"There," said Mrs. Mellin, pointing with a fat, red finger at a dreary10 mansion11 which stood in a disorderly garden. "Maranatha! I never did 'ear of sich a queer name in all my born days."
"It's a scripter name, and has to do with cursing," explained her son, who, being a choir12-boy, knew something about the Bible.
"Then don't let me 'ear you use sich a wicked word, or I'll take the skin off your back," said his mother, wiping her large crimson13 face with a corner of her tartan shawl. "Maranatha! it gives me the shivers, it do."
"You're using it yourself," murmured Neddy, in an injured tone.
"Me, being your elder and your ma, has a right to use words as ain't fit for you," said Mrs. Mellin, tartly14, "and as we've got the washing of the new gent as has come to live there, I'll say the name often enough. I'll be bound. But not you, Neddy. Say the 'Ouse, and I'll know what you mean. And for 'Eaven's sake, child don't 'it the donkey. I want to look at the place."
Mrs. Mellin craned forward so as to get a better view, and stared at the square, ugly building, the damp red bricks of which were almost hidden by dark curtains of untrimmed ivy15. Smoke came from one chimney, which showed that the house was inhabited, but as the shutters16 were up and the door closed, there was a sinister17 look about the whole place which made the washerwoman shiver. In its wilderness18 of shrubs19 and long grass, girdled by gigantic elms, all sopping20 and dripping, the mansion loomed21 portentously22 through the mists. It looked like a house with an evil history, and the queer name on the gate suited it extraordinarily23 well. Mrs. Mellin was not imaginative, yet she shivered again as she signed that Nelly could proceed. Tired of standing24 and anxious to get her day's work over, Nelly changed her funeral pace for a more active one.
"Maranatha!" murmured Mrs. Mellin, as the cart turned into the Parade. "Well, baronet or no baronet, he won't get much good out of Maranatha. Arter suicides you may paint a 'ouse, you may furnish a 'ouse, and you may advertise 'ouses till you're sick, but them as comes to live in sich allays25 leaves afore the term's out. An' no wonder 'ow long he'll stay?"
"Who'll stay?" asked Neddy curiously26.
"I wasn't speaking to you, child. 'Old your tongue and drive on. I do 'ope as Mrs. Craver27 ain't 'eard. This will be news for 'er. And that Emily Pyne is sich a gossip, as never was."
All the way to the Rectory, Mrs. Mellin continued to talk in this way to herself, while Neddy kept his ears open to drink in every word. He was a slender boy with a wonderfully delicate complexion28, curly golden hair, and innocent blue eyes, looking, on the whole, like a stray angel. And when in the choir he not only looked like an angel but sang like one, as his voice was remarkably29 beautiful.
But all Neddy's goods were in the shop-window, since he was as naughty an urchin30 as ever existed, to worry a hard-working mother. He told lies, he played truant31, he associated with the worst boys in the parish, smoked on the sly, and behaved like the unscrupulous young rascal32 he truly was. Yet, when necessary, Neddy could play the saint so perfectly33 that his conduct, taken in conjuncture with his angelic looks, quite imposed upon the Rector, who believed him to be a modern Samuel.
Mrs. Mellin had her doubts, as experience told her otherwise, but naturally, she kept them to herself, and proclaimed on all and every occasion that Neddy was too good to live. All the same she was on her guard against his wiles34, and rebuked35 him sharply when she noticed that he was listening to her soliloquy. By the time she had finished telling him where bad boys went and how they fared when they died, the cart appeared at the Rectory and Mrs. Craver appeared at the back door.
The parson's wife was a busy, little sharp-faced woman, arrayed in a shabby black silk, with collar and cuffs37 of ragged38 white lace, carefully mended. The stipend39 for looking after the souls of the Hedgerton people was by no means large, and the Rev40. George Craver found it difficult to make both ends meet. Indeed, they would not have met at all had not Mrs. Craver been a notable housewife, who looked at both sides of a penny before parting with it, and who made shillings do the work of pounds. She scraped and screwed and pinched, and buzzed about the house from dawn till darkness like a busy bee, keeping her eye on everything and on everyone. According to custom she welcomed Mrs. Mellin into the kitchen and proceeded to count the washing, while Neddy sat outside in the cart and smoked a surreptitious cigarette. After the usual weekly wrangle41 over missing articles, scanty42 starching43, bad ironing, and excessive charging, Mrs. Craver gave the woman a cup of tea and asked questions.
It was her duty, as she conceived it as the Rector's wife, to know all that went on in the dull, seaside parish, and Mrs. Mellin could supply her with more information than most people. Therefore, Mrs. Craver sent the general servant, who was her solitary44 factotum45, into the wood-shed to clean knives and brush boots while she listened to the weekly report. Mrs. Mellin began by a reference to her sister-gossip and rival spy.
"I do 'ope, ma'am, as that Emily Pyne ain't been tellin' you things, as she ain't to be depended on, with her silly tongue and blind eye." The washerwoman spoke46 as if the lady in question had only one organ of vision, whereas she had two, and very sharp eyes they were.
"No. I haven't seen Miss Pyne," said Mrs. Craver, briskly. "Has she been doing anything wrong?"
"'Eaven forgive her, ma'am; she never does anything right," said Mrs. Mellin, piously47. "Not that I've got anything against her, for the time being, 'cept her gossiping constant when she should be working, and dressing48 above her station to which she 'ave been called. No, ma'am, never do I speak against Emily, though she did try to catch Mellin, when we was gels, failing, nater'ly, when she 'ave a game leg, and remaining a spinster through 'Eaven's 'and being 'eavy on 'er, may she be forgiven."
"Well, well; what's the news?" Mrs. Craver had heard all about Miss Pyne's wickedness before, and spoke impatiently.
Mrs. Mellin wiped her face, sipped49 her tea, and shook her head. "There ain't no news as is startling, ma'am, as bombs and bloodshed don't come 'ere while we 'ave the King--long may he reign50 over us. But that 'ouse in Ladysmith Road, as is so unlucky, is let at last."
"Maranatha?"
"Which the very name do give me the shudders51, ma'am. It's a wicked name."
"It is an odd name," agreed the sharp little woman, "and I asked the Rector about it. He says it is a Syriac word, meaning the Lord comes, or has come."
"Neddy told me it was a cuss, ma'am."
"He shouldn't know anything about curses at his age, Mrs. Mellin. Mr. Craver said that St. Paul used the word as expressing a curse."
"There now"--Mrs. Mellin was admiringly triumphant--"to think as how Neddy do pick up things. And a curse is on that 'ouse, Mrs. Craver, ma'am, for never 'ave it been lucky. The gent as built it fifty years back lost his arm, as my mother told me; the family as come after him buried two children in a year; a suicide was the nex' pusson as lived there, and it stayed empty for years till Mrs. Splurge took it to be ruined by the breaking of the bank her cash was in and 'ave her daughter run away with a young man as wasn't what he ought to be. It's a cussed 'ouse, and looks like one."
"H'm! It has a bad history. Well, and who has taken it now?"
"A baronet."
"Nonsense! Why should a baronet take a furnished house in this dull town?"
Mrs. Mellin set down her cup and folded her tartan shawl round her in quite a tragic52 manner. "That's what I arsk myself, ma'am," she said, impressively. "Mrs. Splurge, 'oping to make money after losing her all, advertised the 'ouse to be let furnished. But for two years it hev been standing as empty as my 'usband's 'ead, people fighting shy of its bad luck, as you might say, Mrs. Craver, ma'am. And now Sir 'Ector Wyke hev come, bag and baggage, with a 'ousekeeper as I hevn't seen, though write me she did, saying as she'd engaged me to do the washin'."
"Sir Hector Wyke?" Mrs. Craver searched her memory. "I seem to have heard the name before."
"'Ave he done anything bad?" inquired the washerwoman, eagerly. "Anything as would make 'im 'ide his guilty 'ead. Baronets is bad, as we know."
"Rubbish! Baronets are no worse than other people. But I fancy I have heard my son, Mr. Edwin, mention the name. I'll ask him about Sir Hector when he comes down at the week end."
"Shouldn't be surprised if Mr. Edwin 'ad quite a gory53 story to tell." said Mrs. Mellin, hopefully, for, like all her class, she loved horrors. Anyhow. I'll keep my eye on the 'ouse and the 'ousekeeper."
"What is her name?"
"Vence, she writes it. Jane Vence, and a heathen name it is, ma'am. I haven't set eyes on her myself; but one as hev tole me ses as she's an old witch in looks, with a tongue as wicked as that of Emily Pyne's, and I can't say wuss nor that."
"Mrs. Vence." The Rector's wife repeated the name so as to remember it. "And what other servants?"
"None." burst out Mrs. Mellin, triumphantly54, "And that's the wust of it, ma'am. I do say as a baronet should be'ave as a baronet, and not come to live in a musty, fusty old 'ouse with one old woman."
"It is strange. When did Sir Hector come?"
"Two days ago, ma'am. I wonder you 'aven't 'eard."
"No. You bring the news to me."
"And proud I am to do so, me thinking as Emily Pyne would be before'and. I s'pose the Rector will call, ma'am?"
"I suppose he will. We don't often have a baronet come to Hedgerton."
"And the Rector 'ull find out all about Sir 'Ector, I s'pose?"
"Mrs. Mellin, you are much too curious about your neighbours," said Mrs. Craver, severely55, and quite overlooking the fact that she was encouraging the woman to gossip. "Learn to mind your own business, and don't pry56 into other people's concerns. Probably Sir Hector has heard that the air is good here, and has come down for the benefit of his health."
"Ho!" Mrs. Mellin rubbed her nose and took no notice of the rebuke36. "He's ill then, is he?"
"Now I come to think of it, Edwin did mention his name," murmured Mrs. Craver to herself, while the washerwoman strained her ears to listen. "Sir Hector Wyke? Yes. He is a rich man, very popular and fashionable in London. Not so young as he was, and engaged to a young lady."
"She hev throwed him over." cried Mrs. Mellin, eagerly, "and his 'eart is broke, so he hev come down 'ere to pine away and die. 'Eaven, what grass we are, and 'ow soon we're cast inter57 the oven!"
"Don't be silly, Mrs. Mellin. Sir Hector has probably come down for his health, and wishing to be quiet has only brought his housekeeper58 with him. There is no mystery about the matter."
"Baronets who live in style don't come to cussed 'ouses with one old woman to look after them." said Mrs. Mellin doggedly59. "Mark my words, ma'am, there's going to be a tragity at Maranatha, and it won't be the fust, ma'am."
"We don't have tragedies here, you foolish woman."
"Oh, don't we, ma'am?" Mrs. Mellin stood up to give her words due effect. "Why, that 'ouse in Ladysmith Road is full of 'em. And, if you remember, Richard Jones beat his wife to death only five years back, and Mrs. Warner ran away with the purser of a ship as went to Chiner; while the children as hev been scalded to death and drownded is 'undreds, you might put it. No tragity!" Mrs. Mellin snorted. "Why, ma'am, my own sister Laura was in one."
"She only ran away." said Mrs. Craver, also standing up to intimate that the conference was ended.
"And 'oo did she run with?" inquired the washerwoman mysteriously, "She was 'ere to-day and gone to-morrer, as you might say. Twenty and more years ago she was as lovely a gel as you ever see, but disappear she did, leaving nothing be'ind to tell her whereabouts, and not a line hev I 'ad since. Why, you remember Laura yourself, ma'am, as you was only a five year bride when you come 'ere with Mr. Craver."
"I remember that your sister disappeared during the first year of my husband becoming Rector of Hedgerton," said Mrs. Craver, drily. "She was a pretty girl, but flighty and discontented. And as she was always fond of the theatre, I daresay she went on the stage. Of course, as she was twenty-five when she disappeared, she was old enough to choose her own way, although I can't say that either I or Mr. Craver approved of her choice."
"'Ow do you know, ma'am, that she made that choice?" questioned Mrs. Mellin, with dignity. "Play-acting Laura loved, there's no denying, but she mightn't have gone play-acting after all. No, ma'am, some villain60 lured62 'er away when she was parlourmaid in Maranatha with the wife of the gent as cut 'is throat in the back room. No wonder I shiver when I 'ears the name, ma'am, for that 'ouse was the ruin of my lovely, innercent sister."
"Mrs. Mellin, you are allowing that house to get on your nerves----"
"Me being a marter to 'em and taking 'og-'ead's of physic." murmured Mrs. Mellin.
"So think no more about the matter. Take Sir Hector Wyke's washing and be thankful. Meanwhile, tell me more news, and be as quick as you can."
Mrs. Craver made this request so as to lure61 Mrs. Mellin from the subject of the house in Ladysmith Road, as she saw plainly enough that the woman was becoming quite hysterical63 over the place. The laundress fell into the trap and talked of this person and of that with great gusto, telling what he said and what they said and what she said, with full details of what all said. Mrs. Craver examined and cross-examined and re-examined the good lady, and there was scarcely a person in the place who was not discussed thoroughly64. At the end of half-an-hour the Rector's wife was in full possession of all that had taken place in the parish during the week, and mentally arranged the facts so that she might report to her husband. Not that he wished to hear, being something of a book-worm. But Mrs. Craver always presented her seven-days' budget regularly, because she thought that it assisted him in his clerical work. Perhaps it did, as it certainly kept him advised of all that went on. When the examination was concluded Mrs. Mellin retired65 with many blessings66 on the head of her hostess and climbed back into the dingy cart. Neddy, having tossed aside the fag-end of his surreptitious cigarette, drove away meekly67, while Mrs. Craver witnessed the departure. The washerwoman, still haunted by the memory of the newly-tenanted house, cried back a warning.
"You'll see, ma'am, as a tragity will 'appen at Maranatha. Mark me, ma'am."
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1
dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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3
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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7
coaxed
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱 | |
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8
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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9
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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11
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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12
choir
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| n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱 | |
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13
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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14
tartly
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| adv.辛辣地，刻薄地 | |
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15
ivy
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| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
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shutters
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| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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18
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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sopping
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| adj. 浑身湿透的 动词sop的现在分词形式 | |
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21
loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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portentously
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extraordinarily
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| adv.格外地；极端地 | |
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24
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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allays
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| v.减轻，缓和( allay的第三人称单数 ) | |
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26
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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27
craver
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| crave的变形 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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30
urchin
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| n.顽童；海胆 | |
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31
truant
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| n.懒惰鬼，旷课者；adj.偷懒的，旷课的，游荡的；v.偷懒，旷课 | |
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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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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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wiles
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| n.（旨在欺骗或吸引人的）诡计，花招；欺骗，欺诈( wile的名词复数 ) | |
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35
rebuked
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| 责难或指责( rebuke的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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36
rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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37
cuffs
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| n.袖口( cuff的名词复数 )v.掌打，拳打( cuff的第三人称单数 ) | |
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38
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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stipend
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| n.薪贴；奖学金；养老金 | |
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40
rev
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| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
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41
wrangle
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| vi.争吵 | |
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42
scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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43
starching
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| v.把（衣服、床单等）浆一浆( starch的现在分词 )；上浆 | |
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44
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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45
factotum
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| n.杂役；听差 | |
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46
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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47
piously
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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48
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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49
sipped
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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51
shudders
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| n.颤动，打颤，战栗( shudder的名词复数 )v.战栗( shudder的第三人称单数 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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52
tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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53
gory
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| adj.流血的；残酷的 | |
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54
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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55
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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56
pry
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| vi.窥(刺)探，打听；vt.撬动(开，起) | |
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57
inter
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| v.埋葬 | |
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58
housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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59
doggedly
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| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
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60
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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61
lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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62
lured
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| 吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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63
hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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64
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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65
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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66
blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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67
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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