the holly-tree(圣树)-第4章
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asked her if he could have a bed there。 She answered yes； and put his
horse in the stable； and took him into a room where there were two dark
men。 While he was at supper； a parrot in the room began to talk； saying；
〃Blood； blood！ Wipe up the blood！〃 Upon which one of the dark men
wrung the parrot's neck； and said he was fond of roasted parrots； and he
meant to have this one for breakfast in the morning。 After eating and
drinking heartily； the immensely rich； tall brother…in…law went up to bed；
but he was rather vexed； because they had shut his dog in the stable；
saying that they never allowed dogs in the house。 He sat very quiet for
more than an hour； thinking and thinking； when； just as his candle was
burning out； he heard a scratch at the door。 He opened the door； and
there was the Newfoundland dog！ The dog came softly in； smelt about
him； went straight to some straw in the corner which the dark men had
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said covered apples； tore the straw away； and disclosed two sheets steeped
in blood。 Just at that moment the candle went out； and the brother…in…law；
looking through a chink in the door； saw the two dark men stealing up…
stairs； one armed with a dagger that long （about five feet）； the other
carrying a chopper； a sack； and a spade。 Having no remembrance of the
close of this adventure； I suppose my faculties to have been always so
frozen with terror at this stage of it； that the power of listening stagnated
within me for some quarter of an hour。
These barbarous stories carried me； sitting there on the Holly…Tree
hearth； to the Roadside Inn； renowned in my time in a sixpenny book with
a folding plate； representing in a central compartment of oval form the
portrait of Jonathan Bradford； and in four corner compartments four
incidents of the tragedy with which the name is associated；coloured with
a hand at once so free and economical； that the bloom of Jonathan's
complexion passed without any pause into the breeches of the ostler； and；
smearing itself off into the next division； became rum in a bottle。 Then I
remembered how the landlord was found at the murdered traveller's
bedside； with his own knife at his feet； and blood upon his hand； how he
was hanged for the murder； notwithstanding his protestation that he had
indeed come there to kill the traveller for his saddle…bags； but had been
stricken motionless on finding him already slain； and how the ostler； years
afterwards； owned the deed。 By this time I had made myself quite
uncomfortable。 I stirred the fire； and stood with my back to it as long as I
could bear the heat； looking up at the darkness beyond the screen； and at
the wormy curtains creeping in and creeping out； like the worms in the
ballad of Alonzo the Brave and the Fair Imogene。
There was an Inn in the cathedral town where I went to school； which
had pleasanter recollections about it than any of these。 I took it next。 It
was the Inn where friends used to put up； and where we used to go to see
parents； and to have salmon and fowls； and be tipped。 It had an
ecclesiastical sign；the Mitre；and a bar that seemed to be the next best
thing to a bishopric； it was so snug。 I loved the landlord's youngest
daughter to distraction；but let that pass。 It was in this Inn that I was
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cried over by my rosy little sister； because I had acquired a black eye in a
fight。 And though she had been； that Holly…Tree night； for many a long
year where all tears are dried； the Mitre softened me yet。
〃To be continued to…morrow；〃 said I； when I took my candle to go to
bed。 But my bed took it upon itself to continue the train of thought that
night。 It carried me away； like the enchanted carpet； to a distant place
（though still in England）； and there； alighting from a stage…coach at
another Inn in the snow； as I had actually done some years before； I
repeated in my sleep a curious experience I had really had there。 More
than a year before I made the journey in the course of which I put up at
that Inn； I had lost a very near and dear friend by death。 Every night
since； at home or away from home； I had dreamed of that friend；
sometimes as still living； sometimes as returning from the world of
shadows to comfort me； always as being beautiful； placid； and happy；
never in association with any approach to fear or distress。 It was at a
lonely Inn in a wide moorland place； that I halted to pass the night。
When I had looked from my bedroom window over the waste of snow on
which the moon was shining； I sat down by my fire to write a letter。 I
had always； until that hour； kept it within my own breast that I dreamed
every night of the dear lost one。 But in the letter that I wrote I recorded
the circumstance； and added that I felt much interested in proving whether
the subject of my dream would still be faithful to me； travel…tired； and in
that remote place。 No。 I lost the beloved figure of my vision in parting
with the secret。 My sleep has never looked upon it since； in sixteen years；
but once。 I was in Italy； and awoke （or seemed to awake）； the well…
remembered voice distinctly in my ears； conversing with it。 I entreated it；
as it rose above my bed and soared up to the vaulted roof of the old room；
to answer me a question I had asked touching the Future Life。 My hands
were still outstretched towards it as it vanished； when I heard a bell
ringing by the garden wall； and a voice in the deep stillness of the night
calling on all good Christians to pray for the souls of the dead； it being All
Souls' Eve。
To return to the Holly…Tree。 When I awoke next day； it was freezing
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hard； and the lowering sky threatened more snow。 My breakfast cleared
away； I drew my chair into its former place； and； with the fire getting so
much the better of the landscape that I sat in twilight； resumed my Inn
remembrances。
That was a good Inn down in Wiltshire where I put up once； in the
days of the hard Wiltshire ale； and before all beer was bitterness。 It was on
the skirts of Salisbury Plain； and the midnight wind that rattled my lattice
window came moaning at me from Stonehenge。 There was a hanger…on
at that establishment （a supernaturally preserved Druid I believe him to
have been； and to be still）； with long white hair； and a flinty blue eye
always looking afar off； who claimed to have been a shepherd； and who
seemed to be ever w
