the grey room(灰房间)-第5节
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and no information to cast the least light came from the institution for
which she worked。 She was a favorite there； and the news of her sudden
death brought sorrow to her many personal friends。
〃The physicians felt their failure to find a natural and scientific cause
for her death。 Indeed； Dr。 Mordred； from Plymouth； an eminent
pathologist； trembled not a little about it； as Mannering afterwards told me。
The finite mind of science hates； apparently； to be faced with any mystery
beyond its power to explain。 It regards such an incident as a challenge to
human intellect； and does not remember that we are encompassed with
mystery as with a garment； and that every day and every night are laden
with phenomena for which man cannot account； and never will。
〃Nurse Forrester's relations … a sister and an old mother … came to the
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funeral。 Also her dearest woman friend； another professional nurse；
whose name I do not recollect。 She was buried at Chadlands； and her
grave lies near our graves。 Mary loves to tend it still； though to her the
dead woman is but a name。 Yet to this day she declares that she can
remember Nurse Forrester's voice through her fever … gentle； yet musical
and cheerful。 As for me； I never mourned so brief an acquaintance so
heartily。 To part with the bright creature； so full of life and kindliness；
and to stand beside her corpse but eight or nine hours afterwards； was a
chastening and sad experience。〃
Sir Walter became pensive； and did not proceed for the space of a
minute。 None； however； spoke until he had again done so：
〃That is the story of what is called our haunted room； so far as this
generation is concerned。 What grounds for its sinister reputation existed
in the far past I know not … only a vague； oral tradition came to my father
from his； and it is certain that neither of them attached any personal
importance to it。 But after such a peculiar and unfortunate tragedy； you
will not be surprised that I regarded the chamber as ruled out from my
domiciliary scheme； and denied it to any future guests。〃
〃Do you really associate the lady's death with the room； Walter？〃
asked Mr。 Travers。
〃Honestly I do not； Ernest。 And for this reason： I deny that any
malignant； spiritual personality would ever be permitted by the Creator to
exercise physical powers over the living； or destroy human beings without
reason or justice。 The horror of such a possibility to the normal mind is
sufficient argument against it。 Causes beyond our apparent knowledge
were responsible for the death of Nurse Forrester； but who shall presume
to say that was really so？ Why imagine anything so irregular？ I prefer to
think that had the post…mortem been conducted by somebody else； subtle
reasons for her death might have appeared。 Science is fallible； and even
specialists make outrageous mistakes。〃
〃You believe she died from natural causes beyond the skill of those
particular surgeons to discover？〃 asked Colonel Vane。
〃That is my opinion。 Needless to say； I should not tell Mannering so。
But to what other conclusion can a reasonable man come？ I do not； of
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course； deny the supernatural； but it is weak…minded to fall back upon it as
the line of least resistance。〃
Then Fayre…Michell repeated his question。 He had listened with
intense interest to the story。
〃Would you deny that ghosts； so to call them； can be associated with
one particular spot； to the discomfort and even loss of reason； or life； of
those that may be in that spot at the psychological moment； Sir Walter？〃
〃Emphatically I would deny it；〃 declared the elder。 〃However tragic
the circumstances that might have befallen an unfortunate being in life at
any particular place； it is； in my opinion； monstrous to suppose his
disembodied spirit will hereafter be associated with the place。 We must
be reasonable； Felix。 Shall the God Who gave us reason be Himself
unreasonable？〃
〃And yet there are authentic … However； I admit the weight of your
argument。〃
〃At the same time；〃 ventured Mr。 Travers； 〃none can deny that many
strange and terrible things happen； from hidden causes quite beyond
human power to explain。〃
〃They do； Ernest； and so I lock up my Grey Room and rule it out of
our scheme of existence。 At present it is full of lumber … old furniture
and a pack of rubbishy family portraits that only deserve to be burned； but
will some day be restored； I suppose。〃
〃Not on my account； Uncle Walter；〃 said Henry Lennox。 〃I have no
more respect for them than yourself。 They are hopeless as art。〃
〃No； no one must restore them。 The art is I believe very bad； as you
say； but they were most worthy people； and this is the sole memorial
remaining of them。〃
〃Do let us see the room； governor；〃 urged Tom May。 〃Mary showed
it to me the first time I came here； and I thought it about the jolliest spot in
the house。〃
〃So it is； Tom；〃 said Henry。 〃Mary says it should be called the Rose
Room； not the grey one。〃
〃All who care to do so can see it；〃 answered Sir Walter； rising。 〃We
will look in on our way to bed。 Get the key from my key…cabinet in the
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study。 Henry； It's labelled 'Grey Room。'〃
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CHAPTER II
AN EXPERIMENT
Ernest Travers； Felix Fayre…Michell； Tom May； and Colonel Vane
followed Sir Walter upstairs to a great corridor； which ran the length of the
main front； and upon which opened a dozen bedrooms and dressing…rooms。
They proceeded to the eastern extremity。 It was lighted throughout； and
now their leader took off an electric bulb from a sconce on the wall
outside the room they had come to visit。
〃There is none in there；〃 he explained； 〃though the light was installed
in the Grey Room as elsewhere when I started my own plant twenty years
ago。 My father never would have it。 He disliked it exceedingly； and
believed it aged the eyes。〃
Henry arrived with the key。 The door was unlocked； and the light
established。 The party entered a large and lofty chamber with ceiling of
elaborate plaster work and silver…grey walls； the paper on which was
somewhat tarnished。 A pattern of dim； pink roses as large as cabbages
ran riot over it。 A great oriel window looked east； while a smaller one
opened upon the south。 Round the curve of the oriel ran a cushioned seat
eighteen inches above the ground； while on the western side of the room；
set in the internal wall； was a modern fireplace with a white Adams mantel
above it。 Some old； carved chairs stood round the walls； and in one
corner； stacked together； lay half a dozen old oil portraits； grimy and faded。
They called for the restorer； but were doubtfully worth his labors。 Two
large chests of drawers； with rounded bellies； and a very beautiful
washing…stand also occupied places round the room； and against the inner
wall rose a single； fourposter bed of Spanish chestnut； also carved。 A
grey； self…colored carpet covered the floor； and on one of the chests stood a
miniature bronze copy of the Faun of Praxiteles。
The apartment was bright and cheerful of aspect。 Nothing gloomy or
depressing marked it； nor a suggestion of the sinister。
〃Could one wish for a more amiable looking room？〃 asked Fayre…
Michell。
