donal grant-第79章
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door。 Donal raised a rusty latch and pushed； the door swung open
against the wall； dropping from one hinge with the slight shock。 Two
steps more they descended； and stood on a stone floor。
Donal thought at first they must be in one of the dungeons； but soon
bethought himself that they had not descended far enough for that。
A halo of damp surrounded their candle； its weak light seemed
scarcely to spread beyond it； for some moments they took in nothing
of what was around them。 The floor first began to reveal itself to
Donal's eye： in the circle of the light he saw； covered with dust as
it was； its squares of black and white marble。 Then came to him a
gleam of white from the wall； it was a tablet； and at the other end
was something like an altar； or a tomb。
〃We are in the old chapel of the castle！〃 he said。 〃But what is
that？〃 he added instantly with an involuntary change of voice； and a
shudder through his whole nervous being。
Arctura turned； her hand sought his and clasped it convulsively。
They stood close to something which the light itself had concealed
from them。 Ere they were conscious of an idea concerning it； each
felt the muscles of neck and face drawn； as if another power than
their own invaded their persons。 But they were live wills； and would
not be overcome。 They forced their gaze； perception cleared itself；
and slowly they saw and understood。
With strangest dream…like incongruity and unfitness； the thing
beside them was a dark bedstead； with carved posts and low wooden
tester； richly carved！This in the middle of a chapel！But there
was no speculation in them； they could only see； not think。 Donal
took the candle。 From the tester hung large pieces of stuff that had
once made heavy curtains； but seemed hardly now to have as much
cohesion as the dust on a cobweb； it held together only in virtue of
the lightness to which decay had reduced it。 On the bed lay a dark
mass； like bed clothes and bedding not quite turned to dustthey
could yet see something like embroidery in one or two placesdark
like burnt paper or half…burnt flaky rags； horrid as a dream of dead
love！
Heavens！ what was that shape in the middle？what was that on the
black pillow？what was that thick line stretching towards one of
the head…posts？ They stared speechless。 Arctura pressed close to
Donal。 His arm went round her to protect her from what threatened
almost to overwhelm himselfthe inroad of an unearthly horror。
Plain to the eyes of both； the form in the middle of the bed was
that of a human body； slowly crumbling where it lay。 Bed and
blankets and quilt； sheets and pillows had crumbled with it through
the long wasting years； but something of its old shape yet lingered
with the dust： that was a head that lay on the pillow； that was the
line of a long arm that pointed across the pillow to the post。What
was that hanging from the bedpost and meeting the arm？ God in
heaven！ there was a staple in the post； and from the staple came a
chain！and there at its other end a ring； lying on the pillow！and
through ityes through it； the dust…arm passed！This was no mere
death…bed； it was a torture bedmost likely a murder…bed； and on it
yet lay the body that died on ithad lain for hundreds of years；
unlifted for kindly burial： the place of its decease had been made
its tombclosed up and hidden away！
A bed in a chapel； and one dead thereon！how could it be？ Had the
womanfor Donal imagined the form yet showed it the body of a
womanbeen carried thither of her own desire； to die in a holy
place？ That could not be： there was the chain！ Had she sought refuge
there from some persecutor？ If so； he has found her！ She was a
captivemad perhaps； more likely hated and the victim of a terrible
revenge； left； probably enough； to die of hunger； or
diseaseneglected or tended； who could tell？ One thing； only was
clearthat there she died； and there she was buried！
Arctura was trembling。 Donal drew her closer； and would have taken
her away。 But she said in his ear； as if in dread of disturbing the
dust；
〃I am not frightenednot very。 It is only the cold； I think。〃
They went softly to the other end of the chapel； almost clinging
together as they went。 They saw three narrow lancet windows on their
right； but no glimmer came through them。
They came to what had seemed an altar； and such it still seemed。 But
on its marble…top lay the dust plainly of an infantsight sad as
fearful； and full of agonizing suggestion！ They turned away； nor
either looked at the other。 The awful silence of the place seemed
settling on them like a weight。 Donal made haste； nor did Arctura
seem less anxious to leave it。
When they reached the stair； he made her go first： he must be
between her and the terror！ As they passed the door on the other
side of the little gallerydown whose spiracle had come no second
breathDonal said to himself he must question that door； but to
Arctura he said nothing： she had had enough of inquiry for the
moment！
Slowly they ascended to Arctura's chamber。 Donal replaced the slab；
and propped it in its position； gathered the plaster into the pail；
replaced the press； and put a screw through the bottom of it into
the floor。 Arctura stood and watched him all the time。
〃You must leave your room again； my lady！〃 said Donal。
〃I will。 I shall speak to mistress Brookes at once。〃
〃Will you tell her all about it？〃
〃We must talk about that！〃
〃How will she bear it；〃 thought Donal； 〃how after such an
experience； can she spend the rest of the day alone？ There is all
the long afternoon and evening to be met！〃
He gave the last turn to the screw in the floor； and rose。 Then
first he saw that Arctura had turned very white。
〃Do sit down； my lady！〃 he said。 〃I would run for mistress Brookes；
but I dare not leave you。〃
〃No； no； we will go down together！ Give me that bottle of eau de
Cologne； please。〃
Donal did not know either eau de Cologne or its bottle； but he
darted to the dressing…table and guessed correctly。 It revived her；
and she began to take deep breaths。 Then with a strong effort she
rose to go down。
The time for speech concerning what they had seen； was not come！
〃Would you not like； my lady；〃 said Donal； 〃to come to the
schoolroom this afternoon？ You could sit beside while I give Davie
his lessons！〃
〃Yes；〃 she answered at once； 〃I should like it much！Is there not
something you could give me to do？Will you not teach me
something？〃
〃I should like to begin you with Greek； and teach you a little
mathematicsgeometry first of all。〃
〃You frighten me！〃
〃Your fright wouldn't outlast the beginning；〃 said Donal。 〃Anyhow；
you will have Davie and me for company！ You must be lonely
sometimes！ You see little of Miss Carmichael now； I fancy。〃
〃She has not been near me since that day in the avenue！ We salute
now and then coming out of church。 She will not come again except I
ask her； and I shall be in no haste： she would only assume I was
sorry； and could not do without her！〃
〃I should let her wait； my lady！〃 said Donal。 〃She sorely wants
humbling！〃
〃You do not know her； Mr。 Grant； if you think anything I could do
would have that effect on her。〃
〃Pardon me； my lady； I did not imagine it your task to humble her！
But you need not let her ride over you as she used to do； she knows
nothing really； and a great many things unreally。 Unreal knowledge
is worse than ignorance。Would not Miss Graeme be a better friend？〃
〃She is much more lovable； but she does not trouble her head about
the things I care for。I mean religion；〃 she added hesitatingly。
〃So much the better；〃
〃Mr。 Grant！〃
〃You did not let me finish； my lady！So much the better； I was
going to say； till she begins to trouble her heart about itor
rather to untrouble her heart with it！ The pharisee troubled his
head； and no doubt his conscience too； and did not go away
justified； but the poor publican； as we with our stupid pity would
call him； troubled his heart about it； and that trouble once set a
going； there is no fear。 Head and all must soon follow。But how am
I to get rid of this plaster without being seen？〃
〃I will show you the way to your own stair without going downt
