Youenterthegirl\'sroom;whatisthefirstthingyouobserve?Whythatitisnotonlyoneofthebestinthehouse,butthatitisconspicuousforitscomfortsifnotforitselegancies。Morethanthat,thattherearebooksofpoetryandhistorylyingaround,showingthatthewomanwhoinhabiteditwasaboveherstation;afactwhichthehousekeeperispresentlybroughttoacknowledge。Younoticealsothatthewildsurmiseofherabductionbymeansofthewindow,hassomegroundinappearance,thoughthefactthatshewentwithentireunwillingnessisnotmadesoapparent。Thehousekeeper,however,insistsinawaythatmusthavehadsomespecialknowledgeofthegirl\'scharacterorcircumstancestobackit,thatsheneverwentwithoutcompulsion;astatementwhichthetorncurtainsandthetrackofbloodovertheroofoftheextension,wouldseemtoemphasize。Afewotherfactsaremadeknown。First,apen-knifeispickedupfromthegrassplotintheyardbeneath,showingwithwhatinstrumentthewoundwasinflicted,whosedrippingsmadethosemarksofbloodalludedto。Itwasapearl-handledknifebelongingtothewritingdeskfoundopenonhertable,anditsfrailanddaintycharacterprovedindisputably,thatitwasemployedbythegirlherself,andthatagainstmanifestenemies;
nomanbeinglikelytosnatchupanysuchpunyweaponforthepurposeeitherofoffenceordefence。Thattheseenemiesweretwoandwerebothmen,wasinsisteduponbyMrs。Danielswhooverheardtheirvoicesthenightbefore。
\"Mr。Blake,suchfactsasthesearousecuriosity,especiallywhenthemasterofthehousebeingintroduceduponthescene,hefailstomanifestcommonhumaninterest,whilehishousekeeperbetraysineveryinvoluntarygestureandexpressionshemakesuseof,herhorrorifnotherfearofhispresence,andherreliefathisdeparture。
Yes,\"heexclaimed,unheedingthesuddenlookherecasthimbyMr。
Blake,\"andcuriositybegetsinquiry,andinquiryelucidatedfurtherfactssuchasthese,thatthemysteriousmasterofthehousewasinhisgardenatthehourofthegirl\'sdeparture,wasevenlookingthroughthebarsofhisgatewhenshe,havingevidentlyescapedfromhercaptors,camebackwitheveryapparentdesiretoreenterherhome,butseeinghim,betrayedanunreasonableamountoffearandfledbackevenintotheveryarmsofthemenshehadendeavoredtoavoid。
Didyouspeaksir?\"askedMr。Grycesuddenlystopping,withaslylookathisleftboottip。
Mr。Blakeshookhishead。\"No,\"saidheshortly,\"goon。\"ButthatlastremarkofMr。Grycehadevidentlymadeitsimpression。
\"Inquiryrevealed,also,twoorthreeotherinterestingfacts。First,thatthisgentlemanqualifiedthoughhewastoshineinladies\'
society,neverobtrudedhimselfthere,butemployedhisleisuretimeinstead,inwalkingthelowerstreetsofthecity,wherehewasseenmorethanonceconversingwithcertainpoorgirlsatstreetcornersandinblindalleys。Thelastonehetalkedwith,believedfromhercharacteristicstobethesameonethatwasabductedfromhishouse——\"
\"Holdthere,\"saidMr。Blakewithsomeauthorityinhistone,\"thereyouaremistaken;thatisimpossible。\"
\"Ah,andwhy?\"
\"Thegirlyoualludetohadbrightgoldenhair,somethingwhichthewomanwholivedinmyhousedidnotpossess。\"
\"Indeed。Ithoughtyouhadnevernoticedthewomanwhosewedforyou,sir,——didnotknowhowshelooked?\"
\"Ishouldhavenoticedherifshehadhadsuchhairasthegirlyouspeakof。\"
Mr。Grycesmiledandopenedhispocketbook。
\"Thereisasampleofherhair,sir,\"saidhe,takingoutathinstrandofbrillianthairandshowingittothegentlemanbeforehim。
\"Brightyousee,andgoldenasthatoftheunfortunatecreatureyoutalkedwiththeothernight。\"
Mr。Blakestoopedforwardandlifteditwithahandthatvisiblytrembled。\"Wheredidyougetthis?\"askedheatlast,clenchingittohisbreastwithsuddenpassion。
\"Fromoutofthecombwhichthegirlhadbeenusingthenightbefore。\"
Theimperiousmanflungithastilyfromhim。
\"Wewasteourtime,\"saidhe,lookingMr。Gryceintentlyintheface。
\"Allthatyouhavesaiddoesnotaccountforyourpresenceherenorthetoneyouhaveusedwhileaddressingme。Whatareyoukeepingback?Iamnotamantobetrifledwith。\"
Mr。Grycerosetohisfeet。\"Youareright,\"saidhe,andhegaveashortglanceinmydirection。\"AllthatIhavesaidwouldnotperhapsjustifymeinthisintrusion,if——\"helookedagaintowardsme。\"Doyouwishmetocontinue?\"heasked。
Mr。Blake\'sintentlookdeepened。\"Iseenoreasonwhyyoushouldnotutterthewhole,\"saidhe。\"Agoodstorylosesnothingbybeingtoldtotheend。YouwishtosaysomethingaboutmyjourneytoSchoenmaker\'shouse,Isuppose。\"
Mr。Grycegravelyshookhishead。
\"What,youcanletsuchamysteryasthatgowithoutaword?\"
\"Iamnotheretodiscussmysteriesthathavenoconnectionwiththesewing-girlinwhosecauseIaminterested。\"
\"Then,\"saidMr。Blake,turningforthefirsttimeuponmysuperiorwithallthedignifiedcomposureforwhichhewaseminent,\"itisnolongernecessaryforustoprolongthisinterview。Ihaveallowed,nayencouragedyoutostateintheplainesttermswhatitwasyouhadorimaginedyouhadagainstme,knowingthatmyactionsoflate,seenbythosewhodidnotpossessthekeytothem,musthaveseemedalittlepeculiar。Butwhenyousayyouhavenointerestinanymysterydisconnectedwiththegirlwhohaslivedthelastfewmonthsinmyhouse,Icanwithassurancesaythatitistimewequittedthisunprofitableconversation,asnothingwhichIhavelatelydone,saidorthoughthereorelsewherehasinanywayhadeventheremotestbearinguponthatindividual;shehavingbeenastrangertomewhileinmyhouse,andquiteforgottenbyme,afterherunaccountabledeparturehence。\"
Mr。Gryce\'shandwhichhadbeenstretchedouttowardsthehithertountoucheddecanterbeforehim,suddenlydropped。\"Youdenythen,\"
saidhe,\"allconnectionbetweenyourselfandthewoman,ladyorsewing-girl,whooccupiedthatroomaboveourheadsforelevenmonthsprevioustotheSundaymorningIfirsthadthehonortomakeyouracquaintance。\"
\"Iamnotinthehabitofrepeatingmyassertions,\"saidMr。Blakewithsomeseverity,\"evenwhentheyrelatetoalessdisagreeablematterthantheoneunderdiscussion。\"
Mr。Grycebowed,andslowlyreachedoutforhishat;Ihadneverseenhimsodisturbed。\"Iamsorry,\"hebeganandstopped,fingeringhishat-brimnervously。Suddenlyhelaidhishatback,anddrewuphisformintoasnearasemblanceofdignityasitsportlinesswouldallow。
\"Mr。Blake,\"saidhe,\"IhavetoomuchrespectforthemanIbelievedyoutobewhenIenteredthishouseto-night,togowiththethingunsaidwhichislyingatpresentlikeadeadweightuponmylips。I
darenotleaveyoutotheconsequenceofmysilence;fordutywillcompelmetospeaksomedayandinsomepresencewhereyoumaynothavetheopportunitywhichyoucanhavehere,toexplainyourselfwithsatisfaction。Mr。BlakeIcannotbelieveyouwhenyousaythegirlwholivedinthishousewasastrangertoyou。\"
Mr。Blakedrewhisproudformupinadisdainthatwasonlyheldincheckbytheveryevidenthonestyofthemanbeforehim。\"Youarecourageousatleast,\"saidhe。\"Iregretyouarenotequallydiscriminating。\"AndraisingMr。Gryce\'shatheplaceditinhishand。
\"Pardonme,\"saidthatgentleman,\"IwouldliketojustifymyselfbeforeIgo。Notwithwords,\"heproceededastheotherfoldedhisarmswithasarcasticbow。\"Iamdonewithwords;actionaccomplishestherest。Mr。BlakeIbelieveyouconsidermeanhonestofficerandareliableman。Willyouaccompanymetoyourprivateroomforamoment?ThereissomethingtherewhichmayconvinceyouIwasneitherplayingthefoolnorthebravadowhenIutteredthephraseIdidaninstantago。\"
Iexpectedtohearthehaughtymasterofthehouserefusearequestsopeculiar。Butheonlybowed,thoughinasurprisedwaythatshowedhiscuriosityifnomorewasaroused。\"Myroomandcompanyareatyourdisposal,\"saidhe,\"butyouwillfindnothingtheretojustifyyouinyourassertions。\"
\"Letmeatleastmaketheeffort,\"entreatedmysuperior。
Mr。Blakesmilingbitterlyimmediatelyledthewaytothedoor。\"Themanmaycome,\"heremarkedcarelesslyasMr。Grycewavedhishandinmydirection。\"Yourjustificationifnotminemayneedwitnesses。\"
Rejoicedatthepermission,formycuriositywasbythistimeraisedtofeverpitch,Iatoncefollowed。Notwithoutanxiety。TheassuredpoiseofMr。Blake\'sheadseemedtoarguethattheconfidencebetrayedbymysuperiormightreceiveashock;andIfeltitwouldbeaseriousblowtohispridetofailnow。Butoncewithintheroomabove,mydoubtsspeedilyfled。TherewasthatinMr。Gryce\'sfacewhichanyoneacquaintedwithhimcouldnoteasilymistake。Whatevermightbethemysterioussomethingwhichtheroomcontained,itwasevidentlysufficientinhiseyestojustifyhiswholeconduct。
\"Nowsir,\"saidMr。Blake,turninguponmysuperiorwithhissternestexpression,\"theroomanditscontentsarebeforeyou;whathaveyoutosayforyourself。\"
Mr。Gryceequallystern,ifnotequallycomposed,castoneofhisinscrutableglancesroundtheapartmentandwithoutawordsteppedbeforethepicturethatwasasIhavesaid,theonlyornamentationoftheotherwisebareandunattractiveroom。
IthoughtMr。Blakelookedsurprised,buthisfacewasnotonethatlightlyexpressedemotion。
\"AportraitofmycousintheCountessDeMirac,\"saidhewithacertaindrynessoftonehardtointerpret。
Mr。Grycebowedandforamomentstoodlookingwithastrangelackofinterestattheproudlybrilliantfaceofthepaintingbeforehim,thentoourgreatamazementsteppedforwardandwithaquickgestureturnedthepicturerapidlytothewall,when——Graciousheavens!whatavisionstartedoutbeforeusfromthereversesideofthatpaintedcanvas!Noluxuriousbrunettecountenancenow,steepedinprideandlanguor,butaface——LetmeseeifIcandescribeit。Butno,itwasoneofthosefacesthatareindescribable。Youdrawyourbreathasyouviewit;youfeelasifyouhadhadanelectricshock;butasforknowingtenminuteslaterwhethertheeyesthatsoenthralledyouwereblueorblack,orthelocksthatclusteredhalo-likeaboutaforeheadalmostawfulinitsexpressionofweird,unfathomablepower,werebrownorred,youcouldnotnorwouldyoupretendtosay。Itwasthecharacterofthecountenanceitselfthatimpressedyou。Youdidnotevenknowifthiswomanwhomighthavebeenanythingwonderfulorgrandyoueverreadof,werebeautifulornot。Youdidnotcare;itwasasifyouhadbeengazingonatranquileveningskyandalightningflashhadsuddenlystartledyou。Isthelightningbeautiful?
Whoasks!ButIknowfromwhatpresentlytranspired,thatthefacewasivorypaleincomplexion,theeyesdeeplydark,andthehair,——
strangeanduncannycombination,——ofabrightandpeculiargoldenhue。
\"Youdare!\"cameforthinstrangebrokentonesfromMr。Blake\'slips。
Iinstantlyturnedtowardshim。Hewasgazingwithalookthatwashalfindignant,halfmenacingatthesilentdetectivewhowitheyesdroopedandfingerdirectedtowardsthepicture,seemedtobewaitingforhimtofinish。
\"Idonotunderstandanaudacitythatallowsyouto——to——\"Wasthisthehaughtygentlemanwehadknown,thishesitatingtroubledmanwithbloodlesslipsandtremblinghands?
\"Ideclaredmydesiretojustifymyself,\"saidmyprincipalwitharespectfulbow。\"Thisismyjustification。Doyounotethecolorofthewoman\'shairwhoseportraithangswithitsfaceturnedtothewallinyourroom?Isitlikeorunlikethatofthestrandyouheldinyourhandafewmomentsago;astrandtakenasIswear,hairbyhairfromthecombofthepoorcreaturewhooccupiedtheroomabove。
Butthatisnotall,\"hecontinuedasMr。Blakefellatrifleaback;
\"justobservethedressinwhichthiswomanispainted;bluesilkyousee,darkandrich;awidecollarcunninglyexecuted,youcanalmosttracethepattern;abrooch;thentherosesinthehand,doyousee?
Nowcomewithmeupstairs。\"
Toomuchstartledtospeak,Mr。Blake,haughtyaristocratashewas,turnedlikealittlechildandfollowedthedetectivewhowithanassuredstepandunembarassedmienledthewayintothedesertedroomabove。
\"Youaccusemeofinsultingyou,whenIexpressdisbeliefofyourassertionthattherewasnoconnectionbetweenyouandthegirlEmily,\"saidMr。Gryceashelitthegasandunlockedthatfamousbureaudrawer。\"Willyoudosoanylongerinfaceofthese?\"Anddrawingoffthetowelthatlayuppermost,herevealedtheneatlyfoldeddress,widecollar,broochandfadedrosesthatlaybeneath。
\"Mrs。Danielsassuresusthesearticlesbelongedtothesewing-womanEmily;werebroughtherebyher。Dareyousaytheyarenottheonesreproducedintheportraitbelow?\"
Mr。Blakeutteringacrysankonhiskneesbeforethedrawer。\"MyGod!
MyGod!\"washisonlyreply,\"whatarethese?\"Suddenlyherose,hiswholeformquivering,hiseyesburning。\"WhereisMrs。Daniels?\"hecried,hastilyadvancingandpullingthebell。\"Imustseeheratonce。Sendthehouse-keeperhere,\"heorderedasFannysmilingdemurelymadeherappearanceatthedoor。
\"Mrs。Danielsisout,\"returnedthegirl,\"wentoutassoonaseveryougotupfromdinner,sir。\"
\"Goneoutatthishour?\"
\"Yessir;shegoesoutveryoftennowadays,sir。\"
Hermasterfrowned。\"Sendhertomeassoonasshereturns,\"hecommanded,anddismissedthegirl。
\"Idon\'tknowwhattomakeofthis,\"henowsaidinastrangetone,approachingagainthetouchingcontentsofthatopenbureaudrawerwithalookinwhichlonginganddoubtseemedinsomewaytobestrangelycommingled。\"Icannotexplainthepresenceofthesearticlesinthisroom;butifyouwillcomebelowIwillseewhatIcandotomakeothermattersintelligibletoyou。Disagreeableasitisformetotakeanyoneintomyconfidence,affairshavegonetoofarformetohopeanylongertopreservesecrecyastomyprivateconcerns。\"
CHAPTERXI
LUTTRA
\"Gentlemen,\"saidheasheusheredusoncemoreintohisstudio,\"youhavepresumed,andnotwithoutreasonIshouldsay,toinferthattheoriginalofthisportraitandthewomanwhohassolongoccupiedthepositionofsewing-womaninmyhouse,areoneandthesame。YouwillnolongerretainthatopinionwhenIinformyouthatthispicture,strangeasitmayappeartoyou,isthelikenessofmywife。\"
\"Wife!\"WebothwereastonishedasItakeit,butitwasmyvoicewhichspoke。\"Wewereignorantyoueverhadawife。\"
\"Nodoubt,\"continuedourhostsmilingbitterly,\"thatatleasthasevadedtheknowledgeevenofthedetectives。\"Thenwithareturntohisnaturallycourteousmanner,\"Shewasneveracknowledgedbymeasmywife,norhaveweeverlivedtogether,butifpriestlybenedictioncanmakeamanandwomanone,thatwomanasyouseeherthereismylawfulwife。\"
Rising,hesoftlyturnedthelovely,potentfacebacktothewall,leavingusoncemoreconfrontedbythedarkandglowingcountenanceofhiscousin。
\"Iamnotcalledupon,\"saidhe,\"togoanyfurtherwithyouthanthis。Ihavetoldyouwhatnomantillthishourhaseverheardfrommylips,anditshouldservetoexoneratemefromanyunjustsuspicionsyoumayhaveentertained。Buttooneofmytemperament,secretscandalandthegossipitengendersisonlylesspainfulthanopennotoriety。IfIleavethesubjecthere,athousandconjectureswillatonceseizeuponyou,andmynameifnotherswillbecome,beforeIknowit,thefootballofgossipifnotofworseanddeepersuspicionthanhasyetassailedme。GentlemanItakeyoutobehonestmen;husbands,perhaps,andfathers;proud,too,inyourwayandjealousofyourownreputationandthatofthosewithwhomyouareconnected。IfIsucceedinconvincingyouthatmymovementsoflatehavebeentotallydisconnectedwiththegirlwhosecauseyouprofesssolelytobeinterestedin,mayIcountuponyoursilenceasregardsthoseactionsandtherealmotivethatledtothem?\"
\"Youmaycountuponmydiscretionasregardsallmattersthatdonotcomeunderthescopeofpoliceduty,\"returnedMr。Gryce。\"Ihaven\'tmuchtimeforgossip。\"
\"Andyourmanhere?\"
\"O,he\'ssafewhereitprofitshimtobe。\"
\"Verywell,then,Ishallcountuponyou。\"
Andwiththeknittedbrowsandclinchedhandsofaproudlyreticentmanwho,perhapsforthefirsttimeinhislifefindshimselfforcedtorevealhisinnernaturetotheworld,hebeganhisstoryinthesewords:
\"Difficultasitisformetointroduceintoarelationlikethisthenameofmyfather,Ishallbeobligedtodosoinordertomakemyconductatamomentouscrisisofmylifeintelligibletoyou。Myfather,then,wasamanofstrongwillandafewbutdeterminedprejudices。ResolvedthatIshouldsustainthereputationofthefamilyforwealthandrespectability,hegavemetounderstandfrommyearliestyears,thataslongasIpreservedmymanhoodfromreproach,Ihadonlytomakemywishesknown,tohavethemimmediatelygratified;whileifIcrossedhiswilleitherbyindulgingindissipationorengaginginpursuitsunworthyofmyname,Inolongerneedexpectthefavorofhiscountenanceortheassistanceofhispurse。
\"When,therefore,atacertainperiodofmylife,IfoundthatthecharmsofmycousinEvelynweremakingrathertoostronganimpressionuponmyfancyforasecuredpeaceofmind,Ifirstinquiredhowsuchaunionwouldaffectmyfather,andlearningthatitwouldbeindirectoppositiontohisviews,castaboutinmymindwhatI
shoulddotoovercomemypassion。Travelsuggesteditself,andItookatriptoEurope。Butthesightofnewfacesonlyawakenedinmecomparisonsanythingbutdetrimentaltothebeautyofherwhowasatthattimemystandardoffeminineloveliness。Natureandthesportsconnectedwithawildlifeweremynextresort。IwentoverlandtoCalifornia,roamedtheorangegrovesofFlorida,andprobedthewildernessesofCanadaandourNorthernstates。Itwasduringtheselastexcursionsthataneventoccurredwhichhasexercisedthemostmaterialinfluenceuponmyfate,thoughatthetimeitseemedtomenomorethanthematterofaday。
\"IhadjustreturnedfromCanadaandwasrestingintolerableenjoymentofaverybeautifulautumnatLakeGeorge,whenaletterreachedmefromafriendthenloiteringinthevicinity,urgingmetojoinhiminacertainsmalltowninVermontwheretroutstreamsaboundedandwhatisnotsooftenthecaseunderthecircumstances,fisherswerefew。
\"BeinginasomewhatrecklessmoodIatoncewroteaconsent,andbeforeanotherdaywasover,startedfortheremotevillagewhencehisletterwaspostmarked。Ifounditbynomeanseasyofaccess。
Situatedinthemidstofhillssometwentymilesorsodistantfromanyrailroad,Idiscoveredthatinordertoreachit,alongrideinastage-coachwasnecessary,followedbyasomewhatshorterjourneyonhorseback。Notbeingacquaintedwiththeroute,Itimedmyconnectionswrong,sothatwheneveningcameIfoundmyselfridingoverastrangeroadinthedarkestnightIhadeverknown。Asifthiswasnotenough,myhorsesuddenlybegantolimpandpresentlybecamesolameIfounditimpossibletourgeherbeyondaslowwalk。ItwasthereforewithnoordinarysatisfactionthatIpresentlybeheldalightedbuildinginthedistance,whichasIapproachedresolveditselfintoaninn。Stoppinginfrontofthehouse,whichwasclosedagainstthechillnightair,Icalledoutlustilyforsomeonetotakemyhorse,whereuponthedooropenedandamanappearedonthethresholdwithalanterninhishand。Iatoncemademywishesknown,receivinginturnasomewhatgruff,\"\'Wellitisanastynightanditwillbenastierbeforeit\'sover;\'
anopinioninstantlyendorsedbyasuddenswoopofwindthatrushedbyatthatmoment,slammingthedoorbehindhimandawakeningovermyheadalugubriousgroaningasfromthetwistingboughsofsomeoldtree,thatwasalmostthreateninginitscharacter。
\"\'Youhadbettergoin,\'saidhe,\'therainwillcomenext。\'
\"Iatonceleapedfrommyhorseandpushingopenthedoorwithmainstrength,enteredthehouse。Anothermanmetmeonthethresholdwhomerelypointingoverhisshouldertoalightedroominhisrear,passedoutwithoutaword,tohelpthesomewhatyoungerman,whohadfirstappeared,inputtingupmyhorse。Iatonceacceptedhissilentinvitationandsteppedintotheroombeforeme。InstantlyI
foundmyselfconfrontedbytheratherstartlingvisionofayounggirlofauniqueandhauntingstyleofbeauty,whorisingatmyapproachnowstoodwithhereyesonmyfaceandherhandsrestingonthedealtablebeforewhichshehadbeensitting,inanattitudeexpressiveofmingledsurpriseandalarm。Toseeawomaninthatplacewasnotsostrange;butsuchawoman!EveninthefirstcasualglanceIgaveher,Iatonceacknowledgedtomyselfherextraordinarypower。Nottheslightnessofherform,thepalorofhercountenance,orthefairnessofthelocksofgoldenredhairthatfellintwolongbraidsoverherbosom,couldforamomentcounteracttheeffectofherdarkglanceorthevividalmostunearthlyforceofherexpression。Itwasasifyousawaflameupstartingbeforeyou,wavingtremulouslyhereandthere,butburningandresistlessinitswhiteheat。Itookoffmyhatwithdeference。
\"Ashudderpassedoverher,butshemadenoefforttoreturnmyacknowledgement。Aswecastoureyesdilatingwithhorror,downsomehorriblepituponwhosevergewesuddenlyfindourselves,sheallowedhergazeforamomenttodwelluponmyface,thenwithasuddenliftingofherhand,pointedtowardsthedoorasiftobidmedepart——whenitswungopenwiththatshrillrushingofwindthatinvoluntarilyawakesashudderwithinyou,andthetwomenenteredandcamestampinguptomyside。Instantlyherhandsunk,notfeeblyaswithfear,butcalmlyasifatthebiddingofherwill,andwithoutwaitingforthemtospeak,sheturnedawayandquietlylefttheroom。
AsthedoorcloseduponherInoticedthatsheworeacalicofrockandthatherfacedidnotownoneperfectfeature。
\"\'GoafterLuttraandtellhertomakeupthebedinthenorthwestroom,\'saidtheelderofthetwoindeepgutteraltonesunmistakablyGermanintheiraccent,totheotherwhostoodshakingthewetoffhiscoatintotheleapingflamesofasmallwoodfirethatburnedonthehearthbeforeus。
\"\'O,she\'lldowithoutmybothering,\'wasthesullenreturn。\'I\'mwetthrough。\'
\"Theelderman,alargepowerfullyframedfellowofsomefiftyyearsorso,frowned。Itwasanevilfrown,andtheyoungeroneseemedtofeelit。Heimmediatelytossedhiscoatontoachairandlefttheroom。
\"\'Boysaresoobstropolousnow-a-days,\'remarkedhiscompaniontomewithwhatheevidentlyintendedforaconciliatorynod。\'Inmytimetheywerebrokein,didwhattheyweretoldandaskednoquestions。\'
\"Ismiledtomyselfathiscallingthebroadshoulderedsix-footerwhohadjustleftusaboy,butmerelyremarking,\'Heisyoursonishenot!\'seatedmyselfbeforetheblazewhichshotupatongueofwhiteflameatmyapproach,thatirresistiblyrecalledtomyfancytheappearanceofthegirlwhohadgoneoutamomentbefore。
\"\'O,yes,heismyson,andthatgirlyousawherewasmydaughter;I
keepthisinnandtheyhelpme,butitisaslowwaytolive,Icantellyou。Travelontheseroadsisslim。\'
\"\'Ishouldthinklikely,\'Ireturned,rememberingthehalfdozenorsohillsupwhichIhadclamberedsinceItooktomyhorse。\'HowfararewefromPentonville?\'
\"\'O,twoorthreemiles,\'hereplied,butinahurriedkindofaway。
\'Notfarinthedaytimebutaregularjourneyinanightlikethis?\'
\"\'Yes,\'saidI,asthehouseshookunderafreshgust;\'itisfortunateIhaveaplaceinwhichtoputup。\'
\"Heglanceddownatmybaggagewhichconsistedofasmallhandbag,anover-coatandafishingpole,withsomethinglikeagleamofdisappointment。
\"\'Goingfishing?\'heasked。
\"\'Yes,\'Ireturned。
\"\'Goodtroutupthosestreamsandplentyofthem,\'hewenton。\'Goingalone?\'
\"Ididnothalflikehisimportunity,butconsideringIhadnothingbettertodo,repliedasaffablyaspossible。\'No,IexpecttomeetafriendinPentonvillewhowillaccompanyme。\"
\"Hishandwenttohisbeardinathoughtfulattitudeandhecastmewhat,withmyincreasedexperienceoftheworld,Ishouldnowconsiderasinisterglance。\'Thenyouareexpected?\'saidhe。
\"Notconsideringthisworthreply,Istretchedoutmyfeettotheblazeandbegantowarmthem,forIfeltchilledthrough。
\"\'Beenontheroadlong?\'henowasked,glancingattheblueflannelsuitIwore。
\"\'Allsummer,\'Ireturned,\"Iagainthoughthelookeddisappointed。
\"\'FromTroyorNewYork?\'hewentonwithavagueendeavortoappeargoodnaturallyoffhand。
\"\'NewYork。\'
\"\'Abigplacethat,\'hecontinued。\'Iwasthereonce,lotsofmoneystoredawayinthembigbuildingsdowninWallStreet,eh?\'
\"Iassented,andhedrewachairuptomyside,aproceedingthatwasinterrupted,however,bythereentranceofhisson,whowithoutanyapologycrowdedintotheothersideofthefire-placeinawaytosandwichmebetweenthem。NotfancyingthisarrangementwhichI,however,imputedtoignorance,Idrewbackandaskedifmyroomwasready。Itseemeditwasnot,andunpleasantlyasitpromised,Ifeltforcedtoreseatmyselfandjoinin,ifnotsupport,theconversationthatfollowed。
\"Ahalfhourpassedaway,duringwhichthewindincreasedtillitalmostamountedtoagale。Spurtsofraindashedagainstthewindowswithasharpcracklingsoundthatsuggestedhail,whileeverandanonadistantrollasofrousingthunder,rumbledawayamongthehillsinalongandreverberatingpeal,thatmademefeelgladtobehousedevenundertheroofoftheserudeanduncongenialcreatures。
Suddenlytheconversationturneduponthetimeandtime-pieces,wheninaloweventoneIheardmurmuredbehindme,\"\'Thegentleman\'sroomisready;\'andturning,Isawstandinginthedoorwaytheslightfigureoftheyounggirlwhoseappearancehadpreviouslysoimpressedme。
\"Iimmediatelyarose。\'ThenIwillproceedtoitatonce,\'saidI,takingupmytrapsandadvancingtowardsher。
\"\'Donotbealarmedifyouhearcreaksandcracklingsalloverthehouse,\'observedthelandlordasIdeparted。\'Thewindowsarelooseandthedoorsill-fitting。Insuchastormasthistheymakenoiseenoughtokeepanarmyawake。Thehouseissafeenoughthoughandifyoudon\'tmindnoise——\'
\"\'OIdon\'tmindnoise,\'rejoinedI,feelingatthatmomenttiredenoughtofallintoadozeonthestaircase。\'Ishallsleep,neverfear,\'andwithoutfurtheradofollowedthegirlupstairsintoalargeclumsilyfurnishedroomwhoseenormousbeddrapedwithheavycurtainsatonceattractedmyattention。
\"\'OIcannotsleepunderthosethings,\'remarkedI,withagesturetowardsthedismaldraperieswhichtomewereanothernameforsuffocation。
\"Withasinglearm-sweepshethrewthemback。\'IsthereanythingmoreIcandoforyou?\'askedshe,glancinghastilyabouttheroom。
\"Ithankedherandsaid\'no,\'atwhichsheatoncedepartedwithalookofstilldeterminationuponhercountenancethatIfoundithardtoexplain。
Leftaloneinthatlarge,bareanddimlylightedroom,withthewindshriekinginthechimneyandthepowerfullimbsofsomehugetreebeatingagainstthewallswithout,withaheavythudinexpressiblymournful,Ifoundtomysurpriseandsomethinglikedismay,thatthesleepinesswhichhadhithertooppressedme,hadinsomeunaccountablewayentirelyfled。InvainIcontemplatedthebed,comfortableenoughnowinitsappearancethatthestiflingcurtainswerewithdrawn;notemptationtoinvadeitcametoarousemefromthechairintowhichI
hadthrownmyself。ItwasasifIfeltmyselfunderthespellofsomeinvisibleinfluencethatliketheeyeofabasilisk,heldmeenchained。IrememberturningmyheadtowardsacertainquarterofthewallasifIhalfexpectedtoencountertherethebewilderingglanceofaserpent。Yetfarfrombeingapprehensiveofanydanger,I
onlywonderedovertheweaknessofmindthatmadesuchfanciespossible。
\"Anextraloudswirlofthefoliagewithout,accompaniedbyaquickvibrationofthehouse,arousedmeatlast。IfIwastolosethesenseofthisfuriousstormcareeringovermyhead,Imustcourtsleepatonce。Rising,Idrewoffmycoat,unloosenedmyvestandwasabouttothrowitoff,whenIbethoughtmeofacertainwalletitcontained。GoingtothedoorinsomeunconsciousimpulseofprecautionIsuppose,Ilockedmyselfin,andthendrawingoutmywallet,tookfromitarollofbillswhichIputintoasmallsidepocket,returningthewallettoitsoldplace。
\"WhyIdidthisIcanscarcelysay。AsIhavebeforeintimated,Iwasundernospecialapprehension。Iwasatthattimeanythingbutasuspiciousman,andthemannerandappearanceofthemenbelowstruckmeasunpleasantlydisagreeablebutnothingmore。ButInotonlydidwhatIhaverelated,butallowedthelamptoremainlighted,lyingdownfinallyinmyclothes;analmostunprecedentedactonmypart,warrantedhoweverasIsaidtomyself,bythefuryofthegalewhichatthattimeseemedasifitwouldtumbletheroofoverourheads。