Uncle Silas.doc

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UNCLE SILAS

A Tale of Bartram-Haugh

By J. S. LeFanu

18

T!THE "I#HT H!N.THE C!UNTESS !F #IFF!"$%AS A T!&EN !F"ES'ECT% S()'ATH(% AN$ A$)I"ATI!N*Th+, Tale*IS INSC"IBE$ B(THE AUTH!"

*A '"ELI)INA"( !"$*

The r+ter of th+, Tale /enture,% +n h+, o n 0er,on% to a re,, a /eryfe

or ,% 2h+efly of e30lanat+on% to h+, rea er,. A lea +ng ,+tuat+on +nth+,4Story of Bartram-Haugh4 +, re0eate % +th a ,l+ght /ar+at+on% from a,hortmaga5+ne tale of ,ome f+fteen 0age, r+tten 6y h+m% an 0u6l+,he longago+n a 0er+o +2al un er the t+tle of 4A 'a,,age +n the Se2ret H+,tory of anIr+,h Counte,,%4 an after ar ,% ,t+ll anonymou,ly% +n a ,mall /olumeun eran altere t+tle. It +, /ery unl+7ely that any of h+, rea er, ,houl ha/een2ountere % an ,t+ll more ,o that they ,houl remem6er% th+, tr+fle.The6are 0o,,+6+l+ty% ho e/er% he ha, /enture to ant+2+0ate 6y th+, 6r+efe30lanat+on% le,t he ,houl 6e 2harge +th 0lag+ar+,m--al ay, a

+,re,0e2tto a rea er.

)ay he 6e 0erm+tte a fe or , al,o of remon,tran2e aga+n,t the0rom+,2uou, a00l+2at+on of the term 4,en,at+on4 to that large ,2hool off+2t+on h+2h tran,gre,,e, no one of tho,e 2anon, of 2on,tru2t+on anmoral+ty h+2h% +n 0ro u2+ng the una00roa2ha6le 4 a/erley No/el,%4 the+r

great author +m0o,e u0on h+m,elf No one% +t +, a,,ume % oul e,2r+6eS+r alter S2ott4, roman2e, a, 4,en,at+on no/el,94 yet +n that mar/ellou,,er+e, there +, not a ,+ngle tale +n h+2h eath% 2r+me% an % +n ,omeform%my,tery% ha/e not a 0la2e.

'a,,+ng 6y tho,e gran roman2e, of 4I/anhoe%4 4!l )ortal+ty%4 an4&en+l orth%4 +th the+r terr+6le +ntr+2a2+e, of 2r+me an 6loo ,he %2on,tru2te +th ,o f+ne a ma,tery of the art of e32+t+ng ,u,0en,e an


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horror% let the rea er 0+27 out tho,e t o e32e0t+onal no/el, +n the,er+e,

h+2h 0rofe,, to 0a+nt 2ontem0orary manner, an the ,2ene, of 2ommonl+fe9an remem6er+ng +n the 4Ant+:uary4 the /+,+on +n the ta0e,tr+e 2ham6er%the uel% the horr+6le ,e2ret% an the eath of ol El,0eth% the ro nef+,herman% an a6o/e all the tremen ou, ,+tuat+on of the t+ e-6oun 0artyun er the 2l+ff,9 an +n 4St. "onan4, ell%4 the long- ra n my,tery% the,u,0+2+on of +n,an+ty% an the 2ata,tro0he of ,u+2+ e9-- eterm+ne hetheran e0+thet h+2h +t oul 6e a 0rofanat+on to a00ly to the ,tru2ture ofany% e/en the mo,t e32+t+ng of S+r alter S2ott4, ,tor+e,% +, fa+rlya00l+2a6le to tale, h+2h% though +ll+m+ta6ly +nfer+or +n e3e2ut+on% yeto6,er/e the ,ame l+m+tat+on, of +n2+ ent% an the ,ame moral a+m,.

The author tru,t, that the 're,,% to ho,e ma,terly 2r+t+2+,m angenerou,en2ouragement he an other hum6le la6ourer, +n the art o e ,o mu2h% +ll+n,+,t u0on the l+m+tat+on of that egra +ng term to the 0e2ul+ar ty0e off+2t+on h+2h +t a, or+g+nally +nten e to +n +2ate% an 0re/ent% a,they

may% +t, 6e+ng ma e to +n2lu e the leg+t+mate ,2hool of trag+2 Engl+,hroman2e% h+2h ha, 6een enno6le % an +n great mea,ure foun e % 6y thegen+u, of S+r alter S2ott.

C!NTENTS

CHA'TE"

I. AUSTIN "UTH(N% !F &N! L% AN$ HIS $AU#HTE"

II. UNCLE SILAS

III. A NE FACE

I;. )A$A)E $E LA "!U#IE""E

;. SI#HTS AN$ N!ISES

;I. A AL& IN THE !!$

;II. CHU"CH SCA"S$ALE

;III. THE S)!&E"

I


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CHA'TE" I

*AUSTIN "UTH(N% !F &N! L% AN$ HIS $AU#HTE"*

It a, +nter--that +,% a6out the ,e2on ee7 +n No/em6er--an greatgu,t,

ere rattl+ng at the +n o ,% an a+l+ng an thun er+ng among our talltree, an +/+e 2h+mney,--a /ery ar7 n+ght% an a /ery 2heerful f+re6la5+ng% a 0lea,ant m+3ture of goo roun 2oal an ,0lutter+ng ry oo %+na genu+ne ol f+re0la2e% +n a ,om6re ol room. Bla27 a+n,2ot+nggl+mmereu0 to the 2e+l+ng% +n ,mall e6ony 0anel,9 a 2heerful 2lum0 of a3 2an le,on the tea-ta6le9 many ol 0ortra+t,% ,ome gr+m an 0ale% other, 0retty%an ,ome /ery gra2eful an 2harm+ng% hang+ng from the all,. Fe0+2ture,%

e32e0t 0ortra+t, long an ,hort% ere there. !n the hole% I th+n7 yououl ha/e ta7en the room for our 0arlour. It a, not l+7e our mo ernnot+on of a ra +ng-room. It a, a long room too% an e/ery ay2a0a2+ou,%6ut +rregularly ,ha0e .

A g+rl% of a l+ttle more than ,e/enteen% loo7+ng% I 6el+e/e% younger,t+ll9,l+ght an rather tall% +th a great eal of gol en ha+r% ar7 grey-eye %an +th a 2ountenan2e rather ,en,+t+/e an melan2holy% a, ,+tt+ng atthetea-ta6le% +n a re/er+e. I a, that g+rl.

The only other 0er,on +n the room--the only 0er,on +n the hou,e relatetome-- a, my father. He a, )r. "uthyn% of &no l% ,o 2alle +n h+, 2ounty%6ut he ha many other 0la2e,% a, of a /ery an2+ent l+neage% ho harefu,e a 6aronetage often% an +t a, ,a+ e/en a /+,2ounty% 6e+ng of a0rou an ef+ant ,0+r+t% an th+n7+ng them,el/e, h+gher +n ,tat+on an0urer of 6loo than t o-th+r , of the no6+l+ty +nto ho,e ran7,% +t a,,a+ % they ha 6een +n/+te to enter. !f all th+, fam+ly lore I 7ne 6utl+ttle an /aguely9 only hat +, to 6e gathere from the f+re,+ e tal7 ofol reta+ner, +n the nur,ery.

I am ,ure my father lo/e me% an I 7no I lo/e h+m. +th the ,ure+n,t+n2t of 2h+l hoo I a00rehen e h+, ten erne,,% although +t a, ne/ere30re,,e +n 2ommon ay,. But my father a, an o +ty. He ha 6een early

+,a00o+nte +n 'arl+ament% here +t a, h+, am6+t+on to ,u22ee . Thougha2le/er man% he fa+le there% here /ery +nfer+or men + e3tremely ell.Then he ent a6roa % an 6e2ame a 2onno+,,eur an a 2olle2tor9 too7 a0art%on h+, return% +n l+terary an ,2+ent+f+2 +n,t+tut+on,% an al,o +n thefoun at+on an +re2t+on of ,ome 2har+t+e,. But he t+re of th+, m+m+2go/ernment% an ga/e h+m,elf u0 to a 2ountry l+fe% not that of a,0ort,man%6ut rather of a ,tu ent% ,tay+ng ,omet+me, at one of h+, 0la2e, an


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,omet+me, at another% an l+/+ng a ,e2lu e l+fe.

"ather late +n l+fe he marr+e % an h+, 6eaut+ful young +fe +e %lea/+ngme% the+r only 2h+l % to h+, 2are. Th+, 6erea/ement% I ha/e 6een tol %2hange h+m--ma e h+m more o an ta2+turn than e/er% an h+, tem0eral,o%e32e0t to me% more ,e/ere. There a, al,o ,ome +,gra2e a6out h+, younger6rother--my un2le S+la,-- h+2h he felt 6+tterly.

He a, no al7+ng u0 an o n th+, ,0a2+ou, ol room% h+2h% e3ten +ngroun an angle at the far en % a, /ery ar7 +n that :uarter. It a, h+,

ont to al7 u0 an o n thu,% +thout ,0ea7+ng--an e3er2+,e h+2h u,etorem+n me of Chateau6r+an 4, father +n the great 2ham6er of the Ch?teau

e Com6ourg. At the far en he nearly +,a00eare +n the gloom% an thenreturn+ng emerge for a fe m+nute,% l+7e a 0ortra+t +th a 6a27groun of,ha o % an then aga+n +n ,+len2e fa e nearly out of /+e .

Th+, monotony an ,+len2e oul ha/e 6een terr+fy+ng to a 0er,on le,,

a22u,tome to +t than I. A, +t a,% +t ha +t, effe2t. I ha/e 7no n myfather a hole ay +thout on2e ,0ea7+ng to me. Though I lo/e h+m /erymu2h% I a, al,o mu2h +n a e of h+m.

h+le my father 0a2e the floor% my thought, ere em0loye a6out thee/ent,of a month 6efore. So fe th+ng, ha00ene at &no l out of the a22u,tomerout+ne% that a /ery tr+fl+ng o22urren2e a, enough to ,et 0eo0le

on er+ngan 2on@e2tur+ng +n that ,erene hou,ehol . )y father l+/e +n remar7a6le,e2lu,+on9 e32e0t for a r+ e% he har ly e/er left the groun , of &no l9anI on4t th+n7 +t ha00ene t +2e +n the year that a /+,+tor ,o@ourneamongu,.

There a, not e/en that m+l rel+g+ou, 6u,tle h+2h ,omet+me, 6e,et, theealthy an moral re2lu,e. )y father ha left the Chur2h of Englan for

,ome o ,e2t% I forget +t, name% an ult+mately 6e2ame% I a, tol % aS e en6org+an. But he + not 2are to trou6le me u0on the ,u6@e2t. So theol 2arr+age 6rought my go/erne,,% hen I ha one% the ol hou,e7ee0er%)r,. "u,7% an my,elf to the 0ar+,h 2hur2h e/ery Sun ay. An my father%+nthe /+e of the hone,t re2tor ho ,hoo7 h+, hea o/er h+m--4a 2lou

+thoutater% 2arr+e a6out of +n ,% an a an er+ng ,tar to hom +, re,er/e

the

6la27ne,, of ar7ne,,4--2orre,0on e +th the 4m+n+,ter4 of h+, 2hur2h%an

a, 0ro/o7+ngly 2ontente +th h+, o n fert+l+ty an +llum+nat+on9 an)r,. "u,7% ho a, a ,oun an 6+tter 2hur2h oman% ,a+ he fan2+e he ,a/+,+on, an tal7e +th angel, l+7e the re,t of that 4ru66+t2h.4

I on4t 7no that ,he ha any 6etter foun at+on than analogy an2on@e2turefor 2harg+ng my father +th ,u0ernatural 0reten,+on,9 an +n all 0o+nt,


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hen her ortho o3y a, not 2on2erne % ,he lo/e her ma,ter an a, aloyalhou,e7ee0er.

I foun her one morn+ng ,u0er+nten +ng 0re0arat+on, for the re2e0t+on ofa /+,+tor% +n the hunt+ng-room +t a, 2alle % from the 0+e2e, of ta0e,trythat 2o/ere +t, all,% re0re,ent+ng ,2ene, * la ou/erman,*% offal2onry%an the 2ha,e% og,% ha 7,% la +e,% gallant,% an 0age,. In the m+ ,t of

hom )r,. "u,7% +n 6la27 ,+l7% a, rummag+ng ra er,% 2ount+ng l+nen% an+,,u+ng or er,.

4 ho +, 2om+ng% )r,. "u,7 4

ell% ,he only 7ne h+, name. It a, a )r. Bryerly. )y 0a0a e30e2te h+mto

+nner% an to ,tay for ,ome ay,.

4I gue,, he4, one of tho,e 2reature,% ear% for I ment+one h+, name @u,tto $r. Clay the re2tor % an he ,ay, there *+,* a $o2tor Bryerly% a

great2on@urer among the S e en6org ,e2t--an that4, h+m% I o ,u00o,e.4

In my ha5y not+on, of the,e ,e2tar+e, there a, m+ngle a ,u,0+2+on ofne2roman2y% an a e+r freema,onry% that +n,0+re ,ometh+ng of a e anant+0athy.

)r. Bryerly arr+/e t+me enough to re,, at h+, le+,ure% 6efore +nner.Heentere the ra +ng-room--a tall% lean man% all +n unga+nly 6la27% +th a

h+te 2ho7er% +th e+ther a 6la27 +g% or 6la27 ha+r re,,e +n +m+tat+onof one% a 0a+r of ,0e2ta2le,% an a ar7% ,har0% ,hort /+,age% ru66+ngh+,large han , together% an +th a ,hort 6r+,7 no to me% hom he 0la+nlyregar e merely a, a 2h+l % he ,at o n 6efore the f+re% 2ro,,e h+,leg,%an too7 u0 a maga5+ne.

Th+, treatment a, mort+fy+ng% an I remem6er /ery ell the re,entment ofh+2h *he* a, :u+te un2on,2+ou,.

H+, ,tay a, not /ery long9 not one of u, +/+ne the o6@e2t of h+,/+,+t%an he + not 0re0o,,e,, u, fa/oura6ly. He ,eeme re,tle,,% a, men of6u,yha6+t, o +n 2ountry hou,e,% an too7 al7,% an a r+/e% an rea +n thel+6rary% an rote half a o5en letter,.

H+, 6e -room an re,,+ng-room ere at the ,+ e of the gallery% +re2tlyo00o,+te to my father4,% h+2h ha a ,ort of ante-room *en ,u+te*% +n

h+2here ,ome of h+, theolog+2al 6oo7,.

The ay after )r. Bryerly4, arr+/al% I a, a6out to ,ee hether myfather4,

ater 2araffe an gla,, ha 6een uly la+ on the ta6le +n th+, ante-room%


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an +n ou6t hether he a, there% I 7no27e at the oor.

I ,u00o,e they ere too +ntent on other matter, to hear% 6ut re2e+/+ng noan, er% I entere the room. )y father a, ,+tt+ng +n h+, 2ha+r% +th h+,2oat an a+,t2oat off% )r. Bryerly 7neel+ng on a ,tool 6e,+ e h+m%ratherfa2+ng h+m% h+, 6la27 ,2rat2h +g lean+ng 2lo,e to my father4, gr+55leha+r. There a, a large tome of the+r +/+n+ty lore% I ,u00o,e% o0en onthe ta6le 2lo,e 6y. The lan7 6la27 f+gure of )r. Bryerly ,too u0% an he2on2eale ,ometh+ng :u+27ly +n the 6rea,t of h+, 2oat.

)y father ,too u0 al,o% loo7+ng 0aler% I th+n7% than I e/er ,a h+m t+llthen% an he 0o+nte gr+mly to the oor% an ,a+ % 4#o.4

)r. Bryerly 0u,he me gently 6a27 +th h+, han , to my ,houl er,% an,m+le o n from h+, ar7 feature, +th an e30re,,+on :u+teun+ntell+g+6leto me.

I ha re2o/ere my,elf +n a ,e2on % an +th re +thout a or . The la,t

th+ng I ,a at the oor a, the tall% ,l+m f+gure +n 6la27% an the ar7%,+gn+f+2ant ,m+le follo +ng meD an then the oor a, ,hut an lo27e %anthe t o S e en6org+an, ere left to the+r my,ter+e,.

I remem6er ,o ell the 7+n of ,ho27 an +,gu,t I felt +n the 2erta+ntythat I ha ,ur0r+,e them at ,ome% 0erha0,% e6a,+ng +n2antat+on--a,u,0+2+on of th+, )r. Bryerly% of the +ll-f+tt+ng 6la27 2oat% an h+te2ho7er--an a ,ort of fear 2ame u0on me% an I fan2+e he a, a,,ert+ng,ome 7+n of ma,tery o/er my father% h+2h /ery mu2h alarme me.

I fan2+e all ,ort, of anger, +n the en+gmat+2al ,m+le of the lan7h+gh-0r+e,t. The +mage of my father% a, I ha ,een h+m% +t m+ght 6e%2onfe,,+ng to th+, man +n 6la27% ho a, I 7ne not hat% haunte me +ththe +,agreea6le un2erta+nt+e, of a m+n /ery un+n,tru2te a, to thel+m+t,of the mar/ellou,.

I ment+one +t to no one. But I a, +mmen,ely rel+e/e hen the ,+n+,ter/+,+tor too7 h+, e0arture the morn+ng after% an +t a, u0on th+,o22urren2e that my m+n a, no em0loye .

Some one ,a+ that $r. John,on re,em6le a gho,t% ho mu,t 6e ,0o7en to6efore +t +ll ,0ea7. But my father% +n hate/er el,e he may ha/ere,em6lea gho,t% + not +n that 0art+2ular9 for no one 6ut I +n h+, hou,ehol --an

I /ery ,el om-- are to a re,, h+m unt+l f+r,t a re,,e 6y h+m. I hanonot+on ho ,+ngular th+, a, unt+l I 6egan to go out a l+ttle amongfr+en ,an relat+on,% an foun no ,u2h rule +n for2e any here el,e.

A, I leane 6a27 +n my 2ha+r th+n7+ng% th+, 0hanta,m of my father 2ame%anturne % an /an+,he +th a ,olemn regular+ty. It a, a 0e2ul+ar f+gure%,trongly ma e% th+27-,et% +th a fa2e large% an /ery ,tern9 he ore a


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loo,e% 6la27 /el/et 2oat an a+,t2oat. It a,% ho e/er% the f+gure of anel erly rather than an ol man--though he a, then 0a,t ,e/enty--6utf+rm%an +th no ,+gn of fee6lene,,.

I remem6er the ,tart +th h+2h% not ,u,0e2t+ng that he a, 2lo,e 6y me%Il+fte my eye,% an ,a that large% rugge 2ountenan2e loo7+ng f+3e ly onme% from le,, than a yar a ay.

After I ,a h+m% he 2ont+nue to regar me for a ,e2on or t o9 an then%ta7+ng one of the hea/y 2an le,t+27, +n h+, gnarle han % he 6e27one metofollo h+m9 h+2h% +n ,+len2e an on er+ng% I a22or +ngly + .

He le me a2ro,, the hall% here there ere l+ght, 6urn+ng% an +nto alo66y 6y the foot of the 6a27 ,ta+r,% an ,o +nto h+, l+6rary.

It +, a long% narro room% +th t o tall% ,l+m +n o , at the far en %no

ra0e +n ar7 2urta+n,. $u,7y +t a, +th 6ut one 2an le9 an he 0au,enear the oor% at the left-han ,+ e of h+2h ,too % +n tho,e ay,% anol -fa,h+one 0re,, or 2a6+net of 2ar/e oa7. In front of th+, he,to00e .

He ha o % a6,ent ay,% an tal7e more to h+m,elf% I 6el+e/e% than toallthe re,t of the orl 0ut together.

4She on4t un er,tan %4 he h+,0ere % loo7+ng at me en:u+r+ngly. 4No% ,heon4t. * +ll* ,he 4

Then there a, a 0au,e% ur+ng h+2h he 6rought forth from h+, 6rea,t0o27et a ,mall 6un2h of ,ome half- o5en 7ey,% on one of h+2h he loo7efro n+ngly% e/ery no an then 6alan2+ng +t a l+ttle 6efore h+, eye,%6et een h+, f+nger an thum6% a, he el+6erate .

I 7ne h+m too ell% of 2our,e% to +nter0o,e a or .

4They are ea,+ly fr+ghtene --ay% they are. I4 6etter o +t another ay.4

An 0au,+ng% he loo7e +n my fa2e a, he m+ght u0on a 0+2ture.

4They *are*--ye,--I ha 6etter o +t another ay--another ay9 ye,--an,he4ll not ,u,0e2t--,he4ll not ,u00o,e.4

Then he loo7e ,tea fa,tly u0on the 7ey% an from +t to me% ,u enly

l+ft+ng +t u0% an ,a+ a6ru0tly% 4See% 2h+l %4 an % after a ,e2on ort o%4*"emem6er* th+, 7ey.4

It a, o ly ,ha0e % an unl+7e other,.

4(e,% ,+r.4 I al ay, 2alle h+m 4,+r.4

4It o0en, that%4 an he ta00e +t ,har0ly on the oor of the 2a6+net. 4In


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the ayt+me +t +, al ay, here%4 at h+2h or he ro00e +t +nto h+,0o27etaga+n. 4(ou ,ee --an at n+ght un er my 0+llo --you hear me 4

4(e,% ,+r.4

4(ou on4t forget th+, 2a6+net--oa7--ne3t the oor--on your left--youon4t

forget 4

4No% ,+r.4

4'+ty ,he4, a g+rl% an ,o young--ay% a g+rl% an ,o young--no,en,e--g+ y. (ou ,ay% you4ll *remem6er* 4

4(e,% ,+r.4

4It 6eho/e, you.4

He turne roun an loo7e full u0on me% l+7e a man ho ha, ta7en a

,u enre,olut+on9 an I th+n7 for a moment he ha ma e u0 h+, m+n to tell me agreat eal more. But +f ,o% he 2hange +t aga+n9 an after another 0au,e%he ,a+ ,lo ly an ,ternly--4(ou +ll tell no6o y hat I ha/e ,a+ % un er0a+n of my +,0lea,ure.4

4!h no% ,+r 4

4#oo 2h+l 4

4*E32e0t*%4 he re,ume % 4un er one 2ont+ngen2y9 that +,% +n 2a,e I ,houl6e a6,ent% an $r. Bryerly--you re2olle2t the th+n gentleman% +n,0e2ta2le,an a 6la27 +g% ho ,0ent three ay, here la,t month--,houl 2ome anen:u+re for the 7ey% you un er,tan % +n my a6,en2e.4

4(e,% ,+r.4

So he 7+,,e me on the forehea % an ,a+ --

4Let u, return.4

h+2h% a22or +ngly% e + % +n ,+len2e9 the ,torm out,+ e% l+7e a +rgeona great organ% a22om0any+ng our fl+tt+ng.

CHA'TE" II

*UNCLE SILAS*

hen e rea2he the ra +ng-room% I re,ume my 2ha+r% an my father h+,,lo an regular al7 to an fro% +n the great room. 'erha0, +t a, the


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u0roar of the +n that +,tur6e the or +nary tenor of h+, thought,96ut%

hate/er a, the 2au,e% 2erta+nly he a, unu,ually tal7at+/e that n+ght.

After an +nter/al of nearly half an hour% he re near aga+n% an ,ato n

+n a h+gh-6a27e arm-2ha+r% 6e,+ e the f+re% an nearly o00o,+te to me%anloo7e at me ,tea fa,tly for ,ome t+me% a, a, h+, ont% 6efore ,0ea7+ng9an ,a+ he--

4Th+, on4t o--you mu,t ha/e a go/erne,,.4

In 2a,e, of th+, 7+n I merely ,et o n my 6oo7 or or7% a, +t m+ght 6e%an a @u,te my,elf to l+,ten +thout ,0ea7+ng.

4(our Fren2h +, 0retty ell% an your Ital+an9 6ut you ha/e no #erman.(our mu,+2 may 6e 0retty goo --I4m no @u ge--6ut your ra +ng m+ght 6e6etter--ye,--ye,. I 6el+e/e there are a22om0l+,he la +e,--f+n+,h+nggo/erne,,e,% they 2all them-- ho un erta7e more than any one tea2her

oulha/e 0rofe,,e +n my t+me% an o /ery ell. She 2an 0re0are you% anne3t +nter% then% you ,hall /+,+t Fran2e an Italy% here you may 6ea22om0l+,he a, h+ghly a, you 0lea,e.4

4Than7 you% ,+r.4

4(ou ,hall. It +, nearly ,+3 month, ,+n2e )+,, Ellerton left you--toolong

+thout a tea2her.4

Then follo e an +nter/al.

4$r. Bryerly +ll a,7 you a6out that 7ey% an hat +t o0en,9 you ,ho allthat to *h+m*% an no one el,e.4

4But%4 I ,a+ % for I ha a great terror of +,o6ey+ng h+m +n e/er ,om+nutea matter% 4you +ll then 6e a6,ent% ,+r--ho am I to f+n the 7ey 4

He ,m+le on me ,u enly--a 6r+ght 6ut +ntry ,m+le--+t ,el om 2ame% ana, /ery tran,+tory% an 7+n ly though my,ter+ou,.

4True% 2h+l 9 I4m gla you are ,o +,e9 *that*% you +ll f+n % I ha/e0ro/+ e for% an you ,hall 7no e3a2tly here to loo7. (ou ha/e remar7eho ,ol+tar+ly I l+/e. (ou fan2y% 0erha0,% I ha/e not got a fr+en % anyou are nearly r+ght--*nearly*% 6ut not altogether. I ha/e a /ery ,ure

fr+en --*one*--a fr+en hom I on2e m+,un er,too % 6ut no a00re2+ate.4

I on ere ,+lently hether +t 2oul 6e Un2le S+la,.

4He4ll ma7e me a 2all% ,ome ay ,oon9 I4m not :u+te ,ure hen. I on4ttellyou h+, name--you4ll hear that ,oon enough% an I on4t ant +t tal7eof9an I mu,t ma7e a l+ttle @ourney +th h+m. (ou4ll not 6e afra+ of 6e+ngleft alone for a t+me 4


12/398

4An ha/e you 0rom+,e % ,+r 4 I an, ere % +th another :ue,t+on% my2ur+o,+ty an an3+ety o/er2om+ng my a e. He too7 my :ue,t+on+ng /erygoo -humoure ly.

4 ell--*0rom+,e* --no% 2h+l 9 6ut I4m un er 2on +t+on9 he4, not to 6een+e . I mu,t ma7e the e32ur,+on +th h+m the moment he 2all,. I ha/e no

2ho+2e9 6ut% on the hole% I rather l+7e +t--remem6er% I ,ay% I rather*l+7e* +t.4

An he ,m+le aga+n% +th the ,ame mean+ng% that a, at on2e ,tern an,a .The e3a2t 0ur0ort of the,e ,enten2e, rema+ne f+3e +n my m+n % ,o thate/en at th+, +,tan2e of t+me I am :u+te ,ure of them.

A 0er,on :u+te una2:ua+nte +th my father4, ha6+tually a6ru0t an oay

of tal7+ng% oul ha/e fan2+e that he a, 0o,,+6ly a l+ttle +,or ere+nh+, m+n . But no ,u2h ,u,0+2+on for a moment trou6le me. I a, :u+te

,urethat he ,0o7e of a real 0er,on ho a, 2om+ng% an that h+, @ourney a,,ometh+ng momentou,9 an hen the /+,+tor of hom he ,0o7e + 2ome% anhe

e0arte +th h+m u0on that my,ter+ou, e32ur,+on% I 0erfe2tly un er,tooh+, language an h+, rea,on, for ,ay+ng ,o mu2h an yet ,o l+ttle.

(ou are not to ,u00o,e that all my hour, ere 0a,,e +n the ,ort of2onferen2e an +,olat+on of h+2h I ha/e @u,t g+/en you a ,0e2+men9 an,+ngular an e/en a ful a, ere ,omet+me, my *t te-a-t te,* +th myfather%I ha gro n ,o a22u,tome to h+, ,trange ay,% an ha ,o un6oun e a2onf+ en2e +n h+, affe2t+on% that they ne/er e0re,,e or ag+tate me +nthe manner you m+ght ha/e ,u00o,e . I ha a great eal of :u+te a

+fferent,ort of 2hat +th goo ol )r,. "u,7% an /ery 0lea,ant tal7, +th )ary>u+n2e% my ,ome hat an2+ent ma+ 9 an 6e,+ e, all th+,% I ha no anthena /+,+t of a ee7 or ,o at the hou,e of ,ome one of our 2ountryne+gh6our,%an o22a,+onally a /+,+tor--6ut th+,% I mu,t o n% /ery rarely--at &no l.

There ha 2ome no a l+ttle 0au,e +n my father4, re/elat+on,% an myfan2y

an ere a ay u0on a fl+ght of +,2o/ery. ho% I aga+n thought% 2oulth+,+nten +ng /+,+tor 6e% ho a, to 2ome% arme +th the 0rerogat+/e to ma7e

my ,tay-at-home father forth +th lea/e h+, hou,ehol goo ,--h+, 6oo7, anh+, 2h+l --to hom he 2lung% an ,et forth on an un7no n 7n+ght-errantry

ho 6ut Un2le S+la,% I thought--that my,ter+ou, relat+/e hom I hane/er ,een-- ho a,% +t ha +n ol t+me, 6een /ery ar7ly h+nte to me%un,0ea7a6ly unfortunate or un,0ea7a6ly /+2+ou,-- hom I ha ,el om hearmyfather ment+on% an then +n a hurr+e ay% an +th a 0a+ne % thoughtfulloo7. !n2e only he ha ,a+ anyth+ng from h+2h I 2oul gather myfather4,


13/398

o0+n+on of h+m% an then +t a, ,o ,l+ght an en+gmat+2al that I m+ghtha/ef+lle +n the 2hara2ter /ery nearly a, I 0lea,e .

It ha00ene thu,. !ne ay )r,. "u,7 a, +n the oa7-room% I 6e+ng thena6outfourteen. She a, remo/+ng a ,ta+n from a ta0e,try 2ha+r% an I at2hethe0ro2e,, +th a 2h+l +,h +ntere,t. She ,at o n to re,t her,elf--,he ha6een ,too0+ng o/er her or7--an thre her hea 6a27% for her ne27 a,

eary% an +n th+, 0o,+t+on ,he f+3e her eye, on a 0ortra+t that hung6efore her.

It a, a full-length% an re0re,ente a ,+ngularly han ,ome young man%ar7% ,len er% elegant% +n a 2o,tume then :u+te o6,olete% though I

6el+e/e+t a, ,een at the 6eg+nn+ng of th+, 2entury-- h+te leather 0antaloon,anto0-6oot,% a 6uff a+,t2oat% an a 2ho2olate-2oloure 2oat% an the ha+rlong an 6ru,he 6a27.

There a, a remar7a6le elegan2e an a el+2a2y +n the feature,% 6ut al,oa2hara2ter of re,olut+on an a6+l+ty that :u+te too7 the 0ortra+t out ofthe2ategory of mere fo0, or f+ne men. hen 0eo0le loo7e at +t for the f+r,tt+me% I ha/e ,o often hear the e32lamat+on--4 hat a on erfully han ,omeman 4 an then% 4 hat a 2le/er fa2e 4 An Ital+an greyhoun ,too 6y h+m%an ,ome ,len er 2olumn, an a r+2h ra0ery +n the 6a27groun . But thoughthe a22e,,or+e, ere of the lu3ur+ou, ,ort% an the 6eauty% a, I ha/e,a+ %ref+ne % there a, a ma,2ul+ne for2e +n that ,len er o/al fa2e% an af+re+n the large% ,ha o y eye,% h+2h ere /ery 0e2ul+ar% an :u+te re eeme+tfrom the ,u,0+2+on of effem+na2y.

4I, not that Un2le S+la, 4 ,a+ I.

4(e,% ear%4 an, ere )r,. "u,7% loo7+ng% +th her re,olute l+ttle fa2e%:u+etly on the 0ortra+t.

4He mu,t 6e a /ery han ,ome man% )r,. "u,7. $on4t you th+n7 ,o 4 I2ont+nue .

4He * a,*% my ear--ye,9 6ut +t +, forty year, ,+n2e that a, 0a+nte --the

ate +, there +n the 2orner% +n the ,ha o that 2ome, from h+, foot% anforty year,% I 2an tell you% ma7e, a 2hange +n mo,t of u,94 an )r,. "u,7laughe % +n 2yn+2al goo -humour.

There a, a l+ttle 0au,e% 6oth ,t+ll loo7+ng on the han ,ome man +nto0-6oot,% an I ,a+ --

4An hy% )r,. "u,7% +, 0a0a al ay, ,o ,a a6out Un2le S+la, 4

4 hat4, that% 2h+l 4 ,a+ my father4, /o+2e% /ery near. I loo7e roun %


14/398

+th a ,tart% an flu,he an faltere % re2e +ng a ,te0 from h+m.

4No harm% ear. (ou ha/e ,a+ noth+ng rong%4 he ,a+ gently% o6,er/+ngmy alarm. 4(ou ,a+ I a, al ay, ,a % I th+n7% a6out Un2le S+la,. ell%I on4t 7no ho you gather that9 6ut +f I ere% I +ll no tell you% +t

oul not 6e unnatural. (our un2le +, a man of great talent,% greatfault,%an great rong,. H+, talent, ha/e not a/a+le h+m9 h+, fault, are longagore0ente of9 an h+, rong, I 6el+e/e he feel, le,, than I o% 6ut theyare

ee0. $+ ,he ,ay any more% ma am 4 he eman e a6ru0tly of )r,. "u,7.

4Noth+ng% ,+r%4 +th a ,t+ff l+ttle 2ourte,y% an, ere )r,. "u,7% ho,too+n a e of h+m.

4An there +, no nee % 2h+l %4 he 2ont+nue % a re,,+ng h+m,elf to me%4that you ,houl th+n7 more of h+m at 0re,ent. Clear your hea of Un2leS+la,. !ne ay% 0erha0,% you +ll 7no h+m--ye,% /ery ell--an

un er,tanho /+lla+n, ha/e +n@ure h+m.

Then my father ret+re % an at the oor he ,a+ --

4)r,. "u,7% a or % +f you 0lea,e%4 6e27on+ng to that la y% ho trotteafter h+m to the l+6rary.

I th+n7 he then la+ ,ome +n@un2t+on u0on the hou,e7ee0er% h+2h a,tran,m+tte 6y her to )ary >u+n2e% for from that t+me forth I 2oul ne/erlea e+ther to tal7 +th me a6out Un2le S+la,. They let me tal7 on% 6ut

ere re,er/e an ,+lent them,el/e,% an ,eeme em6arra,,e % an )r,."u,7,omet+me, 0ett+,h an angry% hen I 0re,,e for +nformat+on.

Thu, 2ur+o,+ty a, 0+:ue 9 an roun the ,len er 0ortra+t +n the leather0antaloon, an to0-6oot, gathere many-2oloure 2+r2le, of my,tery% anthehan ,ome feature, ,eeme to ,m+le o n u0on my 6affle 2ur+o,+ty +th a0ro/o7+ng ,+gn+f+2an2e.

hy +, +t that th+, form of am6+t+on--2ur+o,+ty-- h+2h entere +nto thetem0tat+on of our f+r,t 0arent% +, ,o ,0e2+ally har to re,+,t &no le ge+, 0o er--an 0o er of one ,ort or another +, the ,e2ret lu,t of human,oul,9 an here +,% 6e,+ e the ,en,e of e30lorat+on% the un ef+na6le+ntere,t of a ,tory% an a6o/e all% ,ometh+ng for6+ en% to ,t+mulate the2ontuma2+ou, a00et+te.

CHA'TE" III

*A NE FACE*


15/398

I th+n7 +t a, a6out a fortn+ght after that 2on/er,at+on +n h+2h myfatherha e30re,,e h+, o0+n+on% an g+/en me the my,ter+ou, 2harge a6out theol oa7 2a6+net +n h+, l+6rary% a, alrea y eta+le % that I a, one n+ght,+tt+ng at the great ra +ng-room +n o % lo,t +n the melan2holy re/er+e,of n+ght% an +n a m+rat+on of the moonl+ghte ,2ene. I a, the onlyo22u0ant of the room9 an the l+ght, near the f+re% at +t, farther en %har ly rea2he to the +n o at h+2h I ,at.

The ,horn gra,, ,lo0e gently o n ar from the +n o , t+ll +t met the6roa le/el on h+2h ,too % +n 2lum0,% or ,ol+tar+ly ,2attere % ,ome oftheno6le,t t+m6er +n Englan . Hoar +n the moon6eam, ,too tho,e gra2efultree, 2a,t+ng the+r mo/ele,, ,ha o , u0on the gra,,% an +n the6a27groun2ro n+ng the un ulat+on, of the +,tan2e% +n ma,,e,% ere 0+le tho,e

oo ,among h+2h lay the ,ol+tary tom6 here the rema+n, of my 6elo/e motherre,te .

The a+r a, ,t+ll. The ,+l/ery /a0our hung ,erenely on the far hor+5on%an the fro,ty ,tar, 6l+n7e 6r+ghtly. E/eryone 7no , the effe2t of ,u2ha,2ene on a m+n alrea y ,a ene . Fan2+e, an regret, float m+,t+ly +nthe ream% an the ,2ene affe2t, u, +th a ,trange m+3ture of memory anant+2+0at+on% l+7e ,ome , eet ol a+r hear +n the +,tan2e. A, my eye,re,te on tho,e% to me% funereal 6ut glor+ou, oo ,% h+2h forme the6a27groun of the 0+2ture% my thought, re2urre to my father4, my,ter+ou,+nt+mat+on, an the +mage of the a00roa2h+ng /+,+tor9 an the thought ofthe un7no n @ourney ,a ene me.

In all that 2on2erne h+, rel+g+on% from /ery early a,,o2+at+on% therea,

to me ,ometh+ng of the unearthly an ,0e2tral.

hen my ear mamma +e I a, not n+ne year, ol 9 an I remem6er% t oay,

6efore the funeral% there 2ame to &no l% here ,he +e % a th+n l+ttleman%

+th large 6la27 eye,% an a /ery gra/e% ar7 fa2e.

He a, ,hut u0 a goo eal +th my ear father% ho a, +n ee0affl+2t+on9an )r,. "u,7 u,e to ,ay% 4It +, rather o to ,ee h+m 0ray+ng +th thatl+ttle ,2are2ro from Lon on% an goo )r. Clay rea y at 2all% +n the/+llage9 mu2h goo that l+ttle 6la27 h+00er-,na00er +ll o h+m 4

+th that l+ttle 6la27 man% on the ay after the funeral% I a, ,ent out%for ,ome rea,on% for a al79 my go/erne,, a, +ll% I 7no % an there a,2onfu,+on +n the hou,e% an I are ,ay the ma+ , ma e a, mu2h of ahol+ aya, they 2oul .

I remem6er feel+ng a ,ort of a e of th+, l+ttle ar7 man9 6ut I a, notafra+ of h+m% for he a, gentle% though ,a --an ,eeme 7+n . He le me+nto the gar en--the $ut2h gar en% e u,e to 2all +t-- +th a 6alu,tra e%an ,tatue, at the farther front% la+ out +n a 2ar0et-0attern of


16/398

6r+ll+antly-2oloure flo er,. e 2ame o n the 6roa fl+ght of Caen ,tone,te0, +nto th+,% an e al7e +n ,+len2e to the 6alu,tra e. The 6a,e a,too h+gh at the ,0ot here e rea2he +t for me to ,ee o/er9 6ut hol +ngmyhan % he ,a+ % 4Loo7 through that% my 2h+l . ell% you 2an4t9 6ut *I* 2an,ee 6eyon +t--,hall I tell you hat I ,ee e/er ,o mu2h. I ,ee a 2ottage

+th a ,tee0 roof% that loo7, l+7e gol +n the ,unl+ght9 there are talltree, thro +ng ,oft ,ha o , roun +t% an flo er+ng ,hru6,% I 2an4t ,ay

hat% only the 2olour, are 6eaut+ful% gro +ng 6y the all, an +n o ,%ant o l+ttle 2h+l ren are 0lay+ng among the ,tem, of the tree,% an e areonour ay there% an +n a fe m+nute, ,hall 6e un er tho,e tree, our,el/e,%an tal7+ng to tho,e l+ttle 2h+l ren. (et no to me +t +, 6ut a 0+2ture+nmy 6ra+n% an to you 6ut a ,tory tol 6y me% h+2h you 6el+e/e. Come%

ear9let u, 6e go+ng.4

So e e,2en e the ,te0, at the r+ght% an ,+ e 6y ,+ e al7e along the

gra,, lane 6et een tall tr+m all, of e/ergreen,. The ay a, +n ee0,ha o % for the ,un a, near the hor+5on9 6ut ,u enly e turne to theleft% an there e ,too +n r+2h ,unl+ght% among the many o6@e2t, he ha

e,2r+6e .

4I, th+, your hou,e% my l+ttle men 4 he a,7e of the 2h+l ren--0rettyl+ttle ro,y 6oy,-- ho a,,ente 9 an he leane +th h+, o0en han aga+n,tthe ,tem of one of the tree,% an +th a gra/e ,m+le he no e o n tome%,ay+ng--

4(ou ,ee no % an hear% an *feel* for your,elf that 6oth the /+,+on anthe ,tory ere :u+te true9 6ut 2ome on% my ear% e ha/e further to go.4

An rela0,+ng +nto ,+len2e e ha a long ram6le through the oo % the,ameon h+2h I a, no loo7+ng +n the +,tan2e. E/ery no an then he ma e me,+t o n to re,t% an he +n a mu,+ng ,olemn ,ort of ay oul relate ,omel+ttle ,tory% refle2t+ng% e/en to my 2h+l +,h m+n % a ,trange ,u,0+2+onof a ,0+r+tual mean+ng% 6ut +fferent from hat hone,t )r,. "u,7 u,eto e30oun to me from the 'ara6le,% an % ,omeho % ,tartl+ng +n +t, /ery/aguene,,.

Thu, enterta+ne % though a l+ttle a fully% I a22om0an+e the ar7my,ter+ou, l+ttle 4 h+00er-,na00er4 through the oo lan gla e,. e 2ame%to me :u+te une30e2te ly% +n the ee0 ,yl/an ,ha o ,% u0on the grey%0+llare tem0le% four-fronte % +th a ,lant+ng 0e e,tal of l+2hen-,ta+ne

,te0,% the lonely ,e0ul2hre +n h+2h I ha the morn+ng 6efore ,een 0oormamma la+ . At the ,+ght the founta+n, of my gr+ef reo0ene % an I 2r+e6+tterly% re0eat+ng% 4!h mamma% mamma% l+ttle mamma 4 an ,o ent on

ee0+ng an 2all+ng +l ly on the eaf an the ,+lent. There a, a ,tone6en2h ,ome ten ,te0, a ay from the tom6.

4S+t o n 6e,+ e me% my 2h+l %4 ,a+ the gra/e man +th the 6la27 eye,%/ery 7+n ly an gently. 4No % hat o you ,ee there 4 he a,7e % 0o+nt+nghor+5ontally +th h+, ,t+27 to ar , the 2entre of the o00o,+te ,tru2ture.


17/398

4!h% *that*--that 0la2e here 0oor mamma +, 4

4(e,% a ,tone all +th 0+llar,% too h+gh for e+ther you or me to ,eeo/er.But----4

Here he ment+one a name h+2h I th+n7 mu,t ha/e 6een S e en6org% fromhat

I after ar , learnt of h+, tenet, an re/elat+on,9 I only 7no that +t,oun e to me l+7e the name of a mag+2+an +n a fa+ry tale9 I fan2+e hel+/e +n the oo h+2h ,urroun e u,% an I 6egan to gro fr+ghtene a,he0ro2ee e .

4But S e en6org ,ee, 6eyon +t% o/er% an *through* +t% an ha, tol meallthat 2on2ern, u, to 7no . He ,ay, your mamma +, not there.4

4She +, ta7en a ay 4 I 2r+e % ,tart+ng u0% an +th ,tream+ng eye,%ga5+ng

on the 6u+l +ng h+2h% though I ,tam0e my feet +n my +,tra2t+on% I a,afra+ to a00roa2h. 4!h% *+,* mamma ta7en a ay here +, ,he here ha/ethey 6rought her to 4

I a, utter+ng un2on,2+ou,ly /ery nearly the :ue,t+on +th h+2h )ary%+n the grey of that on rou, morn+ng on h+2h ,he ,too 6y the em0ty,e0ul2hre% a22o,te the f+gure ,tan +ng near.

4(our mamma +, al+/e 6ut too far a ay to ,ee or hear u,. S e en6org%,tan +ng here% 2an ,ee an hear her% an tell, me all he ,ee,% @u,t a, Itol you +n the gar en a6out the l+ttle 6oy, an the 2ottage% an thetree,an flo er, h+2h you 2oul not ,ee. (ou 6el+e/e +n hen *I* tol you.SoI 2an tell you no a, I + then9 an a, e are 6oth% I ho0e% al7+ng ontothe ,ame 0la2e @u,t a, e + to the tree, an 2ottage. (ou +ll ,urely,ee

+th your o n eye, ho true the e,2r+0t+on +, h+2h I g+/e you.4

I a, /ery fr+ghtene % for I feare that hen he ha one h+, narrat+/eeere to al7 on through the oo +nto that 0la2e of on er, an of

,ha o ,here the ea ere /+,+6le.

He leane h+, el6o on h+, 7nee% an h+, forehea on h+, han % h+2h

,ha e h+, o n2a,t eye,. In that att+tu e he e,2r+6e to me a 6eaut+fullan ,2a0e% ra +ant +th a on rou, l+ght% +n h+2h% re@o+2+ng% my mothermo/e along an a+ry 0ath% a,2en +ng among mounta+n, of fanta,t+2 he+ght%an 0ea7,% melt+ng +n 2ele,t+al 2olour+ng +nto the a+r% an 0eo0le +thhuman 6e+ng, tran,late +nto the ,ame +mage% 6eauty% an ,0len our. An

hen he ha en e h+, relat+on% he ro,e% too7 my han % an ,m+l+ng gentlyo n on my 0ale% on er+ng fa2e% he ,a+ the ,ame or , he ha ,0o7en

6efore--

4Come% ear% let u, go.4


18/398

4!h no% no% *no*--not no %4 I ,a+ % re,+,t+ng% an /ery mu2h fr+ghtene .

4Home% I mean% ear. e 2annot al7 to the 0la2e I ha/e e,2r+6e . e 2anonly rea2h +t through the gate of eath% to h+2h e are all ten +ng%youngan ol % +th ,ure ,te0,.4

4An here +, the gate of eath 4 I a,7e +n a ,ort of h+,0er% a, eal7e together% hol +ng h+, han % an loo7+ng ,tealth+ly. He ,m+le

,a lyan ,a+ --

4 hen% ,ooner or later% the t+me 2ome,% a, Hagar4, eye, ere o0ene +nthe

+l erne,,% an ,he 6ehel the founta+n of ater% ,o ,hall ea2h of u, ,eethe oor o0en 6efore u,% an enter +n an 6e refre,he .4

For a long t+me follo +ng th+, al7 I a, /ery ner/ou,9 more ,o for thea ful manner +n h+2h )r,. "u,7 re2e+/e my ,tatement-- +th ,tern l+0,

anu0turne han , an eye,% an an angry e30o,tulat+onD 4I o on er atyou% )ary >u+n2e% lett+ng the 2h+l al7 +nto the oo +th that l+m6 of

ar7ne,,. It +, a mer2y he + not ,ho her the e/+l% or fr+ghten heroutof her ,en,e,% +n that lonely 0la2e 4

!f the,e S e en6org+an,% +n ee % I 7no no more than I m+ght learn fromgoo )r,. "u,74, /ery +na22urate tal7. T o or three of them 2ro,,e +nthe2our,e of my early l+fe% l+7e mag+2-lantern f+gure,% the +,7 of my /ery2+r2um,2r+6e o6,er/at+on. All out,+ e a, an +, ar7ne,,. I on2e tr+etorea one of the+r 6oo7, u0on the future ,tate--hea/en an hell9 6ut Igreafter a ay or t o ,o ner/ou, that I la+ +t a,+ e. It +, enough for meto 7no that the+r foun er e+ther ,a or fan2+e he ,a ama5+ng /+,+on,%

h+2h% ,o far from ,u0er,e +ng% 2onf+rme an +nter0rete the language ofthe B+6le9 an a, ear 0a0a a22e0te the+r + ea,% I am ha00y +n th+n7+ngthat they + not 2onfl+2t +th the ,u0reme author+ty of holy r+t.

Lean+ng on my han % I a, no loo7+ng u0on that ,olemn oo % h+te an,ha o y +n the moonl+ght% here% for a long t+me after that ram6le +ththe/+,+onary% I fan2+e the gate of eath% h+ en only 6y a ,trange glamour%an the a55l+ng lan of gho,t,% ere ,+tuate9 an I ,u00o,e the,eearl+er

a,,o2+at+on, ga/e to my re/er+e a6out my father4, 2om+ng /+,+tor a +l eran a ,a er t+nge.

CHA'TE" I;

*)A$A)E $E LA "!U#IE""E*


19/398

!n a ,u en% on the gra,, 6efore me% ,too an o f+gure--a /ery talloman

+n grey ra0er+e,% nearly h+te un er the moon% 2ourte,y+nge3traor +nar+lylo % an rather fanta,t+2ally.

I ,tare +n ,ometh+ng l+7e a horror u0on the large an rather hollofeature, h+2h I + not 7no % ,m+l+ng /ery un0lea,antly on me9 an themoment +t a, 0la+n that I ,a her% the grey oman 6egan go66l+ngan 2a27l+ng ,hr+lly--I 2oul not +,t+n2tly hear * hat* through the

+n o --an ge,t+2ulat+ng o ly +th her long han , an arm,.

A, ,he re near the +n o % I fle to the f+re0la2e% an rang the 6ellfrant+2ally% an ,ee+ng her ,t+ll there% an fear+ng that ,he m+ght 6rea7+nto the room% I fle out of the oor% /ery mu2h fr+ghtene % an metBran,ton the 6utler +n the lo66y.

4There4, a oman at the +n o 4 I ga,0e 9 4turn her a ay% 0lea,e.4

If I ha ,a+ a man% I ,u00o,e fat Bran,ton oul ha/e ,ummone an ,entfor ar a eta2hment of footmen. A, +t a,% he 6o e gra/ely% +th a--

4(e,%4m--,hall%4m.4

An +th an a+r of author+ty a00roa2he the +n o .

I on4t th+n7 that he a, 0lea,antly +m0re,,e h+m,elf 6y the f+r,t ,+ghtof our /+,+tor% for he ,to00e ,hort ,ome ,te0, of the +n o % an

eman erather ,ternly--

4 hat ye o+n4 there% oman 4

To th+, ,ummon,% her an, er% h+2h o22u0+e a l+ttle t+me% a, +nau +6letome. But Bran,ton re0l+e --

4I a,n4t a are% ma4am9 I heer noth+n49 +f you4ll go roun *that* ay%you4ll ,ee the hall- oor ,te0,% an I4ll ,0ea7 to the ma,ter% an o a,he,hall or er.4

The f+gure ,a+ ,ometh+ng an 0o+nte .

4(e,% that4, +t% an ye 2an4t m+,, the oor.4

An )r. Bran,ton returne ,lo ly o n the long room% an halte +thout-turne 0um0, an a gra/e +n2l+nat+on 6efore me% an the fa+nte,tamountof +nterrogat+on +n the announ2ement--

4'lea,e%4m% ,he ,ay, ,he4, the go/erne,,.4

4The go/erne,, * hat* go/erne,, 4

Bran,ton a, too ell-6re to ,m+le% an he ,a+ thoughtfully--


20/398

4'4ra0,%4m% I4 6e,t a,7 the ma,ter 4

To h+2h I a,,ente % an a ay ,tro e the flat 0um0, of the 6utler to thel+6rary.

I ,too 6reathle,, +n the hall. E/ery g+rl at my age 7no , ho mu2h +,+n/ol/e +n ,u2h an a /ent. I al,o hear )r,. "u,7% +n a m+nute or t omore% emerge I ,u00o,e from the ,tu y. She al7e :u+27ly% an muttere,har0ly to her,elf--an e/+l tr+27% +n h+2h ,he +n ulge hen mu2h 40uta6out.4 I ,houl ha/e 6een gla of a or +th her9 6ut I fan2+e ,he a,/e3e % an oul not ha/e tal7e ,at+,fa2tor+ly. She + not% ho e/er%2omemy ay9 merely 2ro,,+ng the hall +th her :u+27% energet+2 ,te0.

a, +t really the arr+/al of a go/erne,, a, that a00ar+t+on h+2h ha+m0re,,e me ,o un0lea,antly to ta7e the 2omman of me--to ,+t alone +thme% an haunt me 0er0etually +th her ,+n+,ter loo7, an ,hr+lly ga66le

I a, @u,t ma7+ng u0 my m+n to go to )ary >u+n2e% an learn ,ometh+ng

ef+n+te% hen I hear my father4, ,te0 a00roa2h+ng from the l+6raryD ,oI :u+etly re-entere the ra +ngroom% 6ut +th an an3+ou, an thro66+ngheart.

hen he 2ame +n% a, u,ual% he 0atte me on the hea gently% +th a 7+nof,m+le% an then 6egan h+, ,+lent al7 u0 an o n the room. I a,yearn+ngto :ue,t+on h+m on the 0o+nt that @u,t then engro,,e me ,o +,agreea6ly96ut the a e +n h+2h I ,too of h+m for6a e.

After a t+me he ,to00e at the +n o % the 2urta+n of h+2h I ha ra n%an the ,hutter 0artly o0ene % an he loo7e out% 0erha0, +tha,,o2+at+on,of h+, o n% on the ,2ene I ha 6een 2ontem0lat+ng.

It a, not for nearly an hour after% that my father ,u enly% after h+,ont% +n a fe or ,% a00r+,e me of the arr+/al of )a ame e la

"oug+erreto 6e my go/erne,,% h+ghly re2ommen e an 0erfe2tly :ual+f+e . )y heart,an7 +th a ,ure 0re,age of +ll. I alrea y +,l+7e % +,tru,te % anfeareher.

I ha more than an a00rehen,+on of her tem0er an fear of 0o,,+6ly a6u,eauthor+ty. The large-feature % ,m+r7+ng 0hantom% ,alut+ng me ,o o ly +nthe moonl+ght% reta+ne e/er after +t, 0e2ul+ar an un0lea,ant hol u0on

myner/e,.

4 ell% )+,, )au % ear% I ho0e you4ll l+7e your ne go/erne,,--for +t4,more than *I* o% @u,t at 0re,ent at lea,t%4 ,a+ )r,. "u,7% ,har0ly--,he

a, a a+t+ng me +n my room. 4I hate them Fren2h- omen9 they4re notnatural%I th+n7. I ga/e her her ,u00er +n my room. She eat, l+7e a olf% ,he

oe,%


21/398

the great ra -6one hann+mal. I +,h you ,a her +n 6e a, I + . I 0utherne3t the 2lo27-room--,he4ll hear the hour, 6et+me,% I4m th+n7+ng. (oune/er,a ,u2h a ,+ght. The great long no,e an hollo 2hee7, of her% an oogh,u2h a mouth I felt a4mo,t l+7e l+ttle "e "+ +ng-Hoo --I + % )+,,.4

Here hone,t )ary >u+n2e% ho en@oye )r,. "u,74, ,at+re% a ea0on +nh+2h

,he a, not her,elf ,trong% laughe outr+ght.

4Turn o n the 6e % )ary. She4, /ery agreea6le--,he +,% @u,t no --allne -2omer, +,9 6ut ,he + not get many 2om0l+ment, from me% )+,,--no%I rayther th+n7 not. I on er hy hone,t Engl+,h g+rl, on4t an, er thegentry for go/erne,,e,% +n,tea of them ga0+ng% ,2hem+ng% +27efurr+ner,Lor forg+4 me% I th+n7 they4re all al+7e.4

Ne3t morn+ng I ma e a2:ua+ntan2e +th )a ame e la "oug+erre. She a,tall%

ma,2ul+ne% a l+ttle gha,tly 0erha0,% an ra0e +n 0ur0le ,+l7% +th ala2e 2a0% an great 6an , of 6la27 ha+r% too th+27 an 6la27% 0erha0,% to2orre,0on :u+te naturally +th her 6lea2he an ,allo ,7+n% her hollo@a ,% an the f+ne 6ut gr+m r+n7le, tra2e a6out her 6ro , an eyel+ ,.She ,m+le % ,he no e % an then for a goo h+le ,he ,2anne me +n,+len2e

+th a ,tea y 2unn+ng eye% an a ,tern ,m+le.

4An ho +, ,he name -- hat +, )a emo+,elle4, name 4 ,a+ the tall,tranger.

4*)au *% )a ame.4

4)au -- hat 0retty name Eh 6+en I am /ery ,ure my ear )au ,he +ll6e /ery goo l+ttle g+rl--+, not ,o --an I am ,ure I ,hall lo/e you /arymo2he. An hat 4a/ you 6een learn+ng% )au % my ear 2hea+le--mu,+2%Fren2h% #erman% eh 4

4(e,% a l+ttle9 an I ha @u,t 6egun the u,e of the glo6e, hen mygo/erne,, ent a ay.4

I no e to ar , the glo6e,% h+2h ,too near her% a, I ,a+ th+,.

4!h ye,--the glo6e,94 an ,he ,0un one of them +th her great han . 4Je/ou, e30l+:uera+ tout 2ela fon .4

)a ame e la "oug+erre% I foun % a, al ay, :u+te rea y to e30la+n

e/eryth+ng 4 fon 94 6ut ,omeho her 4e30l+2at+on,%4 a, ,he terme them%ere not /ery +ntell+g+6le% an hen 0re,,e her tem0er o7e u09 ,o that

I0referre % after a h+le% a22e0t+ng the e30o,+t+on, @u,t a, they 2ame.

)a ame a, on an unu,ually large ,2ale% a 2+r2um,tan2e h+2h ma e ,ome ofher tra+t, more ,tartl+ng% an altogether ren ere her% +n her ,trange

ay%more a ful +n the eye, of a ner/ou, *2h+l %* I may ,ay% ,u2h a, I a,.She


22/398

u,e to loo7 at me for a long t+me ,omet+me,% +th the 0e2ul+ar ,m+leI ha/e ment+one % an a great f+nger u0on her l+0% l+7e the Eleu,+n+an0r+e,te,, on the /a,e.

She oul ,+t% too% ,omet+me, for an hour together% loo7+ng +nto the f+reor out of the +n o % 0la+nly ,ee+ng noth+ng% an +th an o % f+3e loo7of ,ometh+ng l+7e tr+um0h--/ery nearly a ,m+le--on her 2unn+ng fa2e.

She a, 6y no mean, a 0lea,ant *gou/ernante* for a ner/ou, g+rl of myyear,. Somet+me, ,he ha a22e,,e, of a ,ort of h+lar+ty h+2h fr+ghteneme,t+ll more than her gra/er moo ,% an I +ll e,2r+6e the,e 6y-an -6y.

CHA'TE" ;

*SI#HTS AN$ N!ISES*

There +, not an ol hou,e +n Englan of h+2h the ,er/ant, an young0eo0le

ho l+/e +n +t o not 2her+,h ,ome tra +t+on, of the gho,tly. &no l ha,+t,,ha o ,% no+,e,% an mar/ellou, re2or ,. "a2hel "uthyn% the 6eauty of>ueenAnne4, t+me% ho +e of gr+ef for the han ,ome Colonel Nor6roo7e% ho

a, 7+lle +n the Lo Countr+e,% al7, the hou,e 6y n+ght% +n 2r+,0 an,oun +ng ,+l7,. She +, not ,een% only hear . The ta00+ng of her h+gh-heele,hoe,% the , ee0 an ru,tle of her 6ro2a e,% her ,+gh, a, ,he 0au,e, +nthegaller+e,% near the 6e -room oor,9 an ,omet+me,% on ,tormy n+ght,% her,o6,.

There +,% 6e,+ e% the 4l+n7-man4% a lan7% ar7-fa2e % 6la27-ha+re man%+na ,a6le ,u+t% +th a l+n7 or tor2h +n h+, han . It u,ually only,moul er,%

+th a ee0 re glo % a, he /+,+t, h+, 6eat. The l+6rary +, one of theroom, he ,ee, to. Unl+7e 4La y "a2hel%4 a, the ma+ , 2alle her% he +,,eenonly% ne/er hear . H+, ,te0, fall no+,ele,, a, ,ha o , on floor an2ar0et.The lur+ glo of h+, ,moul er+ng tor2h +m0erfe2tly l+ght, h+, f+gure anfa2e% an % e32e0t hen mu2h 0ertur6e % h+, l+n7 ne/er 6la5e,. !n tho,e

o22a,+on,% ho e/er% a, he goe, h+, roun ,% he e/er an anon h+rl, +taroun h+, hea % an +t 6ur,t, +nto a +,mal flame. Th+, +, a fearfulomen%an al ay, 0orten , ,ome +reful 2r+,+, or 2alam+ty. It o22ur,% only on2eor t +2e +n a 2entury.

I on4t 7no hether )a ame ha hear anyth+ng of the,e 0henomena9 6ut,he

+ re0ort h+2h /ery mu2h fr+ghtene me an )ary >u+n2e. She a,7e u,ho


23/398

al7e +n the gallery on h+2h her 6e -room o0ene % ma7+ng a ru,tl+ng+th

her re,,% an go+ng o n the ,ta+r,% an 6reath+ng long 6reath, here anthere. T +2e% ,he ,a+ % ,he ha ,too at her oor +n the ar7% l+,ten+ngtothe,e ,oun ,% an on2e ,he 2alle to 7no ho +t a,. There a, noan, er%6ut the 0er,on 0la+nly turne 6a27% an hurr+e to ar , her +th anunnatural ,0ee % h+2h ma e her @um0 +th+n her oor an ,hut +t.

hen f+r,t ,u2h tale, are tol % they e32+te the ner/e, of the young anthe+gnorant +nten,ely. But the ,0e2+al effe2t% I ha/e foun % ,oon ear, outThe tale ,+m0ly ta7e, +t4, 0la2e +th the re,t. It a, +th )a ame4,narrat+/e.

A6out a ee7 after +t, relat+on% I ha my e30er+en2e of a ,+m+lar ,ort.)ary >u+n2e ent o n-,ta+r, for a n+ght-l+ght% lea/+ng me +n 6e % a2an le6urn+ng +n the room% an 6e+ng t+re . I fell a,lee0 6efore her return.

hen I a o7e the 2an le ha 6een e3t+ngu+,he . But I hear a ,te0 ,oftlya00roa2h+ng. I @um0e u0--:u+te forgett+ng the gho,t% an th+n7+ng onlyof)ary >u+n2e--an o0ene the oor% e30e2t+ng to ,ee the l+ght of her2an le.In,tea % all a, ar7% an near me I hear the fall of a 6are foot on theoa7 floor. It a, a, +f ,ome one ha ,tum6le . I ,a+ % 4)ary%4 6ut noan, er 2ame% only a ru,tl+ng of 2lothe, an a 6reath+ng at the other ,+ eof the gallery% h+2h 0a,,e off to ar , the u00er ,ta+r2a,e. I turne+ntomy room% free5+ng +th horror% an 2la0t my oor. The no+,e a7ene )ary>u+n2e% ho ha returne an gone to her 6e half an hour 6efore.

A6out a fortn+ght after th+,% )ary >u+n2e% a /ery /era2+ou, ,0+n,ter%re0orte to me% that ha/+ng got u0 to f+3 the +n o % h+2h a, rattl+ng%at a6out four o42lo27 +n the morn+ng% ,he ,a a l+ght ,h+n+ng from thel+6rary +n o . She 2oul , ear to +t, 6e+ng a ,trong l+ght% ,tream+ngthrough the 2h+n7, of the ,hutter% an mo/+ng. No ou6t the l+n7 a,

a/ea6out h+, hea 6y the angry 4l+n7-man.4

The,e ,trange o22urren2e, hel0e % I th+n7% @u,t then to ma7e me ner/ou,%an 0re0are the ay for the o ,ort of a,2en en2y h+2h% through my,en,e of the my,ter+ou, an ,u0er-natural% that re0ul,+/e Fren2h oman a,gra ually% an +t ,eeme +thout effort% e,ta6l+,h+ng o/er me.

Some ar7 0o+nt, of her 2hara2ter ,0ee +ly emerge from the 0r+,mat+2

m+,t+th h+2h ,he ha en/elo0e +t.

)r,. "u,74, o6,er/at+on a6out the agreea6+l+ty of ne -2omer, I foun to6etrue9 for a, )a ame 6egan to lo,e that 2hara2ter% her goo -humour a6ate/ery 0er2e0t+6ly% an ,he 6egan to ,ho gleam, of another ,ort of tem0er%that a, lur+ an angerou,.


24/398

Not +th,tan +ng th+,% ,he a, +n the ha6+t of al ay, ha/+ng her B+6leo0en6y her% an a, au,terely attent+/e at morn+ng an e/en+ng ,er/+2e,% ana,7e my father% +th great hum+l+ty% to len her ,ome tran,lat+on, ofS e en6org4, 6oo7,% h+2h ,he la+ mu2h to heart.

hen e ent out for our al7% +f the eather ere 6a e generally ma eour 0romena e u0 an o n the 6roa terra2e +n front of the +n o ,.Sullenan mal+gn at t+me, ,he u,e to loo7% an a, ,u enly ,he oul 0at me onthe ,houl er 2are,,+ngly% an ,m+le +th a grote,:ue 6en+gn+ty% a,7+ngten erly% 4Are you fat+gue% ma 2hGre 4 or 4Are you 2ol -a% ear )au 4

At f+r,t the,e a6ru0t tran,+t+on, 0u55le me% ,omet+me, half fr+ghteneme% ,a/our+ng% I fan2+e % of +n,an+ty. The 7ey% ho e/er% a, a22+ entally,u00l+e % an I foun that the,e a22e,,e, of emon,trat+/e affe2t+on ere,ure to ,u0er/ene hene/er my father4, fa2e a, /+,+6le through thel+6rary

+n o ,.

I + not 7no ell hat to ma7e of th+, oman% hom I feare +th a /e+nof ,u0er,t+t+ou, rea . I hate 6e+ng alone +th her after u,7 +n the,2hool-room. She oul ,omet+me, ,+t for half an hour at a t+me% +th her

+ e mouth ra n o n at the 2orner,% an a ,2o l% loo7+ng +nto the f+re.If ,he ,a me loo7+ng at her% ,he oul 2hange all th+, on the +n,tant%affe2t a ,ort of languor% an lean her hea u0on her han % an ult+matelyha/e re2our,e to her B+6le. But I fan2+e ,he + not rea % 6ut 0ur,uehero n ar7 rum+nat+on,% for I o6,er/e that the o0en 6oo7 m+ght often l+eforhalf an hour or more un er her eye, an yet the leaf ne/er turne .

I ,houl ha/e 6een gla to 6e a,,ure that ,he 0raye hen on her 7nee,%orrea hen that 6oo7 a, 6efore her9 I ,houl ha/e felt that ,he a, more2anny an human. A, +t a,% tho,e e3ternal 0+et+e, ma e a ,u,0+2+on of ahollo 2ontra,t +th real+t+e, that hel0e to ,2are me9 yet +t a, 6ut a,u,0+2+on--I 2oul not 6e 2erta+n.

!ur re2tor an the 2urate% +th hom ,he a, /ery gra2+ou,% an an3+ou,a6out my 2olle2t, an 2ate2h+,m% ha an e3alte o0+n+on of her. In 0u6l+20la2e, her affe2t+on for me a, al ay, emon,trat+/e.

In l+7e manner ,he 2ontr+/e 2onferen2e, +th my father. She a, al ay,ma7+ng e32u,e, to 2on,ult h+m a6out my rea +ng% an to 2onf+ e +n h+m her,uffer+ng,% a, I learne % from my 2ontuma2y an tem0er. The fa2t +,% I

a,

altogether :u+et an ,u6m+,,+/e. But I th+n7 ,he ha a +,h to re u2e meto a ,tate of the mo,t a6@e2t 6on age. She ha e,+gn, of om+nat+on an,u6/er,+on regar +ng the ent+re hou,ehol % I no 6el+e/e% orthy of thee/+l ,0+r+t I ,omet+me, fan2+e her.

)y father 6e27one me +nto the ,tu y one ay% an ,a+ he--

4(ou ought not to g+/e 0oor )a ame ,o mu2h 0a+n. She +, one of the fe0er,on, ho ta7e an +ntere,t +n you9 hy ,houl ,he ha/e ,o often to


25/398

2om0la+n of your +ll-tem0er an +,o6e +en2e -- hy ,houl ,he 6e2om0elleto a,7 my 0erm+,,+on to 0un+,h you $on4t 6e afra+ % I on4t 2on2e ethat.But +n ,o 7+n a 0er,on +t argue, mu2h. Affe2t+on I 2an4t 2omman --re,0e2tan o6e +en2e I may--an I +n,+,t on your ren er+ng *6oth* to )a ame.4

4But ,+r%4 I ,a+ % rou,e +nto 2ourage 6y the gro,, +n@u,t+2e of the2harge% 4I ha/e al ay, one e3a2tly a, ,he 6+ me% an ne/er ,a+ one

+,re,0e2tful or to )a ame.4

4I on4t th+n7% 2h+l % *you* are the 6e,t @u ge of that. #o% an*amen *.4An +th a +,0lea,e loo7 he 0o+nte to the oor. )y heart , elle +ththe ,en,e of rong% an a, I rea2he the oor I turne to ,ay another

or %6ut I 2oul not% an only 6ur,t +nto tear,.

4There-- on4t 2ry% l+ttle )au --only let u, o 6etter for the future.

There--there--there ha, 6een enough.4

An he 7+,,e my forehea % an gently 0ut me out an 2lo,e the oor.

In the ,2hool-room I too7 2ourage% an +th ,ome armth u06ra+ e )a ame.

4 at +27e 2hea+le 4 moane )a ame% emurely. 4"ea alou tho,ethree--ye,% *tho,e* three 2ha0ter, of the B+6le% my ear )au .4

There a, no ,0e2+al f+tne,, +n tho,e 0art+2ular 2ha0ter,% an hen theyere en e ,he ,a+ +n a ,a tone--

4No % ear% you mu,t 2omm+t to memory th+, 0retty 0r+a+re for um+l+ty ofart.4

It a, a long one% an +n a ,tate of 0rofoun +rr+tat+on I got throughtheta,7.

)r,. "u,7 hate her. She ,a+ ,he ,tole +ne an 6ran y hene/er theo00ortun+ty offere --that ,he a, al ay, a,7+ng her for ,u2h ,t+mulant,an0reten +ng 0a+n, +n her ,toma2h. Here% 0erha0,% there a, e3aggerat+on96utI 7ne +t a, true that I ha 6een at +fferent t+me, e,0at2he on thaterran an 0rete3t for 6ran y to )r,. "u,7% ho at la,t 2ame to her6e ,+ e

+th 0+ll, an a mu,tar 6l+,ter only% an a, hate +rre/o2a6ly e/erafter.

I felt all th+, a, one to torture me. But a ay +, a long t+me to a2h+l % an they forg+/e :u+27ly. It a, al ay, +th a ,en,e of angerthatI hear )a ame ,ay ,he mu,t go an ,ee )on,+eur "uthyn +n the l+6rary%an I th+n7 a @ealou,y of her gro +ng +nfluen2e a, an +ngre +ent +n the

ete,tat+on +n h+2h hone,t )r,. "u,7 hel her.


26/398

CHA'TE" ;I

*A AL& IN THE !!$*

T o l+ttle 0+e2e, of 6y-0lay +n h+2h I ete2te her 2onf+rme myun0lea,ant ,u,0+2+on. From the 2orner of the gallery I one ay ,a her%

hen ,he thought I a, out an all :u+et% +th her ear at the 7eyhole of0a0a4, ,tu y% a, e u,e to 2all the ,+tt+ng-room ne3t h+, 6e -room. Hereye, ere turne +n the +re2t+on of the ,ta+r,% from h+2h only ,hea00rehen e ,ur0r+,e. Her great mouth a, o0en% an her eye, a6,olutelygoggle +th eagerne,,. She a, e/our+ng all that a, 0a,,+ng there.I re 6a27 +nto the ,ha o +th a 7+n of +,gu,t an horror. She a,tran,forme +nto a great ga0+ng re0t+le. I felt that I 2oul ha/e thro n,ometh+ng at her9 6ut a 7+n of fear ma e me re2e e aga+n to ar my room.In +gnat+on% ho e/er% :u+27ly returne % an I 2ame 6a27% trea +ng 6r+,7lya, I + ,o. hen I rea2he the angle of the gallery aga+n. )a ame% I

,u00o,e% ha hear me% for ,he a, half- ay o n the ,ta+r,.

4Ah% my ear Chea+le% I am ,o gla to f+n you% an you are re,, to 2omeout. e ,hall ha/e ,o 0lea,ant al7.4

At that moment the oor of my father4, ,tu y o0ene % an )r,. "u,7% +thher ar7 energet+2 fa2e /ery mu2h flu,he % ,te00e out +n h+ghe32+tement.

4The )a,ter ,ay, you may ha/e the 6ran y-6ottle% )a ame an I4m gla to6er+ of +t--*I* am.4

)a ame 2ourte,+e +th a great ,m+r7% that a, full of +ntang+6le hatean+n,ult.

4Better your o n 6ran y% +f r+n7 you mu,t 4 e32la+me )r,. "u,7. 4(oumay2ome to the ,tore-room no % or the 6utler 2an ta7e +t.4

An off h+,7e )r,. "u,7 for the 6a27 ,ta+r2a,e.

There ha 6een no 2ommon ,7+rm+,h on th+, o22a,+on% 6ut a 0+t2he 6attle.

)a ame ha ma e a ,ort of 0et of Anne +3te % an un er2ham6erma+ % anatta2he her to her +ntere,t e2onom+2ally 6y 0er,ua +ng me to ma7e her

0re,ent, of ,ome ol re,,e, an other th+ng,. Anne a, ,u2h an angel

But )r,. "u,7% ho,e eye, ere a6out her% ete2te Anne% +th a6ran y-6ottle un er her a0ron% ,teal+ng u0-,ta+r,. Anne% +n a 0an+2%

e2lare the truth. )a ame ha 2omm+,,+one her to 6uy +t +n the to n%an2on/ey +t to her 6e -room. U0on th+,% )r,. "u,7 +m0oun e the fla,79 an %

+th Anne 6e,+ e her% rather 0re2+0+tately a00eare 6efore 4the )a,ter.4Hehear an ,ummone )a ame. )a ame a, 2ool% fran7% an fluent. The 6ran y


27/398

a, 0urely me +2+nal. She 0ro u2e a o2ument +n the form of a note.$o2torSome6o y 0re,ente h+, 2om0l+ment, to )a ame e la "oug+erre% an or ereher a ta6le-,0oonful of 6ran y an ,ome ro0, of lau anum hene/er the0a+nof ,toma2h returne . The fla,7 oul la,t a hole year% 0erha0, t o. She2la+me her me +2+ne.

)an4, e,t+mate of oman +, h+gher than oman4, o n. 'erha0, +n the+rrelat+on, to men they are generally more tru,t orthy--0erha0, oman4, +,the @u,ter% an the other an a00o+nte +llu,+on. I on4t 7no 9 6ut ,o +t+,or a+ne .

)r,. "u,7 a, re2alle % an I ,a % a, you are a are% )a ame4, 0ro2e ureur+ng the +nter/+e .

It a, a great 6attle--a great /+2tory. )a ame a, +n h+gh ,0+r+t,. Thea+r

a, , eet--the lan ,2a0e 2harm+ng--I% ,o goo --e/eryth+ng ,o 6eaut+ful

here ,houl e go *th+,* ay

I ha ma e a re,olut+on to ,0ea7 a, l+ttle a, 0o,,+6le to )a ame% I a,,o+n2en,e at the trea2hery I ha +tne,,e 9 6ut ,u2h re,olut+on, o notla,tlong +th /ery young 0eo0le% an 6y the t+me e ha rea2he the ,7+rt, ofthe oo e ere tal7+ng 0retty mu2h a, u,ual.

4I on4t +,h to go +nto the oo % )a ame.

4An for hat 4

4'oor mamma +, 6ur+e there.4

4I, *there* the /ault 4 eman e )a ame eagerly.

I a,,ente .

4)y fa+th% 2ur+ou, rea,on9 you ,ay 6e2au,e 0oor mamma +, 6ur+e there you+ll not a00roa2h hy% 2hea+le% hat oul goo )on,+eur "uthyn ,ay +f

he hear ,u2h th+ng (ou are ,urely not ,o un7a+n4% an I am +th you.*Allon,*. Let u, 2ome--e/en a l+ttle 0art of the ay.4

An ,o I y+el e % though ,t+ll relu2tant.

There a, a gra,,-gro n roa % h+2h e ea,+ly rea2he % lea +ng to the

,om6re 6u+l +ng% an e ,oon arr+/e 6efore +t.

)a ame e la "oug+erre ,eeme rather 2ur+ou,. She ,at o n on the l+ttle6an7 o00o,+te% +n her mo,t langu+ 0o,e--her hea leane u0on the t+0, ofher f+nger,.

4Ho /ery ,a --ho ,olemn 4 murmure )a ame. 4 hat no6le tom6 Hotr+,te%my ear 2hea+le% your /+,+t 4ere mu,t +t 6e% remem6er+ng a ,o , eetmaman.


28/398

There +, ne +n,2r+0t+on--+, +t not ne 4 An ,o% +n ee % +t ,eeme .

4I am fat+gue--may6e you +ll rea +t alou to me ,lo ly an ,olemnly% myeare,t )au 4

A, I a00roa2he % I ha00ene to loo7% I 2an4t tell hy% ,u enly% o/er my,houl er9 I a, ,tartle % for )a ame a, gr+ma2+ng after me +th a /+le

er+,+/e +,tort+on. She 0reten e to 6e ,e+5e +th a f+t of 2ough+ng.But+t oul not oD ,he ,a that I ha ete2te her% an ,he laughe alou .

4Come here% ear 2hea+le. I a, @u,t refle2t+ng ho fool+,h +, all th+,th+ng--the tom6--the e0+ta0h. I th+n7 I oul 4a/ none--no% no e0+ta0h.

eregar them f+r,t for the ora2le of the ea % an f+n them after onlythefolly of the l+/+ng. So I e,0+,e. $o you th+n7 your hou,e of &no l o nthere +, hat you 2all haunt% my ear 4

4 hy 4 ,a+ I% flu,h+ng an gro +ng 0ale aga+n. I felt :u+te afra+ of

)a ame% an 2onfoun e at the ,u enne,, of all th+,.

4Be2au,e Anne +3te ,he ,ay, there +, gho,t. Ho ar7 +, th+, 0la2e an,o many of the "uthyn fam+ly they are 6ur+e here--+, not ,o Ho h+ghanth+27 are the tree, all roun an no6o y 2ome, near.4

An )a ame rolle her eye, a fully% a, +f ,he e30e2te to ,ee ,ometh+ngunearthly% an % +n ee % loo7e /ery l+7e +t her,elf.

4Come a ay% )a ame%4 I ,a+ % gro +ng fr+ghtene % an feel+ng that +f Iere

on2e% 6y any a22+ ent% to g+/e ay to the 0an+2 that a, gather+ng rounme% I ,houl +n,tantaneou,ly lo,e all 2ontrol of my,elf. 4!h% 2ome a ay

o% )a ame--I4m fr+ghtene .4

4No% on the 2ontrary% ,+t here 6y me. It +, /ery o % you +ll th+n7% ma2h re--un go t 6+5arre% /ra+ment --6ut I lo/e /ery mu2h to 6e near to the

ea 0eo0le--+n ,ol+tary 0la2e l+7e th+,. I am not afra+ of the ea0eo0le% nor of the gho,t,. 4A/ you e/er ,ee a gho,t% my ear 4

4$o% )a ame% *0ray* ,0ea7 of ,ometh+ng el,e.4

4 at l+ttle fool But no% you are not afra+ . I 4a/ ,een the gho,t,my,elf.I ,a one% for e3am0le% la,t n+ght% ,ha0e l+7e a mon7ey% ,+tt+ng +n the2orner% +th h+, arm, roun h+, 7nee,9 /ery +27e % ol % ol man h+, fa2e

a, l+7e% an h+te eye, ,o large.4

4Come a ay% )a ame you are try+ng to fr+ghten me%4 I ,a+ % +n the2h+l +,hanger h+2h a22om0an+e, fear. )a ame laughe an ugly laugh% an ,a+ --

4Eh 6+en l+ttle fool --I +ll not tell the re,t +f you are reallyfr+ghtene 9 let u, 2hange to ,ometh+ng el,e.4

4(e,% ye, oh% o--0ray o.4


29/398

4 at goo man +, your father 4

4;ery--the 7+n e,t arl+ng. I on4t 7no hy +t +,% )a ame% I am ,oafra+of h+m% an ne/er 2oul tell h+m ho mu2h I lo/e h+m.4

Th+, 2onf+ ent+al tal7+ng +th )a ame% ,trange to ,ay% +m0l+e no2onf+ en2e9 +t re,ulte from fear--+t a, e0re2atory. I treate her a,+f,he ha human ,ym0ath+e,% +n the ho0e that they m+ght 6e generate,omeho .

4 a, there not a o2tor from Lon on +th h+m a fe month, ago $r.Bryerly%I th+n7 they 2all h+m.4

4(e,% a $o2tor Bryerly% ho rema+ne a fe ay,. Shall e 6eg+n to al7to ar , home% )a ame $o% 0ray.4

4Imme +ately% 2hea+le9 an oe, your father ,uffer mu2h 4

4No--I th+n7 not.4

4An hat then +, h+, +,ea,e 4

4$+,ea,e he ha, *no* +,ea,e. Ha/e you hear anyth+ng a6out h+, health%)a ame 4 I ,a+ % an3+ou,ly.

4!h no% ma fo+--I ha/e hear noth+ng9 6ut +f the o2tor 2ame% +t a, not6e2au,e he a, :u+te ell.4

4But that o2tor +, a o2tor +n theology% I fan2y. I 7no he +, aS e en6org+an9 an 0a0a +, ,o ell% he *2oul * not ha/e 2ome a, a0hy,+2+an.4

4I am /ery gla % ma 2hGre% to hear9 6ut ,t+ll you 7no your father +,ol man to ha/e ,o young 2hea+le a, you. !h% ye,--he +, ol man% an ,oun2erta+n l+fe +,. 4A, he ma e h+, +ll% my ear E/ery man ,o r+2h a,he%e,0e2+ally ,o ol % aught to 4a/ ma e h+, +ll.4

4There +, no nee of ha,te% )a ame9 +t +, :u+te t+me enough hen h+,health6eg+n, to fa+l.4

4But ha, he really 2om0o,e no +ll 4

4I really on4t 7no % )a ame.4

4Ah% l+ttle rogue you +ll not tell--6ut you are not ,u2h fool a, youfe+gn your,elf. No% no9 you 7no e/eryth+ng. Come% tell me all a6out--+t+,for your a /antage% you 7no . hat +, +n h+, +ll% an hen he rote 4

4But% )a ame% I really 7no noth+ng of +t. I 2an4t ,ay hether there +, a+ll or not. Let u, tal7 of ,ometh+ng el,e.4


30/398

4But% 2hea+le% +t +ll not 7+ll )on,+eur "uthyn to ma7e h+, +ll9 he +llnot 2ome to l+e here a ay ,ooner 6y 2au,e of that9 6ut +f he ma7e no

+ll%you may lo,e a great eal of the 0ro0erty. oul not that 6e 0+ty 4

4I really on4t 7no anyth+ng of h+, +ll. If 0a0a ha, ma e one% he ha,ne/er ,0o7en of +t to me. I 7no he lo/e, me--that +, enough.4

4Ah you are not ,u2h l+ttle goo,e--you o 7no e/eryth+ng% of 2our,e.Cometell me% l+ttle o6,t+nate% other +,e I +ll 6rea7 your l+ttle f+nger.Tellme e/eryth+ng.4

4I 7no noth+ng of 0a0a4, +ll. (ou on4t 7no % )a ame% ho you hurt me.Let u, ,0ea7 of ,ometh+ng el,e.4

4(ou o 7no % an you mu,t tell% 0et+te ure-t te% or I +ll 6rea7 a yourl+ttle f+nger.4

+th h+2h or , ,he ,e+5e that @o+nt% an laugh+ng ,0+tefully% ,het +,te +t ,u enly 6a27. I ,2reame h+le ,he 2ont+nue to laugh.

4 +ll you tell 4

4(e,% ye, let me go%4 I ,hr+e7e .

She + not relea,e +t +mme +ately ho e/er% 6ut 2ont+nue her torture an+,2or ant laughter. At la,t ,he f+nally relea,e my f+nger.

4So ,he +, go+ng to 6e goo 2hea+le% an tell e/eryth+ng to heraffe2t+onate gou/ernante. hat o you 2ry for% l+ttle fool 4

4(ou4/e hurt me /ery mu2h--you ha/e 6ro7en my f+nger%4 I ,o66e .

4"u6 +t an 6lo +t an g+/e +t a 7+,,% l+ttle fool hat 2ro,, g+rl I+ll ne/er 0lay +th you aga+n--ne/er. Let u, go home.4

)a ame a, ,+lent an moro,e all the ay home. She oul not an, er my:ue,t+on,% an affe2te to 6e /ery lofty an offen e .

Th+, + not la,t /ery long% ho e/er% an ,he ,oon re,ume her onteay,.

An ,he returne to the :ue,t+on of the +ll% 6ut not ,o +re2tly% an+th

more art.

hy ,houl th+, rea ful oman4, thought, 6e runn+ng ,o 2ont+nually u0onmyfather4, +ll Ho 2oul +t 2on2ern her

CHA'TE" ;II


31/398

*CHU"CH SCA"S$ALE*

I th+n7 all the female, of our hou,ehol % e32e0t )r,. "u,7% ho a, ato0enfeu +th her an ha only room for the f+er2er emot+on,% ere more orle,,afra+ of th+, +nau,0+2+ou, fore+gner.

)r,. "u,7 oul ,ay +n her 2onf+ en2e, +n my room--

4 here oe, ,he 2ome from --+, ,he a Fren2h or a S +,, one% or +, ,he aCana a oman I remem6er one of *them* hen I a, a g+rl% an a n+2e l+m6*,he* a,% too An ho + ,he l+/e +th here a, her la,t fam+ly Notone of u, 7no , noth+ng a6out her% no more than a 2h+l 9 e32e0t% of2our,e%the )a,ter--I o ,u00o,e he ma e en:u+ry. She4, al ay, at hugger-mugger

+th Anne +3te . I4ll 0a27 that *one* a6out her 6u,+ne,,% +f ,he oe,n4tm+n . Tattl+ng an h+,0er+ng eternally. It4, not a6out her o n 6u,+ne,,,he4, a-tal7+ng. )a ame e la "ouge0ot% I 2all her. She * oe,* 7no ho

to0a+nt u0 to the n+nety-n+ne,--,he oe,% the ol 2at. I 6eg your 0ar on%)+,,% 6ut *that* ,he +,--a e/+l% an no m+,ta7e. I foun her out f+r,t6yher th+e/+ng the )a,ter4, g+n% that the o2tor or ere h+m% an f+ll+ngthe

e2anter u0 +th ater--the ol /+lla+n9 6ut ,he4ll 6e foun out yet% ,he+ll9 an all the ma+ , +, afra+ on her. She4, not r+ght% they th+n7--a+t2h or a gho,t--I ,houl not on er. Cather+ne Jone, foun her +n her

6ea,lee0 +n the morn+ng after ,he ,ul7e +th you% you 7no % )+,,% +th allher 2lothe, on% hat-e/er a, the mean+ng9 an I th+n7 ,he ha, fr+ghtene*you%* )+,, an ha, you a, ner/ou, a, anyth+n7--I o%4 an ,o forth.

It a, true. I * a,* ner/ou,% an gro +ng rather more ,o9 an I th+n7th+,2yn+2al oman 0er2e+/e an +nten e +t% an a, 0lea,e . I a, al ay,afra+ of her 2on2eal+ng her,elf +n my room% an emerg+ng at n+ght to,2areme. She 6egan ,omet+me, to m+ngle +n my ream,% too--al ay, a fully9 anth+, nour+,he % of 2our,e% the 7+n of am6+guou, fear +n h+2h% +n a7+nghour,% I hel her.

I reame one n+ght that ,he le me% all the t+me h+,0er+ng ,ometh+ng ,o/ery fa,t that I 2oul not un er,tan her% +nto the l+6rary% hol +nga 2an le +n her other han a6o/e her hea . e al7e on t+0toe% l+7e2r+m+nal, at the ea of n+ght% an ,to00e 6efore that ol oa7 2a6+net

h+2h my father ha +n +2ate +n ,o o a ay to me. I felt that e erea6out ,ome 2ontra6an 0ra2t+2e. There a, a 7ey +n the oor% h+2h Ie30er+en2e a gu+lty horror at turn+ng% ,he h+,0er+ng +n the ,ameun+ntell+g+6le ay% all the t+me% at my ear. I * + * turn +t9 the ooro0ene :u+te ,oftly% an +th+n ,too my father% h+, fa2e h+te anmal+gnant% an glar+ng 2lo,e +n m+ne. He 2r+e +n a terr+6le /o+2e%4$eath 4 !ut ent )a ame4, 2an le% an at the ,ame moment% +th a ,2ream%I a7e +n the ar7--,t+ll fan2y+ng my,elf +n the l+6rary9 an for anhourafter I 2ont+nue +n a hy,ter+2al ,tate.


32/398

E/ery l+ttle +n2+ ent a6out )a ame furn+,he a to0+2 of eager +,2u,,+onamong the ma+ ,. )ore or le,, 2o/ertly% they nearly all hate an feareher. They fan2+e that ,he a, ma7+ng goo her foot+ng +th 4the )a,ter94an that ,he oul then ou,t )r,. "u,7--0erha0, u,ur0 her 0la2e--an ,oma7e a 2lean , ee0 of them all. I fan2y the hone,t l+ttle hou,e7ee0er +not +,2ourage that ,u,0+2+on.

A6out th+, t+me I re2olle2t a 0e lar--an o % g+0,+f+e -loo7+ng man--2alle+n at &no l. I an Cather+ne Jone, ere +n the 2ourt hen he 2ame% an,et

o n h+, 0a27 on the lo 6alu,tra e 6e,+ e the oor.

All ,ort, of 2ommo +t+e, he ha --r+66on,% 2otton,% ,+l7,% ,to27+ng,%la2e% an e/en ,ome 6a @e ellry9 an @u,t a, he 6egan h+, +,0lay--an+ntere,t+ng matter +n a :u+et 2ountry hou,e--)a ame 2ame u0on the groun .He gr+nne a re2ogn+t+on% an ho0e 4)a ama,el4 a, ell% an 4 + notloo7to ,ee *her* here.4

4)a ama,el4 than7e h+m. 4(e,% /ary ell%4 an loo7e for the f+r,t t+mee2+ e ly 40ut out.4

4 at a 0retty th+ng, 4 ,he ,a+ . 4Cather+ne% run an tell )r,. "u,7. Sheant, ,2+,,ar,% an la2e too--I hear her ,ay.4

So Cather+ne% +th a l+nger+ng loo7% e0arte 9 an )a ame ,a+ --

4 +ll you% ear 2hea+le% 6e ,o 7+n to 6r+ng here my 0ur,e% I forgot ontheta6le +n my room9 al,o% I a /+,e you% 6r+ng *your*.4

Cather+ne returne +th )r,. "u,7. Here a, a man ho 2oul tell them,ometh+ng of the ol Fren2h oman% at la,t Slyly they a le o/er h+,

are,% unt+l )a ame ha ma e her mar7et an e0arte +th me. But henthe2o/ete o00ortun+ty 2ame% the 0e lar a, :u+te +m0enetra6le. 4He forgote/eryth+ng9 he + not 6el+e/e a, he e/er ,a the la y 6efore. He 2alleaFren2h oman% all the orl o/er% )a ama,el--that or the name on 4em all.He ne/er ,ee her +n 0art+7lar afore% a, he 2oul 6r+ng to m+n . He l+7eto ,ee 4em al ay,% 42au,e they ma7e, the young un, 6uy.4

Th+, re,er/e an o6l+/+on ere /ery 0ro/o7+ng% an ne+ther )r,. "u,7 norCather+ne Jone, ,0ent ,+30en2e +th h+m9--he a, a ,tu0+ fello % or

or,e.

!f 2our,e )a ame ha tam0ere +th h+m. But truth% l+7e mur er% +ll out,ome ay. Tom +ll+am,% the groom% ha ,een her% hen alone +th h+m% an0reten +ng to loo7 at h+, ,to27% +th her fa2e almo,t 6ur+e +n h+, ,+l7,an el,h l+n,ey,% tal7+ng a, fa,t a, ,he 2oul all the t+me% an,l+00+ng*money*% he + ,u00o,e% un er a 0+e2e of ,tuff +n h+, 6o3.

In the mean t+me% I an )a ame ere al7+ng o/er the + e% 0eaty


33/398

,hee0- al7, that l+e 6et een &no l an Chur2h S2ar, ale. S+n2e our /+,+ttothe mau,oleum +n the oo % ,he ha not orr+e me ,o mu2h a, 6efore. Sheha 6een% +n ee % more than u,ually thoughtful% /ery l+ttle tal7at+/e%antrou6le me har ly at all a6out Fren2h an other a22om0l+,hment,. A al7

a, a 0art of our a+ly rout+ne. I no 2arr+e a t+ny 6a,7et +n my han %+th a fe ,an +2he,% h+2h ere to furn+,h our lun2heon hen e rea2he

the 0retty ,2ene% a6out t o m+le, a ay% h+ther e ere ten +ng.

e ha ,tarte a l+ttle too late9 )a ame gre un onte ly fat+gue an ,ato n to re,t on a ,t+le 6efore e ha got half- ay9 an there ,he

+ntone %+th a +,mal na,al 2a en2e% a :ua+nt ol Bretagne 6alla % a6out a la y+th a 0+g4, hea D--

4Th+, la y a, ne+ther 0+g nor ma+ % An ,o ,he a, not of human moul 9 Not of the l+/+ng nor the ea . Her left han an foot ere arm to tou2h9

Her r+ght a, 2ol a, a 2or0,e4, fle,h An ,he oul ,+ng l+7e a funeral 6ell% +th a +ng- ong tune. The 0+g, ere afra+ % an /+e e her aloof9 An omen feare her an ,too afar. She 2oul o +thout ,lee0 for a year an a ay9 She 2oul ,lee0 l+7e a 2or0,e% for a month an more. No one 7ne ho th+, la y fe -- !n a2orn, or on fle,h. Some ,ay that ,he4, one of the , +ne-0o,,e,,e % That , am o/er the ,ea of #enne,aret. A mongrel 6o y an emon ,oul. Some ,ay ,he4, the +fe of the an er+ng Je % An 6ro7e the la for the ,a7e of 0or79 An a , +n+,h fa2e for a to7en oth 6ear% That her ,hame +, no % an her 0un+,hment 2om+ng.4

An ,o +t ent on% +n a g+ngl+ng r+gmarole. The more an3+ou, I ,eeme togoon our ay% the more l+7ely a, ,he to lo+ter. I therefore ,ho e no,+gn,of +m0at+en2e% an I ,a her 2on,ult her at2h +n the 2our,e of her uglym+n,trel,y% an ,lyly glan2e% a, +f e30e2t+ng ,ometh+ng% +n the +re2t+onof our e,t+nat+on.

hen ,he ha ,ung to her heart4, 2ontent% u0 ro,e )a ame% an 6egan toal7

on ar ,+lently. I ,a her glan2e on2e or t +2e% a, 6efore% to ar the

/+llage of Tr+ll, orth% h+2h lay +n front% a l+ttle to our left% anthe ,mo7e of h+2h hung +n a f+lm o/er the 6ro of the h+ll. I th+n7 ,heo6,er/e me% for ,he en:u+re --

4 at +, that a ,mo7e there 4

4That +, Tr+ll, orth% )a ame9 there +, a ra+l ay ,tat+on there.4

4!h% le 2hem+n e fer% ,o near I + not th+n7. here +t goe, 4


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I tol her% an ,+len2e returne .

Chur2h S2ar, ale +, a /ery 0retty an o ,2ene. The ,l+ghtly un ulat+ng,hee0- al7 +0, ,u enly +nto a + e glen% +n the la0 of h+2h% 6y a6r+ght% +n +ng r+ll% r+,e from the , ar the ru+n, of a ,mall a66ey%

+tha fe ,olemn tree, ,2attere roun . The 2ro ,4 ne,t, hung untenante +nthetree,9 the 6+r , ere forag+ng far a ay from the+r roo,t,. The /ery2attleha for,a7en the 0la2e. It a, ,ol+tu e +t,elf.

)a ame re a long 6reath an ,m+le .

4Come o n% 2ome o n% 2hea+le--2ome o n to the 2hur2hyar .4

A, e e,2en e the ,lo0e h+2h ,hut out the ,urroun +ng orl % an the,2ene gre more ,a an lonely. )a ame4, ,0+r+t, ,eeme to r+,e.

4See 4o many gra/e-,tone,--one% *t o* hun re . $on4t you lo/e the ea %

2hea+le I +ll tea2h you to lo/e them. (ou ,hall ,ee me +e here to- ay%for half an hour% an 6e among them. That +, hat I lo/e.4

e ere 6y th+, t+me at the l+ttle 6roo74, ,+ e% an the lo 2hur2hyarall +th a ,t+le% rea2he 6y a 2ou0le of ,te00+ng-,tone,% a2ro,, the

,tream% +mme +ately at the other ,+ e.

4Come% no 4 2r+e )a ame% ra+,+ng her fa2e% a, +f to ,n+ff the a+r9 4 eare 2lo,e to them. (ou +ll l+7e them ,oon a, I. (ou ,hall ,ee f+/e ofthem. Ah% a +ra% a +ra% a +ra Come 2ro,, :u+27+ly I am )a ame la)orgue--)r,. $ea hou,e I +ll 0re,ent you my fr+en ,% )on,+eur Ca a/rean)on,+eur S:uelette. Come% 2ome% leetle mortal% let u, 0lay. !uaah 4 An,he uttere a horr+ yell from her enormou, mouth% an 0u,h+ng her +gan6onnet 6a27% ,o a, to ,ho her great% 6al hea . She a, laugh+ng% anreally loo7e :u+te ma .

4No% )a ame% I +ll not go +th you%4 I ,a+ % +,engag+ng my han +th a/+olent effort% re2e +ng t o or three ,te0,.

4Not enter the 2hur2hyar )a fo+-- at mau/a+, go t But ,ee% e arealrea y +n ,ha e. The ,un he +, ,ett+ng ,oon-- here ell you rema+n%2hea+le I +ll not ,tay long.4

4I4ll ,tay here%4 I ,a+ % a l+ttle angr+ly--for I * a,* angry a, ell a,ner/ou,9 an through my fear a, that +n +gnat+on at her e3tra/agan2e,

h+2h m+m+27e luna2y ,o un0lea,antly% an ere% I 7ne % e,+gne tofr+ghten me.

!/er the ,te00+ng-,tone,% 0ull+ng u0 her re,,% ,he ,7+00e +th herlong%lan7 leg,% l+7e a +t2h @o+n+ng a al0urg+,. !/er the ,t+le ,he ,tro e%anI ,a her hea agg+ng% an hear her ,+ng ,ome of her +ll-omene rhyme,%a, ,he 2a0ere ,olemnly% +th many a gr+n an 2ourte,y% among the gra/e,an hea ,tone,% to ar , the ru+n.


35/398

CHA'TE" ;III

*THE S)!&E"*

Three year, later I learne --+n a ay ,he 0ro6a6ly l+ttle e30e2te % anthen + not mu2h 2are a6out-- hat really o22urre there. I learne e/en0hra,e, an loo7,--for the ,tory a, relate 6y one ho ha hear +ttol --an therefore I /enture to narrate hat at the moment I ne+ther ,anor ,u,0e2te . h+le I ,at% flu,he an ner/ou,% u0on a flat ,tone 6y the6an7 of the l+ttle ,tream% )a ame loo7e o/er her ,houl er% an0er2e+/+ngthat I a, out of ,+ght% ,he a6ate her 0a2e% an turne ,har0ly to ar ,the ru+n h+2h lay at her left. It a, her f+r,t /+,+t% an ,he a,merelye30lor+ng9 6ut no % +th a 0erfe2tly ,hre an 6u,+ne,,l+7e a+r% turn+ng

the 2orner of the 6u+l +ng% ,he ,a % ,eate u0on the e ge of a gra/e-,tone%a rather fat an fla,h+ly-e:u+00e young man% +th large% l+ght h+,7er,%a@erry hat% green 2uta ay 2oat +th g+lt 6utton,% an a+,t2oat antrou,er,rather ,tr+7+ng than elegant +n 0attern. He a, ,mo7+ng a ,hort 0+0e% anma e a no to )a ame% +thout e+ther remo/+ng +t from h+, l+0, or r+,+ng%6ut +th h+, 6ro n an rather goo -loo7+ng fa2e turne u0% he eye her

+th,ometh+ng of the +m0u ent an ,ul7y e30re,,+on that a, ha6+tual to +t.

4Ha% $ee le% you are there an4 loo7 ,o ell. I am here% too% :u+te*a*lon96ut my fr+en % ,he a+t out,+ e the 2hur2hyar % 6y-,+ e the leetle r+/er%for ,he mu,t not th+n7 I 7no you--,o I am 2ome *a*lon.4

4(ou4re a :uarter late% an I lo,t a f+ght 6y you% ol g+rl% th+,morn+ng%4,a+ the gay man% an ,0at on the groun 9 4an I +,h you oul not 2allme$+ le. I4ll 2all you #ranny +f you o.4

4Eh 6+en *$u %* then. She +, /ary n+2e-- at you l+7e. Sl+m a+,t% +teteeth% /ary n+2e eye,-- ar7-- at you ,ay +, 6e,t--an n+2e leetle footanan7le.4

)a ame ,m+le leer+ngly.

$u ,mo7e on.

4#o on%4 ,a+ $u % +th a no of 2omman .

4I am tea2h her to ,+ng an 0lay--,he ha, ,u2h , eet /o+2e

There a, another +nter/al here.


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oul n4t go loo7 at the g+rl hy% you 7no that4, @u,t hat I 2ome herefor-- on4t you !nly hen I th+n7 a 6+t% an a not+on 2ome, a2ro,, me%

hy,houl n4t I ,0ea7 out I4m not one o4 them ,h+lly-,hall+e,. If I l+7e theg+rl% I4ll not 6e mug +n an mug out a6out +t. !nly m+n ye% I4ll @u geformy,elf. I, that her a-2om+ng 4

4No9 +t a, a +,tant ,oun .4

)a ame 0ee0e roun the 2orner. No one a, a00roa2h+ng.

4 ell% you go roun that a- ay% an you only loo7 at her% you 7no % for,he+, ,u2h fool--,o na+r/ou,.4

4!h% +, that the ay +th her 4 ,a+ $u % 7no27+ng out the a,he, of h+,0+0e on a tom6,tone% an re0la2+ng the Tur7+,h uten,+l +n h+, 0o27et.4 ell% then% ol la,,% goo -6ye%4 an he ,hoo7 her han . 4An % o ye ,ee%

on4t ye 2ome u0 t+ll I 0a,,% for I4m no han at 0lay-a2t+ng9 an4 +f you

2alle me ,+r% or a, 2om+ng +t +gn+f+e an +,tant% you 7no % I4 6e,ure to laugh% a4mo,t% an let all out. So goo -6ye% 4ye ,ee% an +f youant me aga+n 6e ,har0 to t+me% m+n .

From ha6+t he loo7e a6out for h+, og,% 6ut he ha not 6rought one. Heha2ome uno,tentat+ou,ly 6y ra+l% tra/ell+ng +n a th+r -2la,, 2arr+age% forthe a /antage of Ja27 Br+ erly4, 2om0any% an gett+ng a orl of u,eful

r+n7le, a6out the ,tee0le2ha,e that a, 2om+ng off ne3t ee7.

So he ,tro e a ay% 2utt+ng off the hea , of the nettle, +th h+, 2ane a,he

ent9 an )a ame al7e forth +nto the o0en ,0a2e among the gra/e,% hereIm+ght ha/e ,een her% ha I ,too u0% loo7+ng +th the a6,or6e ga5e of anart+,t on the ru+n.

In a l+ttle h+le% along the 0ath% I hear the 2lan7 of a ,te0% an thegentleman +n the green 2uta ay 2oat% ,u27+ng h+, 2ane% an eye+ng me

+th an offen,+/e fam+l+ar ,ort of ,tare the h+le% 0a,,e me 6y% ratherhe,+tat+ng a, he + ,o. I a, gla hen he turne the 2orner +n thel+ttlehollo 2lo,e 6y% an +,a00eare . I ,too u0 at on2e% an a, rea,,ure6y a ,+ght of )a ame% not /ery many yar , a ay% loo7+ng at the ru+n% ana00arently re,tore to her r+ght m+n . The la,t 6eam, of the ,un ere 6yth+, t+me tou2h+ng the u0lan ,% an I a, long+ng to re2ommen2e our al7home. I a, he,+tat+ng a6out 2all+ng to )a ame% 6e2au,e that la y ha a

2erta+n ,0+r+t of o00o,+t+on +th+n her% an to +,2lo,e a ,mall +,hof any ,ort a, generally% +f +t lay +n her 0o er% to 0re/ent +t,a22om0l+,hment.

At th+, moment the gentleman +n the green 2oat returne % a00roa2h+ng me+th a ,lo ,ort of , agger.

4I ,ay% )+,,% I ro00e a glo/e 2lo,e 6y here. )ay you ha/e ,een +t 4

4No% ,+r%4 I ,a+ % ra +ng 6a27 a l+ttle% an loo7+ng% I are ,ay% 6oth


38/398

fr+ghtene an offen e .

4I o th+n7 I mu,t 4a ro00e +t 2lo,e 6y your foot% )+,,.4

4No% ,+r%4 I re0eate .

4No offen2e% )+,,% 6ut you4re ,ure you + n4t h+ e +t 4

I a, 6eg+nn+ng to gro ,er+ou,ly un2omforta6le.

4$on4t 6e fr+ghtene % )+,,9 +t4, only a 6+t o4 2haff. I4m not go+ng to,ear2h.4

I 2alle alou % 4)a ame% )a ame 4 an he h+,tle through h+, f+nger,%an,houte % 4)a ame% )a ame%4 an a e % 4She4, a, eaf a, a tom6,tone% or,he4ll hear that. #+4e her my 2om0l+ment,% an ,ay I ,a+ you4re a6eauty%)+,,94 an +th a laugh an a leer he ,tro e off.

Altogether th+, ha not 6een a /ery 0lea,ant e32ur,+on. )a ame go66le u0our ,an +2he,% 2ommen +ng them e/ery no an then to me. But I ha 6eentoo mu2h e32+te to ha/e any a00et+te left% an /ery t+re I a, hen erea2he home.

4So% there +, la y 2om+ng to-morro 4 ,a+ )a ame% ho 7ne e/eryth+ng.4 at +, her name I forget.4

4La y &nolly,%4 I an, ere .

4La y &nolly,-- at o name She +, /ery young--+, ,he not 4

4'a,t f+fty% I th+n7.4

4HKla, She4, /ary ol % then. I, ,he r+2h 4

4I on4t 7no . She ha, a 0la2e +n $er6y,h+re.4

4$er6y,h+re--that +, one of your Engl+,h 2ount+e,% +, +t not 4

4!h ye,% )a ame%4 I an, ere % laugh+ng. 4I ha/e ,a+ +t to you t +2e,+n2eyou 2ame94 an I ga66le through the 2h+ef to n, an r+/er, a, 2atalogue+n my geogra0hy.

4Bah to 6e ,ure--of 2our,e% 2hea+le. An +, ,he your relat+on 4

4'a0a4, f+r,t 2ou,+n.4

4 on4t you 0re,ent-a me% 0ray --I oul ,o l+7e 4

)a ame ha fallen +nto the Engl+,h ay of l+7+ng 0eo0le +th t+tle,% a,0erha0, fore+gner, oul +f t+tle, +m0l+e the ,ort of 0o er they ogenerally +th u,.

4Certa+nly% )a ame.4


39/398

4(ou +ll not forget 4

4!h no.4

)a ame rem+n e me t +2e% +n the 2our,e of the e/en+ng% of my 0rom+,e.She a, /ery eager on th+, 0o+nt. But +t +, a orl of +,a00o+ntment%+nfluen5a% an rheumat+2,9 an ne3t morn+ng )a ame a, 0ro,trate +n her6e % an 2arele,, of all th+ng, 6ut flannel an Jame,4, 0o er.

)a ame a, * K,olKe*9 6ut ,he 2oul not ra+,e her hea . She only murmurea:ue,t+on.

4For 4o long t+me% ear% +ll La y &nolly, rema+n 4

4A /ery fe ay,% I 6el+e/e.4

4HKla, 4o onlu27y may6e to-morro I ,hall 6e 6etter !uah my ear. Thelau anum% ear 2hea+le 4

An ,o our 2on/er,at+on for that t+me en e % an )a ame 6ur+e her hea+nher ol re 2a,hmere ,ha l.

CHA'TE" Iu+n2e 0lanne +t.Ithought +t /ery n+2e. e all l+7e +t /ery ell.4

There a, ,ometh+ng% I are ,ay% /ery h+m,+2al a6out +t% 0ro6a6ly /ery


43/398

a6,ur % @u ge at lea,t 6y the 2anon, of fa,h+on% an ol Cou,+n )on+2a&nolly,% +n ho,e eye the Lon on fa,h+on, ere al ay, fre,h% a, 0al0a6ly,tru27 6y +t a, +f +t ha 6een ,ome enorm+ty aga+n,t anatomy% for ,he2erta+nly laughe /ery heart+ly9 +n ee % there ere tear, on her 2hee7,

hen ,he ha one% an I am ,ure my a,0e2t of on er an +gn+ty% a, herh+lar+ty 0ro2ee e % hel0e to re/+/e her merr+ment aga+n an aga+n a, +t

a, ,u6,+ +ng.

4There% you mu,tn4t 6e /e3e +th ol Cou,+n )on+2a%4 ,he 2r+e % @um0+ngu0% an g+/+ng me a l+ttle hug% an 6e,to +ng a hearty 7+,, on myforehea %an a @olly l+ttle ,la0 on my 2hee7. 4Al ay, remem6er your 2ou,+n )on+2a+,an out,0o7en% +27e ol fool% ho l+7e, you% an ne/er 6e offen e 6yhernon,en,e. A 2oun2+l of three--you all ,at u0on +t--)r,. "u,7% you ,a+ %an)ary >u+n2e% an your +,e ,elf% the e+r ,+,ter,9 an Au,t+n ,te00e+n%a, )a26eth% an ,a+ % 4 hat +,4t ye o 4 you all ma e an, er together% 4A

,ometh+ng or other +thout a name 4 No % ,er+ou,ly% my ear% +t +, :u+teun0ar ona6le +n Au,t+n--your 0a0a% I mean--to han you o/er to 6e ro6ean6e +5ene a22or +ng to the h+m,+e, of the,e +l ol omen--aren4t theyol If they 7no 6etter% +t4, 0o,+t+/ely *f+en +,h.* I4ll 6lo h+m u0--I

+ll +n ee % my ear. (ou 7no you4re an he+re,,% an ought not to a00earl+7e a @a27-0u +ng.4

4'a0a +nten , ,en +ng me to Lon on +th )a ame an )ary >u+n2e% an go+ng+th me h+m,elf% +f $o2tor Bryerly ,ay, he may ma7e the @ourney% an then

Iam to ha/e re,,e, an e/eryth+ng.4

4 ell% that +, 6etter. An ho +, $o2tor Bryerly--+, your 0a0a +ll 4

4Ill9 oh no9 he al ay, ,eem, @u,t the ,ame. (ou on4t th+n7 h+m+ll-*loo7+ng* +ll% I mean 4 I a,7e eagerly an fr+ghtene .

4No% my ear% he loo7, /ery ell for h+, t+me of l+fe9 6ut hy +, $o2torhat4,-h+,-name here I, he a 0hy,+2+an% or a +/+ne% or a hor,e- o2tor

an hy +, h+, lea/e a,7e 4

4I--I really on4t un er,tan .4

4I, he a hat 4ye 2all4em--a S e en6org+an 4

4I 6el+e/e ,o.4

4!h% I ,ee9 ha% ha% ha An ,o 0oor Au,t+n mu,t a,7 lea/e to go u0 toto n.

ell% go he ,hall% hether h+, o2tor l+7e, +t or not% for +t oul noto

to ,en you there +n 2harge of your Fren2h oman% my ear. hat4, hername 4

4)a ame e la "oug+erre.4


44/398

CHA'TE" u+n2e% +n the+r ,e/eral ay,% u,e to enhan2e% 6y o22a,+onalane2 ote, an fre:uent refle2t+on,% the terror, of ,u2h an +ntru,+on. I,u00o,e they + not +,h a re/olut+on an all +t, 2on,e:uen2e, at &no l%an thought +t no harm to e32+te my /+g+lan2e.

But +t a, +m0o,,+6le long to 6e /e3e +th Cou,+n )on+2a.

4(ou 7no % my ear% your father +, an o +ty%4 ,he ,a+ . 4I on4t m+nh+m--I ne/er + . (ou mu,t not. Cra27y% my ear% 2ra27y-- e2+ e ly2ra27y 4

An ,he ta00e the 2orner of her forehea % +th a loo7 ,o ,ly an2om+2al%that I th+n7 I ,houl ha/e laughe % +f the ,ent+ment ha not 6een ,oa fully +rre/erent.


48/398

4 ell% ear% ho +, our fr+en the m+ll+ner 4

4)a ame +, ,uffer+ng ,o mu2h from 0a+n +n her ear% that ,he ,ay, +t oul6e :u+te +m0o,,+6le to ha/e the honour--4

4Honour--f+ le I ant to ,ee hat the oman4, l+7e. 'a+n +n her ear%you,ay 'oor th+ng ell% ear% I th+n7 I 2an 2ure that +n f+/e m+nute,. Iha/e +t my,elf% no an then. Come to my room% an e4ll get the 6ottle,.

So ,he l+ghte her 2an le +n the lo66y% an +th a l+ght an ag+le ,te0,he ,2ale the ,ta+r,% I follo +ng9 an ha/+ng foun the reme +e,% ea00roa2he )a ame4, room together.

I th+n7% h+le e ere ,t+ll at the en of the gallery% )a ame hear an+/+ne our a00roa2h% for her oor ,u enly ,hut% an there a, a

fum6l+ngat the han le. But the 6olt a, out of or er.

La y &nolly, ta00e at the oor% ,ay+ng--4 e4ll 2ome +n% 0lea,e% an ,ee

you. I4/e ,ome reme +e,% h+2h I4m ,ure +ll o you goo .4

There a, no an, er9 ,o ,he o0ene the oor% an e 6oth entere . )a ameha rolle her,elf +n the 6lue 2o/erlet% an a, ly+ng on the 6e % +thherfa2e 6ur+e +n the 0+llo % an en/elo0e +n the 2o/er+ng.

4'erha0, ,he4, a,lee0 4 ,a+ La y &nolly,% gett+ng roun to the ,+ e ofthe6e % an ,too0+ng o/er her.

)a ame lay ,t+ll a, a mou,e. Cou,+n )on+2a ,et o n her t o l+ttle /+al,on the ta6le% an % ,too0+ng aga+n o/er the 6e % 6egan /ery gently +thher f+nger, to l+ft the 2o/erlet that 2o/ere her fa2e. )a ame utterea ,lum6er+ng moan% an turne more u0on her fa2e% 2la,0+ng the 2o/erletfa,ter a6out her.

4)a ame% +t +, )au an La y &nolly,. e ha/e 2ome to rel+e/e your ear.'ray let me ,ee +t. She 2an4t 6e a,lee0% ,he4, hol +ng the 2lothe, ,ofa,t.$o% 0ray% allo me to ,ee +t.4

CHA'TE"


49/398


50/398

La y &nolly, a, no ,0ea7+ng Fren2h.

4)+ la + ha, +/erte my attent+on for a moment% 6ut that oe, not0re/entthat I ,uffer fr+ghtfully. I am% of 2our,e% only 0oor go/erne,,% an ,u2h0eo0le 0erha0, ought not to ha/e 0a+n--at lea,t to ,ho hen they ,uffer.It +, 0erm+tte u, to +e% 6ut not to 6e ,+27.4

4Come% )au % my ear% let u, lea/e the +n/al+ to her re0o,e an tonature.I on4t th+n7 ,he nee , my 2hloroform an o0+um at 0re,ent.4

4)+ la + +, her,elf a 0hy,+2 h+2h 2ha,e, many th+ng,% an 0o erfullyaffe2t, the ear. I oul +,h to ,lee0% not +th,tan +ng% an 2an 6ut ga+nthat +n ,+len2e% +f +t 0lea,e, m+ la +.4

4Come% my ear%4 ,a+ La y &nolly,% +thout aga+n glan2+ng at the,2o l+ng%,m+l+ng% , arthy fa2e +n the 6e 9 4let u, lea/e your +n,tru2tre,, to her

*2on2forto*.4

4The room ,mell, all o/er of 6ran y% my ear-- oe, ,he r+n7 4 ,a+ La y&nolly,% a, ,he 2lo,e the oor% a l+ttle ,har0ly.

I am ,ure I loo7e a, mu2h ama5e a, I felt% at an +m0utat+on h+2h then,eeme to me ,o ent+rely +n2re +6le.

4#oo l+ttle ,+m0leton 4 ,a+ Cou,+n )on+2a% ,m+l+ng +n my fa2e% an6e,to +ng a l+ttle 7+,, on my 2hee79 4,u2h a th+ng a, a t+0,y la y ha,ne/er 6een reamt of +n your 0h+lo,o0hy. ell% e l+/e an learn. Let u,ha/e our tea +n my room--the gentlemen% I are ,ay% ha/e ret+re .4

I a,,ente % of 2our,e% an e ha tea /ery 2o,+ly 6y her 6e room f+re.

4Ho long ha/e you ha that oman 4 ,he a,7e ,u enly% after% for her% a/ery long rum+nat+on.

4She 2ame +n the 6eg+nn+ng of Fe6ruary--nearly ten month, ago--+, not+t 4

4An ho ,ent her 4

4I really on4t 7no 9 0a0a tell, me ,o l+ttle--he arrange +t allh+m,elf%I th+n7.4

Cou,+n )on+2a ma e a ,oun of a2:u+e,2en2e--her l+0, 2lo,e an a no %fro n+ng har at the 6ar,.

4It *+,* /ery o 4 ,he ,a+ 9 4ho 0eo0le *2an* 6e ,u2h fool, 4 Herethere2ame a l+ttle 0au,e. 4An hat ,ort of 0er,on +, ,he-- o you l+7e her 4

4;ery ell--that +,% *0retty* ell. (ou on4t tell --6ut ,he ratherfr+ghten, me. I4m ,ure ,he oe, not +nten +t% 6ut ,omeho I am /ery mu2hafra+ of her.4


51/398

4She oe, not 6eat you 4 ,a+ Cou,+n )on+2a% +th an +n2+0+ent fren5y +nher fa2e that ma e me lo/e her.

4!h no 4

4Nor +ll-u,e you +n any ay 4

4No.4

4U0on your honour an or % )au 4

4No% u0on my honour.4

4(ou 7no I on4t tell her anyth+ng you ,ay to me9 an I only ant to7no %that I may 0ut an en to +t% my 0oor l+ttle 2ou,+n.4

4Than7 you% Cou,+n )on+2a /ery mu2h9 6ut really an truly ,he oe, not+ll-u,e me.4

4Nor threaten you% 2h+l 4

4 ell% *no*--no% ,he oe, not threaten.4

4An ho the 0lague * oe,* ,he fr+ghten you% 2h+l 4

4 ell% I really--I4m half a,hame to tell you--you4ll laugh at me--an Ion4t 7no that ,he +,he, to fr+ghten me. But there +, ,ometh+ng% +, not

there% gho,ty% you 7no % a6out her 4

4*#ho,ty*--+, there ell% I4m ,ure I on4t 7no % 6ut I ,u,0e2t there

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