English
OurinquiriesatLimmeridgewerepatientlypursuedinalldirections,andamongallsortsandconditionsofpeople.Butnothingcameofthem.
Threeofthevillagersdidcertainlyassureusthattheyhadseenthewoman,butastheywerequiteunabletodescribeher,andquiteincapableofagreeingabouttheexactdirectioninwhichshewasproceedingwhentheylastsawher,thesethreebrightexceptionstothegeneralruleoftotalignoranceaffordednomorerealassistancetousthanthemassoftheirunhelpfulandunobservantneighbours.
Thecourseofouruselessinvestigationsbroughtus,intime,totheendofthevillageatwhichtheschoolsestablishedbyMrs.Fairlieweresituated.
Aswepassedthesideofthebuildingappropriatedtotheuseoftheboys,Isuggestedtheproprietyofmakingalastinquiryoftheschoolmaster,whomwemightpresumetobe,invirtueofhisoffice,themostintelligentmanintheplace.
“Iamafraidtheschoolmastermusthavebeenoccupiedwithhisscholars,”saidMissHalcombe,“justatthetimewhenthewomanpassedthroughthevillageandreturnedagain.However,wecanbuttry.”
Weenteredtheplaygroundenclosure,andwalkedbytheschoolroomwindowtogetroundtothedoor,whichwassituatedatthebackofthebuilding.Istoppedforamomentatthewindowandlookedin.
Theschoolmasterwassittingathishighdesk,withhisbacktome,apparentlyharanguingthepupils,whowereallgatheredtogetherinfrontofhim,withoneexception.
Theoneexceptionwasasturdywhite-headedboy,standingapartfromalltherestonastoolinacorner—aforlornlittleCrusoe,isolatedinhisowndesertislandofsolitarypenaldisgrace.
Thedoor,whenwegotroundtoit,wasajar,andtheschool-master’svoicereachedusplainly,aswebothstoppedforaminuteundertheporch.
“Now,boys,”saidthevoice,“mindwhatItellyou.
IfIhearanotherwordspokenaboutghostsinthisschool,itwillbetheworseforallofyou.
Therearenosuchthingsasghosts,andthereforeanyboywhobelievesinghostsbelievesinwhatcan’tpossiblybe;andaboywhobelongstoLimmeridgeSchool,andbelievesinwhatcan’tpossiblybe,setsuphisbackagainstreasonanddiscipline,andmustbepunishedaccordingly.
YouallseeJacobPostlethwaitestandinguponthestoolthereindisgrace.
Hehasbeenpunished,notbecausehesaidhesawaghostlastnight,butbecauseheistooimpudentandtooobstinatetolistentoreason,andbecausehepersistsinsayinghesawtheghostafterIhavetoldhimthatnosuchthingcanpossiblybe.
Ifnothingelsewilldo,ImeantocanetheghostoutofJacobPostlethwaite,andifthethingspreadsamonganyoftherestofyou,Imeantogoastepfarther,andcanetheghostoutofthewholeschool.”
“Weseemtohavechosenanawkwardmomentforourvisit,”saidMissHalcombe,pushingopenthedoorattheendoftheschoolmaster’saddress,andleadingthewayin.
Ourappearanceproducedastrongsensationamongtheboys.TheyappearedtothinkthatwehadarrivedfortheexpresspurposeofseeingJacobPostlethwaitecaned.
“Gohomeallofyoutodinner,”saidtheschoolmaster,“exceptJacob.Jacobmuststopwhereheis;andtheghostmaybringhimhisdinner,iftheghostpleases.”
Jacob’sfortitudedesertedhimatthedoubledisappearanceofhisschoolfellowsandhisprospectofdinner.
Hetookhishandsoutofhispockets,lookedhardathisknuckles,raisedthemwithgreatdeliberationtohiseyes,andwhentheygotthere,groundthemroundandroundslowly,accompanyingtheactionbyshortspasmsofsniffing,whichfollowedeachotheratregularintervals—thenasalminutegunsofjuveniledistress.
“Wecameheretoaskyouaquestion,Mr.Dempster.”
saidMissHalcombe,addressingtheschoolmaster;“andwelittleexpectedtofindyouoccupiedinexorcisingaghost.Whatdoesitallmean?Whathasreallyhappened?”
“Thatwickedboyhasbeenfrighteningthewholeschool,MissHalcombe,bydeclaringthathesawaghostyesterdayevening,”answeredthemaster;“andhestillpersistsinhisabsurdstory,inspiteofallthatIcansaytohim.”
“Mostextraordinary,”saidMissHalcombe“Ishouldnothavethoughtitpossiblethatanyoftheboyshadimaginationenoughtoseeaghost.
ThisisanewaccessionindeedtothehardlabourofformingtheyouthfulmindatLimmeridge,andIheartilywishyouwellthroughit,Mr.Dempster.
Inthemeantime,letmeexplainwhyyouseemehere,andwhatitisIwant.”
Shethenputthesamequestiontotheschoolmasterwhichwehadaskedalreadyofalmosteveryoneelseinthevillage.
ItwasmetbythesamediscouraginganswerMr.Dempsterhadnotseteyesonthestrangerofwhomwewereinsearch.
“Wemayaswellreturntothehouse,Mr.Hartright,”saidMissHalcombe;“theinformationwewantisevidentlynottobefound.”
ShehadbowedtoMr.Dempster,andwasabouttoleavetheschoolroom,whentheforlornpositionofJacobPostlethwaite,piteouslysniffingonthestoolofpenitence,attractedherattentionasshepassedhim,andmadeherstopgood-humouredlytospeakawordtothelittleprisonerbeforesheopenedthedoor.
“Youfoolishboy,”shesaid,“whydon’tyoubegMr.Dempster’spardon,andholdyourtongueabouttheghost?”
“Eh!—butIsawt’ghaist,”persistedJacobPostlethwaite,withastareofterrorandaburstoftears.
“Stuffandnonsense!Yousawnothingofthekind.Ghostindeed!Whatghost——”
“Ibegyourpardon,MissHalcombe,”interposedtheschool-masteralittleuneasily—“butIthinkyouhadbetternotquestiontheboy.
Theobstinatefollyofhisstoryisbeyondallbelief;andyoumightleadhimintoignorantly——”
“Ignorantlywhat?”inquiredMissHalcombesharply.
“Ignorantlyshockingyourfeelings,”saidMr.Dempster,lookingverymuchdiscomposed.
“Uponmyword,Mr.Dempster,youpaymyfeelingsagreatcomplimentinthinkingthemweakenoughtobeshockedbysuchanurchinasthat!”
SheturnedwithanairofsatiricaldefiancetolittleJacob,andbegantoquestionhimdirectly.“Come!”
shesaid,“Imeantoknowallaboutthis.
Younaughtyboy,whendidyouseetheghost?”
“Yestere’en,atthegloaming,”repliedJacob.
“Oh!yousawityesterdayevening,inthetwilight?Andwhatwasitlike?”
“Arlinwhite—asaghaistshouldbe,”answeredtheghost-seer,withaconfidencebeyondhisyears.
“Andwherewasit?”
“Awayyander,int’kirkyard—whereaghaistoughttobe.”
“Asa‘ghaist’shouldbe—wherea‘ghaist’oughttobe—why,youlittlefool,youtalkasifthemannersandcustomsofghostshadbeenfamiliartoyoufromyourinfancy!
Youhavegotyourstoryatyourfingers’ends,atanyrate.
IsupposeIshallhearnextthatyoucanactuallytellmewhoseghostitwas?”
“Eh!butIjustcan,”repliedJacob,noddinghisheadwithanairofgloomytriumph.
Mr.DempsterhadalreadytriedseveraltimestospeakwhileMissHalcombewasexamininghispupil,andhenowinterposedresolutelyenoughtomakehimselfheard.
“Excuseme,MissHalcombe,”hesaid,“ifIventuretosaythatyouareonlyencouragingtheboybyaskinghimthesequestions.”
“Iwillmerelyaskonemore,Mr.Dempster,andthenIshallbequitesatisfied.Well,”shecontinued,turningtotheboy,“andwhoseghostwasit?”
“T’ghaistofMistressFairlie,”answeredJacobinawhisper.
TheeffectwhichthisextraordinaryreplyproducedonMissHalcombefullyjustifiedtheanxietywhichtheschoolmasterhadshowntopreventherfromhearingit.
Herfacecrimsonedwithindignation—sheturneduponlittleJacobwithanangrysuddennesswhichterrifiedhimintoafreshburstoftears—openedherlipstospeaktohim—thencontrolledherself,andaddressedthemasterinsteadoftheboy.
“Itisuseless,”shesaid,“toholdsuchachildasthatresponsibleforwhathesays.
Ihavelittledoubtthattheideahasbeenputintohisheadbyothers.
Iftherearepeopleinthisvillage,Mr.Dempster,whohaveforgottentherespectandgratitudeduefromeverysoulinittomymother’smemory,Iwillfindthemout,andifIhaveanyinfluencewithMr.Fairlie,theyshallsufferforit.”
“Ihope—indeed,Iamsure,MissHalcombe—thatyouaremistaken,”saidtheschoolmaster.
“Thematterbeginsandendswiththeboy’sownperversityandfolly.
Hesaw,orthoughthesaw,awomaninwhite,yesterdayevening,ashewaspassingthechurchyard;andthefigure,realorfancied,wasstandingbythemarblecross,whichheandeveryoneelseinLimmeridgeknowstobethemonumentoverMrs.Fairlie’sgrave.
Thesetwocircumstancesaresurelysufficienttohavesuggestedtotheboyhimselftheanswerwhichhassonaturallyshockedyou?”
AlthoughMissHalcombedidnotseemtobeconvinced,sheevidentlyfeltthattheschoolmaster’sstatementofthecasewastoosensibletobeopenlycombated.
Shemerelyrepliedbythankinghimforhisattention,andbypromisingtoseehimagainwhenherdoubtsweresatisfied.
Thissaid,shebowed,andledthewayoutoftheschoolroom.
ThroughoutthewholeofthisstrangesceneIhadstoodapart,listeningattentively,anddrawingmyownconclusions.
Assoonaswewerealoneagain,MissHalcombeaskedmeifIhadformedanyopiniononwhatIhadheard.
“Averystrongopinion,”Ianswered;“theboy’sstory,asIbelieve,hasafoundationinfact.
IconfessIamanxioustoseethemonumentoverMrs.Fairlie’sgrave,andtoexaminethegroundaboutit.”
“Youshallseethegrave.”
Shepausedaftermakingthatreply,andreflectedalittleaswewalkedon.
“Whathashappenedintheschoolroom,”sheresumed,“hassocompletelydistractedmyattentionfromthesubjectoftheletter,thatIfeelalittlebewilderedwhenItrytoreturntoit.
Mustwegiveupallideaofmakinganyfurtherinquiries,andwaittoplacethethinginMr.Gilmore’shandsto-morrow?”
“Bynomeans,MissHalcombe.Whathashappenedintheschoolroomencouragesmetopersevereintheinvestigation.”
“Whydoesitencourageyou?”
“BecauseitstrengthensasuspicionIfeltwhenyougavemethelettertoread.”
“Isupposeyouhadyourreasons,Mr.Hartright,forconcealingthatsuspicionfrommetillthismoment?”
“Iwasafraidtoencourageitinmyself.
Ithoughtitwasutterlypreposterous—Idistrusteditastheresultofsomeperversityinmyownimagination.ButIcandosonolonger.
Notonlytheboy’sownanswerstoyourquestions,butevenachanceexpressionthatdroppedfromtheschoolmaster’slipsinexplaininghisstory,haveforcedtheideabackintomymind.
Eventsmayyetprovethatideatobeadelusion,MissHalcombe;butthebeliefisstronginme,atthismoment,thatthefanciedghostinthechurchyard,andthewriteroftheanonymousletter,areoneandthesameperson.”
Shestopped,turnedpale,andlookedmeeagerlyintheface.
“Whatperson?”
“Theschoolmasterunconsciouslytoldyou.Whenhespokeofthefigurethattheboysawinthechurchyardhecalledit‘awomaninwhite.’”
“NotAnneCatherick?”
“Yes,AnneCatherick.”
Sheputherhandthroughmyarmandleanedonitheavily.
“Idon’tknowwhy,”shesaidinlowtones,“butthereissomethinginthissuspicionofyoursthatseemstostartleandunnerveme.
Ifeel——”Shestopped,andtriedtolaughitoff.
“Mr.Hartright,”shewenton,“Iwillshowyouthegrave,andthengobackatoncetothehouse.
IhadbetternotleaveLauratoolongalone.Ihadbettergobackandsitwithher.”
Wewereclosetothechurchyardwhenshespoke.
Thechurch,adrearybuildingofgreystone,wassituatedinalittlevalley,soastobeshelteredfromthebleakwindsblowingoverthemoorlandallroundit.
Theburial-groundadvanced,fromthesideofthechurch,alittlewayuptheslopeofthehill.
Itwassurroundedbyarough,lowstonewall,andwasbareandopentothesky,exceptatoneextremity,whereabrooktrickleddownthestonyhill-side,andaclumpofdwarftreesthrewtheirnarrowshadowsovertheshort,meagregrass.
Justbeyondthebrookandthetrees,andnotfarfromoneofthethreestonestileswhichaffordedentrance,atvariouspoints,tothechurch-yard,rosethewhitemarblecrossthatdistinguishedMrs.Fairlie’sgravefromthehumblermonumentsscatteredaboutit.
“Ineedgonofartherwithyou,”saidMissHalcombe,pointingtothegrave.
“Youwillletmeknowifyoufindanythingtoconfirmtheideayouhavejustmentionedtome.Letusmeetagainatthehouse.”
Sheleftme.Idescendedatoncetothechurchyard,andcrossedthestilewhichleddirectlytoMrs.Fairlie’sgrave.
Thegrassaboutitwastooshort,andthegroundtoohard,toshowanymarksoffootsteps.
Disappointedthusfar,Inextlookedattentivelyatthecross,andatthesquareblockofmarblebelowit,onwhichtheinscriptionwascut.
Thenaturalwhitenessofthecrosswasalittleclouded,hereandthere,byweatherstains,andrathermorethanonehalfofthesquareblockbeneathit,onthesidewhichboretheinscription,wasinthesamecondition.
Theotherhalf,however,attractedmyattentionatoncebyitssingularfreedomfromstainorimpurityofanykind.
Ilookedcloser,andsawthatithadbeencleaned—recentlycleaned,inadownwarddirectionfromtoptobottom.
Theboundarylinebetweenthepartthathadbeencleanedandthepartthathadnotwastraceablewherevertheinscriptionleftablankspaceofmarble—sharplytraceableasalinethathadbeenproducedbyartificialmeans.
Whohadbegunthecleansingofthemarble,andwhohadleftitunfinished?
Ilookedaboutme,wonderinghowthequestionwastobesolved.
NosignofahabitationcouldbediscernedfromthepointatwhichIwasstanding—theburial-groundwasleftinthelonelypossessionofthedead.
Ireturnedtothechurch,andwalkedroundittillIcametothebackofthebuilding;thencrossedtheboundarywallbeyond,byanotherofthestonestiles,andfoundmyselfattheheadofapathleadingdownintoadesertedstonequarry.
Againstonesideofthequarryalittletwo-roomcottagewasbuilt,andjustoutsidethedooranoldwomanwasengagedinwashing.
Iwalkeduptoher,andenteredintoconversationaboutthechurchandburial-ground.
Shewasreadyenoughtotalk,andalmostthefirstwordsshesaidinformedmethatherhusbandfilledthetwoofficesofclerkandsexton.
IsaidafewwordsnextinpraiseofMrs.Fairlie’smonument.
Theoldwomanshookherhead,andtoldmeIhadnotseenitatitsbest.
Itwasherhusband’sbusinesstolookafterit,buthehadbeensoailingandweakformonthsandmonthspast,thathehadhardlybeenabletocrawlintochurchonSundaystodohisduty,andthemonumenthadbeenneglectedinconsequence.
Hewasgettingalittlebetternow,andinaweekortendays’timehehopedtobestrongenoughtosettoworkandcleanit.
Thisinformation—extractedfromalongramblinganswerinthebroadestCumberlanddialect—toldmeallthatImostwantedtoknow.
Igavethepoorwomanatrifle,andreturnedatoncetoLimmeridgeHouse.
Thepartialcleansingofthemonumenthadevidentlybeenaccomplishedbyastrangehand.
ConnectingwhatIhaddiscovered,thusfar,withwhatIhadsuspectedafterhearingthestoryoftheghostseenattwilight,IwantednothingmoretoconfirmmyresolutiontowatchMrs.Fairlie’sgrave,insecret,thatevening,returningtoitatsunset,andwaitingwithinsightofittillthenightfell.
Theworkofcleansingthemonumenthadbeenleftunfinished,andthepersonbywhomithadbeenbegunmightreturntocompleteit.
OngettingbacktothehouseIinformedMissHalcombeofwhatIintendedtodo.
ShelookedsurprisedanduneasywhileIwasexplainingmypurpose,butshemadenopositiveobjectiontotheexecutionofit.
Sheonlysaid,“Ihopeitmayendwell.”
Justasshewasleavingmeagain,Istoppedhertoinquire,ascalmlyasIcould,afterMissFairlie’shealth.
Shewasinbetterspirits,andMissHalcombehopedshemightbeinducedtotakealittlewalkingexercisewhiletheafternoonsunlasted.
Ireturnedtomyownroomtoresumesettingthedrawingsinorder.
Itwasnecessarytodothis,anddoublynecessarytokeepmymindemployedonanythingthatwouldhelptodistractmyattentionfrommyself,andfromthehopelessfuturethatlaybeforeme.
FromtimetotimeIpausedinmyworktolookoutofwindowandwatchtheskyasthesunsanknearerandnearertothehorizon.
OnoneofthoseoccasionsIsawafigureonthebroadgravelwalkundermywindow.ItwasMissFairlie.
Ihadnotseenhersincethemorning,andIhadhardlyspokentoherthen.
AnotherdayatLimmeridgewasallthatremainedtome,andafterthatdaymyeyesmightneverlookonheragain.
Thisthoughtwasenoughtoholdmeatthewindow.
Ihadsufficientconsiderationforhertoarrangetheblindsothatshemightnotseemeifshelookedup,butIhadnostrengthtoresistthetemptationoflettingmyeyes,atleast,followherasfarastheycouldonherwalk.
Shewasdressedinabrowncloak,withaplainblacksilkgownunderit.
Onherheadwasthesamesimplestrawhatwhichshehadwornonthemorningwhenwefirstmet.
Aveilwasattachedtoitnowwhichhidherfacefromme.
ByhersidetrottedalittleItaliangreyhound,thepetcompanionofallherwalks,smartlydressedinascarletclothwrapper,tokeepthesharpairfromhisdelicateskin.Shedidnotseemtonoticethedog.
Shewalkedstraightforward,withherheaddroopingalittle,andherarmsfoldedinhercloak.
Thedeadleaves,whichhadwhirledinthewindbeforemewhenIhadheardofhermarriageengagementinthemorning,whirledinthewindbeforeher,androseandfellandscatteredthemselvesatherfeetasshewalkedoninthepalewaningsunlight.
Thedogshiveredandtrembled,andpressedagainstherdressimpatientlyfornoticeandencouragement.Butsheneverheededhim.
Shewalkedon,fartherandfartherawayfromme,withthedeadleaveswhirlingaboutheronthepath—walkedon,tillmyachingeyescouldseehernomore,andIwasleftaloneagainwithmyownheavyheart.
Inanotherhour’stimeIhaddonemywork,andthesunsetwasathand.Igotmyhatandcoatinthehall,andslippedoutofthehousewithoutmeetinganyone.
Thecloudswerewildinthewesternheaven,andthewindblewchillfromthesea.
Farastheshorewas,thesoundofthesurfsweptovertheinterveningmoorland,andbeatdrearilyinmyearswhenIenteredthechurchyard.Notalivingcreaturewasinsight.
TheplacelookedlonelierthaneverasIchosemyposition,andwaitedandwatched,withmyeyesonthewhitecrossthatroseoverMrs.Fairlie’sgrave.
Share this article to
FINISH