the grey room(灰房间)-第4节
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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
