the grey room(灰房间)-第11节
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color at the touch of the sun。
On a chair beside the bed stood an extinguished candle； Tom's watch；
and Henry's revolver。 The sailor's dressing…gown was still folded where
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he had placed it； his rug was at the foot of the bed。 He himself knelt in the
recess at the open window upon the settee that ran beneath。 His position
was natural； one arm held the window…ledge and steadied him； and his
back was turned to Sir Walter and Travers； who first entered the room。
Henry held Mary back and implored her to wait a moment； but she
shook off his hand and followed her father。
Sir Walter it was who approached Tom and grasped his arm。 In so
doing he disturbed the balance of the body； which fell back and was
caught by the two men。 Its weight bore Ernest Travers to the ground； but
Henry was in time to save both the quick and the dead。 For Tom May had
expired many hours before。 His face was of an ivory whiteness； his
mouth closed。 No sign of fear； but rather a profound astonishment sat
upon his features。 His eyes were opened and dim。 In them； too； was
frozen a sort of speechless amazement。 How long he had been dead they
knew not； but none were in doubt of the fact。 His wife； too； perceived it。
She went to where he now lay； put her arms around his neck； and fainted。
Others were moving outside； and the murmur of voices reached the
Grey Room。 It was one of those tragic situations when everybody
desires to be of service； and when well…meaning and small…minded people
are often hurt unintentionally and never forget it； putting fancied affronts
before the incidents that caused them。
The man lay dead and his wife unconscious upon his body。
Sir Walter rose to the occasion as best he might； issued orders； and
begged all who heard him to obey without question。 He and his friend
Travers lifted Mary and carried her to her room。 It was her nursery of
old。 Here they put her on her bed； and sent Caunter for Mrs。 Travers and
Mary's old servant； Jane Bond。 She had recovered consciousness before
the women reached her。 Then they returned to the dead； and the master
of Chadlands urged those standing on the stairs and in the corridor to go
back to their breakfast and their duties。
〃You can do no good；〃 he said。 〃I will only ask Vane to help us。〃
Fayre…Michell spoke； while the colonel came forward。
〃Forgive me； Sir Walter； but if it is anything psychical； I ask； as a
member…〃
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〃For Heaven's sake do as I wish；〃 returned the other。 〃My son…in…
law is dead。 What more there is to know； you'll hear later。 I want Vane；
because he is a powerful man and can help Henry and my butler。 We
have to carry …〃
He broke off。
〃Dead！〃 gasped the visitor。
Then he hastened downstairs。 Presently they lifted the sailor among
them； and got him to his own room。 They could not dispose him in a
comely position … a fact that specially troubled Sir Walter … and Masters
doubted not that the doctor would be able to do it。
Henry Lennox started as swiffly as possible for the house of the
physician； four miles off。 He took a small motor…car； did the journey
along empty roads in twelve minutes； and was back again with Dr。
Mannering in less than half an hour。
The people； whose visit of pleasure was thus painfully brought to a
close； moved about whispering on the terrace。 They had as yet heard no
details； and were considering whether it would be possible to get off at
once； or necessary to wait until the morrow。
Their natural desire was to depart； since they could not be of any
service to the stricken household； but no facilities existed on Sunday。
They walked about in little groups。 One or two； desiring to smoke but
feeling that to do so would appear callous； descended into the seclusion of
the garden。 Then Ernest Travers joined them。 He was important； but
could only tell them that May had disobeyed his father…in…law； slept in the
Grey Room； and died there。 He gave them details and declared that in
his opinion it would be unseemly to attempt to leave until the following
day。
〃Sir Walter would feel it；〃 he said。 〃He is bearing up well。 He will
lunch with us。 My wife tells me that Mary； Mrs。 May； is very sadly。
That is natural…an awful blow。 I find myself incapable of grasping it。
To think of so much boyish good spirits and such vitality extinguished in
this way。〃
〃Can we do anything on earth for them？〃 asked Millicent Fayre…
Michell。 〃Nothing … nothing。 If I may advise； I think we had all better
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go to church。 By so doing we get out of the way for a time and please
dear Sir Walter。 I shall certainly go。〃
They greeted the suggestion … indeed； clutched at it。 Their
bewildered minds welcomed action。 They were hushed and perturbed。
Death； crashing in upon them thus； left them more than uncomfortable。
Some； at the bottom of their souls； felt almost indignant that an event so
horrible should have disturbed the level tenor of their lives。 They shared
the most profound sympathy for the sufferers as well as for themselves。
Some discovered that their own physical bodies were upset； too； and felt
surprised at the depth of their emotions。
〃It isn't as if it were natural；〃 Felix Fayre…Michell persisted。 〃Don't
imagine that for a moment。〃
〃It's too creepy … I can't believe it；〃 declared his niece。 She was
incapable of suffering much for anybody； and her excitement had a flavour
not wholly bitter。 She saw herself describing these events at other house
parties。 It would be unfair to say that she was enjoying herself； still she
knew nobody at Chadlands very well； it was her first visit； and adventures
are； after all； adventures。 Her uncle discussed the psychic significance of
the tragedy； and gave instances of similar events。 One or two listened to
him for lack of anything better to do。 There was a general sensation of
blankness。 They were all thrown。 Life had let them down。 Under the
circumstances； to most of them it seemed an excellent idea to go to church。
Vane joined them presently。 He was able to give them many details and
excite their interest。 They crowded round him； and he spoke nakedly。
Death was nothing to him … he had seen so much。 They heard the motor
return with Dr。 Mannering。
〃We're so out of it；〃 said Mr。 Miles Handford； a stout man from
Yorkshire … a wealthy landowner and sportsman。
He was unaccustomed to be out of anything in his environment； and he
showed actual irritation。
〃Thank Heaven we are； I should think！〃 answered another； and the
first speaker frowned at him。
Ernest Travers joined them presently。 He had put on a black tie and
wore black gloves and a silk hat。
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〃If you accompany me；〃 he said； 〃I can show you the short way by a
field path。 It cuts off half a mile。 I have told Sir Walter we all go to
church； and he asked me if we would like the motors； but I felt； the day
being fine； you would agree with me that we might walk。 He is terribly
crushed； but taking it like the man he is。〃
Miles Handford and Fayre…Michell followed the church party in the
rear； and relieved their minds by criticizing Mr。
