the lazy tour of two idle apprentices(两个闲荡徒弟的旅行)-第21章
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and re…hung on an iron hook； when it began to be whispered that the
Bride's Chamber was haunted。 It WAS haunted； and I was there。
'WE were there。 She and I were there。 I； in the chair upon the
hearth； she； a white wreck again； trailing itself towards me on the floor。
But； I was the speaker no more； and the one word that she said to me from
midnight until dawn was； 'Live！'
'The youth was there； likewise。 In the tree outside the window。
Coming and going in the moonlight； as the tree bent and gave。 He has；
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ever since； been there； peeping in at me in my torment； revealing to me by
snatches； in the pale lights and slatey shadows where he comes and goes；
bare…headed … a bill…hook； standing edgewise in his hair。
'In the Bride's Chamber； every night from midnight until dawn … one
month in the year excepted； as I am going to tell you … he hides in the tree；
and she comes towards me on the floor； always approaching； never
coming nearer； always visible as if by moon… light； whether the moon
shines or no； always saying； from mid…night until dawn； her one word；
〃Live！〃
'But； in the month wherein I was forced out of this life … this present
month of thirty days … the Bride's Chamber is empty and quiet。 Not so
my old dungeon。 Not so the rooms where I was restless and afraid； ten
years。 Both are fitfully haunted then。 At One in the morning。 I am what
you saw me when the clock struck that hour … One old man。 At Two in
the morning； I am Two old men。 At Three； I am Three。 By Twelve at
noon； I am Twelve old men； One for every hundred per cent。 of old gain。
Every one of the Twelve； with Twelve times my old power of suffering
and agony。 From that hour until Twelve at night； I； Twelve old men in
anguish and fearful foreboding； wait for the coming of the executioner。
At Twelve at night； I； Twelve old men turned off； swing invisible outside
Lancaster Castle； with Twelve faces to the wall！
'When the Bride's Chamber was first haunted； it was known to me that
this punishment would never cease； until I could make its nature； and my
story； known to two living men together。 I waited for the coming of two
living men together into the Bride's Chamber； years upon years。 It was
infused into my knowledge （of the means I am ignorant） that if two living
men； with their eyes open； could be in the Bride's Chamber at One in the
morning； they would see me sitting in my chair。
'At length； the whispers that the room was spiritually troubled； brought
two men to try the adventure。 I was scarcely struck upon the hearth at
midnight （I come there as if the Lightning blasted me into being）； when I
heard them ascending the stairs。 Next； I saw them enter。 One of them
was a bold； gay； active man； in the prime of life； some five and forty years
of age； the other； a dozen years younger。 They brought provisions with
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them in a basket； and bottles。 A young woman accompanied them； with
wood and coals for the lighting of the fire。 When she had lighted it； the
bold； gay； active man accompanied her along the gallery outside the room；
to see her safely down the staircase； and came back laughing。
'He locked the door； examined the chamber； put out the contents of the
basket on the table before the fire … little recking of me； in my appointed
station on the hearth； close to him … and filled the glasses； and ate and
drank。 His companion did the same； and was as cheerful and confident
as he： though he was the leader。 When they had supped； they laid
pistols on the table； turned to the fire； and began to smoke their pipes of
foreign make。
'They had travelled together； and had been much together； and had an
abundance of subjects in common。 In the midst of their talking and
laughing； the younger man made a reference to the leader's being always
ready for any adventure； that one； or any other。 He replied in these
words：
'〃Not quite so； Dick； if I am afraid of nothing else； I am afraid of
myself。〃
'His companion seeming to grow a little dull； asked him； in what sense？
How？
'〃Why； thus；〃 he returned。 〃Here is a Ghost to be disproved。 Well！ I
cannot answer for what my fancy might do if I were alone here； or what
tricks my senses might play with me if they had me to themselves。 But；
in company with another man； and especially with Dick； I would consent
to outface all the Ghosts that were ever of in the universe。〃
'〃I had not the vanity to suppose that I was of so much importance to…
night；〃 said the other。
'〃Of so much；〃 rejoined the leader； more seriously than he had spoken
yet； 〃that I would； for the reason I have given； on no account have
undertaken to pass the night here alone。〃
'It was within a few minutes of One。 The head of the younger man
had drooped when he made his last remark； and it drooped lower now。
'〃Keep awake； Dick！〃 said the leader； gaily。 〃The small hours are the
worst。〃
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'He tried； but his head drooped again。
'〃Dick！〃 urged the leader。 〃Keep awake！〃
'〃I can't；〃 he indistinctly muttered。 〃I don't know what strange
influence is stealing over me。 I can't。〃
'His companion looked at him with a sudden horror； and I； in my
different way； felt a new horror also； for； it was on the stroke of One； and I
felt that the second watcher was yielding to me； and that the curse was
upon me that I must send him to sleep。
'〃Get up and walk； Dick！〃 cried the leader。 〃Try！〃
'It was in vain to go behind the slumber's chair and shake him。 One
o'clock sounded； and I was present to the elder man； and he stood
transfixed before me。 'To him alone； I was obliged to relate my story；
without hope of benefit。 To him alone； I was an awful phantom making a
quite useless confession。 I foresee it will ever be the same。 The two
living men together will never come to release me。 When I appear； the
senses of one of the two will be locked in sleep； he will neither see nor
hear me； my communication will ever be made to a solitary listener； and
will ever be unserviceable。 Woe！ Woe！ Woe！'
As the Two old men； with these words； wrung their hands； it shot into
Mr。 Goodchild's mind that he was in the terrible situation of being
virtually alone with the spectre； and that Mr。 Idle's immoveability was
explained by his having been charmed asleep at One o'clock。 In the
terror of this sudden discovery which produced an indescribable dread； he
struggled so hard to get free from the four fiery threads； that he snapped
them； after he had pulled them out to a great width。 Being then out of
bonds； he caught up Mr。 Idle from the sofa and rushed down…stairs with
him。
'What are you about； Francis？' demanded Mr。 Idle。 'My bedroom is
not down here。 What the deuce are you carrying me at all for？ I can
walk with a stick now。 I don't want to be carried。 Put me down。'
Mr。 Goodchild put him down in the old hall； and looked about him
wildly。
'What are you doing？ Idiotically plunging at your own sex； and
rescuing them or perishing in the attempt？' asked Mr。 Idle； in a highly
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petulant state。
'The One old man！' cried Mr。 Goodchild； distractedly； … 'and the Two
old men！'
Mr。 Idle deigned no other reply than 'The One old woman； I think you
mean；' as he began hobbling his way back up the staircase； with the
assistance of its broad balustrade。
'I assure you； Tom；' began Mr。 Goodchild； attending at his side； 'that
since you fell asleep … '
'Come； I like that！' said Thomas Idle； 'I haven't closed an eye！'
With the peculiar sensitiveness on the subject of the disgraceful action
of going to sleep out of bed； which is the lot of all mankind； Mr。 Idle
persisted in this declaration。 The same peculiar sensitiveness impelled
Mr。 Goodchild； on being taxed with the same crime； to repudiate it with
honourable resentment。 The settlement of the question of The One old
man and The Two old men was thus presently complicated； and soon made
quite impracticable。 Mr。 Idle said it was all Bride…cake； and fragments；
newly arranged； of things seen and thought about in the day。 Mr。
Goodchild said how could that be； when he hadn't been asleep； and what
right could Mr。 Idle have to say so； who had been asleep？ Mr。 Idle said
he had never been asleep； and never did go to sleep； and that Mr。
Goodchild； as a general rule； was always asleep。 They consequently
parted for the rest of the night； at their bedroom doors； a little ruffled。 Mr。
Goodchild's last words were； that he had had； in that real and tangible old
sitting…room of that real and tangible old Inn （he supposed Mr。 Idle denied
its existence？）； every sensation and experience； the present record of
which is now within a line or two of completion； and that he would write
it out and print it every word。 Mr。 Idle returned that he might if he liked …
and he did like； and has now done it。
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