按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
power and pathos of my own voice； doubtless due to my excited
nerves and mind。 Then I heard someone say to another that I was by
far the cleverest of the Squire's daughters； as well as the
prettiest。 It did not make me vain。 I had no rivalry with Lucy
and Minnie。 But Reginald whispered some soft； fond words in my ear
a little before he mounted his horse to set off homeward； which DID
make me happy and proud。 And to think that the next time we met
but I forgave him long ago。 Poor Reginald！ And now shawls and
cloaks were in request； and carriages rolled up to the porch； and
the guests gradually departed。 At last no one was left but those
visitors staying in the house。 Then my father； who had been called
out to speak with the bailiff of the estate； came back with a look
of annoyance on his face。
〃A strange story I have just been told；〃 said he； 〃here has been my
bailiff to inform me of the loss of four of the choicest ewes out
of that little flock of Southdowns I set such store by； and which
arrived in the north but two months since。 And the poor creatures
have been destroyed in so strange a manner； for their carcasses are
horribly mangled。〃
Most of us uttered some expression of pity or surprise； and some
suggested that a vicious dog was probably the culprit。
〃It would seem so；〃 said my father； 〃it certainly seems the work of
a dog； and yet all the men agree that no dog of such habits exists
near us； where； indeed； dogs are scarce； excepting the shepherds'
collies and the sporting dogs secured in yards。 Yet the sheep are
gnawed and bitten； for they show the marks of teeth。 Something has
done this； and has torn their bodies wolfishly； but apparently it
has been only to suck the blood； for little or no flesh is gone。〃
〃How strange！〃 cried several voices。 Then some of the gentlemen
remembered to have heard of cases when dogs addicted to sheep…
killing had destroyed whole flocks； as if in sheer wantonness；
scarcely deigning to taste a morsel of each slain wether。
My father shook his head。 〃I have heard of such cases； too；〃 he
said； 〃but in this instance I am tempted to think the malice of
some unknown enemy has been at work。 The teeth of a dog have been
busy； no doubt； but the poor sheep have been mutilated in a
fantastic manner； as strange as horrible； their hearts； in
especial； have been torn out； and left at some paces off； half…
gnawed。 Also； the men persist that they found the print of a naked
human foot in the soft mud of the ditch； and near itthis。〃 And
he held up what seemed a broken link of a rusted iron chain。
Many were the ejaculations of wonder and alarm； and many and shrewd
the conjectures； but none seemed exactly to suit the bearings of
the case。 And when my father went on to say that two lambs of the
same valuable breed had perished in the same singular manner three
days previously； and that they also were found mangled and gore…
stained； the amazement reached a higher pitch。 Old Lady Speldhurst
listened with calm； intelligent attention； but joined in none of
our exclamations。 At length she said to my father； 〃Try and
recollecthave you no enemy among your neighbors？〃 My father
started； and knit his brows。 〃Not one that I know of；〃 he replied；
and indeed he was a popular man and a kind landlord。 〃The more
lucky you；〃 said the old dame； with one of her grim smiles。 It was
now late； and we retired to rest before long。 One by one the
guests dropped off。 I was the member of the family selected to
escort old Lady Speldhurst to her roomthe room I had vacated in
her favor。 I did not much like the office。 I felt a remarkable
repugnance to my godmother； but my worthy aunts insisted so much
that I should ingratiate myself with one who had so much to leave
that I could not but comply。 The visitor hobbled up the broad
oaken stairs actively enough； propped on my arm and her ivory
crutch。 The room never had looked more genial and pretty； with its
brisk fire； modern furniture； and the gay French paper on the
walls。 〃A nice room； my dear； and I ought to be much obliged to
you for it； since my maid tells me it is yours；〃 said her ladyship；
〃but I am pretty sure you repent your generosity to me； after all
those ghost stories； and tremble to think of a strange bed and
chamber； eh？〃 I made some commonplace reply。 The old lady arched
her eyebrows。 〃Where have they put you； child？〃 she asked； 〃in
some cock…loft of the turrets； eh？ or in a lumber…rooma regular
ghost…trap？ I can hear your heart beating with fear this moment。
You are not fit to be alone。〃 I tried to call up my pride； and
laugh off the accusation against my courage； all the more； perhaps；
because I felt its truth。 〃Do you want anything more that I can
get you； Lady Speldhurst？〃 I asked； trying to feign a yawn of
sleepiness。 The old dame's keen eyes were upon me。 〃I rather like
you； my dear；〃 she said； 〃and I liked your mamma well enough before
she treated me so shamefully about the christening dinner。 Now； I
know you are frightened and fearful； and if an owl should but flap
your window to…night； it might drive you into fits。 There is a
nice little sofa…bed in this dressing closetcall your maid to
arrange it for you； and you can sleep there snugly； under the old
witch's protection； and then no goblin dare harm you； and nobody
will be a bit the wiser； or quiz you for being afraid。〃 How little
I knew what hung in the balance of my refusal or acceptance of that
trivial proffer！ Had the veil of the future been lifted for one
instant！ but that veil is impenetrable to our gaze。
I left her door。 As I crossed the landing a bright gleam came from
another room； whose door was left ajar； it （the light） fell like a
bar of golden sheen across my path。 As I approached the door
opened and my sister Lucy； who had been watching for me； came out。
She was already in a white cashmere wrapper； over which her
loosened hair hung darkly and heavily； like tangles of silk。
〃Rosa； love；〃 she whispered； 〃Minnie and I can't bear the idea of
your sleeping out there； all alone； in that solitary roomthe very
room too Nurse Sherrard used to talk about！ So； as you know Minnie
has given up her room； and come to sleep in mine； still we should
so wish you to stop with us to…night at any rate； and I could make
up a bed on the sofa for myself or youand〃 I stopped Lucy's
mouth with a kiss。 I declined her offer。 I would not listen to
it。 In fact； my pride was up in arms； and I felt I would rather
pass the night in the churchyard itself than accept a proposal
dictated； I felt sure； by the notion that my nerves were shaken by
the ghostly lore we had been raking up； that I was a weak；
superstitious creature； unable to pass a night in a strange
chamber。 So I would not listen to Lucy； but kissed her； bade her
good…night； and went on my way laughing； to show my light heart。
Yet； as I looked back in the dark corridor； and saw the frien