Here occurred a singular exemplification of the dreamy state of a very old man 's mind . As they ascended the wide flight of stairs the aged clergyman appeared to move with caution , occasionally standing aside , and oftener bending his head , as it were in salutation , thus practising all the gestures of one who makes his way through a throng . Reaching the head of the staircase , he looked around with sad and solemn benignity , laid aside his staff , bared his hoary locks , and was evidently on the point of commencing a prayer . `` Reverend sir , '' said his attendant , who conceived this a very suitable prelude to their further search , `` would it not be well that the people join with us in prayer ? '' `` Well-a-day ! '' cried the old clergyman , staring strangely around him . `` Art thou here with me , and none other ? Verily , past times were present to me , and I deemed that I was to make a funeral prayer , as many a time heretofore , from the head of this staircase . Of a truth , I saw the shades of many that are gone . Yea , I have prayed at their burials , one after another , and the Old Maid in the Winding-Sheet hath seen them to their graves . '' Being now more thoroughly awake to their present purpose , he took his staff and struck forcibly on the floor , till there came an echo from each deserted chamber , but no menial to answer their summons . They therefore walked along the passage , and again paused , opposite to the great front window , through which was seen the crowd in the shadow and partial moonlight of the street beneath . On their right hand was the open door of a chamber , and a closed one on their left . The clergyman pointed his cane to the carved oak panel of the latter . `` Within that chamber , '' observed he , `` a whole lifetime since , did I sit by the death-bed of a goodly young man who , being now at the last gasp -- '' Apparently , there was some powerful excitement in the ideas which had now flashed across his mind . He snatched the torch from his companion 's hand , and threw open the door with such sudden violence that the flame was extinguished , leaving them no other light than the moonbeams which fell through two windows into the spacious chamber . It was sufficient to discover all that could be known . In a high-backed oaken arm-chair , upright , with her hands clasped across her breast and her head thrown back , sat the Old Maid in the Winding-Sheet . The stately dame had fallen on her knees with her forehead on the holy knees of the Old Maid , one hand upon the floor and the other pressed convulsively against her heart . It clutched a lock of hair -- once sable , now discolored with a greenish mould .
As the priest and layman advanced into the chamber the Old XXXXX 's features assumed such a semblance of shifting expression that they trusted to hear the whole mystery explained by a single word .
Maid Reverend Winding-Sheet arm-chair benignity burials left moonbeams right violence