sketches new and old-第47章
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angry beating of the rain against the panes diminished to a tranquil
patter； and one by one the noises in the street subsided； until the
hurrying footsteps of the last belated straggler died away in the
distance and left no sound behind。
The fire had burned low。 A sense of loneliness crept over me。 I arose
and undressed； moving on tiptoe about the room； doing stealthily what I
had to do； as if I were environed by sleeping enemies whose slumbers it
would be fatal to break。 I covered up in bed； and lay listening to the
rain and wind and the faint creaking of distant shutters； till they
lulled me to sleep。
I slept profoundly； but how long I do not know。 All at once I found
myself awake； and filled with a shuddering expectancy。 All was still。
All but my own heartI could hear it beat。 Presently the bedclothes
began to slip away slowly toward the foot of the bed； as if some one were
pulling them！ I could not stir； I could not speak。 Still the blankets
slipped deliberately away； till my breast was uncovered。 Then with a
great effort I seized them and drew them over my head。 I waited；
listened； waited。 Once more that steady pull began； and once more I lay
torpid a century of dragging seconds till my breast was naked again。 At
last I roused my energies and snatched the covers back to their place and
held them with a strong grip。 I waited。 By and by I felt a faint tug；
and took a fresh grip。； The tug strengthened to a steady strainit grew
stronger and stronger。 My hold parted； and for the third time the
blankets slid away。 I groaned。 An answering groan came from the foot of
the bed！ Beaded drops of sweat stood upon my forehead。 I was more dead
than alive。 Presently I heard a heavy footstep in my roomthe step of
an elephant； it seemed to meit was not like anything human。 But it was
moving from methere was relief in that。 I heard it approach the door
pass out without moving bolt or lockand wander away among the dismal
corridors； straining the floors and joists till they creaked again as it
passedand then silence reigned once more。
When my excitement had calmed； I said to myself； 〃This is a dreamsimply
a hideous dream。〃 And so I lay thinking it over until I convinced myself
that it was a dream； and then a comforting laugh relaxed my lips and I
was happy again。 I got up and struck a light； and when I found that the
locks and bolts were just as I had left them； another soothing laugh
welled in my heart and rippled from my lips。 I took my pipe and lit it；
and was just sitting down before the fire； when…down went the pipe out of
my nerveless fingers； the blood forsook my cheeks； and my placid
breathing was cut short with a gasp！ In the ashes on the hearth； side by
side with my own bare footprint； was another； so vast that in comparison
mine was but an infant's！ Then I had had a visitor； and the elephant
tread was explained。
I put out the light and returned to bed； palsied with fear。 I lay a long
time； peering into the darkness； and listening。 Then I heard a grating
noise overhead； like the dragging of a heavy body across the floor； then
the throwing down of the body； and the shaking of my windows in response
to the concussion。 In distant parts of the building I heard the muffled
slamming of doors。 I heard； at intervals； stealthy footsteps creeping in
and out among the corridors； and up and down the stairs。 Sometimes these
noises approached my door； hesitated； and went away again。 I heard the
clanking of chains faintly； in remote passages； and listened while the
clanking grew nearerwhile it wearily climbed the stairways； marking
each move by the loose surplus of chain that fell with an accented rattle
upon each succeeding step as the goblin that bore it advanced。 I heard
muttered sentences； half…uttered screams that seemed smothered violently；
and the swish of invisible garments； the rush of invisible wings。 Then I
became conscious that my chamber was invadedthat I was not alone。
I heard sighs and breathings about my bed； and mysterious whisperings。
Three little spheres of soft phosphorescent light appeared on the ceiling
directly over my head； clung and glowed there a moment； and then dropped
two of them upon my face and one upon the pillow。 They； spattered；
liquidly； and felt warm。 Intuition told me they hadturned to gouts of
blood as they fellI needed no light to satisfy myself of that。 Then I
saw pallid faces； dimly luminous； and white uplifted hands； floating
bodiless in the airfloating a moment and then disappearing。
The whispering ceased； and the voices and the sounds； anal a solemn
stillness followed。 I waited and listened。 I felt that I must have
light or die。 I was weak with fear。 I slowly raised myself toward a
sitting posture； and my face came in contact with a clammy hand！
All strength went from me apparently； and I fell back like a stricken
invalid。 Then I heard the rustle of a garment it seemed to pass to the
door and go out。
When everything was still once more； I crept out of bed； sick and feeble；
and lit the gas with a hand that trembled as if it were aged with a
hundred years。 The light brought some little cheer to my spirits。 I sat
down and fell into a dreamy contemplation of that great footprint in the
ashes。 By and by its outlines began to waver and grow dim。 I glanced up
and the broad gas…flame was slowly wilting away。 In the same moment I
heard that elephantine tread again。 I noted its approach； nearer and
nearer； along the musty halls； and dimmer and dimmer the light waned。
The tread reached my very door and pausedthe light had dwindled to a
sickly blue； and all things about me lay in a spectral twilight。 The
door did not open； and yet I felt a faint gust of air fan my cheek； and
presently was conscious of a huge； cloudy presence before me。 I watched
it with fascinated eyes。 A pale glow stole over the Thing； gradually its
cloudy folds took shapean arm appeared； then legs； then a body； and
last a great sad face looked out of the vapor。 Stripped of its filmy
housings； naked； muscular and comely； the majestic Cardiff Giant loomed
above me！
All my misery vanishedfor a child might know that no harm could come
with that benignant countenance。 My cheerful spirits returned at once；
and in sympathy with them the gas flamed up brightly again。 Never a
lonely outcast was so glad to welcome company as I was to greet the
friendly giant。 I said：
〃Why； is it nobody but you？ Do you know； I have been scared to death for
the last two or three hours？ I am most honestly glad to see you。 I wish
I had a chair Here； here； don't try to sit down in that thing
But it was too late。 He was in it before I could stop him and down he
wentI never saw a chair shivered so in my life。
〃Stop； stop； you'll ruin ev〃
Too late again。 There was another crash； and another chair was resolved
into its original elements。
〃Confound it； haven't you got any judgment at' all？ Do you want to ruin
all the furniture on the place？ Here； here； you petrified fool〃
But it was no use。 Before I could arrest him he had sat down on the bed；
and it was a melancholy ruin。
〃Now what sort of a way is that to do？ First you come lumbering about
the place bringing a legion of vagabond goblins along with you to worry
me to death； and then when I overlook an indelicacy of costume which
would not be tolerated anywhere by cultivated people except in a
respectable theater； and not even there if the nudity were of your sex；
you repay me by wrecking all the furniture you can find to sit down on。
And why will you？ You damage yourself as much as you do me。 You have
broken off the end of your spinal column； and littered up the floor with
chips of your hams till the place looks like a marble yard。 You ought to
be ashamed of yourselfyou are big enough to know better。〃
〃Well； I will not break any more furniture。 But what am I to do？ I have
not had a chance to sit down for a century。〃 And the tears came into his
eyes。
〃Poor devil；〃 I said； 〃I should not have been so harsh with you。 And you
are an orphan； too； no doubt。 But sit down on the floor herenothing
else can stand your weightand bes
