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！
of nightmare； I thought of Angela； and felt more depressed than ever
by the reflection that I was on the shortest road to Gretna Green。
What had I to do with Gretna Green？ I was not going that way to the
Devil； but by the American route； I remarked in my bitterness。
In the morning I found that it was snowing still； that it had snowed
all night； and that I was snowed up。 Nothing could get out of that
spot on the moor； or could come at it； until the road had been cut
out by labourers from the market…town。 When they might cut their
way to the Holly…Tree nobody could tell me。
It was now Christmas…eve。 I should have had a dismal Christmas…time
of it anywhere； and consequently that did not so much matter； still；
being snowed up was like dying of frost； a thing I had not bargained
for。 I felt very lonely。 Yet I could no more have proposed to the
landlord and landlady to admit me to their society （though I should
have liked itvery much） than I could have asked them to present me
with a piece of plate。 Here my great secret； the real bashfulness
of my character； is to be observed。 Like most bashful men； I judge
of other people as if they were bashful too。 Besides being far too
shamefaced to make the proposal myself； I really had a delicate
misgiving that it would be in the last degree disconcerting to them。
Trying to settle down； therefore； in my solitude； I first of all
asked what books there were in the house。 The waiter brought me a
Book of Roads； two or three old Newspapers； a little Song…Book；
terminating in a collection of Toasts and Sentiments； a little Jest…
Book； an odd volume of Peregrine Pickle； and the Sentimental
Journey。 I knew every word of the two last already； but I read them
through again； then tried to hum all the songs （Auld Lang Syne was
among them）； went entirely through the jokes；in which I found a
fund of melancholy adapted to my state of mind； proposed all the
toasts； enunciated all the sentiments； and mastered the papers。 The
latter had nothing in them but stock advertisements； a meeting about
a county rate； and a highway robbery。 As I am a greedy reader； I
could not make this supply hold out until night； it was exhausted by
tea…time。 Being then entirely cast upon my own resources； I got
through an hour in considering what to do next。 Ultimately； it came
into my head （from which I was anxious by any means to exclude
Angela and Edwin）； that I would endeavour to recall my experience of
Inns； and would try how long it lasted me。 I stirred the fire；
moved my chair a little to one side of the screen；not daring to go
far； for I knew the wind was waiting to make a rush at me； I could
hear it growling；and began。
My first impressions of an Inn dated from the Nursery； consequently
I went back to the Nursery for a starting…point； and found myself at
the knee of a sallow woman with a fishy eye； an aquiline nose； and a
green gown； whose specially was a dismal narrative of a landlord by
the roadside； whose visitors unaccountably disappeared for many
years； until it was discovered that the pursuit of his life had been
to convert them into pies。 For the better devotion of himself to
this branch of industry； he had constructed a secret door behind the
head of the bed； and when the visitor （oppressed with pie） had
fallen asleep； this wicked landlord would look softly in with a lamp
in one hand and a knife in the other； would cut his throat； and
would make him into pies； for which purpose he had coppers；
underneath a trap…door； always boiling； and rolled out his pastry in
the dead of the night。 Yet even he was not insensible to the stings
of conscience； for he never went to sleep without being heard to
mutter； 〃Too much pepper！〃 which was eventually the cause of his
being brought to justice。 I had no sooner disposed of this criminal
than there started up another of the same period； whose profession
was originally house…breaking； in the pursuit of which art he had
had his right ear chopped off one night； as he was burglariously
getting in at a window； by a brave and lovely servant…maid （whom the
aquiline…nosed woman； though not at all answering the description；
always mysteriously implied to be herself）。 After several years；
this brave and lovely servant…maid was married to the landlord of a
country Inn； which landlord had this remarkable characteristic； that
he always wore a silk nightcap； and never would on any consideration
take it off。 At last； one night； when he was fast asleep； the brave
and lovely woman lifted up his silk nightcap on the right side； and
found that he had no ear there； upon which she sagaciously perceived
that he was the clipped housebreaker； who had married her with the
intention of putting her to death。 She immediately heated the poker
and terminated his career； for which she was taken to King George
upon his throne； and received the compliments of royalty on her
great discretion and valour。 This same narrator； who had a Ghoulish
pleasure； I have long been persuaded； in terrifying me to the utmost
confines of my reason； had another authentic anecdote within her own
experience； founded； I now believe； upon Raymond and Agnes； or the
Bleeding Nun。 She said it happened to her brother…in…law； who was
immensely rich；which my father was not； and immensely tall；which
my father was not。 It was always a point with this Ghoul to present
my clearest relations and friends to my youthful mind under
circumstances of disparaging contrast。 The brother…in…law was
riding once through a forest on a magnificent horse （we had no
magnificent horse at our house）； attended by a favourite and
valuable Newfoundland dog （we had no dog）； when he found himself
benighted； and came to an Inn。 A dark woman opened the door； and he
asked her if he could have a bed there。 She answered yes； and put
his horse in the stable； and took him into a room where there were
two dark men。 While he was at supper； a parrot in the room began to
talk； saying； 〃Blood； blood！ Wipe up the blood！〃 Upon which one of
the dark men wrung the parrot's neck； and said he was fond of
roasted parrots； and he meant to have this one for breakfast in the
morning。 After eating and drinking heartily； the immensely rich；
tall brother…in…law went up to bed； but he was rather vexed； because
they had shut his dog in the stable； saying that they never allowed
dogs in the house。 He sat very quiet for more than an hour；
thinking and thinking； when； just as his candle was burning out； he
heard a scratch at the door。 He opened the door； and there was the
Newfoundland dog！ The dog came softly in； smelt about him； went
straight to some straw in the corner which the dark men had said
covered apples； tore the straw away； and disclosed two sheets
steeped in blood。 Just at that moment the candle went out； and the
brother…in…law； looking through a chink in the door； saw the two
dark men stealing up…stairs； one armed with a dagger that