donal grant-第74章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
became like lead； but immediately I began the descent。 My feet sank
in the mould of the ancient dead； soft as if thousands of graveyard
moles were for ever burrowing in it； as down and down I went；
settling and sliding with the black plane。 Then I began to see the
sides and ends of coffins in the walls of the gulf； and the walls
came closer and closer as I descended； until they scarcely left me
room to get through。 I comforted myself with the thought that those
in these coffins had long been dead； and must by this time be at
rest； nor was there any danger of seeing mouldy hands come out to
seize me。 At last I saw that my uncle had stopped； and I stood
still； a few yards above him； more composed than I can understand。〃
〃The wonder is we are so believing； yet not more terrified； in our
dreams；〃 said Donal。
〃He began to heave and pull at a coffin that seemed to stop the way。
Just as he got it dragged on one side； I saw on the bright silver
handle of it the Morven crest。 The same instant the lid rose； and my
father came out of the coffin； looking alive and bright； my uncle
stood beside him like a corpse beside a soul。 'What do you want with
my child？' he said； and my uncle cowered before him。 He took my hand
and said； 'Come with me； my child。' And I went with himoh； so
gladly！ My fear was gone； and so was my uncle。 He led me up the way
we had come down； but when we came out of the hole； instead of
finding myself in the horrible church； I was in my own room。 I
looked roundno one was near！ I was sorry my father was gone； but
glad to be in my own room。 Then I wokeand here was the terrible
thingnot in my bedbut standing in the middle of the floor； just
where my dream had left me！ I cannot get rid of the thought that I
really went somewhere。 I have been haunted with it the whole day。 It
is a terror to mefor if I did； where is my help against going
again！〃
〃In God our saviour；〃 said Donal。 〃But had your uncle given you
anything？〃
〃I wish I could think so； but I do not see how he could。〃
〃You must change your room； and get mistress Brookes to sleep near
you。〃
〃I will。〃
Gladly would Donal have offered to sleep； like one of his colleys；
outside her door； but Mrs。 Brookes was the only one to help her。
He began at once to make observations towards determining the
existence or non…existence of a hidden room； but in the quietest
way； so as to attract no attention； and had soon satisfied himself
concerning some parts that it could not be there。 Without free scope
and some one to help him； the thing was difficult。 To guage a
building which had grown through centuries； to fit the varying
tastes and changing needs of the generations； was in itself not
easy； and he judged it all but impossible without drawing
observation and rousing speculation。 Great was the chaotic element
in the congeries of erections and additions； brought together by
various contrivances； and with daringly enforced communication。 Open
spaces within the walls； different heights in the stories of
contiguous buildings； breaks in the continuity of floors； and
various other irregularities； he found confusingly obstructive。
CHAPTER LII。
INVESTIGATION。
The autumn brought terrible storms。 Many fishing boats came to
grief。 Of some； the crews lost everything： of others； the loss of
their lives delivered their crews from smaller losses。 There were
many bereaved in the village； and Donal went about among them； doing
what he could； and getting help for them where his own ability would
not reach their necessity。 Lady Arctura wanted no persuasion to go
with him in some of his visits； and the intercourse she thus gained
with humanity in its simpler forms； of which she had not had enough
for the health of her own nature； was of high service to her。
Perhaps nothing helps so much to believe in the Father； as the
active practical love of the brother。 If he who loveth not his
brother whom he hath seen； can ill love God whom he hath not seen；
then he who loves his brother must surely find it the easier to love
God！ Arctura found that to visit the widow and the fatherless in
their afflictions； to look on and know them as her kind； to enter
into their sorrows； and share the elevating influence of grief
genuine and simple； the same in every human soul； was to draw near
to God。 She met him in his children。 For to honour； love； and be
just to our neighbour； is religion； and he who does these things
will soon find that he cannot live without the higher part of
religion； the love of God。 If that do not follow； the other will
sooner or later die away； leaving the man the worse for having had
it。 She found her way to God easier through the crowd of her
fellows； while their troubles took her off her own； set them at a
little distance from her； and so put it in her power to understand
them better。
One day after the fishing boats had gone out； rose a terrible storm。
Some of them made for the harbour againsuch as it was； others kept
out to sea； Stephen Kennedy's boat came ashore bottom upward。 His
body was cast on the sands close to the spot where Donal dragged the
net from the waves。 There was sorrow afresh through the village：
Kennedy was a favourite； and his mother was left childless。 No son
would any more come sauntering in with his long slouch in the
gloamin'； and whether she would ever see him againto know himwho
could tell！ For the common belief does not go much farther than
paganism in yielding comfort to those whose living loves have
disappearedthe fault not of Christianity； but of Christians。
The effect of the news upon Forgue I have some around for
conjecturing： I believe it made him care a little less about
marrying the girl； now that he knew no rival ready to take her； and
feel also that he had one enemy the less； one danger the less； in
the path he would like to take。 Within a week after； he left the
castle； and if his father knew where he went； he was the only one
who did。 He had been pressing him to show some appearance of
interest in his cousin； Forgue had professed himself unequal to the
task at present： if he might go away for a while； he said； he would
doubtless find it easier when he returned。
The storms were over； the edges and hidden roots had begun to dream
of spring； and Arctura had returned to her own room to sleep； when
one afternoon she came to the schoolroom and told Donal she had had
the terrible dream again。
〃This time；〃 she said； 〃I came out； in my dream； on the great stair；
and went up to my room； and into bed； before I waked。 But I dare not
ask mistress Brookes whether she saw me〃
〃You do not imagine you were out of the room？〃 said Donal。
〃I cannot tell。 I hope not。 If I were to find I had been； it would
drive me out of my senses！ I was thinking all day about the lost
room： I fancy it had something to do with that。〃
〃We must find the room； and have done with it！〃 said Donal。
〃Are you so sure we can？〃 she asked； her face brightening。
〃If there be one； and you will help me； I think we can；〃 he
answered。
〃I will help you。〃
〃Then first we will try the shaft of the music…chimney。 That it has
never smoked； at least since those wires were put there； makes it
something to questionthough the draught across it might doubtless
have prevented it from being used。 It may be the chimney to the very
room。 But we will first try to find out whether it belongs to any
room we know。 I will get a weight and a cord： the wires will be a
plague； but I think we can pass them。 Then we shall see how far the
weight goes down； and shall know on what floor it is arrested。 That
will be something gained： the plane of inquiry will be determined。
Only there may be a turn in the chimney； preventing the weight from
going to the bottom。〃
〃When shall we set about it？〃 said Arctura； almost eagerly。
〃At once；〃 replied Donal。
She went to get a shawl。
Donal went to the gardener's tool…house； and found a suitable cord。
There was a seven…pound weight； but that would not pass the wires！
He remembered an old eight…day clock on a back stair； which was
never going。 He got out its heavier weight； and carried it； with the
cord and the ladder； to
