When I reached the bottom, no one was visible.

The moon-light was once more universal and brilliant, and yet, as far as I could see no human or moving figure was discernible.

If she had returned to the house, she must have used wondrous expedition to have passed already beyond the reach of my eye.
I exerted my voice, but in vain.

To my repeated exclamations, no answer was returned.
"Ruminating on these incidents, I returned hither.

There was no room to doubt that I had heard my wife's voice; attending incidents were not easily explained; but you now assure me that nothing extraordinary has happened to urge my return, and that my wife has not moved from her seat." Such was my brother's narrative.