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memory。
〃We were looking into the engine…room；〃 I said； 〃and you asked me
what I heard there。 You promised to tell me what _you_ heard； as
soon as we got on shore〃
He stopped me； before I could say more。
〃I begin to think it was a delusion；〃 he answered。 〃You ought not
to interpret too literally what a person in my dreadful situation
may say。 The stain of another man's blood is on me〃
I interrupted him in my turn。 〃I refuse to hear you speak of
yourself in that way；〃 I said。 〃You are no more responsible for
the Frenchman's death than if you had been driving； and had
accidentally run over him in the street。 I am not the right
companion for a man who talks as you do。 The proper person to be
with you is a doctor。〃 I really felt irritated with himand I
saw no reason for concealing it。
Another man； in his place； might have been offended with me。
There was a native sweetness in Romayne's disposition； which
asserted itself even in his worst moments of nervous
irritability。 He took my hand。
〃Don't be hard on me；〃 he pleaded。 〃I will try to think of it as
you do。 Make some little concession on your side。 I want to see
how I get through the night。 We will return to what I said to you
on board the steamboat to…morrow morning。 Is it agreed？〃
It was agreed； of course。 There was a door of communication
between our bedrooms。 At his suggestion it was left open。 〃If I
find I can't sleep； 〃 he explained； 〃I want to feel assured that
you can hear me if I call to you。〃
Three times in the night I woke； and； seeing the light burning in
his room； looked in at him。 He always carried some of his books
with him when he traveled。 On each occasion when I entered the
room； he was reading quietly。 〃I suppose I forestalled my night's
sleep on the railway；〃 he said。 〃It doesn't matter； I am content。
Something that I was afraid of has not happened。 I am used to
wakeful nights。 Go back to bed； and don't be uneasy about me。〃
The next morning the deferred explanation was put off again。
〃Do you mind waiting a little longer？〃 he asked。
〃Not if you particularly wish it。〃
〃Will you do me another favor？ You know that I don't like London。
The noise in the streets is distracting。 Besides； I may tell you
I have a sort of distrust of noise； since〃 He stopped； with an
appearance of confusion。
〃Since I found you looking into the engine…room？〃 I asked。
〃Yes。 I don't feel inclined to trust the chances of another night
in London。 I want to try the effect of perfect quiet。 Do you mind
going back with me to Vange？ Dull as the place is； you can amuse
yourself。 There is good shooting； as you know。〃
In an hour more we had left London。
VII。
VANGE ABBEY is； I suppose； the most solitary country house in
England。 If Romayne wanted quiet； it was exactly the place for
him。
On the rising ground of one of the wildest moors in the North
Riding of Yorkshire； the ruins of the old monastery are visible
from all points of the compass。 There are traditions of thriving
villages clustering about the Abbey； in the days of the monks；
and of hostleries devoted to the reception of pilgrims from every
part of the Christian world。 Not a vestige of these buildings is
left。 They were deserted by the pious inhabitants； it is said； at
the time when Henry the Eighth suppress ed the monasteries； and
gave the Abbey and the broad lands of Vange to his faithful
friend and courtier； Sir Miles Romayne。 In the next generation；
the son and heir of Sir Miles built the dwelling…house； helping
himself liberally from the solid stone walls of the monastery。
With some unimportant alterations and repairs； the house stands；
defying time and weather； to the present day。
At the last station on the railway the horses were waiting for
us。 It was a lovely moonlight night； and we shortened the
distance considerably by taking the bridle path over the moor。
Between nine and ten o'clock we reached the Abbey。
Years had passed since I had last been Romayne's guest。 Nothing；
out of the house or in the house； seemed to have undergone any
change in the interval。 Neither the good North…country butler；
nor his buxom Scotch wife； skilled in cookery； looked any older：
they received me as if I had left them a day or two since； and
had come back again to live in Yorkshire。 My well…remembered
bedroom was waiting for me； and the matchless old Madeira
welcomed us when my host and I met in the inner…hall； which was
the ordinary dining…room of the Abbey。
As we faced each other at the well…spread table； I began to hope
that the familiar influences of his country home were beginning
already to breathe their blessed quiet over the disturbed mind of
Romayne。 In the presence of his faithful old servants； he seemed
to be capable of controlling the morbid remorse that oppressed
him。 He spoke to them composedly and kindly； he was
affectionately glad to see his old friend once more in the old
house。
When we were near the end of our meal； something happened that
startled me。 I had just handed the wine to Romayne； and he had
filled his glasswhen he suddenly turned pale； and lifted his
head like a man whose attention is unexpectedly roused。 No person
but ourselves was in the room； I was not speaking to him at the
time。 He looked round suspiciously at the door behind him；
leading into the library； and rang the old…fashioned handbell
which stood by him on the table。 The servant was directed to
close the door。
〃Are you cold？〃 I asked。
〃No。〃 He reconsidered that brief answer； and contradicted
himself。 〃Yesthe library fire has burned low； I suppose。〃
In my position at the table； I had seen the fire： the grate was
heaped with blazing coals and wood。 I said nothing。 The pale
change in his face； and his contradictory reply； roused doubts in
me which I had hoped never to feel again。
He pushed away his glass of wine； and still kept his eyes fixed
on the closed door。 His attitude and expression were plainly
suggestive of the act of listening。 Listening to what？
After an interval； he abruptly addressed me。 〃Do you call it a
quiet night？〃 he said。
〃As quiet as quiet can be；〃 I replied。 〃The wind has droppedand
even the fire doesn't crackle。 Perfect stillness indoors and
out。〃
〃Out？〃 he repeated。 For a moment he looked at me intently； as if
I had started some new idea in his mind。