three ghost stories(三个鬼故事)-第8节
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one night dejectedly said to my sister： 〃Patty； I begin to despair of our
getting people to go on with us here； and I think we must give this up。〃
My sister； who is a woman of immense spirit； replied； 〃No； John； don't
give it up。 Don't be beaten； John。 There is another way。〃
〃And what is that？〃 said I。
〃John；〃 returned my sister； 〃if we are not to be driven out of this house；
and that for no reason whatever； that is apparent to you or me； we must
help ourselves and take the house wholly and solely into our own hands。〃
〃But； the servants；〃 said I。
〃Have no servants；〃 said my sister； boldly。
Like most people in my grade of life； I had never thought of the
possibility of going on without those faithful obstructions。 The notion was
so new to me when suggested； that I looked very doubtful。 〃We know they
come here to be frightened and infect one another； and we know they are
frightened and do infect one another；〃 said my sister。
〃With the exception of Bottles；〃 I observed； in a meditative tone。
（The deaf stable…man。 I kept him in my service； and still keep him； as a
phenomenon of moroseness not to be matched in England。）
〃To be sure； John；〃 assented my sister； 〃except Bottles。 And what does
that go to prove？ Bottles talks to nobody； and hears nobody unless he is
absolutely roared at； and what alarm has Bottles ever given； or taken！
None。〃
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This was perfectly true； the individual in question having retired； every
night at ten o'clock； to his bed over the coach…house； with no other
company than a pitchfork and a pail of water。 That the pail of water would
have been over me； and the pitchfork through me； if I had put myself
without announcement in Bottles's way after that minute； I had deposited
in my own mind as a fact worth remembering。 Neither had Bottles ever
taken the least notice of any of our many uproars。 An imperturbable and
speechless man； he had sat at his supper； with Streaker present in a swoon；
and the Odd Girl marble； and had only put another potato in his cheek； or
profited by the general misery to help himself to beefsteak pie。
〃And so；〃 continued my sister； 〃I exempt Bottles。 And considering；
John； that the house is too large； and perhaps too lonely； to be kept well in
hand by Bottles； you； and me； I propose that we cast about among our
friends for a certain selected number of the most reliable and willing
form a Society here for three monthswait upon ourselves and one
anotherlive cheerfully and sociallyand see what happens。〃
I was so charmed with my sister； that I embraced her on the spot； and
went into her plan with the greatest ardour。
We were then in the third week of November； but； we took our
measures so vigorously； and were so well seconded by the friends in
whom we confided； that there was still a week of the month unexpired；
when our party all came down together merrily； and mustered in the
haunted house。
I will mention； in this place； two small changes that I made while my
sister and I were yet alone。 It occurring to me as not improbable that Turk
howled in the house at night； partly because he wanted to get out of it； I
stationed him in his kennel outside； but unchained； and I seriously warned
the village that any man who came in his way must not expect to leave
him without a rip in his own throat。 I then casually asked Ikey if he were a
judge of a gun？ On his saying； 〃Yes； sir； I knows a good gun when I sees
her；〃 I begged the favour of his stepping up to the house and looking at
mine。
〃SHE'S a true one； sir；〃 said Ikey； after inspecting a double… barrelled
rifle that I bought in New York a few years ago。 〃No mistake about HER；
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sir。〃
〃Ikey；〃 said I； 〃don't mention it； I have seen something in this house。〃
〃No； sir？〃 he whispered； greedily opening his eyes。 〃'Ooded lady； sir？〃
〃Don't be frightened；〃 said I。 〃It was a figure rather like you。〃
〃Lord； sir？〃
〃Ikey！〃 said I； shaking hands with him warmly： I may say
affectionately； 〃if there is any truth in these ghost…stories； the greatest
service I can do you； is； to fire at that figure。 And I promise you； by
Heaven and earth； I will do it with this gun if I see it again！〃
The young man thanked me； and took his leave with some little
precipitation； after declining a glass of liquor。 I imparted my secret to him；
because I had never quite forgotten his throwing his cap at the bell；
because I had； on another occasion； noticed something very like a fur cap；
lying not far from the bell； one night when it had burst out ringing； and
because I had remarked that we were at our ghostliest whenever he came
up in the evening to comfort the servants。 Let me do Ikey no injustice。 He
was afraid of the house； and believed in its being haunted； and yet he
would play false on the haunting side； so surely as he got an opportunity。
The Odd Girl's case was exactly similar。 She went about the house in a
state of real terror； and yet lied monstrously and wilfully； and invented
many of the alarms she spread； and made many of the sounds we heard。 I
had had my eye on the two； and I know it。 It is not necessary for me； here；
to account for this preposterous state of mind； I content myself with
remarking that it is familiarly known to every intelligent man who has had
fair medical； legal； or other watchful experience； that it is as well
established and as common a state of mind as any with which observers
are acquainted； and that it is one of the first elements； above all others；
rationally to be suspected in； and strictly looked for； and separated from；
any question of this kind。
To return to our party。 The first thing we did when we were all
assembled； was； to draw lots for bedrooms。 That done； and every bedroom；
and； indeed； the whole house； having been minutely examined by the
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。
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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 m
