the grey room(灰房间)-第4章
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life beyond the grave。 They are； if I may say so； disgustingly
anthropomorphic。 How can we even take it for granted that our spirits
will retain a human form and human attributes after death？〃
〃It would be both weak … minded and irreligious to attempt to get at
these things； no doubt；〃 declared Colonel Vane。
〃And they make confusion worse confounded by saying that evil
spirits pretend sometimes to hoodwink us by posing as good spirits。 Now；
that's going too far；〃 said Henry Lennox。
〃But your own ghost； Sir Walter？〃 asked Fayre…Michell。 〃It is a
curious fact that most really ancient houses have some such addition。 Is
it a family spectre？ Is it fairly well authenticated？ Does it reign in a
particular spot of house or garden？ I ask from no idle curiosity。 It is a
very interesting subject if approached in a proper spirit； as the Psychical
Research Society； of which I am a member； does approach it。〃
〃I am unprepared to admit that we have a ghost at all；〃 repeated Sir
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Walter。 〃Ancient houses； as you say； often get some legend tacked on to
them； and here a garden walk； or there a room； or passage； is associated
with something uncanny and contrary to experience。 This is an old
Tudor place； and has been tinkered and altered in successive generations。
We have one room at the eastern end of the great corridor which always
suffered from a bad reputation。 Nobody has ever seen anything in our
time； and neither my father nor grandfather ever handed down any story of
a personal experience。 It is a bedroom； which you shall see； if you care
to do so。 One very unfortunate and melancholy thing happened in it。
That was some twelve years ago； when Mary was still a child … two years
after my dear wife died。〃
〃Tell us nothing that can cause you any pain； Walter；〃 said Ernest
Travers。
〃It caused me very acute pain at the time。 Now it is old history and
mercifully one can look back with nothing but regret。 One must；
however； mention an incident in my father's time； though it has nothing to
do with my own painful experience。 However； that is part of the story …
if story it can be called。 A death occurred in the Grey Room when I was
a child。 Owing to the general vague feeling entertained against it； we
never put guests there； and so long ago as my father's day it was relegated
to a store place and lumber…store。 But one Christmas； when we were
very full； there came quite unexpectedly on Christmas Eve an aunt of my
father … an extraordinary old character who never did anything that might
be foreseen。 She had never come to the family reunion before； yet
appeared on this occasion； and declared that； as this was going to be her
last Christmas on earth； she had felt it right to join the clan … my father
being the head of the family。 Her sudden advent strained our resources； I
suppose； but she herself reminded us of the Grey Room； and； on hearing
that it was empty； insisted on occupying it。 The place is a bedroom； and
my father； who personally entertained no dislike or dread of it； raised not
the least objection to the strong … minded old lady's proposal。 She retired；
and was found dead on Christmas morning。 She had not gone to bed； but
was just about to do so； apparently； when she had fallen down and died。
She was eighty…eight； had undergone a lengthy coach journey from Exeter；
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and had eaten a remarkably good dinner before going to bed。 Her maid
was not suspected； and the doctor held her end in no way unusual。 It was
certainly never associated with anything but natural causes。 Indeed； only
events of much later date served to remind me of the matter。 Then one
remembered the spoiled Christmas festivities and the callous and selfish
anger of myself and various other young people that our rejoicings should
be spoiled and Christmas shorn of all its usual delights。
〃But twelve years ago Mary fell ill of pneumonia … dangerously … and
a nurse had to be summoned in haste； since her own faithful attendant；
Jane Bond； who is still with us； could not attend her both day and night。
A telegram to the Nurses' Institute brought Mrs。 Gilbert Forrester … 'Nurse
Forrester；' as she preferred to be called。 She was a little bit of a thing； but
most attractive and capable。 She had been a nurse before she married a
young medical man； and upon his unfortunate death she returned to her
profession。 She desired her bedroom to be as near the patient as possible；
and objected； when she found it arranged at the other end of the corridor。
'Why not the next room？' she inquired； and I had to tell her that the next
room suffered from a bad name and was not used。 'A bad name … is it
unwholesome？' she asked； and I explained that traditions credited it with a
sinister influence。 'In fact；' I said； 'it is supposed to be haunted。 Not；' I
added； 'that anything has ever been seen； or heard in my lifetime； but
nervous people do not like that sort of room； and I should never take the
responsibility of putting anybody into it without telling them。' She laughed。
'I'm not in the least afraid of ghosts； Sir Walter；' she said； 'and that must
obviously be my room； if you please。 It is necessary I shonld be as near
my patient as possible； so that I can be called at once if her own nurse is
anxious when I am not on duty。'
〃Well； we saw； of course； that she was perfectly right。 She was a
fearless little woman； and chaffed Masters and the maids while they
lighted a fire and made the room comfortable。 As a matter of fact； it is an
exceedingly pleasant room in every respect。 Yet I hesitated； and could
not say that I was easy about it。 I felt conscious of a discomfort which
even her indifference did not entirely banish。 I attributed it to my acute
anxiety over Mary … also to a shadow of … what？ It may have been
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irritation at Nurse Forrester's unconcealed contempt for my superstition。
The Grey Room is large and commodious with a rather fine oriel
window above our eastern porch。 She was delighted； and rated me very
amusingly for my doubts。 'I hope you'll never call such a lovely room
haunted again after I have gone；' said she。
〃Mary took to her； and really seemed easier after she had been in the
sick…room an hour。 She loved young people； and had an art to win them。
She was also a most accomplished and quick…witted nurse。 There seemed
to be quite a touch of genius about her。 Her voice was melodious and her
touch gentle。 I could appreciate her skill； for I was never far from my
daughter's side during that anxious day。
