第44章 姨妈历险记〔2〕
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heservantsfromtownwerehalffrightenedoutoftheirwitsattheideaoflivinginsuchadismal,agan-lookinglace;eseciallywhentheygottogetherintheservants'hallintheevening,andcomarednotesonallthehobgoblinstoriesickeduinthecourseoftheday.Theywereafraidtoventurealoneaboutthegloomy,black-lookingchambers.Mylady'smaid,whowastroubledwithnerves,declaredshecouldneversleealoneinsucha
"ghastly,rummagingoldbuilding
";andthefootman,whowasakind-heartedyoungfellow,didallinhisowertocheerheru.
Myauntwasstruckwiththelonelyaearanceofthehouse.Beforegoingtobed,therefore,sheexaminedwellthefastnessesofthedoorsandwindows;lockeduthelatewithherownhands,andcarriedthekeys,togetherwithalittleboxofmoneyandjewels,toherownroom;forshewasanotablewoman,andalwayssawtoallthingsherself.Havingutthekeysunderherillow,anddismissedhermaid,shesatbyhertoiletarrangingherhair;forbeinginsiteofhergriefformyuncle,ratherabuxomwidow,shewassome-whatarticularabouthererson.Shesatforalittlewhilelookingatherfaceintheglass,firstononeside,thenontheother,asladiesareattodowhentheywouldascertainwhethertheyhavebeeningoodlooks;foraroisteringcountrysquireoftheneighborhood,withwhomshehadflirtedwhenagirl,hadcalledthatdaytowelcomehertothecountry.
Allofasuddenshethoughtsheheardsomethingmovebehindher.Shelookedhastilyround,buttherewasnothingtobeseen.Nothingbutthegrimlyaintedortraitofheroordearman,hangingagainstthewall.
Shegaveaheavysightohismemory,asshewasaccustomedtodowhenevershesokeofhimincomany,andthenwentonadjustinghernightdress,andthinkingofthesquire.Hersighwasreechoed,oranswered,byalong,drawnbreath.Shelookedroundagain,butnoonewastobeseen.Sheascribedthesesoundstothewindoozingthroughtheratholesoftheoldmansion,androceededleisurelytoutherhairinaers,when,allatonce,shethoughtsheerceivedoneoftheeyesoftheortraitmove.
"Thebackofherheadbeingtowardsit!
"saidthestorytellerwiththeruinedhead,
"good!
"
"Yes,sir,
"relieddrylythenarrator,
"herbackbeingtowardstheortrait,buthereyesfixedonitsreflectionintheglass.
"Well,asIwassaying,sheerceivedoneoftheeyesoftheortraitmove.Sostrangeacircumstance,asyoumaywellsuose,gaveherasuddenshock.Toassureherselfofthefact,sheutonehandtoherforeheadasifrubbingit;eeedthroughherfingers,andmovedthecandlewiththeotherhand.Thelightofthetaergleamedontheeye,andwasreflectedfromit.
Shewassureitmoved.Nay,more,itseemedtogiveherawink,asshehadsometimesknownherhusbandtodowhenliving.Itstruckamomentarychilltoherheart;forshewasalonewoman,andfeltherselffearfullysituated.