Seeing me look her way, she flushed, and, throwing wide the door, remarked in the pleasantest of tones:
“This is your room. Mrs. Packard says that if it is not large enough or does not seem pleasant to you, she will find you another one to-morrow.”
“It’s very pleasant and quite large enough,” I confidently replied, after a hasty look about me. “I could not be more comfortable.”
She smiled, a trifle broadly for the occasion, I thought, and patted a pillow here and twitched3 a curtain there, as she remarked with a certain emphasis:
“I’m sure you will be comfortable. There’s nobody else on this floor but Letty and the baby, but you don’t look as if you would be easily frightened.” Astonished, not so much by her words as by the furtive4 look she gave me, I laughed as I repeated “Frightened? What should frighten me?”
“Oh, nothing.” Her back was to me now, but I felt that I knew her very look. “Nothing, of course. If you’re not timid you won’t mind sleeping so far away from every one. Then, we are always within call. The attic5 door is just a few steps off. We’ll leave it unlocked and you can come up if — if you feel like it at any time. We’ll understand.”
Understand! I eyed her as she again looked my way, with some of her own curiosity if not wonder.
“Mrs. Packard must have had some very timorous6 guests,” I observed. “Or, perhaps, you have had experiences here which have tended to alarm you. The house is so large and imposing7 for the quarter it is in I can readily imagine it to attract burglars.”
“Burglars! It would be a brave burglar who would try to get in here. I guess you never heard about this house.”
“No,” I admitted, unpleasantly divided between a wish to draw her out and the fear of betraying Mayor Packard’s trust in me by showing the extent of my interest.
“Well, it’s only gossip,” she laughingly assured me. “You needn’t think of it, Miss. I’m sure you’ll be all right. We girls have been, so far, and Mrs. Packard —”
Here she doubtless heard a voice outside or some summons from below, for she made a quick start toward the door, remarking in a different and very pleasant tone of voice:
“Dinner at seven, Miss. There’ll be no extra company to-night. I’m coming.” This to some one in the hall as she hastily passed through the door.
Dropping the bag I had lifted to unpack8, I stared at the door which had softly closed under her hand, then, with an odd impulse, turned to look at my own face in the glass before which I chanced to be standing9. Did I expect to find there some evidence of the excitement which this strange conversation might naturally produce in one already keyed up to an expectation of the mysterious and unusual? If so, I was not disappointed. My features certainly betrayed the effect of this unexpected attack upon my professional equanimity10. What did the girl mean? What was she hinting at? What underlay11 — what could underlie12 her surprising remark, “I guess you never heard about this house?” Something worth my knowing; something which might explain Mayor Packard’s fears and Mrs. Packard’s —
There I stopped. It was where the girl had stopped. She and not I must round out this uncompleted sentence.
Meanwhile I occupied myself in unpacking13 my two bags and making acquaintance with the room which, I felt, was destined14 to be the scene of many, anxious thoughts. Its first effect had been a cheerful one, owing to its two large windows, one looking out on a stretch of clear sky above a mass of low, huddled15 buildings, and the other on the wall of the adjacent house which, though near enough to obstruct16 the view, was not near enough to exclude all light. Another and closer scrutiny17 of the room did not alter the first impression. To the advantages of light were added those of dainty furnishing and an exceptionally pleasing color scheme. There was no richness anywhere, but an attractive harmony which gave one an instantaneous feeling of home. From the little brass18 bedstead curtained with cretonne, to the tiny desk filled with everything needful for immediate19 use, I saw evidences of the most careful housekeeping, and was vainly asking myself what could have come into Mrs. Packard’s life to disturb so wholesome20 a nature, when my attention was arrested by a picture hanging at the right of the window overlooking the next house.
It gave promise of being a most interesting sketch21, and I crossed over to examine it; but instead of doing so, found my eyes drawn22 toward something more vital than any picture and twice as enchaining.
It was a face, the face of an old woman staring down at me from a semicircular opening in the gable of the adjoining house. An ordinary circumstance in itself, but made extraordinary by the fixity of her gaze, which was leveled straight on mine, and the uncommon23 expression of breathless eagerness which gave force to her otherwise commonplace features. So remarkable24 was this expression and so apparently25 was it directed against myself, that I felt like throwing up my window and asking the poor old creature what I could do for her. But her extreme immobility deterred26 me. For all the intentness of her look there was no invitation in it warranting such an advance on my part. She simply stared down at me in unbroken anxiety, nor, though I watched her for some minutes with an intensity27 equal to her own, did I detect any change either in her attitude or expression.
“Odd,” thought I, and tested her with a friendly bow. The demonstration28 failed to produce the least impression. “A most uncanny neighbor,” was my mental comment on finally turning away. Truly I was surrounded by mysteries, but fortunately this was one with which I had no immediate concern. It did not take me long to put away my few belongings29 and prepare for dinner. When quite ready, I sat down to write a letter. This completed, I turned to go downstairs. But before leaving the room I cast another look up at my neighbor’s attic window. The old woman was still there. As our glances met I experienced a thrill which was hardly one of sympathy, yet was not exactly one of fear. My impulse was to pull down the shade between us, but I had not the heart. She was so old, so feeble and so, evidently the prey30 of some strange and fixed31 idea. What idea? It was not for me to say, but I found it impossible to make any move which would seem to shut her out; so I left the shade up; but her image followed me and I forgot it only when confronted once again with Mrs. Packard.
That lady was awaiting me at the dining-room door. She had succeeded in throwing off her secret depression and smiled quite naturally as I approached. Her easy, courteous32 manners became her wonderfully. I immediately recognized how much there was to admire in our mayor’s wife, and quite understood his relief when, a few minutes later, we sat at table and conversation began. Mrs. Packard, when free and light-hearted, was a delightful33 companion and the meal passed off cheerily. When we rose and the mayor left us for some necessary business it was with a look of satisfaction in my direction which was the best possible preparation for my approaching tete-a-tete with his moody34 and incomprehensible wife.
But I was not destined to undergo the contemplated35 ordeal36 this evening. Guests were announced whom Mrs. Packard kindly37 invited me to meet, but I begged to be allowed to enjoy the library. I had too much to consider just now, to find any pleasure in society. Three questions filled my mind.
What was Mrs. Packard’s secret trouble?
Why were people afraid to remain in this house?
Why did the old woman next door show such interest in the new member of her neighbor’s household?
Would a single answer cover all? Was there but one cause for each and every one of these peculiarities38? Probably, and it was my duty to ferret out this cause. But how should I begin? I remembered what I had read about detectives and their methods, but the help I thus received was small. Subtler methods were demanded here and subtler methods I must find. Meantime, I would hope for another talk with Mayor Packard. He might clear up some of this fog. At least, I should like to give him the opportunity. But I saw no way of reaching him at present. Even Mrs. Packard did not feel at liberty to disturb him in his study. I must wait for his reappearance, and in the meantime divert myself as best I could. I caught up a magazine, but speedily dropped it to cast a quick glance around the room. Had I heard anything? No. The house was perfectly39 still, save for the sound of conversation in the drawing-room. Yet I found it hard to keep my eyes upon the page. Quite without my volition40 they flew, first to one corner, then to another. The room was light, there were no shadowy nooks in it, yet I felt an irresistible41 desire to peer into every place not directly under my eye. I knew it to be folly42, and, after succumbing43 to the temptation of taking a sly look behind a certain tall screen, I resolutely44 set myself to curb45 my restlessness and to peruse46 in good earnest the article I had begun. To make sure of myself, I articulated each word aloud, and to my exceeding satisfaction had reached the second column when I found my voice trailing off into silence, and every sense alarmingly alert. Yet there was nothing, absolutely nothing in this well-lighted, cozy47 family-room to awaken48 fear. I was sure of this the next minute, and felt correspondingly irritated with myself and deeply humiliated49. That my nerves should play me such a trick at the very outset of my business in this house! That I could not be left alone, with life in every part of the house, and the sound of the piano and cheerful talking just across the hall, without the sense of the morbid50 and unearthly entering my matter-of-fact brain!
Uttering an ejaculation of contempt, I reseated myself. The impulse came again to look behind me, but I mastered it this time without too great an effort. I already knew every feature of the room: its old-fashioned mantel, large round center-table, its couches and chairs, and why should I waste my attention again upon them?
“Is there anything you wish, Miss?” asked a voice directly over my shoulder.
I wheeled about with a start. I had heard no one approach; it was not sound which had disturbed me.
“The library bell rang,” continued the voice. “Is it ice-water you want?”
Then I saw that it was Nixon, the butler, and shook my head in mingled51 anger and perplexity; for not only had he advanced quite noiselessly, but he was looking at me with that curious concentrated gaze which I had met twice before since coming into this house.
“I need nothing,” said I, with all the mildness I could summon into my voice; and did not know whether to like or not like the quiet manner in which he sidled out of the room.
“Why do they all look at me so closely?” I queried52, in genuine confusion. “The man had no business here. I did not ring, and I don’t believe he thought I did. He merely wanted to see what I was doing and whether I was enjoying myself. Why this curiosity? I have never roused it anywhere else. It is not myself they are interested in, but the cause and purpose of my presence under this roof.” I paused to wonder over the fact that the one member of the family who might be supposed to resent my intrusion most was the one who took it most kindly and with least token of surprise — Mrs. Packard.
“She accepts me easily enough,” thought I. “To her I am a welcome companion. What am I to these?”
The answer, or rather a possible answer, came speedily. At nine o’clock Mayor Packard entered the room from his study across the hall, and, seeing me alone, came forward briskly. “Mrs. Packard has company and I am on my way to the drawing-room, but I am happy to have the opportunity of assuring you that already she looks better, and that I begin to hope that your encouraging presence may stimulate53 her to throw aside her gloom and needless apprehensions54. I shall be eternally grateful to you if it will. It is the first time in a week that she has consented to receive visitors.” I failed to feel the same elation55 over this possibly temporary improvement in his wife’s condition, but I carefully refrained from betraying my doubts. On the contrary, I took advantage of the moment to clear my mind of one of the many perplexities disturbing it.
“And I am glad of this opportunity to ask you what may seem a foolish, if not impertinent question. The maid, Ellen, in showing me my room, was very careful to assure me that she slept near me and would let me into her room in case I experienced any alarm in the night; and when I showed surprise at her expecting me to feel alarm of any kind in a house full of people, made the remark, ‘I guess you do not know about this house.’ Will you pardon me if I ask if there is anything I don’t know, and should know, about the home your suffering wife inhabits? A problem such as you have given me to solve demands a thorough understanding of every cause capable of creating disturbance56 in a sensitive mind.”
The mayor’s short laugh failed to hide his annoyance57. “You will find nothing in this direction,” said he, “to account for the condition I have mentioned to you. Mrs. Packard is utterly58 devoid59 of superstition60. That I made sure of before signing the lease of this old house. But I forgot; you are doubtless ignorant of its reputation. It has, or rather has had, the name of being haunted. Ridiculous, of course, but a fact with which Mrs. Packard has had to contend in”— he gave me a quick glance —“in hiring servants.”
It was now my turn to smile, but somehow I did not. A vision had risen in my mind of that blank and staring face in the attic window next door, and I felt — well, I don’t know how I felt, but I did not smile.
Another short laugh escaped him.
“We have not been favored by any manifestations61 from the spiritual world. This has proved a very matter-of-fact sort of home for us. I had almost forgotten that it was burdened with such an uncanny reputation, and I’m sure that Mrs. Packard would have shared my indifference62 if it had not been for the domestic difficulty I have mentioned. It took us two weeks to secure help of any kind.”
“Indeed! and how long have you been in the house? I judge that you rent it?”
“Yes, we rent it and we have been here two months. It was the only house I could get in a locality convenient for me; besides, the old place suits me. It would take more than an obsolete63 ghost or so to scare me away from what I like.”
“But Mrs. Packard? She may not be a superstitious64 woman, yet —”
“Don’t be fanciful, Miss Saunders. You will have to look deeper than that for the spell which has been cast over my wife. Olympia afraid of creaks and groans65? Olympia seeing sights? She’s much too practical by nature, Miss Saunders, to say nothing of the fact that she would certainly have confided66 her trouble to me, had her imagination been stirred in this way. Little things have invariably been discussed between us. I repeat that this possibility should not give you a moment’s thought.”
A burst of sweet singing came from the drawing-room.
“That’s her voice,” he cried. “Whatever her trouble may be she has forgotten it for the moment. Excuse me if I join her. It is such pleasure to have her at all like herself again.”
I longed to detain him, longed to put some of the numberless questions my awakened67 curiosity demanded, but his impatience68 was too marked and I let him depart without another word.
But I was not satisfied. Inwardly I determined69 to see him again as soon as possible and gain a more definite insight into the mysteries of his home.
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1
candid
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| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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attic
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| n.顶楼，屋顶室 | |
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timorous
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| adj.胆怯的，胆小的 | |
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imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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8
unpack
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| vt.打开包裹（或行李），卸货 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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equanimity
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| n.沉着，镇定 | |
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underlay
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| v.位于或存在于（某物）之下( underlie的过去式 )；构成…的基础（或起因），引起n.衬垫物 | |
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underlie
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| v.位于...之下，成为...的基础 | |
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13
unpacking
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| n.取出货物，拆包[箱]v.从（包裹等）中取出（所装的东西），打开行李取出( unpack的现在分词 )；拆包；解除…的负担；吐露（心事等） | |
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14
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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obstruct
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| v.阻隔，阻塞(道路、通道等)；n.阻碍物，障碍物 | |
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17
scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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19
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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deterred
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| v.阻止，制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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moody
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| adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的 | |
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contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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peculiarities
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| n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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40
volition
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| n.意志；决意 | |
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irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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43
succumbing
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的现在分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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44
resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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curb
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| n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制 | |
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peruse
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| v.细读，精读 | |
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cozy
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| adj.亲如手足的，密切的，暖和舒服的 | |
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48
awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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49
humiliated
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| 感到羞愧的 | |
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50
morbid
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| adj.病的；致病的；病态的；可怕的 | |
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51
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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52
queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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53
stimulate
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| vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋 | |
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54
apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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55
elation
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| n.兴高采烈，洋洋得意 | |
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56
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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57
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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58
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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devoid
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| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
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60
superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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61
manifestations
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| n.表示，显示（manifestation的复数形式） | |
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62
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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obsolete
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| adj.已废弃的，过时的 | |
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superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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65
groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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66
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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67
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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68
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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69
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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