Algernon Blackwood

“ All spirits are in the hands of God, and the violent ones more especially.” To which Edward made the extraordinary reply: “Even if father does not come himself he will⁠—send!” And Ernest agreed: “All this time he’s been making preparations for this very day. We’ve both known it for a long time⁠—by odd things that have happened, by our dreams, by nasty little dark hints of various kinds, and by these persistent attacks of terror that come from nowhere, especially of late. Haven’t we, Edward?” Edward assenting with a shudder. “Father has been at us of late with renewed violence. ”

“ Their self-respect weakened swiftly⁠ ⁠... and they persuaded their old friend, and once tutor, the vicar, to sit up with them till midnight⁠ ⁠... He had humoured them to that extent, willing to forgo his sleep, and at the same time more than a little interested in their singular belief⁠—that before the day was out, before midnight struck, that is, the curse of that terrible man would somehow come into operation against them. ”

“ Being a man of rigid self-control, however, it operated inwardly, and doubtless along some morbid line of weakness little suspected even by those nearest to him, preying upon his thought to such dreadful extent that finally the mind gave way. ”

“ Curtice, a robust man of fifty-five, and a firm believer in spiritual principalities and powers, dark as well as good, affected (for their own good) to regard the youths’ obsession with a kindly cynicism. ”