Those next to whom it moved, seized with a secret dread, started back or on one side; and owing to their movements, the others, next to whom the white stranger now came, were terrified still more, so as to produce confusion in the funeral train.

Some of the military escort ventured to address the figure, and attempt to remove it from the procession, but it seemed to vanish from under their hands, and yet was immediately seen advancing again, with slow and solemn step, among the followers of the body.

At last, in consequence of the shrinking away of the attendants, it came close behind Bertalda.

It now moved so slowly, that the widow was not aware of its presence, and it walked meekly and humbly behind her undisturbed.
This continued until they came to the church-yard, where the procession formed a circle round the open grave.

Then it was that Bertalda perceived her unbidden companion, and, half in anger and half in terror, she commanded her to depart from the knight's place of final rest.