three ghost stories(三个鬼故事)-第4节
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the night advanced began to make larger demands on his attention： and I
left him at two in the morning。 I had offered to stay through the night； but
he would not hear of it。
That I more than once looked back at the red light as I ascended the
pathway； that I did not like the red light； and that I should have slept but
poorly if my bed had been under it； I see no reason to conceal。 Nor did I
like the two sequences of the accident and the dead girl。 I see no reason to
conceal that either。
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But what ran most in my thoughts was the consideration how ought I
to act； having become the recipient of this disclosure？ I had proved the
man to be intelligent； vigilant； painstaking； and exact； but how long might
he remain so； in his state of mind？ Though in a subordinate position； still
he held a most important trust； and would I （for instance） like to stake my
own life on the chances of his continuing to execute it with precision？
Unable to overcome a feeling that there would be something
treacherous in my communicating what he had told me to his superiors in
the Company； without first being plain with himself and proposing a
middle course to him； I ultimately resolved to offer to accompany him
（otherwise keeping his secret for the present） to the wisest medical
practitioner we could hear of in those parts； and to take his opinion。 A
change in his time of duty would come round next night； he had apprised
me； and he would be off an hour or two after sunrise； and on again soon
after sunset。 I had appointed to return accordingly。
Next evening was a lovely evening； and I walked out early to enjoy it。
The sun was not yet quite down when I traversed the field…path near the
top of the deep cutting。 I would extend my walk for an hour； I said to
myself； half an hour on and half an hour back； and it would then be time to
go to my signal…man's box。
Before pursuing my stroll； I stepped to the brink； and mechanically
looked down； from the point from which I had first seen him。 I cannot
describe the thrill that seized upon me； when； close at the mouth of the
tunnel； I saw the appearance of a man； with his left sleeve across his eyes；
passionately waving his right arm。
The nameless horror that oppressed me passed in a moment； for in a
moment I saw that this appearance of a man was a man indeed； and that
there was a little group of other men； standing at a short distance； to whom
he seemed to be rehearsing the gesture he made。 The Danger…light was not
yet lighted。 Against its shaft； a little low hut； entirely new to me； had been
made of some wooden supports and tarpaulin。 It looked no bigger than a
bed。
With an irresistible sense that something was wrong；with a flashing
self…reproachful fear that fatal mischief had come of my leaving the man
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there； and causing no one to be sent to overlook or correct what he did；I
descended the notched path with all the speed I could make。
〃What is the matter？〃 I asked the men。
〃Signal…man killed this morning； sir。〃
〃Not the man belonging to that box？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Not the man I know？〃
〃You will recognise him； sir； if you knew him；〃 said the man who
spoke for the others； solemnly uncovering his own head； and raising an
end of the tarpaulin； 〃for his face is quite composed。〃
〃O； how did this happen； how did this happen？〃 I asked； turning from
one to another as the hut closed in again。
〃He was cut down by an engine； sir。 No man in England knew his
work better。 But somehow he was not clear of the outer rail。 It was just at
broad day。 He had struck the light； and had the lamp in his hand。 As the
engine came out of the tunnel； his back was towards her； and she cut him
down。 That man drove her； and was showing how it happened。 Show the
gentleman； Tom。〃
The man； who wore a rough dark dress； stepped back to his former
place at the mouth of the tunnel。
〃Coming round the curve in the tunnel； sir；〃 he said； 〃I saw him at the
end； like as if I saw him down a perspective…glass。 There was no time to
check speed； and I knew him to be very careful。 As he didn't seem to take
heed of the whistle； I shut it off when we were running down upon him；
and called to him as loud as I could call。〃
〃What did you say？〃
〃I said； 'Below there！ Look out！ Look out！ For God's sake； clear the
way！'〃
I started。
〃Ah！ it was a dreadful time； sir。 I never left off calling to him。 I put this
arm before my eyes not to see； and I waved this arm to the last； but it was
no use。〃
Without prolonging the narrative to dwell on any one of its curious
circumstances more than on any other； I may； in closing it； point out the
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coincidence that the warning of the Engine…Driver included； not only the
words which the unfortunate Signal…man had repeated to me as haunting
him； but also the words which I myselfnot hehad attached； and that
only in my own mind； to the gesticulation he had imitated。
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THE HAUNTED HOUSE
CHAPTER ITHE MORTALS IN THE HOUSE
Under none of the accredited ghostly circumstances； and environed by
none of the conventional ghostly surroundings； did I first make
acquaintance with the house which is the subject of this Christmas piece。 I
saw it in the daylight； with the sun upon it。 There was no wind； no rain； no
lightning； no thunder； no awful or unwonted circumstance； of any kind； to
heighten its effect。 More than that： I had come to it direct from a railway
station： it was not more than a mile distant from the railway station； and；
as I stood outside the house； looking back upon the way I had come； I
could see the goods train running smoothly along the embankment in the
valley。 I will not say that everything was utterly commonplace； because I
doubt if anything can be that； except to utterly commonplace people… …and
there my vanity steps in； but； I will take it on myself to say that anybody
might see the house as I saw it； any fine autumn morning。
The manner of my lighting on it was this。
I was travelling towards London out of the North； intending to stop by
the way； to look at the house。 My health required a temporary residence in
the country； and a friend of mine who knew that； and who had happened
to drive past the house； had written to me to suggest it as a likely place。 I
had got into the train at midnight； and had fallen asleep； and had woke up
and had sat looking out of window at the brilliant Northern Lights in the
sky； and had fallen asleep again； and had woke up again to find the night
gone； with the usual discontented conviction on me that I hadn't been to
sleep at all；upon which question； in the first imbecility of that condition；
I am ashamed to believe that I would have done wager by battle with the
man who sat opposite me。 That opposite man had had； through the night
as that opposite man always hasseveral legs too many； and all of them
too long。 In addition to this unreasonable conduct （which was only to be
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expected of him）； he had had a pencil and a pocket…book； and had been
perpetually listening and taking notes。 It had appeared to me that these
aggravating notes related to the jolts and bumps of the carriage； and I
should have resigned myself to his taking them； under a general
supposition that he was in the civil…engineering way of life； if he had not
sat staring straight over my head whenever he listened。 He was a goggle…
eyed gentleman of a perplexed aspect； and his demeanour became
unbearable。
It was a cold； dead morning （the sun not being up yet）； and when I had
out…watched the paling light of the fires of the iron country； and the curtain
of heavy
