some short christmas stories(圣诞故事)-第5节
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！
what she meant？ Then； Lady Mary replied； 〃Why； all night long； the
carriages were driving round and round the terrace； underneath my
window！〃 Then； the owner of the house turned pale； and so did his Lady；
and Charles Macdoodle of Macdoodle signed to Lady Mary to say no
more； and every one was silent。 After breakfast； Charles Macdoodle told
Lady Mary that it was a tradition in the family that those rumbling
carriages on the terrace betokened death。 And so it proved； for； two
months afterwards； the Lady of the mansion died。 And Lady Mary； who
was a Maid of Honour at Court； often told this story to the old Queen
Charlotte； by this token that the old King always said； 〃Eh； eh？ What；
what？ Ghosts； ghosts？ No such thing； no such thing！〃 And never left
off saying so； until he went to bed。
Or； a friend of somebody's whom most of us know； when he was a
young man at college； had a particular friend； with whom he made the
compact that； if it were possible for the Spirit to return to this earth after
its separation from the body； he of the twain who first died； should
reappear to the other。 In course of time； this compact was forgotten by
our friend； the two young men having progressed in life； and taken
diverging paths that were wide asunder。 But； one night； many years
afterwards； our friend being in the North of England； and staying for the
night in an inn； on the Yorkshire Moors； happened to look out of bed； and
there； in the moonlight； leaning on a bureau near the window； steadfastly
regarding him； saw his old college friend！ The appearance being
solemnly addressed； replied； in a kind of whisper； but very audibly； 〃Do
not come near me。 I am dead。 I am here to redeem my promise。 I
come from another world； but may not disclose its secrets！〃 Then； the
whole form becoming paler； melted； as it were； into the moonlight； and
faded away。
Or； there was the daughter of the first occupier of the picturesque
Elizabethan house； so famous in our neighbourhood。 You have heard
about her？ No！ Why； SHE went out one summer evening at twilight；
when she was a beautiful girl； just seventeen years of age； to gather
flowers in the garden； and presently came running； terrified； into the hall
14
… Page 15…
Some Short Christmas Stories
to her father； saying； 〃Oh； dear father； I have met myself！〃 He took her
in his arms； and told her it was fancy； but she said； 〃Oh no！ I met myself
in the broad walk； and I was pale and gathering withered flowers； and I
turned my head； and held them up！〃 And； that night； she died； and a
picture of her story was begun； though never finished； and they say it is
somewhere in the house to this day； with its face to the wall。
Or； the uncle of my brother's wife was riding home on horseback； one
mellow evening at sunset； when； in a green lane close to his own house； he
saw a man standing before him； in the very centre of a narrow way。
〃Why does that man in the cloak stand there！〃 he thought。 〃Does he
want me to ride over him？〃 But the figure never moved。 He felt a
strange sensation at seeing it so still； but slackened his trot and rode
forward。 When he was so close to it； as almost to touch it with his stirrup；
his horse shied； and the figure glided up the bank； in a curious； unearthly
mannerbackward； and without seeming to use its feetand was gone。
The uncle of my brother's wife； exclaiming； 〃Good Heaven！ It's my
cousin Harry； from Bombay！〃 put spurs to his horse； which was suddenly
in a profuse sweat； and； wondering at such strange behaviour； dashed
round to the front of his house。 There； he saw the same figure； just
passing in at the long French window of the drawing…room； opening on the
ground。 He threw his bridle to a servant； and hastened in after it。 His
sister was sitting there； alone。 〃Alice； where's my cousin Harry？〃
〃Your cousin Harry； John？〃 〃Yes。 From Bombay。 I met him in the
lane just now； and saw him enter here； this instant。〃 Not a creature had
been seen by any one； and in that hour and minute； as it afterwards
appeared； this cousin died in India。
Or； it was a certain sensible old maiden lady； who died at ninety… nine；
and retained her faculties to the last； who really did see the Orphan Boy； a
story which has often been incorrectly told； but； of which the real truth is
thisbecause it is； in fact； a story belonging to our familyand she was a
connexion of our family。 When she was about forty years of age； and still
an uncommonly fine woman （her lover died young； which was the reason
why she never married； though she had many offers）； she went to stay at a
place in Kent； which her brother； an Indian…Merchant； had newly bought。
15
… Page 16…
Some Short Christmas Stories
There was a story that this place had once been held in trust by the
guardian of a young boy； who was himself the next heir； and who killed
the young boy by harsh and cruel treatment。 She knew nothing of that。
It has been said that there was a Cage in her bedroom in which the
guardian used to put the boy。 There was no such thing。 There was only a
closet。 She went to bed； made no alarm whatever in the night； and in the
morning said composedly to her maid when she came in； 〃Who is the
pretty forlorn…looking child who has been peeping out of that closet all
night？〃 The maid replied by giving a loud scream； and instantly
decamping。 She was surprised； but she was a woman of remarkable
strength of mind； and she dressed herself and went downstairs； and
closeted herself with her brother。 〃Now； Walter；〃 she said； 〃I have been
disturbed all night by a pretty； forlorn…looking boy； who has been
constantly peeping out of that closet in my room； which I can't open。
This is some trick。〃 〃I am afraid not； Charlotte；〃 said he； 〃for it is the
legend of the house。 It is the Orphan Boy。 What did he do？〃 〃He
opened the door softly；〃 said she； 〃and peeped out。 Sometimes； he came
a step or two into the room。 Then； I called to him； to encourage him； and
he shrunk； and shuddered； and crept in again； and shut the door。〃 〃The
closet has no communication； Charlotte；〃 said her brother； 〃with any other
part of the house； and it's nailed up。〃 This was undeniably true； and it
took two carpenters a whole forenoon to get it open； for examination。
Then； she was satisfied that she had seen the Orphan Boy。 But； the wild
and terrible part of the story is； that he was also seen by three of her
brother's sons； in succession； who all died young。 On the occasion of
each child being taken ill； he came home in a heat； twelve hours before；
and said； Oh； Mamma； he had been playing under a particular oak…tree； in
a certain meadow； with a strange boya pretty； forlorn…looking boy； who
was very timid； and made signs！ From fatal experience； the parents came
to know that this was the Orphan Boy； and that the course of that child
whom he chose for his little playmate was surely run。
Legion is the name of the German castles； where we sit up alone to
wait for the Spectrewhere we are shown into a room； made
comparatively cheerful for our receptionwhere we glance round at the
