DURINGthewholeofadull，dark，andsoundlessdayintheautumnoftheyear，whenthecloudshungoppressivelylowintheheavens，I
　　hadbeenpassingalone，onhorseback，throughasingularlydrearytractofcountry；andatlengthfoundmyself，astheshadesoftheeveningdrewon，withinviewofthemelancholyHouseofUsher。I
　　knownothowitwas-but，withthefirstglimpseofthebuilding，asenseofinsufferablegloompervadedmyspirit。Isayinsufferable；
　　forthefeelingwasunrelievedbyanyofthathalf-pleasurable，becausepoetic，sentiment，withwhichthemindusuallyreceiveseventhesternestnaturalimagesofthedesolateorterrible。Ilookeduponthescenebeforeme-uponthemerehouse，andthesimplelandscapefeaturesofthedomain-uponthebleakwalls-uponthevacanteye-likewindows-uponafewranksedges-anduponafewwhitetrunksofdecayedtrees-withanutterdepressionofsoulwhichIcancomparetonoearthlysensationmoreproperlythantotheafter-dreamoftherevelleruponopium-thebitterlapseintoeverydaylife-thehideousdroppingoffoftheveil。Therewasaniciness，asinking，asickeningoftheheart-anunredeemeddrearinessofthoughtwhichnogoadingoftheimaginationcouldtortureintoaughtofthesublime。Whatwasit-Ipausedtothink-
　　whatwasitthatsounnervedmeinthecontemplationoftheHouseofUsher？Itwasamysteryallinsoluble；norcouldIgrapplewiththeshadowyfanciesthatcrowdeduponmeasIpondered。Iwasforcedtofallbackupontheunsatisfactoryconclusion，thatwhile，beyonddoubt，there_are_combinationsofverysimplenaturalobjectswhichhavethepowerofthusaffectingus，stilltheanalysisofthispowerliesamongconsiderationsbeyondourdepth。Itwaspossible，I
　　reflected，thatameredifferentarrangementoftheparticularsofthescene，ofthedetailsofthepicture，wouldbesufficienttomodify，orperhapstoannihilateitscapacityforsorrowfulimpression；and，actinguponthisidea，Ireinedmyhorsetotheprecipitousbrinkofablackandluridtarnthatlayinunruffledlustrebythedwelling，andgazeddown-butwithashudderevenmorethrillingthanbefore-upontheremodelledandinvertedimagesofthegraysedge，andtheghastlytree-stems，andthevacantandeye-likewindows。
　　Nevertheless，inthismansionofgloomInowproposedtomyselfasojournofsomeweeks。Itsproprietor，RoderickUsher，hadbeenoneofmybooncompanionsinboyhood；butmanyyearshadelapsedsinceourlastmeeting。Aletter，however，hadlatelyreachedmeinadistantpartofthecountry-aletterfromhim-which，initswildlyimportunatenature，hadadmittedofnootherthanapersonalreply。TheMS。gaveevidenceofnervousagitation。Thewriterspokeofacutebodilyillness-ofamentaldisorderwhichoppressedhim-andofanearnestdesiretoseeme，ashisbest，andindeedhisonlypersonalfriend，withaviewofattempting，bythecheerfulnessofmysociety，somealleviationofhismalady。Itwasthemannerinwhichallthis，andmuchmore，wassaid-itwastheapparent_heart_
　　thatwentwithhisrequest-whichallowedmenoroomforhesitation；
　　andIaccordinglyobeyedforthwithwhatIstillconsideredaverysingularsummons。
　　Although，asboys，wehadbeenevenintimateassociates，yetI
　　reallyknewlittleofmyfriend。Hisreservehadbeenalwaysexcessiveandhabitual。Iwasaware，however，thathisveryancientfamilyhadbeennoted，timeoutofmind，forapeculiarsensibilityoftemperament，displayingitself，throughlongages，inmanyworksofexaltedart，andmanifested，oflate，inrepeateddeedsofmunificentyetunobtrusivecharity，aswellasinapassionatedevotiontotheintricacies，perhapsevenmorethantotheorthodoxandeasilyrecognisablebeauties，ofmusicalscience。Ihadlearned，too，theveryremarkablefact，thatthestemoftheUsherrace，alltime-honoredasitwas，hadputforth，atnoperiod，anyenduringbranch；inotherwords，thattheentirefamilylayinthedirectlineofdescent，andhadalways，withverytriflingandverytemporaryvariation，solain。Itwasthisdeficiency，Iconsidered，whilerunningoverinthoughttheperfectkeepingofthecharacterofthepremiseswiththeaccreditedcharacterofthepeople，andwhilespeculatinguponthepossibleinfluencewhichtheone，inthelonglapseofcenturies，mighthaveexercisedupontheother-itwasthisdeficiency，perhaps，ofcollateralissue，andtheconsequentundeviatingtransmission，fromsiretoson，ofthepatrimonywiththename，whichhad，atlength，soidentifiedthetwoastomergetheoriginaltitleoftheestateinthequaintandequivocalappellationofthe“HouseofUsher“-anappellationwhichseemedtoinclude，inthemindsofthepeasantrywhousedit，boththefamilyandthefamilymansion。
　　Ihavesaidthatthesoleeffectofmysomewhatchildishexperiment-thatoflookingdownwithinthetarn-hadbeentodeepenthefirstsingularimpression。Therecanbenodoubtthattheconsciousnessoftherapidincreaseofmysuperstition-forwhyshouldInotsotermit？-servedmainlytoacceleratetheincreaseitself。Such，Ihavelongknown，istheparadoxicallawofallsentimentshavingterrorasabasis。Anditmighthavebeenforthisreasononly，that，whenIagainupliftedmyeyestothehouseitself，fromitsimageinthepool，theregrewinmymindastrangefancy-afancysoridiculous，indeed，thatIbutmentionittoshowthevividforceofthesensationswhichoppressedme。Ihadsoworkeduponmyimaginationasreallytobelievethataboutthewholemansionanddomaintherehunganatmospherepeculiartothemselvesandtheirimmediatevicinity-anatmospherewhichhadnoaffinitywiththeairofheaven，butwhichhadreekedupfromthedecayedtrees，andthegraywall，andthesilenttarn-apestilentandmysticvapor，dull，sluggish，faintlydiscernible，andleaden-hued。
　　Shakingofffrommyspiritwhat_must_havebeenadream，I
　　scannedmorenarrowlytherealaspectofthebuilding。Itsprincipalfeatureseemedtobethatofanexcessiveantiquity。Thediscolorationofageshadbeengreat。Minutefungioverspreadthewholeexterior，hanginginafinetangledweb-workfromtheeaves。
　　Yetallthiswasapartfromanyextraordinarydilapidation。Noportionofthemasonryhadfallen；andthereappearedtobeawildinconsistencybetweenitsstillperfectadaptationofparts，andthecrumblingconditionoftheindividualstones。Inthistherewasmuchthatremindedmeofthespecioustotalityofoldwood-workwhichhasrottedforlongyearsinsomeneglectedvault，withnodisturbancefromthebreathoftheexternalair。Beyondthisindicationofextensivedecay，however，thefabricgavelittletokenofinstability。Perhapstheeyeofascrutinizingobservermighthavediscoveredabarelyperceptiblefissure，which，extendingfromtheroofofthebuildinginfront，madeitswaydownthewallinazigzagdirection，untilitbecamelostinthesullenwatersofthetarn。
　　Noticingthesethings，Irodeoverashortcausewaytothehouse。
　　Aservantinwaitingtookmyhorse，andIenteredtheGothicarchwayofthehall。Avalet，ofstealthystep，thenceconductedme，insilence，throughmanydarkandintricatepassagesinmyprogresstothe_studio_ofhismaster。MuchthatIencounteredonthewaycontributed，Iknownothow，toheightenthevaguesentimentsofwhichIhavealreadyspoken。Whiletheobjectsaroundme-whilethecarvingsoftheceilings，thesombretapestriesofthewalls，theebonblacknessofthefloors，andthephantasmagoricarmorialtrophieswhichrattledasIstrode，werebutmatterstowhich，ortosuchaswhich，Ihadbeenaccustomedfrommyinfancy-whileI
　　hesitatednottoacknowledgehowfamiliarwasallthis-Istillwonderedtofindhowunfamiliarwerethefancieswhichordinaryimageswerestirringup。Ononeofthestaircases，Imetthephysicianofthefamily。Hiscountenance，Ithought，woreamingledexpressionoflowcunningandperplexity。Heaccostedmewithtrepidationandpassedon。Thevaletnowthrewopenadoorandusheredmeintothepresenceofhismaster。
　　TheroominwhichIfoundmyselfwasverylargeandlofty。Thewindowswerelong，narrow，andpointed，andatsovastadistancefromtheblackoakenfloorastobealtogetherinaccessiblefromwithin。Feeblegleamsofencrimsonedlightmadetheirwaythroughthetrellissedpanes，andservedtorendersufficientlydistinctthemoreprominentobjectsaround；theeye，however，struggledinvaintoreachtheremoteranglesofthechamber，ortherecessesofthevaultedandfrettedceiling。Darkdraperieshunguponthewalls。
　　Thegeneralfurniturewasprofuse，comfortless，antique，andtattered。Manybooksandmusicalinstrumentslayscatteredabout，butfailedtogiveanyvitalitytothescene。IfeltthatIbreathedanatmosphereofsorrow。Anairofstern，deep，andirredeemablegloomhungoverandpervadedall。
　　Uponmyentrance，Usherarosefromasofaonwhichhehadbeenlyingatfulllength，andgreetedmewithavivaciouswarmthwhichhadmuchinit，Iatfirstthought，ofanoverdonecordiality-oftheconstrainedeffortofthe_ennuy開；manoftheworld。Aglance，however，athiscountenance，convincedmeofhisperfectsincerity。
　　Wesatdown；andforsomemoments，whilehespokenot，Igazeduponhimwithafeelinghalfofpity，halfofawe。Surely，manhadneverbeforesoterriblyaltered，insobriefaperiod，ashadRoderickUsher！ItwaswithdifficultythatIcouldbringmyselftoadmittheidentityofthewanbeingbeforemewiththecompanionofmyearlyboyhood。Yetthecharacterofhisfacehadbeenatalltimesremarkable。Acadaverousnessofcomplexion；aneyelarge，liquid，andluminousbeyondcomparison；lipssomewhatthinandverypallid，butofasurpassinglybeautifulcurve；anoseofadelicateHebrewmodel，butwithabreadthofnostrilunusualinsimilarformations；
　　afinelymouldedchin，speaking，initswantofprominence，ofawantofmoralenergy；hairofamorethanweb-likesoftnessandtenuity；
　　thesefeatures，withaninordinateexpansionabovetheregionsofthetemple，madeupaltogetheracountenancenoteasilytobeforgotten。
　　Andnowinthemereexaggerationoftheprevailingcharacterofthesefeatures，andoftheexpressiontheywerewonttoconvey，laysomuchofchangethatIdoubtedtowhomIspoke。Thenowghastlypalloroftheskin，andthenowmiraculouslustreoftheeye，aboveallthingsstartledandevenawedme。Thesilkenhair，too，hadbeensufferedtogrowallunheeded，andas，initswildgossamertexture，itfloatedratherthanfellabouttheface，Icouldnot，evenwitheffort，connectitsArabesqueexpressionwithanyideaofsimplehumanity。
　　InthemannerofmyfriendIwasatoncestruckwithanincoherence-aninconsistency；andIsoonfoundthistoarisefromaseriesoffeebleandfutilestrugglestoovercomeanhabitualtrepidancy-anexcessivenervousagitation。ForsomethingofthisnatureIhadindeedbeenprepared，nolessbyhisletter，thanbyreminiscencesofcertainboyishtraits，andbyconclusionsdeducedfromhispeculiarphysicalconformationandtemperament。Hisactionwasalternatelyvivaciousandsullen。Hisvoicevariedrapidlyfromatremulousindecisionwhentheanimalspiritsseemedutterlyinabeyancetothatspeciesofenergeticconcision-thatabrupt，weighty，unhurried，andhollow-soundingenunciation-thatleaden，self-balancedandperfectlymodulatedgutturalutterance，whichmaybeobservedinthelostdrunkard，ortheirreclaimableeaterofopium，duringtheperiodsofhismostintenseexcitement。
　　Itwasthusthathespokeoftheobjectofmyvisit，ofhisearnestdesiretoseeme，andofthesolaceheexpectedmetoaffordhim。Heentered，atsomelength，intowhatheconceivedtobethenatureofhismalady。Itwas，hesaid，aconstitutionalandafamilyevil，andoneforwhichhedespairedtofindaremedy-amerenervousaffection，heimmediatelyadded，whichwouldundoubtedlysoonpassoff。Itdisplayeditselfinahostofunnaturalsensations。
　　Someofthese，ashedetailedthem，interestedandbewilderedme；
　　although，perhaps，theterms，andthegeneralmannerofthenarrationhadtheirweight。Hesufferedmuchfromamorbidacutenessofthesenses；themostinsipidfoodwasaloneendurable；hecouldwearonlygarmentsofcertaintexture；theodorsofallflowerswereoppressive；hiseyesweretorturedbyevenafaintlight；andtherewerebutpeculiarsounds，andthesefromstringedinstruments，whichdidnotinspirehimwithhorror。
　　ToananomalousspeciesofterrorIfoundhimaboundenslave。
　　“Ishallperish。”saidhe，“Imustperishinthisdeplorablefolly。
　　Thus，thus，andnototherwise，shallIbelost。Idreadtheeventsofthefuture，notinthemselves，butintheirresults。Ishudderatthethoughtofany，eventhemosttrivial，incident，whichmayoperateuponthisintolerableagitationofsoul。Ihave，indeed，noabhorrenceofdanger，exceptinitsabsoluteeffect-interror。Inthisunnerved-inthispitiablecondition-IfeelthattheperiodwillsoonerorlaterarrivewhenImustabandonlifeandreasontogether，insomestrugglewiththegrimphantasm，FEAR。”
　　Ilearned，moreover，atintervals，andthroughbrokenandequivocalhints，anothersingularfeatureofhismentalcondition。Hewasenchainedbycertainsuperstitiousimpressionsinregardtothedwellingwhichhetenanted，andwhence，formanyyears，hehadneverventuredforth-inregardtoaninfluencewhosesupposititiousforcewasconveyedintermstooshadowyheretobere-stated-aninfluencewhichsomepeculiaritiesinthemereformandsubstanceofhisfamilymansion，had，bydintoflongsufferance，hesaid，obtainedoverhisspirit-aneffectwhichthe_physique_ofthegraywallsandturrets，andofthedimtarnintowhichtheyalllookeddown，had，atlength，broughtaboutuponthe_morale_ofhisexistence。