the haunted hotel-第2节
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is so delicate； I cannot paint without producing a hideous rash。
But that is of no importance。 I wanted your opinion given positively。
I believed in you； and you have disappointed me。' Her head dropped
on her breast。 'And so it ends！' she said to herself bitterly。
The Doctor's sympathies were touched。 Perhaps it might be more
correct to say that his professional pride was a little hurt。
'It may end in the right way yet；' he remarked； 'if you choose to
help me。'
She looked up again with flashing eyes； 'Speak plainly；' she said。
'How can I help you？'
'Plainly； madam； you come to me as an enigma； and you leave me
to make the right guess by the unaided efforts of my art。 My art
will do much； but not all。 For example； something must have occurred
something quite unconnected with the state of your bodily health
to frighten you about yourself； or you would never have come here
to consult me。 Is that true？'
She clasped her hands in her lap。 'That is true！' she said eagerly。
'I begin to believe in you again。'
'Very well。 You can't expect me to find out the moral cause which has
alarmed you。 I can positively discover that there is no physical
cause of alarm； and （unless you admit me to your confidence）
I can do no more。'
She rose； and took a turn in the room。 'Suppose I tell you？' she said。
'But； mind； I shall mention no names！'
'There is no need to mention names。 The facts are all I want。'
'The facts are nothing；' she rejoined。 'I have only my own impressions
to confessand you will very likely think me a fanciful fool when you
hear what they are。 No matter。 I will do my best to content you
I will begin with the facts that you want。 Take my word for it；
they won't do much to help you。'
She sat down again。 In the plainest possible words； she began
the strangest and wildest confession that had ever reached
the Doctor's ears。
CHAPTER II
'It is one fact； sir； that I am a widow；' she said。 'It is another fact；
that I am going to be married again。'
There she paused； and smiled at some thought that occurred to her。
Doctor Wybrow was not favourably impressed by her smile
there was something at once sad and cruel in it。 It came slowly；
and it went away suddenly。 He began to doubt whether he had been wise
in acting on his first impression。 His mind reverted to the commonplace
patients and the discoverable maladies that were waiting for him；
with a certain tender regret。
The lady went on。
'My approaching marriage；' she said； 'has one embarrassing
circumstance connected with it。 The gentleman whose wife I am to be；
was engaged to another lady when he happened to meet with me； abroad：
that lady； mind； being of his own blood and family； related to
him as his cousin。 I have innocently robbed her of her lover；
and destroyed her prospects in life。 Innocently； I saybecause he told
me nothing of his engagement until after I had accepted him。
When we next met in Englandand when there was danger； no doubt；
of the affair coming to my knowledgehe told me the truth。
I was naturally indignant。 He had his excuse ready； he showed me
a letter from the lady herself； releasing him from his engagement。
A more noble； a more high…minded letter； I never read in my life。
I cried over itI who have no tears in me for sorrows of my own！
If the letter had left him any hope of being forgiven； I would
have positively refused to marry him。 But the firmness of it
without anger； without a word of reproach； with heartfelt wishes
even for his happinessthe firmness of it； I say； left him no hope。
He appealed to my compassion； he appealed to his love for me。
You know what women are。 I too was soft…heartedI said；
Very well： yes！ In a week more （I tremble as I think of it）
we are to be married。'
She did really trembleshe was obliged to pause and compose herself；
before she could go on。 The Doctor； waiting for more facts；
began to fear that he stood committed to a long story。 'Forgive me
for reminding you that I have suffering persons waiting to see me；'
he said。 'The sooner you can come to the point； the better for my
patients and for me。'
The strange smileat once so sad and so cruelshowed itself again
on the lady's lips。 'Every word I have said is to the point；'
she answered。 'You will see it yourself in a moment more。'
She resumed her narrative。
'Yesterdayyou need fear no long story； sir； only yesterday
I was among the visitors at one of your English luncheon parties。
A lady； a perfect stranger to me； came in lateafter we had left
the table； and had retired to the drawing…room。 She happened
to take a chair near me； and we were presented to each other。
I knew her by name； as she knew me。 It was the woman whom I had
robbed of her lover； the woman who had written the noble letter。
Now listen！ You were impatient with me for not interesting
you in what I said just now。 I said it to satisfy your mind
that I had no enmity of feeling towards the lady； on my side。
I admired her； I felt for herI had no cause to reproach myself。
This is very important； as you will presently see。 On her side；
I have reason to be assured that the circumstances had been truly
explained to her； and that she understood I was in no way to blame。
Now； knowing all these necessary things as you do； explain to me；
if you can； why； when I rose and met that woman's eyes looking at me；
I turned cold from head to foot； and shuddered； and shivered；
and knew what a deadly panic of fear was； for the first time in my
life。'
The Doctor began to feel interested at last。
'Was there anything remarkable in the lady's personal appearance？'
he asked。
'Nothing whatever！' was the vehement reply。 'Here is the true
description of her：The ordinary English lady； the clear cold
blue eyes； the fine rosy complexion； the inanimately polite manner；
the large good…humoured mouth； the too plump cheeks and chin：
these； and nothing more。'
'Was there anything in her expression； when you first looked at her；
that took you by surprise？'
'There was natural curiosity to see the woman who had been
preferred to her； and perhaps some astonishment also； not to see
a more engaging and more beautiful person； both those feelings
restrained within the limits of good breeding； and both not lasting
for more than a few momentsso far as I could see。 I say； 〃so far；〃
because the horrible agitation that she communicated to me disturbed
my judgment。 If I could have got to the door； I would have run out
of the room； she frightened me so！ I was not even able to stand up
I sank back in my chair； I stared horror…struck at the calm
blue eyes that were only looking at me with a gentle surprise。
To say they affected me like the eyes of a serpent is to say nothing。
I felt her soul in them； looking into minelooking； if such a thing
can be； unconsciously to her own mortal self。 I tell you my impression；
in all its horror and in all its folly！ That woman is destined
（without knowing it herself） to be the evil genius of my life。
Her innocent eyes saw hidden capabilities of wickedness in me that I
was not aware of myself； until I felt them stirring under her look。
If I commit faults in my life to comeif I am even guilty of crimes
she will bring the retribution； without （as I firmly believe）
any conscious exercise of her own will。 In one indescribable
moment I felt all thisand I suppose my face showed it。
The good artless creature was inspired by a sort of gentle alarm
for me。 〃I am afraid the heat of the room is too much for you；
will you try my smelling bottle？〃 I heard her say those kind words；
and I remember nothing elseI fainted。 When I recovered my senses；
the company had all gone； only the lady of the house was with me。
For the moment I could say nothing to her； the dreadful impression
that I have tried to describe to you came back to me with the coming
back of my life。 As soon I could speak； I implored her to tell me
the whole truth about the woman whom I had supplanted。 You see；
I had a faint hope that her good character might not really be deserved；
that her noble letter was a skilful piece of hypocrisyin short；
that she secretly hated me； and was cunning enough to hide it。
