Headmitted，however，althoughwithhesitation，thatmuchofthepeculiargloomwhichthusafflictedhimcouldbetracedtoamorenaturalandfarmorepalpableorigin-tothesevereandlong-continuedillness-indeedtotheevidentlyapproachingdissolution-ofatenderlybelovedsister-hissolecompanionforlongyears-hislastandonlyrelativeonearth。“Herdecease。”hesaid，withabitternesswhichIcanneverforget，“wouldleavehimhimthehopelessandthefrailthelastoftheancientraceoftheUshers。”Whilehespoke，theladyMadelineforsowasshecalled
passedslowlythrougharemoteportionoftheapartment，and，withouthavingnoticedmypresence，disappeared。Iregardedherwithanutterastonishmentnotunmingledwithdread-andyetIfounditimpossibletoaccountforsuchfeelings。Asensationofstuporoppressedme，asmyeyesfollowedherretreatingsteps。Whenadoor，atlength，closeduponher，myglancesoughtinstinctivelyandeagerlythecountenanceofthebrother-buthehadburiedhisfaceinhishands，andIcouldonlyperceivethatafarmorethanordinarywannesshadoverspreadtheemaciatedfingersthroughwhichtrickledmanypassionatetears。
ThediseaseoftheladyMadelinehadlongbaffledtheskillofherphysicians。Asettledapathy，agradualwastingawayoftheperson，andfrequentalthoughtransientaffectionsofapartiallycatalepticalcharacter，weretheunusualdiagnosis。Hithertoshehadsteadilyborneupagainstthepressureofhermalady，andhadnotbetakenherselffinallytobed；but，ontheclosinginoftheeveningofmyarrivalatthehouse，shesuccumbedasherbrothertoldmeatnightwithinexpressibleagitationtotheprostratingpowerofthedestroyer；andIlearnedthattheglimpseIhadobtainedofherpersonwouldthusprobablybethelastIshouldobtain-thatthelady，atleastwhileliving，wouldbeseenbymenomore。
Forseveraldaysensuing，hernamewasunmentionedbyeitherUsherormyself：andduringthisperiodIwasbusiedinearnestendeavorstoalleviatethemelancholyofmyfriend。Wepaintedandreadtogether；orIlistened，asifinadream，tothewildimprovisationsofhisspeakingguitar。Andthus，asacloserandstillcloserintimacyadmittedmemoreunreservedlyintotherecessesofhisspirit，themorebitterlydidIperceivethefutilityofallattemptatcheeringamindfromwhichdarkness，asifaninherentpositivequality，pouredforthuponallobjectsofthemoralandphysicaluniverse，inoneunceasingradiationofgloom。
IshalleverbearaboutmeamemoryofthemanysolemnhoursI