the grey room(灰房间)-第31节
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within； though so stormy without。 I may pray till dawn with no
knowledge how my prayer prospers； or I may be called to face a being that
no human eye has ever seen and lived。 These things are hidden from us。〃
〃You are wonderful； and it is heartening to meet with such mighty
faith；〃 replied Sir Walter。 〃You have no fear； no shadow of hesitation or
doubt at the bottom of your mind？〃
〃None。 Only an overmastering desire to obey the message that throbs
in my heart。 I will be honest with you； for I recognize that many might
doubt whether you were in the right to let me face this ordeal。 But I am
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driven by an overwhelming mandate。 Did I fear； or feel one tremor of
uncertainty； I would not proceed； for any wavering might be fatal and give
me helpless into the power of this watchful spirit； but I am as certain of
my duty as I am that salvation awaits the just man。
〃I believe that I shall liberate this arrested being with cathartic prayer
and cleansing petition to our common Maker。 And have I not the spirit of
my dead boy on my side？ Could any living man； however well
intentioned； watch with me and over me as he will？ Fear nothing； go to
your rest； and let all who would assist me do so on their； knees before they
sleep。〃
Even Masters echoed some of this fierce and absolute faith when he
returned to the servants' hall。
〃His eyes blaze；〃 he said。 〃He's about the most steadfast man ever I
saw inside a pulpit； or out of it。 You feel if that man went to the window
and told the rain to stop and the wind to go down； they would。 No ghost
that ever walked could best him anyway。 They asked me to talk and say
what I felt； and I did； but words are powerless against such an iron will as
he's got。
〃I doubted first； and Sir Walter said he doubted likewise； but he's dead
sure now； and what's good enough for him is good enough for us。 I'll bet
Caunter； or any man； an even flyer that he's going to put the creature down
and out and come off without a scratch himself。 I offered to sit up with
him； so did Sir Walter； but he wouldn't hear of it。 So all we've got to do
is to turn in and say our prayers。 That's simple enough for God…fearing
people； and we can't do no better than to obey orders。〃
It was none the less a nervous and highly strung household that
presently went to bed； and no woman slept without another woman to
keep her company。 Sir Walter found himself worn out in mind and body。
Mary made him take his bromide； and he slept without a dream； despite
the din of the great 〃sou'…wester〃 and the distant； solemn crash of more
than one great tree thrown upon the lap of mother earth at last。
Before he retired； however； something in the nature of a procession
had escorted the priest to his ordeal。 Mr。 May donned baretta； surplice；
and stole； for； as he explained； he was to hold a religious service as sacred
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and significant as any other rite。
〃Lord send him no congregation then；〃 thought Masters。
But； with Sir Walter and Mary； he followed the ministrant； and left him
at the open door of the Grey Room。 The electric light shone steadily； but
the storm seemed to beat its fists at the windows； and the leaded panes
shook and chattered。 With no bell and candle； but his Bible alone；
Septimus May entered the room； having first made the sign of the Cross
before him； then he turned and bade good…night to all。
〃Be of good faith！〃 were the last words he spoke to them。
Having done so he shut the door； and they heard his voice immediately
uplifted in prayer。 They waited a little； and the sound roiled steadily on。
Sir Walter then bade Masters extinguish all the lights and send the
household to bed； though the time was not more than ten o'clock。
As for Masters； the glamour and appeal of those strenuous words at the
dinner…table had now passed； and presently； as he prepared to retire； he
found himself far less confident and assured than his recent words had
implied。 He sank slowly from hope to fear； even pictured the worse； and
asked himself what would follow if the worst happened。 He believed
that it might mean serious disaster for Sir Walter。 If another life were
sacrified to this unknown peril； and it transpired that his master had
sanctioned what would amount to suicide in the eyes of reason； then he
began to fear that grave trouble must result。 Already the burning words
of Septimus May began to cool and sound unreal； and Masters suspected
that； if they were repeated in other ears； which had not heard him utter
them； or seen the fervor of religious earnestness and reverence in which
the had been spoken； this feverish business of exorcising a ghost in the
twentieth century might only awake derision and receive neither credence
nor respect。 His entire concern was for Sir Walter； not Mr。 May。 He
could not sleep； lighted a pipe； considered whether it was in his power to
do anything； felt a sudden impulse to take certain steps； yet hesitated …
from no fear to himself； but doubt whether action might not endanger
another。 Mary did not sleep either； and she suffered more； for she had
never approved； and now she blamed herself not a little for her weak
opposition。 A thousand arguments occurred to her while she lay awake。
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Then； for a time； she forgot present tribulations； and her own grief
overwhelmed her； as it was wont to do by night。 For while the events
that had so swiftly followed each other since her husband's death banished
him now and again； save from her subconscious mind； when alone he was
swift to return and her sorrow made many a night sleepless。 She was
herself ill； but did not know it。 The reaction had yet to come； and could
not be long delayed； for her nervous energy was worn out now。 She wept
and lived days with the dead； then the present returned to her mind； and
she fretted and prayed … for Septimus May and for daylight。 She
wondered why stormy nights were always the longest。 She heard a
thousand unfamiliar sounds； and presently leaped from her bed； put on a
dressing…gown； and crept out into the house。 To know that all was well
with the watcher would hearten her。 But then her feet dragged before she
had left the threshold of her own room； and she stood still and shuddered a
little。 For how if all were not well？ How if his voice no longer
sounded？
She hesitated to make the experiment； and balanced the relief of
reassurance against the horror of silence。 She remembered a storm at sea；
when through a long night； not lacking danger to a laboring steamer with
weak engines； she had lain awake and felt her heart warm again when the
watch shouted the hour。
She set out； then； determined to know if all prospered with her father…
in…law。 Nor would she give ear to misgiving or ask herself what she
would do if no voice were steadily uplifted in the Grey Room。
The great wind seemed to play upon Chadlands like a harp。 It roared
and reverberated； now stilled a moment for another leap； now died away
against the house； yet still sounded with a steady shout in the neighbor
trees。 At the casements it tugged and rattled； against them it flung the
rain fiercely。 Every bay and passage of the interior uttered its own voice；
and overhead was creaking of old timbers； rattling of old slates； and
rustling of mortar fragments dislodged by sudde
