Here a most extraordinary apparition presented itself. It was in the act of coming forward from a distant part of the cave. On reaching about its centre, it halted. It either was, or from the lowness of the roof and strangeness of the light, it appeared to be, of gigantic stature; the very shadow which it[202] cast traversed the floor, and rose over the arched side, dilating and contracting as the blazes of the faggots moved; and throwing all behind it into the deepest gloom.

But tell me how you came to stand on the anchor?鈥� asked Mrs. Montgomery, I could not comprehend one half of what the papers said about it.鈥�

I never heard any thing so shocking!鈥� said the Admiral, in a tone of much feeling, for since the first ebullition of his wrath on being contradicted, he had become an interested listener;[159] that poor young man, brought up to fortune, rank, title, every thing, now thrown on the world, without a home, or even a name!鈥�