按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
at our horses' heads。 Alan got off and came round to help me to
dismount； but instead of putting up his arm as usual as a support
for me to spring from； he laid his hand on mine。 〃Yes； Evie；〃 he
said； 〃it has been indeed a pleasant time。 God bless you for it。〃
For an instant he stood there looking up at me； his face full in
the light which streamed from the open door； his gray eyes shining
with a radiance which was not wholly from thence。 Then he
straightened his arm； I sprang to the ground； and as if to preclude
the possibility of any answer on my part； he turned sharply on his
heel； and began giving some orders to the groom。 I went on alone
into the house； feeling； I knew not and cared not to know why； that
the gloom had fled from my spirit； and that the last ride had not
after all been such a melancholy failure as it had bid fair at one
time to become。
III
In the hall I was met by the housekeeper； who informed me that；
owing to a misunderstanding about dates； a gentleman had arrived
whom Lucy had not expected at that time； and that in consequence my
room had been changed。 My things had been put into the East Room；
the haunted room；the room of the Closed Cabinet； as I remembered
with a certain sense of pleased importance； though without any
surprise。 It stood apart from the other guest…rooms； at the end of
the passage from which opened George and Lucy's private apartment；
and as it was consequently disagreeable to have a stranger there；
it was always used when the house was full for a member of the
family。 My father and mother had often slept there： there was a
little room next to it； though not communicating with it； which
served for a dressing…room。 Though I had never passed the night
there myself； I knew it as well as any room in the house。 I went
there at once； and found Lucy superintending the last arrangements
for my comfort。
She was full of apologies for the trouble she was giving me。 I
told her that the apologies were due to my maid and to her own
servants rather than to me； 〃and besides；〃 I added； glancing round；
〃I am distinctly a gainer by the change。〃
〃You know； of course；〃 she said； lightly； 〃that this is the haunted
room of the house； and that you have no right to be here？〃
〃I know it is the haunted room；〃 I answered； 〃but why have I no
right to be here？〃
〃Oh； I don't know；〃 she said。 〃There is one of those tiresome
Mervyn traditions against allowing unmarried girls to sleep in this
room。 I believe two girls died in it a hundred and fifty years
ago； or something of that sort。〃
〃But I should think that people； married or unmarried； must have
died in nearly every room in the house；〃 I objected。
〃Oh； yes； of course they have；〃 said Lucy； 〃but once you come
across a bit of superstition in this family； it is of no use to ask
for reasons。 However； this particular bit is too ridiculous even
for George。 Owing to Mr。 Leslie having come to…day； we must use
every room in the house： it is intolerable having a stranger here；
and you are the only relation staying with us。 I pointed all that
out to George； and he agreed that； under the circumstances； it
would be absurd not to put you here。〃
〃I am quite agreeable；〃 I answered； 〃and； indeed； I think I am
rather favored in having a room where the last recorded death
appears to have taken place a hundred and fifty years ago；
particularly as I should think that there can be scarcely anything
now left in it which was here then； except； of course； the
cabinet。〃
The room had； in fact； been entirely done up and refurnished by my
uncle； and was as bright and modern…looking an apartment as you
could wish to see。 It was large； and the walls were covered with
one of those white and gold papers which were fashionable thirty
years ago。 Opposite us； as we stood warming our backs before the
fire； was the beda large double one； hung with a pretty shade of
pale blue。 Material of the same color covered the comfortable
modern furniture； and hung from gilded cornices before the two
windows which pierced the side of the room on our left。 Between
them stood the toilet…table； all muslin； blue ribbons； and silver。
The carpet was a gray and blue Brussels one。 The whole effect was
cheerful； though I fear inartistic； and sadly out of keeping with
the character of the house。 The exception to these remarks was； as
I had observed； the famous closed cabinet； to which I have more
than once alluded。 It stood against the same wall of the room as
that in which the fireplace was； and on our rightthat is； on that
side of the fireplace which was farthest from the windows。 As I
spoke； I turned to go and look at it； and Lucy followed me。 Many
an hour as a child had I passed in front of it； fingering the seven
carved brass handles； or rather buttons； which were ranged down its
center。 They all slid； twisted； or screwed with the greatest ease；
and apparently like many another ingeniously contrived lock； but
neither I nor any one else had ever yet succeeded in sliding；
twisting； or screwing them after such a fashion as to open the
closed doors of the cabinet。 No one yet had robbed them of their
secret since first it was placed there three hundred years ago by
the old lady and her faithful Italian。 It was a beautiful piece of
workmanship； was this tantalizing cabinet。 Carved out of some dark
foreign wood； the doors and panels were richly inlaid with lapis…
lazuli； ivory； and mother…of…pearl； among which were twisted
delicately chased threads of gold and silver。 Above the doors；
between them and the cornice； lay another mystery； fully as
tormenting as was the first。 In a smooth strip of wood about an
inch wide； and extending along the whole breadth of the cabinet；
was inlaid a fine pattern in gold wire。 This at first sight seemed
to consist of a legend or motto。 On looking closer； however；
though the pattern still looked as if it was formed out of
characters of the alphabet curiously entwined together； you found
yourself unable to fix upon any definite word； or even letter。 You
looked again and again； and the longer that you looked the more
certain became your belief that you were on the verge of discovery。
If you could approach the mysterious legend from a slightly
different point of view； or look at it from another distance； the
clew to the puzzle would be seized； and the words would stand forth
clear and legible in your sight。 But the clew never had been
discovered； and the motto； if there was one； remained unread。
For a few minutes we stood looking at the cabinet in silence； and
then Lucy gave a discontented little sigh。 〃There's another
tiresome piece of superstition；〃 she exclaimed； 〃by far the
handsomest piece of furniture in the house stuck away here in a
bedroom which is hardly ever used。 Again and again have I asked
George to let me have it moved downstairs； but he won't hear of
it。〃
〃Was it n