lady to herself ; `` there is mirth within its walls , but misery , misery without . '' `` Wouldst thou hear more ? '' demanded the old woman . `` There is one other voice I would fain listen to again , '' replied the lady , faintly . `` Then lay down thy head speedily upon my knees , that thou mayst get thee hence before the hour be past . '' The golden skirts of day were yet lingering upon the hills , but deep shades obscured the hollow and the pool , as if sombre night wore rising thence to overspread the world . Again that evil woman began to weave her spell . Long did it proceed unanswered , till the knolling of a bell stole in among the intervals of her words like a clang that had travelled far over valley and rising ground and was just ready to die in the air . The lady shook upon her companion 's knees as she heard that boding sound . Stronger it grew , and sadder , and deepened into the tone of a death-bell , knolling dolefully from some ivy-mantled tower and bearing tidings of mortality and woe to the cottage , to the hall and to the solitary wayfarer , that all might weep for the doom appointed in turn to them . Then came a measured tread , passing slowly , slowly on , as of mourners with a coffin , their garments trailing on the ground , so that the ear could measure the length of their melancholy array . Before them went the priest , reading the burial-service , while the leaves of his book were rustling in the breeze . And though no voice but his was heard to speak aloud , still there were revilings and anathemas , whispered but distinct , from women and from men , breathed against the daughter who had wrung the aged hearts of her parents , the wife who had betrayed the trusting fondness of her husband , the mother who had sinned against natural affection and left her child to die . The sweeping sound of the funeral train faded away like a thin vapor , and the wind , that just before had seemed to shake the coffin-pall , moaned sadly round the verge of the hollow between three hills . But when the old woman stirred the kneeling lady , she lifted not her head . `` Here has been a sweet hour 's sport ! ''
XXXXX the withered crone , chuckling to herself .
appointed came deepened demanded grew knolling reading said shook travelled