All these noises deepened and became substantial to the listener 's ear , till she could distinguish every soft and dreamy accent of the love-songs that died causelessly into funeral-hymns . She shuddered at the unprovoked wrath which blazed up like the spontaneous kindling of flume , and she grew faint at the fearful merriment raging miserably around her . In the midst of this wild scene , where unbound passions jostled each other in a drunken career , there was one solemn voice of a man , and a manly and melodious voice it might once have been . He went to and fro continually , and his feet sounded upon the floor . In each member of that frenzied company whose own burning thoughts had become their exclusive world he sought an auditor for the story of his individual wrong , and interpreted their laughter and tears as his reward of scorn or pity . He spoke of woman 's perfidy , of a wife who had broken her holiest vows , of a home and heart made desolate . Even as he went on , the shout , the laugh , the shriek , the sob , rose up in unison , till they changed into the hollow , fitful and uneven sound of the wind as it fought among the pine trees on those three lonely hills . 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 XXXXX the cottage , to the hall and to the solitary wayfarer , that all might weep for the doom appointed in turn to them .
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