“I have had some experience in that way,” said she.  “Let me tell you a singular circumstance that happened to me in Rome.  An Italian girl named Rosa was in my employ for a long time, but was finally obliged to return to her mother, on account of confirmed ill-health.  We were mutually sorry to part, for we liked each other.  When I took my customary exercise on horseback, I frequently called to see her.  On one of these occasions, I found her brighter than I had seen her for some time past.  I had long relinquished hopes of her recovery, but there was nothing in her appearance that gave me the impression of immediate danger.  I left her with the expectation of calling to see her again many times.  During the remainder of the day I was busy in my studio, and I do not recollect that Rosa was in my thoughts after I parted from her.  I retired to rest in good health and in a quiet frame of mind.  But I woke from a sound sleep with an oppressive feeling that some one was in the room.  I wondered at the sensation, for it was entirely new to me; but in vain I tried to dispel it.  I peered beyond the curtain of my bed, but could distinguish no objects in the darkness.  Trying to gather up my thoughts, I soon reflected that the door was locked, and that I had put the key under my bolster.  I felt for it, and found it where I had placed it.  I said to myself that I had probably had some ugly dream, and had waked with a vague impression of it still on my mind.  Reasoning thus, I arranged myself comfortably for another nap.  I am habitually a good sleeper, and a stranger to fear; but, do what I would, the idea still haunted me that some one was in the room.  Finding it impossible to sleep, I longed for daylight to dawn, that I might rise and pursue my customary avocations.  It was not long before I was able dimly to distinguish the furniture in my room, and soon after I heard, in the apartments below, familiar noises of servants opening windows and doors.  An old clock, with ringing vibrations, proclaimed the hour.  I counted one, two, three, four, five, and resolved to rise immediately.  My bed was partially screened by a long curtain looped up at one side.  As I raised my head from the pillow, Rosa looked inside the curtain, and smiled at me.  The idea of anything supernatural did not occur to me.  I was simply surprised, and exclaimed, ’Why, Rosa!  How came you here, when you are so ill?’ In the old familiar tones, to which I was so much accustomed, a voice replied, ‘I am well, now.’  With no other thought than that of greeting her joyfully, I sprang out of bed.  There was no Rosa there!  I moved the curtain, thinking she might perhaps have playfully hidden herself behind its folds.  The same feeling induced me to look into the closet.  The sight of her had come so suddenly, that, in the first moment of surprise and bewilderment, I did not reflect that the door was locked.  When I became convinced there was no one in the room but myself, I recollected that fact, and thought I must have seen a vision.