He announced his determination to Mr. Manton and Clara the evening previous. He thought it politic2 to assign a double motive3 for his departure.
"You may remember," he said, "that I referred to a relative in delicate health from whom I expected a legacy4."
"Yes," said Mr. Manton.
"I have received intelligence that he is very low and wishes to see me. So, although it will be [Pg 172]inconvenient for me to leave my business, I find it necessary to go."
"Perhaps you may be rewarded for going," suggested Mr. Manton.
"Yes, I have no reason to doubt that I shall be well remembered in my relative's will. I think that when I return there will be nothing to prevent my complying with the conditions you named, and that I may be able to claim your daughter's hand."
"Perhaps I may change my mind," said Clara, energetically; but she saw fit to devote herself to her suitor through the entire evening, displaying an affability and assumed interest which quite captivated him. The thoughts of her favor even drove away the memories of the dark deed which, as he fully5 believed, had consigned6 to a watery7 grave the boy who had been committed to his charge.
"There seems some chance of his story proving true," said Mr. Manton, when the two were alone.
"Yes, it may be. On that chance I've been trying to make myself agreeable to-night. He evidently thinks I'm dead in love with him. As if anybody could fancy such a stupid lout8. I declare I wish it was somebody else who was going to get[Pg 173] the money. The exertions9 I've made have quite wearied me," and fair Clara yawned excessively.
"If you think you can't like him, it is not too late to withdraw," said the father, who had a little more heart than his daughter.
"Oh, as to that, it isn't of much consequence," said Clara. "I haven't got much sentiment, and if he can show the cash, I'll marry him."
"I presume you won't throw away your fascinations10 upon him after marriage," said her father.
"Suppose he resents it, and treats you badly?" suggested Mr. Manton, with a little paternal12 solicitude13.
"I can protect myself," said Clara, with nonchalance14. "He's a weak fool and I can twist him round my finger."
"He may not be as manageable as you think, Clara."
"Oh, I know him thoroughly15. He hasn't much spirit. I should be ashamed if I could not manage him."
"You remember Catharine in 'Taming the Shrew'?"
"Very polite, upon my word, to compare me to[Pg 174] a shrew. Yes, I remember her; but I shall have a different man to deal with from Petruchio. You needn't trouble yourself about me. I know what I'm about."
"Well, it's your own affair," said Mr. Manton, philosophically16. "We shall know in a short time whether I am to welcome a son-in-law."
"Or whether your daughter is to remain a while longer 'an impatient rose on the ancestral tree.'"
"And use her thorns on her father instead of a husband," supplemented Mr. Manton.
"But you are getting bright in your old age, papa. Be careful or the rose may show its thorns."
The conversation just recorded indicates the pleasant prospect17 which James Cromwell had of domestic happiness in case his wishes were gratified, and he gained the hand of the young lady. But he had no conception of her real disposition18, or he might have hesitated to go farther. She had tact19 enough to veil her faults from the scrutiny20 of her lover, and present to him only an amiable21 and agreeable side.
In the morning, James Cromwell started for New York, going by Wheeling. It so chanced that he arrived in the evening at the same hotel[Pg 175] where Robert and Major Woodley had rooms. He was fatigued22 by his long journey, and retired24 at nine o'clock, or soon after his arrival. He did not think to look over the books of the hotel, or he might have made the discovery that Robert was still alive, and that his journey was likely to prove fruitless. Neither did he meet Major Woodley or Robert, for they were sitting together in the major's room until half-past ten, chatting cosily25.
But James Cromwell was destined26 to meet with an adventure, which tormented27 his soul with guilty fear, and gave him a great shock.
It chanced that the room assigned to him was No. 41. The room occupied by Robert was No. 43, just beyond in the same corridor.
As has been said, Cromwell retired to bed at half-past nine; but, though fatigued, he was unable to go to sleep—he was haunted by the thoughts of the pond and the body that lay beneath, deprived of life through his most wicked agency, and as he lay he became nervous and restless, and not even his physical fatigue23 could induce the coveted28 slumber29 to visit him.
When Robert, coming from the room of Major Woodley, sought his own room, he could not at first remember whether it was No. 41 or 43. He[Pg 176] had the impression that it was No. 41 that had been assigned him. He accordingly opened the door of the room and stood just within the door.
At the sound of the opening door James Cromwell rose in bed, and gazed with horror at the face and figure of the boy whom he supposed that he had murdered. The moonlight entering through the windows fell upon Robert's face and gave it a ghastly look, or at least seemed to do so to the excited imagination of the guilty Cromwell. He gazed spell-bound, and cowering30 with fear at the apparition31, with difficulty ejaculated:
"Who are you?"
Of course Robert recognized Cromwell and he at once guessed the truth, that he was going to New York to give his own version of his disappearance32 to his uncle. He saw at once that he was mistaken for a ghost, and the desire seized him to carry out this deception33. Certainly, if one were justifiable34 in frightening another by exciting his superstitious35 fears Robert was justified36 in terrifying the man who had so basely sought his life.
When, therefore, with faltering37 lips, James Cromwell put the question, "Who are you?" Robert answered in a low, guttural voice:
"I am the spirit of the boy you murdered!" As[Pg 177] he uttered the words, he waved one hand aloft, and made a step forward toward the bed.
Excited to the wildest pitch, Cromwell trembled convulsively, then opened his lips to utter a piercing shriek38, and flinging the bed-clothes over his head, cowered39 beneath them in craven terror.
Robert thought this a good chance to make his exit. He noiselessly retreated, closing the door behind him, and entered his own room before the servants, aroused by Cromwell's shriek, could reach the door of his apartment.
"What's the matter here?" demanded a waiter, opening the door of No. 41.
"What's the matter, I say?" he repeated, rather sharply.
The voice was so decidedly earthly that James Cromwell, somewhat relieved of his fear, removed the clothes from his head, and looked up.
"I—I don't know," he said, "I think I had the night-mare."
"Well," uttered the servant, "I hope you won't have it again. You'll wake up all that are asleep, and make them think that somebody is being murdered."
[Pg 178]
James Cromwell recoiled41 at the last word, and he said, hastily, for he feared a return of the supposed spirit:
"My friend, if you'll come in here and stop till I've gone to sleep, I'll pay you for your trouble. I'm afraid of having the night-mare again."
"Can't do it; I haven't got the time. Besides, what's the use? You won't have the night-mare when you're awake."
He shut the door, and James Cromwell lay for a long time in a state of nervous terror, trying to go to sleep, but unable to do so. At last, from sheer fatigue, he fell into a troubled slumber, which was disturbed by terrifying dreams.
He woke, at an early hour unrefreshed, and going below ordered a breakfast which he did not relish42.
Thence he went to the depot43 and took the early morning train bound eastward44. He was already speeding on his way rapidly before Robert Raymond arose. The door of No. 41 was open, and he looked in. But the occupant had disappeared. Going to the office he saw the name of James Cromwell on the books of the hotel, and learned from the clerk that he had already gone.
"He's a queer chap," said the clerk; "he had[Pg 179] a terrible night-mare last night, and shrieked45 loud enough to take the roof off. You must have heard him, as your room adjoined his!"
"Yes, I heard him," said Robert, but he said no more.
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1
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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2
politic
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| adj.有智虑的；精明的；v.从政 | |
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3
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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4
legacy
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| n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
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5
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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6
consigned
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| v.把…置于（令人不快的境地）( consign的过去式和过去分词 )；把…托付给；把…托人代售；丟弃 | |
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7
watery
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| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
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8
lout
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| n.粗鄙的人；举止粗鲁的人 | |
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9
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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10
fascinations
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| n.魅力( fascination的名词复数 )；有魅力的东西；迷恋；陶醉 | |
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11
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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12
paternal
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| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
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13
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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14
nonchalance
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| n.冷淡，漠不关心 | |
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15
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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16
philosophically
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| adv.哲学上；富有哲理性地；贤明地；冷静地 | |
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17
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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18
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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19
tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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20
scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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21
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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22
fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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24
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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cosily
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| adv.舒适地，惬意地 | |
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26
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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27
tormented
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| 饱受折磨的 | |
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28
coveted
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| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
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29
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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30
cowering
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的现在分词 ) | |
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31
apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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32
disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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33
deception
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| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
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34
justifiable
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| adj.有理由的，无可非议的 | |
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35
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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36
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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37
faltering
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| 犹豫的，支吾的，蹒跚的 | |
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38
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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39
cowered
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的过去式 ) | |
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40
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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41
recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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42
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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43
depot
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| n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站 | |
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44
eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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45
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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