Have you never heard of a vampyre ?" Henry sighed deeply, and Marchdale was silent.
"I say a vampyre," added George, with much excitement in his manner.

"It is a fearful, a horrible supposition; but our poor, dear Flora has been visited by a vampyre, and I shall go completely mad!" He sat down, and covering his face with his hands, he wept bitterly and abundantly.
"George," said Henry, when he saw that the frantic grief had in some measure abated--"be calm, George, and endeavour to listen to me." "I hear, Henry." "Well, then, do not suppose that you are the only one in this house to whom so dreadful a superstition has occurred." "Not the only one ?" "No; it has occurred to Mr.Marchdale also." "Gracious Heaven!" "He mentioned it to me; but we have both agreed to repudiate it with horror." "To--repudiate--it ?" "Yes, George." "And yet--and yet--" "Hush, hush! I know what you would say.

You would tell us that our repudiation of it cannot affect the fact.

Of that we are aware; but yet will we disbelieve that which a belief in would be enough to drive us mad." "What do you intend to do ?" "To keep this supposition to ourselves, in the first place; to guard it most zealously from the ears of Flora." "Do you think she has ever heard of vampyres ?" "I never heard her mention that in all her reading she had gathered even a hint of such a fearful superstition.

If she has, we must be guided by circumstances, and do the best we can." "Pray Heaven she may not!" "Amen to that prayer, George," said Henry.