During the whole of a dark, cloudy day near the end of the year I had been【C1】______ my horse along country roads with little life or beauty.【C2】______ evening fell, I found myself within view of the House of Usher. I do not know why, but my first sight of it【C3】______ my heart heavy. I stopped my horse 【C4】______ the edge of the black and quiet lake that lay beside the building.【C5】______ down into the water , I saw a 【C6】______ of. the dark old house and the dying trees in it. There was something in that reflection that【C7】______ fear to my heart, though I could not tell what【C8】______ I looked up at the old house itself , which was made【C9】______ stone . None of the wall had fallen, but many stones 【C10】______ to be loose. There 【C11】______ to be a break in the front of the building, 【C12】 ______ down the wall 【C13】 ______ the top until it had lost in the dark water of the lake. I had come to visit a childhood friend, Roderick Usher. I【C14】______ him for many years, and I knew very 【C15】______ about him. But he had written me a letter,【C16】______ me to come. He was sick in body and in mind, ax he wanted to see me, his best and oldest friend. I could not refuse. But now, something about the house frightened me. TI room【C17】______ the friend met me was almost dark , but I could see that he had changed very much【C18】______ our last meeting many years ago. He looked iii, and there was a wild look in his eyes. He was nervous he would I active for a few moments and then suddenly he would be very quiet. He told me that he had a family illness which could n be cured. The worst part was his fear of everything. The light hurt his eyes, and even a small noise filled him 【C19】______ fear. Most of all he was afraid of【C20】______ . Fear had become part of his life, such as it was now. 【C1】