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！
whole body； we allotted the various household duties； as if we had been on
a gipsy party； or a yachting party； or a hunting party； or were shipwrecked。
29
… Page 30…
Three Ghost Stories
I then recounted the floating rumours concerning the hooded lady； the owl；
and Master B。： with others； still more filmy； which had floated about
during our occupation； relative to some ridiculous old ghost of the female
gender who went up and down； carrying the ghost of a round table； and
also to an impalpable Jackass； whom nobody was ever able to catch。 Some
of these ideas I really believe our people below had communicated to one
another in some diseased way； without conveying them in words。 We then
gravely called one another to witness； that we were not there to be
deceived； or to deceivewhich we considered pretty much the same thing…
…and that； with a serious sense of responsibility； we would be strictly true
to one another； and would strictly follow out the truth。 The understanding
was established； that any one who heard unusual noises in the night； and
who wished to trace them； should knock at my door； lastly； that on Twelfth
Night； the last night of holy Christmas； all our individual experiences
since that then present hour of our coming together in the haunted house；
should be brought to light for the good of all； and that we would hold our
peace on the subject till then； unless on some remarkable provocation to
break silence。
We were； in number and in character； as follows：
Firstto get my sister and myself out of the waythere were we two。
In the drawing of lots； my sister drew her own room； and I drew Master
B。's。 Next； there was our first cousin John Herschel； so called after the
great astronomer： than whom I suppose a better man at a telescope does
not breathe。 With him； was his wife： a charming creature to whom he had
been married in the previous spring。 I thought it （under the circumstances）
rather imprudent to bring her； because there is no knowing what even a
false alarm may do at such a time； but I suppose he knew his own business
best； and I must say that if she had been MY wife； I never could have left
her endearing and bright face behind。 They drew the Clock Room。 Alfred
Starling； an uncommonly agreeable young fellow of eight…and…twenty for
whom I have the greatest liking； was in the Double Room； mine； usually；
and designated by that name from having a dressing…room within it； with
two large and cumbersome windows； which no wedges I was ever able to
make； would keep from shaking； in any weather； wind or no wind。 Alfred
30
… Page 31…
Three Ghost Stories
is a young fellow who pretends to be 〃fast〃 （another word for loose； as I
understand the term）； but who is much too good and sensible for that
nonsense； and who would have distinguished himself before now； if his
father had not unfortunately left him a small independence of two hundred
a year； on the strength of which his only occupation in life has been to
spend six。 I am in hopes； however； that his Banker may break； or that he
may enter into some speculation guaranteed to pay twenty per cent。； for； I
am convinced that if he could only be ruined； his fortune is made。 Belinda
Bates； bosom friend of my sister； and a most intellectual； amiable； and
delightful girl； got the Picture Room。 She has a fine genius for poetry；
combined with real business earnestness； and 〃goes in〃to use an
expression of Alfred'sfor Woman's mission； Woman's rights； Woman's
wrongs； and everything that is woman's with a capital W； or is not and
ought to be； or is and ought not to be。 〃Most praiseworthy； my dear； and
Heaven prosper you！〃 I whispered to her on the first night of my taking
leave of her at the Picture…Room door； 〃but don't overdo it。 And in respect
of the great necessity there is； my darling； for more employments being
within the reach of Woman than our civilisation has as yet assigned to her；
don't fly at the unfortunate men； even those men who are at first sight in
your way； as if they were the natural oppressors of your sex； for； trust me；
Belinda； they do sometimes spend their wages among wives and daughters；
sisters； mothers； aunts； and grandmothers； and the play is； really； not ALL
Wolf and Red Riding…Hood； but has other parts in it。〃 However； I digress。
Belinda； as I have mentioned； occupied the Picture Room。 We had but
three other chambers： the Corner Room； the Cupboard Room； and the
Garden Room。 My old friend； Jack Governor； 〃slung his hammock；〃 as he
called it； in the Corner Room。 I have always regarded Jack as the finest…
looking sailor that ever sailed。 He is gray now； but as handsome as he was
a quarter of a century agonay； handsomer。 A portly； cheery； well…built
figure of a broad…shouldered man； with a frank smile； a brilliant dark eye；
and a rich dark eyebrow。 I remember those under darker hair； and they
look all the better for their silver setting。 He has been wherever his Union
namesake flies； has Jack； and I have met old shipmates of his； away in the
Mediterranean and on the other side of the Atlantic； who have beamed and
31
… Page 32…
Three Ghost Stories
brightened at the casual mention of his name； and have cried； 〃You know
Jack Governor？ Then you know a prince of men！〃 That he is！ And so
unmistakably a naval officer； that if you were to meet him coming out of
an Esquimaux snow…hut in seal's skin； you would be vaguely persuaded he
was in full naval uniform。
Jack once had that bright clear eye of his on my sister； but； it fell out
that he married another lady and took her to South America； where she
died。 This was a dozen years ago or more。 He brought down with him to
our haunted house a little cask of salt beef； for； he is always convinced that
all salt beef not of his own pickling； is mere carrion； and invariably； when
he goes to London； packs a piece in his portmanteau。 He had also
volunteered to bring with him one 〃Nat Beaver；〃 an old comrade of his；
captain of a merchantman。 Mr。 Beaver； with a thick…set wooden face and
figure； and apparently as hard as a block all over； proved to be an
intelligent man； with a world of watery exper