English
"Myauntwillbedownpresently,Mr.Nuttel,"saidaveryself-possessedyoungladyoffifteen;"inthemeantimeyoumusttryandputupwithme."
FramtonNuttelendeavoredtosaythecorrectsomethingwhichshoulddulyflatterthenieceofthemomentwithoutundulydiscountingtheauntthatwastocome.Privatelyhedoubtedmorethaneverwhethertheseformalvisitsonasuccessionoftotalstrangerswoulddomuchtowardshelpingthenervecurewhichhewassupposedtobeundergoing
"Iknowhowitwillbe,"hissisterhadsaidwhenhewaspreparingtomigratetothisruralretreat;"youwillburyyourselfdownthereandnotspeaktoalivingsoul,andyournerveswillbeworsethaneverfrommoping.IshalljustgiveyoulettersofintroductiontoallthepeopleIknowthere.Someofthem,asfarasIcanremember,werequitenice."
FramtonwonderedwhetherMrs.Sappleton,theladytowhomhewaspresentingoneofthelettersofintroductioncameintothenicedivision.
"Doyouknowmanyofthepeopleroundhere?"askedtheniece,whenshejudgedthattheyhadhadsufficientsilentcommunion.
"Hardlyasoul,"saidFramton."Mysisterwasstayinghere,attherectory,youknow,somefouryearsago,andshegavemelettersofintroductiontosomeofthepeoplehere."
Hemadethelaststatementinatoneofdistinctregret.
"Thenyouknowpracticallynothingaboutmyaunt?"pursuedtheself-possessedyounglady.
"Onlyhernameandaddress,"admittedthecaller.HewaswonderingwhetherMrs.Sappletonwasinthemarriedorwidowedstate.Anundefinablesomethingabouttheroomseemedtosuggestmasculinehabitation.
"Hergreattragedyhappenedjustthreeyearsago,"saidthechild;"thatwouldbesinceyoursister'stime."
"Hertragedy?"askedFramton;somehowinthisrestfulcountryspottragediesseemedoutofplace.
"YoumaywonderwhywekeepthatwindowwideopenonanOctoberafternoon,"saidtheniece,indicatingalargeFrenchwindowthatopenedontoalawn.
"Itisquitewarmforthetimeoftheyear,"saidFramton;"buthasthatwindowgotanythingtodowiththetragedy?"
"Outthroughthatwindow,threeyearsagotoaday,herhusbandandhertwoyoungbrotherswentofffortheirday'sshooting.Theynevercameback.Incrossingthemoortotheirfavoritesnipe-shootinggroundtheywereallthreeengulfedinatreacherouspieceofbog.
Ithadbeenthatdreadfulwetsummer,youknow,andplacesthatweresafeinotheryearsgavewaysuddenlywithoutwarning.Theirbodieswereneverrecovered.Thatwasthedreadfulpartofit."
Herethechild'svoicelostitsself-possessednoteandbecamefalteringlyhuman.
"Poorauntalwaysthinksthattheywillcomebacksomeday,theyandthelittlebrownspanielthatwaslostwiththem,andwalkinatthatwindowjustastheyusedtodo.Thatiswhythewindowiskeptopeneveryeveningtillitisquitedusk.
Poordearaunt,shehasoftentoldmehowtheywentout,herhusbandwithhiswhitewaterproofcoatoverhisarm,andRonnie,heryoungestbrother,singing'Bertie,whydoyoubound?'ashealwaysdidtoteaseher,becauseshesaiditgotonhernerves.Doyouknow,sometimesonstill,quieteveningslikethis,Ialmostgetacreepyfeelingthattheywillallwalkinthroughthatwindow--"
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