WhenUrfriedhadwithclamoursandmenacesdrivenRebeccabacktotheapartmentfromwhichshehadsallied，sheproceededtoconducttheunwillingCedricintoasmallapartment，thedoorofwhichsheheedfullysecured。Thenfetchingfromacupboardastoupofwineandtwoflagons，sheplacedthemonthetable，andsaidinatoneratherassertingafactthanaskingaquestion，``ThouartSaxon，father——Denyitnot，’’shecontinued，observingthatCedrichastenednottoreply；``thesoundsofmynativelanguagearesweettomineears，thoughseldomheardsavefromthetonguesofthewretchedanddegradedserfsonwhomtheproudNormansimposethemeanestdrudgeryofthisdwelling。ThouartaSaxon，father——aSaxon，and，saveasthouartaservantofGod，afreeman——
　　Thineaccentsaresweetinmineear。’’
　　``DonotSaxonpriestsvisitthiscastle，then?’’
　　repliedCedric；``itwere，methinks，theirdutytocomforttheoutcastandoppressedchildrenofthesoil。’’
　　``Theycomenot——oriftheycome，theybetterlovetorevelattheboardsoftheirconquerors，’’
　　answeredUrfried，``thantohearthegroansoftheircountrymen——so，atleast，reportspeaksofthem——
　　ofmyselfIcansaylittle。Thiscastle，fortenyears，hasopenedtonopriestsavethedebauchedNormanchaplainwhopartookthenightlyrevelsofFront-de-Buf，andhehasbeenlonggonetorenderanaccountofhisstewardship——ButthouartaSaxon——aSaxonpriest，andIhaveonequestiontoaskofthee。’’
　　``IamaSaxon，’’answeredCedric，``butunworthy，surely，ofthenameofpriest。Letmebegoneonmyway——IswearIwillreturn，orsendoneofourfathersmoreworthytohearyourconfession。’’
　　``Stayyetawhile，’’saidUrfried；``theaccentsofthevoicewhichthouhearestnowwillsoonbechokedwiththecoldearth，andIwouldnotdescendtoitlikethebeastIhavelived。Butwinemustgivemestrengthtotellthehorrorsofmytale。’’Shepouredoutacup，anddrankitwithafrightfulavidity，whichseemeddesirousofdrainingthelastdropinthegoblet。``Itstupifies，’’shesaid，lookingupwardsasshefinishedherdrought，``butitcannotcheer——Partakeit，father，ifyouwouldhearmytalewithoutsinkingdownuponthepavement。’’Cedricwouldhaveavoidedpledgingherinthisominousconviviality，butthesignwhichshemadetohimexpressedimpatienceanddespair。
　　Hecompliedwithherrequest，andansweredherchallengeinalargewine-cup；shethenproceededwithherstory，asifappeasedbyhiscomplaisance。
　　``Iwasnotborn，’’shesaid，``father，thewretchthatthounowseestme。Iwasfree，washappy，washonoured，loved，andwasbeloved。Iamnowaslave，miserableanddegraded——thesportofmymasters’passionswhileIhadyetbeauty——theobjectoftheircontempt，scorn，andhatred，sinceithaspassedaway。Dostthouwonder，father，thatIshouldhatemankind，and，aboveall，theracethathaswroughtthischangeinme?Canthewrinkleddecrepithagbeforethee，whosewrathmustventitselfinimpotentcurses，forgetshewasoncethedaughterofthenobleThaneofTorquilstone，beforewhosefrownathousandvassalstrembled?’’
　　``ThouthedaughterofTorquilWolfganger！’’
　　saidCedric，recedingashespoke；``thou——thou——
　　thedaughterofthatnobleSaxon，myfather’sfriendandcompanioninarms！’’
　　``Thyfather’sfriend！’’echoedUrfried；``thenCedriccalledtheSaxonstandsbeforeme，forthenobleHerewardofRotherwoodhadbutoneson，whosenameiswellknownamonghiscountrymen。
　　ButifthouartCedricofRotherwood，whythisreligiousdress?——hastthoutoodespairedofsavingthycountry，andsoughtrefugefromoppressionintheshadeoftheconvent?’’
　　``ItmattersnotwhoIam，’’saidCedric；``proceed，unhappywoman，withthytaleofhorrorandguilt！——Guilttheremustbe——thereisguilteveninthylivingtotellit。’’
　　``Thereis——thereis，’’answeredthewretchedwoman，``deep，black，damningguilt，——guilt，thatlieslikealoadatmybreast——guilt，thatallthepenitentialfiresofhereaftercannotcleanse——Yes，inthesehalls，stainedwiththenobleandpurebloodofmyfatherandmybrethren——intheseveryhalls，tohavelivedtheparamouroftheirmurderer，theslaveatonceandthepartakerofhispleasures，wastorendereverybreathwhichIdrewofvitalair，acrimeandacurse。’’
　　``Wretchedwoman！’’exclaimedCedric。``Andwhilethefriendsofthyfather——whileeachtrueSaxonheart，asitbreathedarequiemforhissoul，andthoseofhisvaliantsons，forgotnotintheirprayersthemurderedUlrica——whileallmournedandhonouredthedead，thouhastlivedtomeritourhateandexecration——livedtounitethyselfwiththeviletyrantwhomurderedthynearestanddearest——whoshedthebloodofinfancy，ratherthanamaleofthenoblehouseofTorquilWolfgangershouldsurvive——withhimhastthoulivedtounitethyself，andinthehandsoflawlesslove！’’
　　``Inlawlesshands，indeed，butnotinthoseoflove！’’answeredthehag；``lovewillsoonervisittheregionsofeternaldoom，thanthoseunhallowedvaults——No，withthatatleastIcannotreproachmyself——hatredtoFront-de-Bufandhisracegovernedmysoulmostdeeply，eveninthehourofhisguiltyendearments。’’
　　``Youhatedhim，andyetyoulived，’’repliedCedric；``wretch！wastherenoponiard——noknife——nobodkin！——Wellwasitforthee，sincethoudidstprizesuchanexistence，thatthesecretsofaNormancastlearelikethoseofthegrave。ForhadIbutdreamedofthedaughterofTorquillivinginfoulcommunionwiththemurdererofherfather，theswordofatrueSaxonhadfoundtheeouteveninthearmsofthyparamour！’’
　　``WouldstthouindeedhavedonethisjusticetothenameofTorquil?’’saidUlrica，forwemaynowlayasideherassumednameofUrfried；``thouartthenthetrueSaxonreportspeaksthee！forevenwithintheseaccursedwalls，where，asthouwellsayest，guiltshroudsitselfininscrutablemystery，eventherehasthenameofCedricbeensounded——
　　andI，wretchedanddegraded，haverejoicedtothinkthatthereyetbreathedanavengerofourunhappynation——Ialsohavehadmyhoursofvengeance——
　　Ihavefomentedthequarrelsofourfoes，andheateddrunkenrevelryintomurderousbroil——Ihaveseentheirbloodflow——Ihaveheardtheirdyinggroans！——Lookonme，Cedric——aretherenotstillleftonthisfoulandfadedfacesometracesofthefeaturesofTorquil?’’
　　``Askmenotofthem，Ulrica，’’repliedCedric，inatoneofgriefmixedwithabhorrence；``thesetracesformsucharesemblanceasarisesfromthegravesofthedead，whenafiendhasanimatedthelifelesscorpse。’’
　　``Beitso，’’answeredUlrica；``yetworethesefiendishfeaturesthemaskofaspiritoflightwhentheywereabletosetatvariancetheelderFront-de-BufandhissonReginald！Thedarknessofhellshouldhidewhatfollowed，butrevengemustlifttheveil，anddarklyintimatewhatitwouldraisethedeadtospeakaloud。Longhadthesmoulderingfireofdiscordglowedbetweenthetyrantfatherandhissavageson——longhadInursed，insecret，theunnaturalhatred——itblazedforthinanhourofdrunkenwassail，andathisownboardfellmyoppressorbythehandofhisownson——sucharethesecretsthesevaultsconceal！——Rendasunder，yeaccursedarches，’’sheadded，lookinguptowardstheroof，``andburyinyourfallallwhoareconsciousofthehideousmystery！’’
　　``Andthou，creatureofguiltandmisery，’’saidCedric，``whatbecamethylotonthedeathofthyravisher?’’
　　``Guessit，butaskitnot——Here——hereIdwelt，tillage，prematureage，hasstampeditsghastlyfeaturesonmycountenance——scornedandinsultedwhereIwasonceobeyed，andcompelledtoboundtherevengewhichhadoncesuchamplescope，totheeffortsofpettymaliceofadiscontentedmenial，orthevainorunheededcursesofanimpotenthag——condemnedtohearfrommylonelyturretthesoundsofrevelryinwhichIoncepartook，ortheshrieksandgroansofnewvictimsofoppression。’’
　　``Ulrica，’’saidCedric，``withaheartwhichstill，Ifear，regretsthelostrewardofthycrimes，asmuchasthedeedsbywhichthoudidstacquirethatmeed，howdidstthoudaretoaddresstheetoonewhowearsthisrobe?Consider，unhappywoman，whatcouldthesaintedEdwardhimselfdoforthee，werehehereinbodilypresence?TheroyalConfessorwasendowedbyheavenwithpowertocleansetheulcersofthebody，butonlyGodhimselfcancuretheleprosyofthesoul。’’
　　``Yet，turnnotfromme，sternprophetofwrath，’’
　　sheexclaimed，``buttellme，ifthoucanst，inwhatshallterminatethesenewandawfulfeelingsthatburstonmysolitude——Whydodeeds，longsincedone，risebeforemeinnewandirresistiblehorrors?
　　Whatfateispreparedbeyondthegraveforher，towhomGodhasassignedonearthalotofsuchunspeakablewretchedness?BetterhadIturntoWoden，Hertha，andZernebock——toMista，andtoSkogula，thegodsofouryetunbaptizedancestors，thanendurethedreadfulanticipationswhichhaveoflatehauntedmywakingandmysleepinghours！’’
　　``Iamnopriest，’’saidCedric，turningwithdisgustfromthismiserablepictureofguilt，wretchedness，anddespair；``Iamnopriest，thoughIwearapriest’sgarment。’’
　　``Priestorlayman，’’answeredUlrica，``thouartthefirstIhaveseenfortwentyyears，bywhomGodwasfearedormanregarded；anddostthoubidmedespair?’’
　　``Ibidtheerepent，’’saidCedric。``Seektoprayerandpenance，andmayestthoufindacceptance！
　　ButIcannot，Iwillnot，longerabidewiththee。’’
　　``Stayyetamoment！’’saidUlrica；``leavemenotnow，sonofmyfather’sfriend，lestthedemonwhohasgovernedmylifeshouldtemptmetoavengemyselfofthyhard-heartedscorn——Thinkestthou，ifFront-de-BuffoundCedrictheSaxoninhiscastle，insuchadisguise，thatthylifewouldbealongone?——Alreadyhiseyehasbeenupontheelikeafalcononhisprey。’’
　　``Andbeitso，’’saidCedric；``andlethimtearmewithbeakandtalons，eremytonguesayonewordwhichmyheartdothnotwarrant。IwilldieaSaxon——trueinword，openindeed——Ibidtheeavaunt！——touchmenot，staymenot！——ThesightofFront-de-Bufhimselfislessodioustomethanthou，degradedanddegenerateasthouart。’’
　　``Beitso，’’saidUlrica，nolongerinterruptinghim；``gothyway，andforget，intheinsolenceofthysuperority，thatthewretchbeforetheeisthedaughterofthyfather’sfriend——Gothyway——ifIamseparatedfrommankindbymysufferings——
　　separatedfromthosewhoseaidImightmostjustlyexpect——notlesswillIbeseparatedfromtheminmyrevenge！——Nomanshallaidme，buttheearsofallmenshalltingletohearofthedeedwhichI
　　shalldaretodo！——Farewell！——thyscornhasburstthelasttiewhichseemedyettounitemetomykind——athoughtthatmywoesmightclaimthecompassionofmypeople。’’
　　``Ulrica，’’saidCedric，softenedbythisappeal，``hastthouborneupandenduredtolivethroughsomuchguiltandsomuchmisery，andwiltthounowyieldtodespairwhenthineeyesareopenedtothycrimes，andwhenrepentancewerethyfitteroccupation?’’
　　``Cedric，’’answeredUlrica，``thoulittleknowestthehumanheart。ToactasIhaveacted，tothinkasIhavethought，requiresthemaddeningloveofpleasure，mingledwiththekeenappetiteofrevenge，theproudconsciousnessofpower；droughtstoointoxicatingforthehumanhearttobear，andyetretainthepowertoprevent。Theirforcehaslongpassedaway——Agehasnopleasures，wrinkleshavenoinfluence，revengeitselfdiesawayinimpotentcurses。Thencomesremorse，withallitsvipers，mixedwithvainregretsforthepast，anddespairforthefuture！——Then，whenallotherstrongimpulseshaveceased，webecomelikethefiendsinhell，whomayfeelremorse，butneverrepentance——
　　Butthywordshaveawakenedanewsoulwithinme——Wellhastthousaid，allispossibleforthosewhodaretodie！——Thouhastshownmethemeansofrevenge，andbeassuredIwillembracethem。Ithashithertosharedthiswastedbosomwithotherandwithrivalpassions——henceforwarditshallpossessmewholly，andthouthyselfshaltsay，that，whateverwasthelifeofUlrica，herdeathwellbecamethedaughterofthenobleTorquil。Thereisaforcewithoutbeleagueringthisaccursedcastle——hastentoleadthemtotheattack，andwhenthoushaltseearedflagwavefromtheturretontheeasternangleofthedonjon，presstheNormanshard——theywillthenhaveenoughtodowithin，andyoumaywinthewallinspitebothofbowandmangonel——Begone，Ipraythee——followthineownfate，andleavemetomine。’’