第 4 节
作者:想聊      更新:2021-02-19 00:37      字数:9321
  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。   Mrs。    Forrester    came    at  the
  critical hours; but      declared herself very sanguine from the first。
  〃Night fell; the child was sleeping and Jane Bond arrived to relieve the
  other about ten o'clock。        Then the lady retired; directed that she should be
  called at seven o'clock; or at any moment sooner; if Jane wanted her。                      I
  sat with Jane I remember until two; and then turned in myself。                    Before I
  did so; Mary drank some milk and seemed to be holding her strength well。
  I was worn out; and despite my anxiety fell into deep sleep; and did not
  wake until my man called me half an hour earlier than usual。                     What he
  told me brought me quickly to my senses and out of bed。                  Nurse Forrester
  had   been   called   at   seven   o'clock;   but   had   not   responded。   Nor   could   the
  maid   open   the   door;   for   it   was   locked。 A  quarter   of   an   hour   later   the
  housekeeper and Jane Bond had loudly summoned her without receiving
  any reply。     Then they called me。
  〃I could only direct that the door should be forced open as speedily as
  possible; and we were engaged in this task when Mannering; my medical
  man; who shot with us to…day; arrived to see Mary。                 I told him what had
  happened。       He went in to look at my girl; and felt satisfied that she was
  holding her own well … indeed; he thought her stronger; and just as he told
  me     so  the   door   into   the   Grey    Room     yielded。    Mannering        and   my
  housekeeper; Mrs。 Forbes; entered the room; while Masters; Fred Caunter;
  my footman; who had broken down the lock; and I remained outside。
  〃The doctor   presently called   me;  and I   went in。 Nurse   Forrester   was
  apparently   lying   awake   in   bed;   but   she   was   not   awake。    She   slept   the
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  sleep of death。 Her eyes were open; but glazed; and she was already cold。
  Maunering declared that she had been dead for a good many hours。                       Yet;
  save for a slight but hardly unnatural pallor; not a trace of death marked
  the poor   little   creature。   An   expression   of   wonder   seemed   to   sit   on   her
  features; but otherwise she was looking much as I had last seen her; when
  she said 'Good…night。' Everything appeared to be orderly in the room。                     It
  was   now   flooded   with   the   first   light   of   a   sunny   morning;   for   she   had
  drawn her blind up and thrown her window wide open。                       The poor lady
  passed out of life without a sound or signal to indicate trouble; for in the
  silence of night Jane Bond must have heard any alarm had she raised one。
  To me it seemed impossible to believe that we gazed upon a corpse。                     But
  so it was; though; as a matter of form; the doctor took certain measures to
  restore   her。   But   animation   was   not   suspended;   it   had   passed   beyond
  recall。
  〃There was held a post…mortem examination; and an inquest; of course;
  and   Mannering;   who   felt deep   professional   interest;  asked   a   friend   from
  Plymouth       to  conduct     the   examination。       Their     report   astounded     all
  concerned and crowned the mystery; for not a trace of any physical trouble
  could be discovered to explain Nurse Forrester's death。               She was thin; but
  organically   sound      in  every   particular;   nor   could   the   slightest   trace  of
  poison be reported。 Life had simply left her without any physical reason。
  Search proved that she had brought no drugs or any sort of physic with her;
  and   no   information   to   cast   the   least   light   came   from   the   institution   for
  which she worked。         She was a favorite