the tapestried chamber(挂花毯的房间)-第4节
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time exchanged the labour； fatigues； and dangers of my profession for the
enjoyments of a peaceful life； and the reunion of those friendly and
affectionate ties which I had torn asunder at the rude summons of war。
〃While such pleasing reflections were stealing over my mind； and
gradually lulling me to slumber； I was suddenly aroused by a sound like
that of the rustling of a silken gown； and the tapping of a pair of high…
heeled shoes； as if a woman were walking in the apartment。 Ere I could
draw the curtain to see what the matter was； the figure of a little woman
passed between the bed and the fire。 The back of this form was turned to
me； and I could observe； from the shoulders and neck； it was that of an old
woman； whose dress was an old…fashioned gown； which I think ladies call
a sacquethat is； a sort of robe completely loose in the body； but gathered
into broad plaits upon the neck and shoulders； which fall down to the
ground； and terminate in a species of train。
〃I thought the intrusion singular enough； but never harboured for a
moment the idea that what I saw was anything more than the mortal form
of some old woman about the establishment； who had a fancy to dress like
her grandmother； and who； having perhaps （as your lordship mentioned
that you were rather straitened for room） been dislodged from her chamber
for my accommodation； had forgotten the circumstance； and returned by
twelve to her old haunt。 Under this persuasion I moved myself in bed
and coughed a little； to make the intruder sensible of my being in
possession of the premises。 She turned slowly round； but； gracious
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Heaven！ my lord； what a countenance did she display to me！ There was
no longer any question what she was； or any thought of her being a living
being。 Upon a face which wore the fixed features of a corpse were
imprinted the traces of the vilest and most hideous passions which had
animated her while she lived。 The body of some atrocious criminal
seemed to have been given up from the grave； and the soul restored from
the penal fire； in order to form for a space a union with the ancient
accomplice of its guilt。 I started up in bed； and sat upright； supporting
myself on my palms； as I gazed on this horrible spectre。 The hag made；
as it seemed； a single and swift stride to the bed where I lay； and squatted
herself down upon it； in precisely the same attitude which I had assumed
in the extremity of horror； advancing her diabolical countenance within
half a yard of mine； with a grin which seemed to intimate the malice and
the derision of an incarnate fiend。〃
Here General Browne stopped； and wiped from his brow the cold
perspiration with which the recollection of his horrible vision had covered
it。
〃My lord；〃 he said； 〃I am no coward； I have been in all the mortal
dangers incidental to my profession； and I may truly boast that no man
ever knew Richard Browne dishonour the sword he wears； but in these
horrible circumstances； under the eyes； and； as it seemed； almost in the
grasp of an incarnation of an evil spirit； all firmness forsook me； all
manhood melted from me like wax in the furnace； and I felt my hair
individually bristle。 The current of my life…blood ceased to flow； and I
sank back in a swoon； as very a victim to panic terror as ever was a village
girl； or a child of ten years old。 How long I lay in this condition I cannot
pretend to guess。
〃But I was roused by the castle clock striking one； so loud that it
seemed as if it were in the very room。 It was some time before I dared
open my eyes； lest they should again encounter the horrible spectacle。
When； however； I summoned courage to look up； she was no longer
visible。 My first idea was to pull my bell； wake the servants； and remove
to a garret or a hay…loft； to be ensured against a second visitation。 Nay； I
will confess the truth that my resolution was altered； not by the shame of
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exposing myself； but by the fear that； as the bell…cord hung by the chimney；
I might； in making my way to it； be again crossed by the fiendish hag； who；
I figured to myself； might be still lurking about some corner of the
apartment。
〃I will not pretend to describe what hot and cold fever…fits tormented
me for the rest of the night； through broken sleep； weary vigils； and that
dubious state which forms the neutral ground between them。 A hundred
terrible objects appeared to haunt me； but there was the great difference
betwixt the vision which I have described； and those which followed； that
I knew the last to be deceptions of my own fancy and over…excited nerves。
〃Day at last appeared； and I rose from my bed ill in health and
humiliated in mind。 I was ashamed of myself as a man and a soldier； and
still more so at feeling my own extreme desire to escape from the haunted
apartment； which； however； conquered all other considerations； so that；
huddling on my clothes with the most careless haste； I made my escape
from your lordship's mansion； to seek in the open air some relief to my
nervous system； shaken as it was by this horrible rencounter with a visitant；
for such I must believe her； from the other world。 Your lordship has now
heard the cause of my discomposure； and of my sudden desire to leave
your hospitable castle。 In other places I trust we may often meet； but
God protect me from ever spending a second night under that roof！〃
Strange as the General's tale was； he spoke with such a deep air of
conviction that it cut short all the usual commentaries which are made on
such stories。 Lord Woodville never once asked him if he was sure he did
not dream of the apparition； or suggested any of the possibilities by which
it is fashionable to explain supernatural appearances as wild vagaries of
the fancy； or deceptions of the optic nerves； On the contrary； he seemed
deeply impressed with the truth and reality of what he had heard； and；
after a considerable pause regretted； with much appearance of sincerity；
that his early friend should in his house have suffered so severely。
〃I am the more sorry for your pain； my dear Browne；〃 he continued；
〃that it is the unhappy； though most unexpected； result of an experiment of
my own。 You must know that； for my father and grandfather's time； at
least； the apartment which was assigned to you last night had been shut on
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account of reports that it was disturbed by supernatural sights and noises。
When I came； a few weeks since； into possession of the estate； I thought
the accommodation which the castle afforded for my friends was not
extensive enough to permit the inhabitants of the invisible world to retain
possession of a comfortable sleeping apartment。 I therefore caused the
Tapestried Chamber； as we call it； to be opened； and； without destroying
its air of antiquity； I had such new articles of furniture placed in it as
became the modern times。 Yet； as the opinion that the room was haunted
very strongly prevailed among the domestics； and was also known in the
neighbourhood and to many of my friends； I feared some prejudice might
be entertained by the first occupant of the Tapestried Chamber； which
might tend to revive the evil report which it had laboured under； and so
disappoint my purpose of rendering it a useful part or the house。 I must
confess； my dear Browne； that your arrival yesterday； agreeable to me for
a thousand reasons b
