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she generally appeared to be of the strange dissatisfaction with
which her husband seemed to regard his children。 Anyhow the
mention of them had evidently changed her mood； and almost directly
afterwards； with the remark that she must go and look after her
guests； who had all arrived by now； she left me to myself。
For some minutes I sat by the bright fire； lost in aimless；
wandering thought； which began with Dame Alice and her cabinet； and
which ended somehow with Alan's face； as I had last seen it looking
up at me in front of the hall…door。 When I had reached that point；
I roused myself to decide that I had dreamt long enough； and that
it was quite time to go down to the guests and to tea。 I
accordingly donned my best teagown； arranged my hair； and proceeded
towards the drawing…room。 My way there lay through the great
central hall。 This apartment was approached from most of the
bedrooms in the house through a large； arched doorway at one end of
it； which communicated directly with the great staircase。 My
bedroom； however； which； as I have said； lay among the private
apartments of the house； opened into a passage which led into a
broad gallery； or upper chamber； stretching right across the end of
the hall。 From this you descended by means of a small staircase in
oak； whose carved balustrade； bending round the corner of the hall；
formed one of the prettiest features of the picturesque old room。
The barrier which ran along the front of the gallery was in solid
oak； and of such a height that； unless standing close up to it； you
could neither see nor be seen by the occupants of the room below。
On approaching this gallery I heard voices in the hall。 They were
George's and Alan's； evidently in hot discussion。 As I issued from
the passage； George was speaking； and his voice had that
exasperated tone in which an angry man tries to bring to a close an
argument in which he has lost his temper。 〃For heaven's sake leave
it alone； Alan； I neither can nor will interfere。 We have enough
to bear from these cursed traditions as it is； without adding one
which has no foundation whatever to justify ita mere contemptible
piece of superstition。〃
〃No member of our family has a right to call any tradition
contemptible which is connected with that place； and you know it；〃
answered Alan； and though he spoke low； his voice trembled with
some strong emotion。 A first impulse of hesitation which I had had
I checked； feeling that as I had heard so much it was fairer to go
on； and I advanced to the top of the staircase。 Alan stood by the
fireplace facing me； but far too occupied to see me。 His last
speech had seemingly aroused George to fury； for the latter turned
on him now with savage passion。
〃Damn it all； Alan！〃 he cried； 〃can't you be quiet？ I will be
master in my own house。 Take care； I tell you； the curse may not
be quite fulfilled yet after all。〃
As George uttered these words； Alan lifted his eyes to him with a
glance of awful horror： his face turned ghastly white； his lips
trembled for a moment； and then he answered back with one half…
whispered word of supreme appeal〃George！〃 There was a long…
drawn； unutterable anguish in his tone； and his voice； though
scarcely audible； penetrated to every corner of the room； and
seemed to hang quivering in the air around one after the sound had
ceased。 Then there was a terrible stillness。 Alan stood trembling
in every limb； incapable apparently of speech or action； and George
faced him； as silent and motionless as he was。 For an instant they
remained thus； while I looked breathlessly on。 Then George； with a
muttered imprecation； turned on his heel and left the room。 Alan
followed him as he went with dull lifeless eyes； and as the door
closed he breathed deeply； with a breath that was almost a groan。
Taking my courage in both hands； I now descended the stairs； and at
the sound of my footfall he glanced up； started； and then came
rapidly to meet me。
〃Evie！ you here；〃 he said； 〃I did not notice you。 How long have
you been here？〃 He was still quite white； and I noticed that he
panted for breath as he spoke。
〃Not long；〃 I answered； timidly； and rather spasmodically； 〃I only
heard a sentence or two。 You wanted George to do something about
some tradition or other；and he was angry；and he said something
about the curse。〃
While I spoke Alan kept his eyes fixed on mine； reading through
them； as I knew； into my mind。 When I had finished he turned his
gaze away satisfied； and answered very quietly； 〃Yes； that was it。〃
Then he went back to the fireplace； rested his arm against the high
mantelpiece above it； and leaning his forehead on his arm； remained
silently looking into the fire。 I could see by his bent brow and
compressed lips that he was engaged upon some earnest train of
thought or reasoning； and I stood waitingworried； puzzled；
curious； but above all things； pitiful； and oh！ longing so
intensely to help him if I could。 Presently he straightened
himself a little； and addressed me more in his ordinary tone of
voice； though without looking round。 〃So I hear they have changed
your room。〃
〃Yes；〃 I answered。 And then； flushing rather； 〃Is that what you
and George have been quarreling about？〃 I received no reply； and
taking this silence for assent； I went on deprecatingly； 〃Because
you know； if it was； I think you are rather foolish； Alan。 As I
understand； two girls are said to have died in that room more than
a hundred years ago； and for that reason there is a prejudice
against putting a girl to sleep there。 That is all。 Merely a
vague； unreasonable tradition。〃
Alan took a moment to answer。
〃Yes；〃 he said at length； speaking slowly； and as if replying to
arguments in his own mind as much as to those which I had uttered。
〃Yes； it is nothing but a tradition after all； and that of the very
vaguest and most unsupported kind。〃
〃Is there even any proof that girls have not slept there since
those two died？〃 I asked。 I think that the suggestion conveyed in
this question was a relief to him； for after a moment's pause； as
if to search his memory； he turned round。
〃No；〃 he answered； 〃I don't think that there is any such proof； and
I have no doubt that you are right； and that it is a mere prejudice
that makes me dislike your sleeping there。〃
〃Then；〃 I said； with a little assumption of sisterly superiority；
〃I think George was right； and that you were wrong。〃
Alan smiled；a smiled which sat oddly on the still pale face； and
in the wearied； worn…looking eyes。 〃Very likely；〃 he said； 〃I
daresay that I am superstitious。 I have had things to make me so。〃
Then coming nearer to me； and laying his hands on my shoulders； he
went on； smiling more brightly； 〃We are a queer…tempered； bad…
nerved race； we Mervyns； and you must not take us too seriously；
Evie。 The best thing that you can do with our odd ways is to
ignore them。〃
〃Oh； I don't mind；〃 I answered； laughing； too glad to have won him
back to even temporary brightness； 〃as long as you and George don't
come to blows over the question of where I am to sleep； which after
all is chiefly my concern；and Lucy's。〃
〃