the grey room(»Ò·¿¼ä)-µÚ1½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡GREY¡¡ROOM¡¡
THE¡¡GREY¡¡ROOM¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡Eden¡¡Phillpotts¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡1¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡2¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡GREY¡¡ROOM¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡CHAPTER¡¡I¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡HOUSE¡¡PARTY¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡piers¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡main¡¡¡¡¡¡entrance¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡Chadlands¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡red¡¡¡¡¡¡brick£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
upon¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡each¡¡¡¡¡¡reposed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡mighty¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡sphere¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡grey¡¡¡¡¡¡granite¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Behind¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡
stretched¡¡away¡¡the¡¡park£»¡¡where¡¡forest¡¡trees£»¡¡nearly¡¡shorn¡¡of¡¡their¡¡leaves¡¡at¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡edge¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡winter£»¡¡¡¡¡¡still¡¡¡¡¡¡answered¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡setting¡¡¡¡¡¡sun¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡fires¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡thinning¡¡
foliage¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡¡¡¡¡sank¡¡¡¡¡¡away¡¡¡¡¡¡through¡¡¡¡¡¡stretches¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡brake¡¡¡¡¡¡fern£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡already¡¡
amid¡¡their¡¡trunks¡¡arose¡¡a¡¡thin£»¡¡blue¡¡haze¡¡¡¡¡breath¡¡of¡¡earth¡¡made¡¡visible¡¡by¡¡
coming¡¡cold¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡frost¡¡in¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sickle¡¡of¡¡a¡¡new¡¡moon¡¡hung¡¡
where¡¡dusk¡¡of¡¡evening¡¡dimmed¡¡the¡¡green¡¡of¡¡the¡¡western¡¡sky¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡guns¡¡were¡¡returning£»¡¡and¡¡eight¡¡men¡¡with¡¡three¡¡women¡¡arrived¡¡at¡¡
the¡¡lofty¡¡gates¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡One¡¡of¡¡the¡¡party¡¡rode¡¡a¡¡grey¡¡pony£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡walked¡¡
on¡¡each¡¡side¡¡of¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡chattered¡¡together£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡little¡¡company¡¡of¡¡
tweed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡clad¡¡¡¡¡¡people¡¡¡¡¡¡passed¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡¡¡Chadlands¡¡¡¡¡¡Park¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡trudged¡¡¡¡¡¡forward£»¡¡
where¡¡the¡¡manor¡¡house¡¡rose¡¡half¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡ahead¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡old¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡emerged¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡lodge£»¡¡¡¡¡¡hidden¡¡¡¡¡¡behind¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡grove¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
laurel¡¡and¡¡bay¡¡within¡¡the¡¡entrance£»¡¡and¡¡shut¡¡the¡¡great¡¡gates¡¡of¡¡scroll¡¡iron¡£¡¡
They¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡flamboyant¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Italian¡¡¡¡¡¡period£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡arrestive¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡than¡¡
distinguished¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Panelled¡¡¡¡¡¡upon¡¡¡¡¡¡them£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡belonging¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡later¡¡¡¡¡¡day¡¡¡¡¡¡than¡¡
they£»¡¡had¡¡been¡¡imposed¡¡two¡¡iron¡¡coats¡¡of¡¡arms£»¡¡with¡¡crest¡¡above¡¡and¡¡motto¡¡
beneath¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡heraldic¡¡¡¡¡¡bearings¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡present¡¡¡¡¡¡owner¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡Chadlands¡£¡¡
He¡¡set¡¡store¡¡upon¡¡such¡¡things£»¡¡but¡¡was¡¡not¡¡responsible¡¡for¡¡the¡¡work¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡
survival¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡himself£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡steeped¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡ancient¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡opinions£»¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡coat£»¡¡¡¡¡¡won¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡a¡¡
forgotten¡¡age£»¡¡interested¡¡him¡¡only¡¡less¡¡than¡¡his¡¡Mutiny¡¡medal¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡sole¡¡
personal¡¡claim¡¡to¡¡public¡¡honor¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡served¡¡in¡¡youth¡¡as¡¡a¡¡soldier£»¡¡but¡¡
was¡¡still¡¡a¡¡subaltern¡¡when¡¡his¡¡father¡¡died¡¡and¡¡he¡¡came¡¡into¡¡his¡¡kingdom¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Now£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Sir¡¡¡¡Walter¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Lennox£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡fifth¡¡¡¡baronet£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡grown¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡old£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡
invincible¡¡kindness¡¡of¡¡heart£»¡¡his¡¡archaic¡¡principles£»¡¡his¡¡great¡¡wealth£»¡¡and¡¡
the¡¡limited¡¡experiences¡¡of¡¡reality£»¡¡for¡¡which¡¡such¡¡wealth¡¡was¡¡responsible£»¡¡
left¡¡him¡¡a¡¡popular¡¡and¡¡respected¡¡man¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Yet¡¡he¡¡aroused¡¡much¡¡exasperation¡¡
in¡¡¡¡¡¡local¡¡¡¡¡¡landowners¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡generosity¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡scorn¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡economic¡¡
principles£»¡¡and¡¡while¡¡his¡¡tenants¡¡held¡¡him¡¡the¡¡very¡¡exemplar¡¡of¡¡a¡¡landlord£»¡¡
and¡¡his¡¡servants¡¡worshipped¡¡him¡¡for¡¡the¡¡best¡¡possible¡¡reasons£»¡¡his¡¡friends£»¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡2¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡3¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡GREY¡¡ROOM¡¡
weary¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡remonstrance£»¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡forced¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡forgive¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡bad¡¡¡¡¡¡precedents¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡a¡¡
mistaken¡¡liberality¡¡quite¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡the¡¡average¡¡unfortunate¡¡who¡¡
lives¡¡by¡¡his¡¡land¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡he¡¡managed¡¡his¡¡great¡¡manor¡¡in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡lavish¡¡way£»¡¡
and¡¡¡¡¡¡marvelled¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡other¡¡¡¡¡¡men¡¡¡¡¡¡declared¡¡¡¡¡¡difficulties¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡problems¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡
readily¡¡¡¡¡¡solved¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡That¡¡¡¡¡¡night£»¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡music£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Chadlands'¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡house¡¡
party¡¡¡¡¡¡drifted¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡billiard¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡room£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡while¡¡¡¡¡¡most¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡men£»¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
heavy¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡day¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡far¡¡¡¡afield£»¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡content¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡lounge¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡great¡¡¡¡¡¡open¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡hearth¡¡
where¡¡a¡¡wood¡¡fire¡¡burned£»¡¡Sir¡¡Walter£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡on¡¡a¡¡pony¡¡most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
time£»¡¡declared¡¡himself¡¡unwearied£»¡¡and¡¡demanded¡¡a¡¡game¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨No¡¡excuses£»¡¡Henry£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡and¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡a¡¡young¡¡man¡¡lounging¡¡in¡¡
an¡¡easy¡¡¡¡¡chair¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡fireside¡¡circle¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡youth¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡started¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡His¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡eyes¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡fixed¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡woman¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡sitting¡¡
beside¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡fire£»¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡hand¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡man's¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡such¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡attitude¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡
sophisticated¡¡¡¡¡¡lovers¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡assume¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡private¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡pair¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡
sophisticated¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡lovers¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡still£»¡¡¡¡though¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡married¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡lacked¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡self¡¡¡¡¡¡¡
consciousness£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡husband¡¡liked¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡his¡¡wife's¡¡hand¡¡in¡¡his¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡After¡¡
all£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡thing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡impossible¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡until¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡married¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡may¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡quite¡¡¡¡¡¡seemly¡¡
afterwards£»¡¡and¡¡none¡¡of¡¡their¡¡amiable¡¡elders¡¡regarded¡¡their¡¡devotion¡¡with¡¡
cynicism¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨All¡¡right£»¡¡uncle£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡Henry¡¡Lennox¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡rose¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡big¡¡fellow¡¡with¡¡heavy¡¡shoulders£»¡¡a¡¡clean¡¡¡¡¡shaven£»¡¡youthful¡¡
face£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡flaxen¡¡¡¡¡¡hair¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡handsome£»¡¡¡¡¡¡save¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡nose¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
broken¡¡bridge£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡pale¡¡brown¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡fine£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡firm¡¡mouth¡¡and¡¡
chin¡¡well¡¡modelled¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Imagination¡¡and¡¡reflection¡¡marked¡¡his¡¡countenance¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Sir¡¡Walter¡¡claimed¡¡thirty¡¡points¡¡on¡¡his¡¡scoring¡¡board£»¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡miss¡¡
with¡¡the¡¡spot¡¡ball¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡win¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡night£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡a¡¡small£»¡¡very¡¡upright¡¡man£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡face¡¡that¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡belong¡¡to¡¡
his¡¡¡¡¡¡generation£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡expression¡¡¡¡¡¡seldom¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡seen¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡younger¡¡
than¡¡seventy¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Life¡¡had¡¡not¡¡puzzled¡¡him£»¡¡his¡¡moderate¡¡intellect¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡
it¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡found¡¡¡¡¡¡it£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and£»¡¡¡¡¡¡through¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡magic¡¡¡¡¡¡glasses¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡good¡¡¡¡¡¡health£»¡¡¡¡¡¡good¡¡
temper£»¡¡and¡¡great¡¡wealth£»¡¡judged¡¡existence¡¡a¡¡desirable¡¡thing¡¡and¡¡quite¡¡easy¡¡
to¡¡conduct¡¡with¡¡credit¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡only¡¡want¡¡patience¡¡and¡¡a¡¡brain£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡always¡¡
declared¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Sir¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Walter¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡wore¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡eyeglass¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡growing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡bald£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡3¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡4¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡GREY¡¡ROOM¡¡
preserved¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡pair¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡grey¡¡¡¡¡¡whiskers¡¡¡¡¡¡still¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡respectable¡¡¡¡¡¡size¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡¡¡¡¡face£»¡¡
indeed£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡belied¡¡¡¡¡¡him£»¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡moulded¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡stern¡¡¡¡pattern¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡One¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡
guessed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡martinet¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡until¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡amiable¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡opinions¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡easy¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡going¡¡
personality¡¡were¡¡mainfested¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡old¡¡man¡¡was¡¡not¡¡vain£»¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡a¡¡
world¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡¡¡¡¡different¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡own¡¡¡¡¡¡extended¡¡¡¡¡¡round¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡
was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡puzzle¡headed£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡never¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡shaken¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡life¡long¡¡
complacency¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡circumstances¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡disappointed¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡love¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
young¡¡¡¡¡¡man£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡¡¡married¡¡¡¡¡¡late¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡life¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡son£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
widower¡¡¡¡¡facts¡¡that£»¡¡to¡¡his¡¡mind£»¡¡quite¡¡dwarfed¡¡his¡¡good¡¡fortune¡¡in¡¡every¡¡
other¡¡¡¡¡¡respect¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡held¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡comfortable¡¡¡¡¡¡doctrine¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡things¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡always¡¡
levelled¡¡up£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡honestly¡¡believed¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡suffered¡¡as¡¡much¡¡sorrow¡¡
and¡¡disappointment¡¡as¡¡any¡¡Lennox¡¡in¡¡the¡¡history¡¡of¡¡the¡¡race¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡His¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡¡¡child¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡cousin£»¡¡¡¡¡¡Henry¡¡¡¡¡¡Lennox£»¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡brought¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡
together¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡age¡¡¡¡¡both¡¡now¡¡¡¡¡¡twenty¡¡¡¡¡¡¡six¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡lad¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡his¡¡
uncle's¡¡heir£»¡¡and¡¡would¡¡succeed¡¡to¡¡Chadlands¡¡and¡¡the¡¡title£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡
Sir¡¡Walter's¡¡hope¡¡that¡¡he¡¡and¡¡Mary¡¡might¡¡marry¡£¡¡Nor¡¡had¡¡the¡¡youth¡¡any¡¡
objection¡¡to¡¡such¡¡a¡¡plan¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Indeed£»¡¡he¡¡loved¡¡Mary¡¡well¡¡enough£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡
even¡¡thought¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡tacit¡¡understanding¡¡between¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡grew¡¡up¡¡
in¡¡a¡¡friendship¡¡which¡¡gradually¡¡became¡¡ardent¡¡on¡¡the¡¡man's¡¡part£»¡¡though¡¡it¡¡
never¡¡ripened¡¡upon¡¡hers¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡her¡¡father¡¡keenly¡¡desired¡¡this¡¡
marriage£»¡¡and¡¡supposed¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡happen¡¡some¡¡day¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡were£»¡¡however£»¡¡not¡¡betrothed¡¡when¡¡the¡¡war¡¡burst¡¡upon¡¡Europe£»¡¡
and¡¡Henry£»¡¡then¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡twenty£»¡¡went¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Officers'¡¡Training¡¡Corps¡¡
to¡¡the¡¡Fifth¡¡Devons£»¡¡¡¡¡¡while¡¡his¡¡cousin¡¡became¡¡¡¡¡¡attached¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Red¡¡¡¡¡¡Cross¡¡
and¡¡nursed¡¡at¡¡Plymouth¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡accident¡¡terminated¡¡their¡¡shadowy¡¡romance¡¡
and¡¡brought¡¡real¡¡love¡¡into¡¡the¡¡woman's¡¡life£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡man¡¡found¡¡his¡¡hopes¡¡
at¡¡an¡¡end¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡drafted¡¡to¡¡Mesopotamia£»¡¡speedily¡¡fell¡¡sick¡¡of¡¡jaundice£»¡¡
was¡¡invalided¡¡to¡¡India£»¡¡and£»¡¡on¡¡returning¡¡to¡¡the¡¡front£»¡¡saw¡¡service¡¡against¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡Turks¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡chance¡¡¡¡¡¡willed¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡won¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡distinction¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡did¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡
duty¡¡under¡¡dreary¡¡circumstances£»¡¡while¡¡to¡¡his¡¡hatred¡¡of¡¡war¡¡was¡¡added¡¡the¡¡
weight¡¡of¡¡his¡¡loss¡¡when¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡that¡¡Mary¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡in¡¡love¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡an¡¡
ingenuous£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡kindly¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡youth¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡typical¡¡¡¡¡¡Lennox£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡who¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡developed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡
accomplishment¡¡at¡¡Harrow¡¡and¡¡suffered¡¡for¡¡it¡¡by¡¡getting¡¡his¡¡nose¡¡broken¡¡
when¡¡winning¡¡the¡¡heavy¡¡¡¡¡weight¡¡championship¡¡of¡¡the¡¡public¡¡schools¡¡in¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡4¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡5¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡GREY¡¡ROOM¡¡
his¡¡¡¡¡¡nineteenth¡¡¡¡¡¡year¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡East¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡still¡¡¡¡¡¡boxed£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡love¡¡¡¡¡¡story¡¡
was¡¡ended£»¡¡the¡¡epidemic¡¡of¡¡poetry¡making¡¡took¡¡Henry¡¡also£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡wrote¡¡
a¡¡volume¡¡of¡¡harmless¡¡verse£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡undying¡¡amazement¡¡of¡¡his¡¡family¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡¡¡¡¡Mary¡¡¡¡¡¡Lennox¡¡¡¡¡¡th