three ghost stories(三个鬼故事)-第10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！
lion…hearted boy； and B。 was short for Briton； or for Bull。 Whether he
33
… Page 34…
Three Ghost Stories
could possibly have been kith and kin to an illustrious lady who
brightened my own childhood； and had come of the blood of the brilliant
Mother Bunch？
With these profitless meditations I tormented myself much。 I also
carried the mysterious letter into the appearance and pursuits of the
deceased； wondering whether he dressed in Blue； wore Boots （he couldn't
have been Bald）； was a boy of Brains； liked Books； was good at Bowling；
had any skill as a Boxer； even in his Buoyant Boyhood Bathed from a
Bathing…machine at Bognor； Bangor； Bournemouth； Brighton； or
Broadstairs； like a Bounding Billiard Ball？
So； from the first； I was haunted by the letter B。
It was not long before I remarked that I never by any hazard had a
dream of Master B。； or of anything belonging to him。 But； the instant I
awoke from sleep； at whatever hour of the night； my thoughts took him up；
and roamed away； trying to attach his initial letter to something that would
fit it and keep it quiet。
For six nights； I had been worried this in Master B。's room； when I
began to perceive that things were going wrong。
The first appearance that presented itself was early in the morning
when it was but just daylight and no more。 I was standing shaving at my
glass； when I suddenly discovered； to my consternation and amazement；
that I was shavingnot myselfI am fiftybut a boy。 Apparently Master
B。！
I trembled and looked over my shoulder； nothing there。 I looked again
in the glass； and distinctly saw the features and expression of a boy； who
was shaving； not to get rid of a beard； but to get one。 Extremely troubled
in my mind； I took a few turns in the room； and went back to the looking…
glass； resolved to steady my hand and complete the operation in which I
had been disturbed。 Opening my eyes； which I had shut while recovering
my firmness； I now met in the glass； looking straight at me； the eyes of a
young man of four or five and twenty。 Terrified by this new ghost； I closed
my eyes； and made a strong effort to recover myself。 Opening them again；
I saw； shaving his cheek in the glass； my father； who has long been dead。
Nay； I even saw my grandfather too； whom I never did see in my life。
34
… Page 35…
Three Ghost Stories
Although naturally much affected by these remarkable visitations； I
determined to keep my secret； until the time agreed upon for the present
general disclosure。 Agitated by a multitude of curious thoughts； I retired to
my room； that night； prepared to encounter some new experience of a
spectral character。 Nor was my preparation needless； for； waking from an
uneasy sleep at exactly two o'clock in the morning； what were my feelings
to find that I was sharing my bed with the skeleton of Master B。！
I sprang up； and the skeleton sprang up also。 I then heard a plaintive
voice saying； 〃Where am I？ What is become of me？〃 and； looking hard in
that direction； perceived the ghost of Master B。
The young spectre was dressed in an obsolete fashion： or rather； was
not so much dressed as put into a case of inferior pepper…and… salt cloth；
made horrible by means of shining buttons。 I observed that these buttons
went； in a double row； over each shoulder of the young ghost； and
appeared to descend his back。 He wore a frill round his neck。 His right
hand （which I distinctly noticed to be inky） was laid upon his stomach；
connecting this action with some feeble pimples on his countenance； and
his general air of nausea； I concluded this ghost to be the ghost of a boy
who had habitually taken a great deal too much medicine。 〃Where am I？〃
said the little spectre； in a pathetic voice。 〃And why was I born in the
Calomel days； and why did I have all that Calomel given me？〃
I replied； with sincere earnestness； that upon my soul I couldn't tell
him。
〃Where is my little sister；〃 said the ghost； 〃and where my angelic little
wife； and where is the boy I went to school with？〃
I entreated the phantom to be comforted； and above all things to take
heart respecting the loss of the boy he went to school with。 I represented to
him that probably that boy never did； within human experience； come out
well； when discovered。 I urged that I myself had； in later life； turned up
several boys whom I went to school with； and none of them had at all
answered。 I expressed my humble belief that that boy never did answer。 I
represented that he was a mythic character； a delusion； and a snare。 I
recounted how； the last time I found him； I found him at a dinner party
behind a wall of white cravat； with an inconclusive opinion on every
35
… Page 36…
Three Ghost Stories
possible subject； and a power of silent boredom absolutely Titanic。 I
related how； on the strength of our having been together at 〃Old
Doylance's；〃 he had asked himself to breakfast with me （a social offence
of the largest magnitude）； how； fanning my weak embers of belief in
Doylance's boys； I had let him in； and how； he had proved to be a fearful
wanderer about the earth； pursuing the race of Adam with inexplicable
notions concerning the currency； and with a proposition that the Bank of
England should； on pain of being abolished； instantly strike off and
circulate； God knows how many thousand millions of ten…and…sixpenny
notes。
The ghost heard me in silence； and with a fixed stare。 〃Barber！〃 it
apostrophised me when I had finished。
〃Barber？〃 I repeatedfor I am not of that profession。
〃Condemned；〃 said the ghost； 〃to shave a constant change of
customersnow； menow； a young mannow； thyself as thou artnow；
thy fathernow； thy grandfather； condemned； too； to lie down with a
skeleton every night； and to rise with it every morning〃
（I shuddered on hearing this dismal announcement。）
〃Barber！ Pursue me！〃
I had felt； even before the words were uttered； that I was under a spell
to pursue the phantom。 I immediately did so； and was in Master B。's room
no longer。
Most people know what long and fatiguing night journeys had been
forced upon the witches who used to confess； and who； no doubt； told the
exact truthparticularly as they were always assisted with leading
questions； and the Torture was always ready。 I asseverate that； during my
occupation of Master B。's room； I was taken by the ghost that haunted it；
on expeditions fully as long and wild as any of those。 Assuredly； I was
presented to no shabby old man with a goat's horns and tail （something
between Pan and an old clothesman）； holding conventional receptions； as
stupid as those of real life and less decent； but； I came upon other things
which appeared to me to have more meaning。
Confident that I speak the truth and shall be believed； I declare without
hesitation that I followed the ghost； in the first instance on a broom…stick；
36
… Page 37…
Three Ghost Stories
and afterwards on a rocking…horse。 The very smell of the animal's paint
especially when I brought it out； by making him warmI am ready to
swear to。 I followed the ghost； afterwards； in a hackney coach； an
institution with the peculiar smell of which； the present generation is
unacquainted； but to which I am again ready to swear as a combination of
stable； dog with the mange； and very old bellows。 （In this； I appeal to
previous generations to confirm or refute me。） I pursued the phantom； on a
headless donkey： at least； upon a donkey who was so interested in the state
of his stoma
