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not be spared from the surgery。 He consoled himself and me by
promising to make me a magnificent model of a ship。
I have that model before my eyes now while I write。 It is dusty
with age； the paint on it is cracked； the ropes are tangled； the
sails are moth…eaten and yellow。 The hull is all out of
proportion； and the rig has been smiled at by every nautical
friend of mine who has ever looked at it。 Yet； worn…out and
faulty as it isinferior to the cheapest miniature vessel
nowadays in any toy…shop windowI hardly know a possession of
mine in this world that I would not sooner part with than Uncle
George's ship。
My life at the sea…side was a very happy one。 I remained with my
aunt more than a year。 My mother often came to see how I was
going on； and at first always brought my sister with her； but
during the last eight months of my stay Caroline never once
appeared。 I noticed also； at the same period； a change in my
mother's manner。 She looked paler and more anxious at each
succeeding visit； and always had long conferences in private with
my aunt。 At last she ceased to come and see us altogether； and
only wrote to know how my health was getting on。 My father； too；
who had at the earlier periods of my absence from home traveled
to the sea…side to watch the progress of my recovery as often as
his professional engagements would permit； now kept away like my
mother。 Even Uncle George； who had never been allowed a holiday
to come and see me； but who had hitherto often written and begged
me to write to him； broke off our correspondence。
I was naturally perplexed and amazed by these changes； and
persecuted my aunt to tell me the reason of them。 At first she
tried to put me off with excuses； then she admitted that there
was trouble in our house； and finally she confessed that the
trouble was caused by the illness of my sister。 When I inquired
what that illness was； my aunt said it was useless to attempt to
explain it to me。 I next applied to the servants。 One of them was
less cautious than my aunt； and answered my question； but in
terms that I could not comprehend。 After much explanation； I was
made to understand that 〃something was growing on my sister's
neck that would spoil her beauty forever； and perhaps kill her；
if it could not be got rid of。〃 How well I remember the shudder
of horror that ran through me at the vague idea of this deadly
〃something〃！ A fearful； awe…struck curiosity to see what
Caroline's illness was with my own eyes troubled my inmost heart；
and I begged to be allowed to go home and help to nurse her。 The
request was； it is almost needless to say； refused。
Weeks passed away； and still I heard nothing； except that my
sister continued to be ill。 One day I privately wrote a letter to
Uncle George； asking him； in my childish way； to come and tell me
about Caroline's illness。
I knew where the post…office was； and slipped out in the morning
unobserved and dropped my letter in the box。 I stole home again
by the garden； and climbed in at the window of a back parlor on
the ground floor。 The room above was my aunt's bedchamber； and
the moment I was inside the house I heard moans and loud
convulsive sobs proceeding from it。 My aunt was a singularly
quiet； composed woman。 I could not imagine that the loud sobbing
and moaning came from her； and I ran down terrified into the
kitchen to ask the servants who was crying so violently in my
aunt's room。
I found the housemaid and the cook talking together in whispers
with serious faces。 They started when they saw me as if I had
been a grown…up master who had caught them neglecting their work。
〃He's too young to feel it much；〃 I heard one say to the other。
〃So far as he is concerned； it seems like a mercy that it
happened no later。〃
In a few minutes they had told me the worst。 It was indeed my
aunt who had been crying in the bedroom。 Caroline was dead。
I felt the blow more severely than the servants or anyone else
about me supposed。 Still I was a child in years； and I had the
blessed elasticity of a child's nature。 If I had been older I
might have been too much absorbed in grief to observe my aunt so
closely as I did； when she was composed enough to see me later in
the day。
I was not surprised by the swollen state of her eyes； the
paleness of her cheeks； or the fresh burst of tears that came
from her when she took me in her arms at meeting。 But I was both
amazed and perplexed by the look of terror that I detected in her
face。 It was natural enough that she should grieve and weep over
my sister's death； but why should she have that frightened look
as if some other catastrophe had happened？
I asked if there was any more dreadful news from home besides the
news of Caroline's death。
My aunt； said No in a strange； stifled voice； and suddenly turned
her face from me。 Was my father dead？ No。 My mother？ No。 Uncle
George？ My aunt trembled all over as she said No to that also；
and bade me cease asking any more questions。 She was not fit to
bear them yet she said； and signed to the servant to lead me out
of the room。
The next day I was told that I was to go home after the funeral；
and was taken out toward evening by the housemaid； partly for a
walk； partly to be measured for my mourning clothes。 After we had
left the tailor's； I persuaded the girl to extend our walk for
some distance along the sea…beach； telling her； as we went； every
little anecdote connected with my lost sister that came tenderly
back to my memory in those first days of sorrow。 She was so
interested in hearing and I in speaking that we let the sun go
down before we thought of turning back。
The evening was cloudy； and it got on from dusk to dark by the
time we approached the town again。 The housemaid was rather
nervous at finding herself alone with me on the beach； and once
or twice looked behind her distrustfully as we went on。 Suddenly
she squeezed my hand hard； and said：
〃Let's get up on the cliff as fast as we can。〃
The words were hardly out of her mouth before I heard footsteps
behind mea man came round quickly to my side； snatched me away
from the girl； and； catching me up in his arms without a word；
covered my face with kisses。 I knew he was crying； because my
cheeks were instantly wet with his tears； but it was too dark for
me to see who he was； or even how he was dressed。 He did not； I
should think； hold me half a minute in his arms。 The housemaid
screamed for help。 I was put down gently on the sand； and the
strange man instantly disappeared in the darkness。
When this extraordinary adventure was related to my aunt； she
seemed at first merely bewildered at hearing of it； but in a
moment more there came a change over her face； as if she had
suddenly recollected or thought of something。 She turned deadly
pale； and said； in a hurried way； very unusual with her：
〃Never mind； don't talk about it any more。 It was only a
mischievous trick to frighten you； I dare say。 Forget all about
it； my dearforget all about it。〃
It was easier to give this advice than to make me follow it。 For
many nights after； I thought of nothing but the strange man who
had kissed me and cried over me。