the queen of hearts-第23节
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wits about a dream？〃
〃I'll leave your house；〃 said Isaac； faintly。 〃Better out on the
road； in rain and dark； on my road home； than back again in that
room； after what I've seen in it。 Lend me a light to get my
clothes by； and tell me what I'm to pay。〃
〃Pay！〃 cried the landlord； leading the way with his light sulkily
into the bedroom。 〃You'll find your score on the slate when you
go downstairs。 I wouldn't have taken you in for all the money
you've got about you if I'd known your dreaming； screeching ways
beforehand。 Look at the bed。 Where's the cut of a knife in it？
Look at the windowis the lock bursted？ Look at the door （which
I heard you fasten yourself）is it broke in？ A murdering woman
with a knife in my house！ You ought to be ashamed of yourself！〃
Isaac answered not a word。 He huddled on his clothes； and then
they went downstairs together。
〃Nigh on twenty minutes past two！〃 said the landlord； as they
passed the clock。 〃A nice time in the morning to frighten honest
people out of their wits！〃
Isaac paid his bill； and the landlord let him out at the front
door； asking； with a grin of contempt； as he undid the strong
fastenings； whether 〃the murdering woman got in that way。〃
They parted without a word on either side。 The rain had ceased；
but the night was dark； and the wind bleaker than ever。 Little
did the darkness； or the cold； or the uncertainty about the way
home matter to Isaac。 If he had been turned out into a wilderness
in a thunder…storm it would have been a relief after what he had
suffered in the bedroom of the inn。
What was the fair woman with the knife？ The creature of a dream；
or that other creature from the unknown world called among men by
the name of ghost？ He could make nothing of the mysteryhad made
nothing of it； even when it was midday on Wednesday； and when he
stood； at last； after many times missing his road； once more on
the doorstep of home。
CHAPTER III。
His mother came out eagerly to receive him。
His face told her in a moment that something was wrong。
〃I've lost the place； but that's my luck。 I dreamed an ill dream
last night； motheror maybe I saw a ghost。 Take it either way；
it scared me out of my senses； and I'm not my own man again yet。〃
〃Isaac； your face frightens me。 Come in to the firecome in； and
tell mother all about it。〃
He was as anxious to tell as she was to hear； for it had been his
hope； all the way home； that his mother； with her quicker
capacity and superior knowledge； might be able to throw some
light on the mystery which he could not clear up for himself。 His
memory of the dream was still mechanically vivid； though his
thoughts were entirely confused by it。
His mother's face grew paler and paler as he went on。 She never
interrupted him by so much as a single word； but when he had
done； she moved her chair close to his； put her arm round his
neck； and said to him：
〃Isaac； you dreamed your ill dream on this Wednesday morning。
What time was it when you saw the fair woman with the knife in
her hand？〃 Isaac reflected on what the landlord had said when
they had passed by the clock on his leaving the inn； allowed as
nearly as he could for the time that must have elapsed between
the unlocking of his bedroom door and the paying of his bill just
before going away； and answered：
〃Somewhere about two o'clock in the morning。〃
His mother suddenly quitted her hold of his neck； and struck her
hands together with a gesture of despair。
〃This Wednesday is your birthday； Isaac； and two o'clock in the
morning was the time when you were born。〃
Isaac's capacities were not quick enough to catch the infection
of his mother's superstitious dread。 He was amazed； and a little
startled； also； when she suddenly rose from her chair； opened her
old writing…desk； took pen； ink and paper； and then said to him：
〃Your memory is but a poor one； Isaac； and； now I'm an old woman；
mine's not much better。 I want all about this dream of yours to
be as well known to both of us； years hence； as it is now。 Tell
me over again all you told me a minute ago； when you spoke of
what the woman with the knife looked like。〃
Isaac obeyed； and marveled much as he saw his mother carefully
set down on paper the very words that he was saying。
〃Light gray eyes；〃 she wrote； as they came to the descriptive
part； 〃with a droop in the left eyelid； flaxen hair； with a
gold…yellow streak in it； white arms； with a down upon them；
little lady's hand； with a reddish look about the finger nails；
clasp…knife with a buck…horn handle； that seemed as good as new。〃
To these particulars Mrs。 Scatchard added the year； month； day of
the week； and time in the morning when the woman of the dream
appeared to her son。 She then locked up the paper carefully in
her writing…desk。
Neither on that day nor on any day after could her son induce her
to return to the matter of the dream。 She obstinately kept her
thoughts about it to herself； and even refused to refer again to
the paper in her writing…desk。 Ere long Isaac grew weary of
attempting to make her break her resolute silence； and time；
which sooner or later wears out all things； gradually wore out
the impression produced on him by the dream。 He began by thinking
of it carelessly； and he ended by not thinking of it at all。
The result was the more easily brought about by the advent of
some important changes for the better in his prospects which
commenced not long after his terrible night's experience at the
inn。 He reaped at last th e reward of his long and patient
suffering under adversity by getting an excellent place； keeping
it for seven years； and leaving it； on the death of his master；
not only with an excellent character； but also with a comfortable
annuity bequeathed to him as a reward for saving his mistress's
life in a carriage accident。 Thus it happened that Isaac
Scatchard returned to his old mother； seven years after the time
of the dream at the inn； with an annual sum of money at his
disposal sufficient to keep them both in ease and independence
for the rest of their lives。
The mother； whose health had been bad of late years； profited so
much by the care bestowed on her and by freedom from money
anxieties； that when Isaac's birthday came round she was able to
sit up comfortably at table and dine with him。
On that day； as the evening drew on； Mrs。 Scatchard discovered
that a bottle of tonic medicine which she was accustomed to take；
and in which she had fancied that a dose or more was still left；
happened to be empty。 Isaac immediately volunteered to go to the
chemist's and get it filled again。 It was as rainy and bleak an
autumn night as on the memorable past occasion when he lost his
way and slept at the road…side inn。
On going into the chemist's shop he was passed hurriedly by a
poorly…dressed woman coming out of it。 The glimpse he had of her
face struck him； and he looked back after her as she descended
the door…steps。
〃You're noticing that woman？〃 said the chemist's apprentice
behind the counter。 〃It's my opinion there's something wrong with
her。 She's been asking for laudanum to put to a bad tooth。
Master's out for half an hour； and I told her I wasn't allowed to
sell poison to strangers in his absence。 She laughed in a queer
way； and said she would come back in half an hour。 If she expects
master to serve her； I think she'll be disappointed。 It's a case
of suicide； sir； if ever there was one yet。〃
These words added immeasurably to the sudden interest in the
woman which Isaac had felt at the first sight of her face。 After
he had got the medicine…bottle filled； he looked about anxiously
for her as soon as he was out in the street。 She was walking
slowly up and down on the opposite side of the road。 With his
heart； very much to his own surprise； beating fast； Isaac crossed
over and spoke to her。
He asked if she was in any distress。 She pointed to her torn
shawl； her scanty dress； her crushed； dirty bonnet； then moved
under a lamp so as to let the light fall on her stern； pale； but
still most beautiful face。
〃I look like a comfortable； happy woman； don't I？〃 she said； with
a bitter laugh。
She spoke with a purity of intonation which Isaac had never heard
before from other than ladies' lips。 Her slightest actions seemed
to have the easy； negligent grace of a thoroughbred woman。 Her
skin； for all its poverty…stricken paleness； was as delicate as
if her life had been passed in the enjoyment of every social
comfort that wealth can purchase。 Even her small； finely…shaped
hands； gloveless as they were； had not lost their whiteness。
Little by little； in answer to his questions； the sad story of
the woman came out。 There is no need to relate it here； it is
told over and over again in police reports and paragraphs about
attempted suicides。
〃My name is Rebecca Murdoch；〃 said the woman； as she ended。 〃I
have nine…pence left； and I thought of spending it at the
chemist's over the way in securing a passage to the other world。
Whatever it is； it can't be worse to me than this； so why should
I stop here？〃
Besides the natural compassion and sadness moved in his heart by
what he heard； Isaac felt within him s
