Wieland's Maddness by Charles Brockden Brown
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emotion that enfeebles, not invigorates . all my meditations were accompanied with wonder .I rambled with vagueness, or clung to one image with an obstinacy which sufficiently testified the maddening influence of late transactions .

gradually I proceeded to reflect upon_the consequences of Pleyel's mistake, and on_the measures i_should take to guard myself against future injury from Carwin . should I suffer this mistake to_be detected by time ? when his passion should subside, would he not perceive the flagrancy of_his injustice and hasten to atone for_it ? did it not become my character to testify resentment for language and treatment so opprobrious ? wrapped up in_the consciousness of innocence, and confiding in_the influence of_time and reflection to confute so groundless a charge, it_was my province to_be passive and silent .

as_to_the violences meditated by Carwin, and_the means of eluding them, the path to_be taken by me was obvious .I resolved to_tell the tale to my brother and regulate myself by his advice . for_this end, when_the morning was somewhat advanced, i_took the way to_his house . my sister was engaged in her customary occupations . as_soon_as I appeared, she remarked a change in my looks . i_was not willing to alarm her by_the information which I had to communicate . her health was in_that condition which rendered a disastrous tale particularly unsuitable .I forbore a direct answer to her inquiries, and inquired, in my turn, for Wieland .

" why," said she, "I suspect something mysterious and unpleasant has happened this_morning . scarcely had we risen when Pleyel dropped among us . what could_have prompted him to_make us so early and so unseasonable a visit I_cannot tell . to judge from_the disorder of_his dress, and_his countenance, something of an extraordinary nature has occurred . he permitted me merely to_know that he had slept none, nor even undressed, during_the_past night . he_took your brother to walk with_him . some topic must_have deeply engaged them, for Wieland did_not return till the breakfast hour was passed, and returned alone . his disturbance was excessive; but he_would_not listen to my importunities, or tell me what had happened .I gathered, from hints which he let fall, that your situation was in some way the cause; yet he assured me that you were at your own house, alive, in good health, and in perfect safety . he scarcely ate a morsel, and immediately after breakfast went out again . he_would_not inform me whither he_was going, but mentioned that he probably might_not return before night ."

i_was equally astonished and alarmed by this_information .Pleyel had told his tale to my brother, and had, by a plausible and exaggerated picture, instilled into him unfavorable thoughts of me . yet would_not the more correct judgment of Wieland perceive and expose the fallacy of_his conclusions ? perhaps his uneasiness might arise from some insight into_the character of Carwin, and from apprehensions for_my safety . the appearances by_which Pleyel had_been misled might induce him likewise to_believe that I entertained an indiscreet though not dishonorable affection for Carwin . such were the conjectures rapidly formed . i_was inexpressibly anxious to_change them into certainty . for_this end an interview with my brother was desirable . he_was gone no one knew whither, and was not expected speedily to return .I had no clew by_which to trace his footsteps .

my anxieties could_not_be concealed from my sister . they heightened her solicitude to_be acquainted with_the cause . there were many reasons persuading me to silence; at_least, till I had seen my brother, it would_be an act of inexcusable temerity to unfold what had lately passed . no other expedient for eluding her importunities occurred to_me but that of returning to my own house .I recollected my determination to_become a tenant of_this roof .I mentioned it to her . she joyfully acceded to_this proposal, and suffered me with less reluctance to depart when i_told her that_it_was with a view to collect and send to my new dwelling what articles would_be immediately useful to_me .

once more I returned to_the house which had_been the scene of so_much turbulence and danger . i_was at no great distance from_it when I observed my brother coming out . on seeing me he stopped, and, after ascertaining, as it seemed, which_way i_was going, he returned into_the house before me .I sincerely rejoiced at_this event, and I hastened to set things, if possible, on their right footing .

his brow was by no means expressive of_those vehement emotions with_which Pleyel had_been agitated .I drew a favorable omen from_this circumstance . without delay I began the conversation .

" I_have_been to look for_you," said I, " but was told by Catharine that Pleyel had engaged you on some important and disagreeable affair . before his interview with_you he spent a few_minutes with me . these minutes he employed in upbraiding me for crimes and intentions with_which I_am by no means chargeable .I believe him to_have taken up his opinions on very insufficient grounds . his behavior was in_the highest degree precipitate and unjust, and, until I receive some atonement, I_shall treat him, in my turn, with_that contempt which he justly merits; meanwhile, I_am fearful that he has prejudiced my brother against me . that_is an evil which I most anxiously deprecate, and which I_shall indeed exert myself to remove . has he_made me the subject of this_morning's conversation ? "

my brother's countenance testified no surprise at my address . the benignity of_his looks was nowise diminished .

" it_is true," said he, " your conduct was_the subject of_our discourse . I_am your friend as_well as_your brother . there_is no human being whom I love with more tenderness and whose welfare is nearer my heart . judge, then, with what emotions I listened to Pleyel's story .I expect and desire you to vindicate yourself from aspersions so foul, if vindication be possible ."

the tone with_which he uttered the last words affected me deeply ." if vindication be possible ! " repeated I ." from what you_know, do_you deem a formal vindication necessary ? can_you harbor for a moment the belief of_my guilt ? "

he shook his head with an air of acute anguish ." I_have struggled," said he, " to dismiss that belief . you speak before a judge who_will profit by any pretense to acquit you who_is ready to question his own senses when_they plead against you ."

these words incited a new set of thoughts in my mind .I began to suspect that Pleyel had built his accusations on some foundation unknown to_me ." I_may_be a stranger to_the grounds of your belief .Pleyel loaded me with indecent and virulent invectives, but he withheld from me the facts that generated his suspicions .Events took place last night of_which some_of_the circumstances were of an ambiguous nature .I conceived that_these might possibly have fallen under his cognizance, and_that, viewed through_the mists of prejudice and passion, they supplied a pretense for_his conduct, but believed that your more unbiased judgment would estimate them at their just value . perhaps his tale has_been different from what I suspect it to_be . listen, then, to my narrative . if there be anything in_his story inconsistent with mine, his story is false ."

I then proceeded to a circumstantial relation of_the incidents of_the last night .Wieland listened with deep attention .Having finished, " this," continued I, " is_the truth . you_see in what circumstances an interview took place between Carwin and me . he remained for hours in my closet, and for some minutes in my chamber . he departed without haste or interruption . if Pleyel marked him as he left the house, ( and it_is_not impossible that he_did,) inferences injurious to my character might suggest themselves to him . in admitting them, he_gave proofs of less discernment and less candor than I once ascribed to him ."

" his proofs," said Wieland, after a considerable pause, " are different . that he_should_be deceived is_not possible . that he himself is_not the deceiver could_not_be believed, if his testimony were_not inconsistent with yours; but the doubts which I entertained are now removed . your tale, some parts of it, is marvelous; the voice which exclaimed against your rashness in approaching the closet, your persisting, notwithstanding that prohibition, your belief that I was_the ruffian, and your subsequent conduct, are believed by me, because I_have known you from childhood, because a thousand instances have attested your veracity, and because nothing less_than my own hearing and vision would convince me, in opposition to her own assertions, that my sister had fallen into wickedness like this ."

I threw my arms around him and bathed his cheek with my tears ." that," said I, " is spoken like my brother . but what_are the proofs ? "

he replied, "Pleyel informed me that, in going to your house, his attention was attracted by two voices . the persons speaking sat beneath the bank, out of sight . these persons, judging by their voices, were Carwin and you . i_will_not repeat the dialogue . if_my sister was_the female, Pleyel was justified in concluding you to_be indeed one_of_the_most profligate of women . hence his accusations of you, and_his efforts to obtain my concurrence to a plan by_which an eternal separation should_be brought about between my sister and this man ."

I_made Wieland repeat this recital . here indeed was a tale to_fill me with terrible foreboding .I had vainly thought that my safety could_be sufficiently secured by doors and bars, but this_is a foe from whose grasp no power of divinity can save me ! his artifices will ever lay my fame and happiness at his mercy . how shall I counterwork his plots or detect his coadjutor ? he has taught some vile and abandoned female to mimic my voice .Pleyel's ears were the witnesses of_my dishonor . this_is_the midnight assignation to_which he alluded . thus is_the silence he maintained when attempting to open the door of_my chamber, accounted for . he supposed me absent, and meant, perhaps, had my apartment been accessible, to leave in_it some accusing memorial .

second part

I

[ as_this part opens, the unhappy Clara is describing her hurried return to_the same ill- fated abode at Mettingen . hence kind friends had borne her after_the catastrophe of her brother Wieland's " transformation ." this_was the crowning horror of all: the morbid fanatic, prepared by gloomy anticipations of some terrible sacrifice to_be demanded in_the name of religion, had found himself goaded to blind fury, by a mysterious compelling voice, to yield up_to god the lives of_his beloved wife and family; and had done the awful deed !

though chained in_his madhouse, he persists in_his delusion; insists that_it still remains for him to sacrifice his sister Clara; and twice breaks away in wild efforts to_find and destroy her .]

i_took an irregular path which led me to my own house . all was vacant and forlorn .a small enclosure near which the path led was_the burying ground belonging to_the family . this i_was obliged to_pass . once I had intended to enter it, and ponder on_the emblems and inscriptions which my uncle had caused to_be made on_the tombs of Catharine and her children; but now my heart faltered as I approached, and I hastened forward that distance might conceal it from my view .

when I approached the recess, my heart again sunk .I averted my eyes, and left it behind me as quickly as possible . silence reigned through my habitation, and a darkness which closed doors and shutters produced . every object was connected with mine or my brother's history .I passed the entry, mounted the stair, and unlocked the door of_my chamber . it_was with difficulty that I curbed my fancy and smothered my fears . slight movements and casual sounds were transformed into beckoning shadows and calling shapes .

I proceeded to_the closet .I opened and looked round it with fearfulness . all things were in their accustomed order .I sought and found the manuscript where i_was used to deposit it . this being secured, there_was nothing to detain me; yet I stood and contemplated awhile the furniture and walls of_my chamber .I remembered how long this apartment had_been a sweet and tranquil asylum; I compared its former state with its present dreariness, and reflected that I now beheld it for_the_last time .

here it was_that the incomprehensible behavior of Carwin was witnessed; this the stage on_which that enemy of man showed himself for a moment unmasked . here the menaces of murder were wafted to my ear; and here these menaces were executed .

these thoughts had a tendency to_take from me my self- command . my feeble limbs refused to support me, and I sunk upon a chair . incoherent and half- articulate exclamations escaped my lips . the name of Carwin was uttered and eternal woes--woes like that which his malice had entailed upon us-- were heaped upon him .I invoked all-seeing heaven to drag to light and punish this betrayer, and accused its Providence for having thus long delayed the retribution that was due to so enormous a guilt .

I_have said that_the window shutters were closed .a feeble light, however, found entrance through_the crevices .a small window illuminated the closet, and, the door being closed, a dim ray streamed through_the keyhole .a kind of twilight was thus created, sufficient for_the purposes of vision, but, at_the same time, involving all minuter objects in obscurity .

this darkness suited the color of_my thoughts .I sickened at_the remembrance of_the past .

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