little novels-第3章

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〃Your　memory　is　perfectly　accurate。〃

〃Thank　you。　I　confess　I　am　not　only　distressed　by　what　you　have　told　me　of　Mrs。　ZantI　am　at　a　loss　to　know　how　to　act　for　the　best。　My　only　idea；　at　present；　is　to　try　change　of　air　and　scene。　What　do　you　think　yourself？〃

〃I　think　you　are　right。〃

Mr。　Zant　still　hesitated。

〃It　would　not　be　easy　for　me；　just　now；〃　he　said；　〃to　leave　my　patients　and　take　her　abroad。〃

The　obvious　reply　to　this　occurred　to　Mr。　Rayburn。　A　man　of　larger　worldly　experience　might　have　felt　certain　suspicions；　and　might　have　remained　silent。　Mr。　Rayburn　spoke。

〃Why　not　renew　your　invitation　and　take　her　to　your　house　at　the　seaside？〃　he　said。

In　the　perplexed　state　of　Mr。　Zant's　mind；　this　plain　course　of　action　had　apparently　failed　to　present　itself。　His　gloomy　face　brightened　directly。

〃The　very　thing！〃　he　said。　〃I　will　certainly　take　your　advice。　If　the　air　of　St。　Sallins　does　nothing　else；　it　will　improve　her　health　and　help　her　to　recover　her　good　looks。　Did　she　strike　you　as　having　been　（in　happier　days）　a　pretty　woman？〃

This　was　a　strangely　familiar　question　to　askalmost　an　indelicate　question；　under　the　circumstances　A　certain　furtive　expression　in　Mr。　Zant's　fine　dark　eyes　seemed　to　imply　that　it　had　been　put　with　a　purpose。　Was　it　possible　that　he　suspected　Mr。　Rayburn's　interest　in　his　sister…in…law　to　be　inspired　by　any　motive　which　was　not　perfectly　unselfish　and　perfectly　pure？　To　arrive　at　such　a　conclusion　as　this　might　be　to　judge　hastily　and　cruelly　of　a　man　who　was　perhaps　only　guilty　of　a　want　of　delicacy　of　feeling。　Mr。　Rayburn　honestly　did　his　best　to　assume　the　charitable　point　of　view。　At　the　same　time；　it　is　not　to　be　denied　that　his　words；　when　he　answered；　were　carefully　guarded；　and　that　he　rose　to　take　his　leave。

Mr。　John　Zant　hospitably　protested。

〃Why　are　you　in　such　a　hurry？　Must　you　really　go？　I　shall　have　the　honor　of　returning　your　visit　to…morrow；　when　I　have　made　arrangements　to　profit　by　that　excellent　suggestion　of　yours。　Good…by。　God　bless　you。〃

He　held　out　his　hand：　a　hand　with　a　smooth　　s　urface　and　a　tawny　color；　that　fervently　squeezed　the　fingers　of　a　departing　friend。　〃Is　that　man　a　scoundrel？〃　was　Mr。　Rayburn's　first　thought；　after　he　had　left　the　hotel。　His　moral　sense　set　all　hesitation　at　restand　answered：　〃You're　a　fool　if　you　doubt　it。〃

V。

DISTURBED　by　presentiments；　Mr。　Rayburn　returned　to　his　house　on　foot；　by　way　of　trying　what　exercise　would　do　toward　composing　his　mind。

The　experiment　failed。　He　went　upstairs　and　played　with　Lucy；　he　drank　an　extra　glass　of　wine　at　dinner；　he　took　the　child　and　her　governess　to　a　circus　in　the　evening；　he　ate　a　little　supper；　fortified　by　another　glass　of　wine；　before　he　went　to　bedand　still　those　vague　forebodings　of　evil　persisted　in　torturing　him。　Looking　back　through　his　past　life；　he　asked　himself　if　any　woman　（his　late　wife　of　course　excepted！）　had　ever　taken　the　predominant　place　in　his　thoughts　which　Mrs。　Zant　had　assumedwithout　any　discernible　reason　to　account　for　it？　If　he　had　ventured　to　answer　his　own　question；　the　reply　would　have　been：　Never！

All　the　next　day　he　waited　at　home；　in　expectation　of　Mr。　John　Zant's　promised　visit；　and　waited　in　vain。

Toward　evening　the　parlor…maid　appeared　at　the　family　tea…table；　and　presented　to　her　master　an　unusually　large　envelope　sealed　with　black　wax；　and　addressed　in　a　strange　handwriting。　The　absence　of　stamp　and　postmark　showed　that　it　had　been　left　at　the　house　by　a　messenger。

〃Who　brought　this？〃　Mr。　Rayburn　asked。

〃A　lady；　sirin　deep　mourning。〃

〃Did　she　leave　any　message？〃

〃No；　sir。〃

Having　drawn　the　inevitable　conclusion；　Mr。　Rayburn　shut　himself　up　in　his　library。　He　was　afraid　of　Lucy's　curiosity　and　Lucy's　questions；　if　he　read　Mrs。　Zant's　letter　in　his　daughter's　presence。

Looking　at　the　open　envelope　after　he　had　taken　out　the　leaves　of　writing　which　it　contained；　he　noticed　these　lines　traced　inside　the　cover：



〃My　one　excuse　for　troubling　you；　when　I　might　have　consulted　my　brother…in…law；　will　be　found　in　the　pages　which　I　inclose。　To　speak　plainly；　you　have　been　led　to　fear　that　I　am　not　in　my　right　senses。　For　this　very　reason；　I　now　appeal　to　you。　Your　dreadful　doubt　of　me；　sir；　is　my　doubt　too。　Read　what　I　have　written　about　myselfand　then　tell　me；　I　entreat　you；　which　I　am：　A　person　who　has　been　the　object　of　a　supernatural　revelation？　or　an　unfortunate　creature　who　is　only　fit　for　imprisonment　in　a　mad…house？〃



Mr。　Rayburn　opened　the　manuscript。　With　steady　attention；　which　soon　quickened　to　breathless　interest；　he　read　what　follows：

VI。

THE　LADY'S　MANUSCRIPT。

YESTERDAY　morning　the　sun　shone　in　a　clear　blue　skyafter　a　succession　of　cloudy　days；　counting　from　the　first　of　the　month。

The　radiant　light　had　its　animating　effect　on　my　poor　spirits。　I　had　passed　the　night　more　peacefully　than　usual；　undisturbed　by　the　dream；　so　cruelly　familiar　to　me；　that　my　lost　husband　is　still　livingthe　dream　from　which　I　always　wake　in　tears。　Never；　since　the　dark　days　of　my　sorrow；　have　I　been　so　little　troubled　by　the　self…tormenting　fancies　and　fears　which　beset　miserable　women；　as　when　I　left　the　house；　and　turned　my　steps　toward　Kensington　Gardensfor　the　first　time　since　my　husband's　death。

Attended　by　my　only　companion；　the　little　dog　who　had　been　his　favorite　as　well　as　mine；　I　went　to　the　quiet　corner　of　the　Gardens　which　is　nearest　to　Kensington。

On　that　soft　grass；　under　the　shade　of　those　grand　trees；　we　had　loitered　together　in　the　days　of　our　betrothal。　It　was　his　favorite　walk；　and　he　had　taken　me　to　see　it　in　the　early　days　of　our　acquaintance。　There；　he　had　first　asked　me　to　be　his　wife。　There；　we　had　felt　the　rapture　of　our　first　kiss。　It　was　surely　natural　that　I　should　wish　to　see　once　more　a　place　sacred　to　such　memories　as　these？　I　am　only　twenty…three　years　old；　I　have　no　child　to　comfort　me；　no　companion　of　my　own　age；　nothing　to　love　but　the　dumb　creature　who　is　so　faithfully　fond　of　me。

I　went　to　the　tree　under　which　we　stood；　when　my　dear　one's　eyes　told　his　love　before　he　could　utter　it　in　words。　The　sun　of　that　vanished　day　shone　on　me　again；　it　was　the　same　noontide　hour；　the　same　solitude　was　around　me。　I　had　feared　the　first　effect　of　the　dreadful　contrast　between　past　and　present。　No！　I　was　quiet　and　resigned。　My　thoughts；　rising　higher　than　earth；　dwelt　on　the　better　life　beyond　the　grave。　Some　tears　came　into　my　eyes。　But　I　was　not　unhappy。　My　memory　of　all　that　happened　may　be　trusted；　even　in　trifles　which　relate　only　to　myselfI　was　not　unhappy。

The　first　object　that　I　saw；　when　my　eyes　were　clear　again；　was　the　dog。　He　crouched　a　few　paces　away　from　me；　trembling　pitiably；　but　uttering　no　cry。　What　had　caused　the　fear　that　overpowered　him？

I　was　soon　to　know。

I　called　to　the　dog；　he　remained　immovableconscious　of　some　mysterious　coming　thing　that　held　him　spellbound。　I　tried　to　go　to　the　poor　creature；　and　fondle　and　comfort　him。

At　the　first　step　forward　that　I　took；　something　stopped　me。

It　was　not　to　be　seen；　and　not　to　be　heard。　It　stopped　me。

The　still　figure　of　the　dog　disappeared　from　my　view：　the　lonely　scene　round　me　disappearedexcepting　the　light　from　heaven；　the　tree　that　sheltered　me；　and　the　grass　in　front　of　me。　A　sense　of　unutterable　expectation　kept　my　eyes　riveted　on　the　grass。　Suddenly；　I　saw　its　myriad　blades　rise　erect　and　shivering。　The　fear　came　to　me　of　something　passing　over　them　with　the　invisible　swiftness　of　the　wind。　The　shivering　advanced。　It　was　all　round　me。　It　crept　into　the　leaves　of　the　tree　over　my　head；　they　shuddered；　without　a　sound　to　tell　of　their　agitation；　their　pleasant　natural　rustling　was　struck　dumb。　The　song　of　the　birds　had　ceased。　The　cries　of　the　water…fowl　on　the　pond　were　heard　no　more。　There　was　a　dreadful　silence。

But　the　lovely　sunshine　poured　down　on　me；　as　brightly　as　ever。

In　that　dazzling　light；　in　that　fearful　silence；　I　felt　an　Invisible　Presence　near　me。　It　touched　me　gently。

At　the　touch；　my　heart　throbbed　with　an　overwhelming　joy。　Exquisite　pleasure　thrilled　through　every　nerve　in　my　body。　I　knew　him！　From　the　unseen　worldhimself　unseenhe　had　returned　to　me。　Oh；　I　knew　him！

And　yet；　my　helpless　mortality　longed　for　a　sign　that　might　give　me　assurance　of　the　truth。　The　yearning　in　me　shaped　itself　into　words。　I　tried　to　utter　the　words。　I　would　have　said；　if　I　could　have　spoken：　〃Oh；　my　angel；　give　me　a　token　that　it　is　You！〃　But　I　was　like　a　person　struck　dumbI　could　only　think　it。

The　Invisible　Presence　read　my　thought。　I　felt　my　lips　touched；　as　my　husband's　lips　used　to　touch　them　when　he　kissed　me。　And　that　was　my　answer。　A　thought　came　to　me　again。　I　would　have　said；　if　I　could　have　spoken：　〃Are　you　here　to　take　me　to　the　better　world？〃

I　waited。　Nothing　that　I　could　feel　touched　me。

I　was　conscious　of　thinking　once　more。　I　would　have　said；　if　I　could　have　spoken：　〃Are　you　here　to　protect　me？〃

I　felt　myself　held　in　a　gentle　embrace；　as　my　husband's　arms　used　to　hold　me　when　he　pressed　me　to　his　breast。　And　that　was　my　answer。

The　touch　that　was　like　the　touch　of　his　lips；　lingered　and　was　lost；　the　clasp　that　was　like　the　clasp　of　his　arms；　pressed　me　and　fell　away。　The　garden…scene　resumed　its　natural　aspect。　I　saw　a　human　creature　near；　a　lovely　little　girl　looking　at　me。

At　that　moment；　when　I　was　my　own　lonely　self　again；　the　sight　of　the　child　soothed　and　attracted　me。　I　advanced；　intending　to　speak　to　her。　To　my　horror　I　suddenly　ceased　to　see　her。　She　disappeared　as　if　I　had　been　stricken　blind。

And　yet　I　could　see　the　landscape　round　me；　I　could　see　the　heaven　above　me。　A　time　passedonly　a　few　minutes；　as　I　thoughtand　the　child　became　visible　to　me　again；　walking　hand…in…hand　with　her　father。　I　approached　them；　I　was　close　enough　to　see　that　they　were　looking　at　me　with　pity　and　surprise。　My　impulse　was　to　ask　if　they　saw　anything　strange　in　my　face　or　my　manner。　Before　I　could　speak；　the　horrible　wonder　happened　again。　They　vanished　from　my　view。

Was　the　Invisible　Presence　still　near？　Was　it　passing　between　me　and　my　fellow…mortals；　forbidding　communication；　in　that　place　and　at　that　time？

It　must　have　been　so。　When　I　turned　away　in　　my　　ignorance；　with　a　heavy　heart；　the　dreadful　blankness　which　had　twice　shut　out　from　me　the　beings　of　my　own　race；　was　not　between　me　and　my　dog。　The　poor　little　creature　filled　me　with　pity；　I　called　him　to　me。　He　moved　at　the　sound　of　my　voice；　and　followed　me　languidly；　not　quite　awakened　yet　from　the　trance　of　terror　that　had　possessed　him。

Before　I　had　retired　by　more　than　a　few　steps；　I　thought　I　was　conscious　of　the　Presence　again。　I　held　out　my　longing　arms　to　it。　I　waited　in　the　hope　of　a　touch　to　tell　me　that　I　might　return。　Perhaps　I　was　answered　by　indirect　means？　I　only　know　that　a　resolution　to　return　to　the　same　place；　at　the　same　hour；　came　to　me；　and　quieted　my　mind。

The　morning　of　the　next　day　was　dull　and　cloudy；　but　the　rain　held　off。　I　set　forth　again　to　the　Gardens。

My　dog　ran　on　before　me　into　the　streetand　stopped：　waiting　to　see　in　which　direction　I　might　lead　the　way。　When　I　turned　toward　the　Gardens；　he　dropped　behind　me。　In　a　little　while　I　looked　back。