three ghost stories(三个鬼故事)-第14章
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the antelope's fancy； led to the surprising arrival at Miss Griffin's door； in
divers equipages and under various escorts； of a great company in full
dress； who were deposited on the top step in a flush of high expectancy；
and who were dismissed in tears。 At the beginning of the double knocks
attendant on these ceremonies； the antelope had retired to a back attic； and
bolted herself in； and at every new arrival； Miss Griffin had gone so much
more and more distracted； that at last she had been seen to tear her front。
Ultimate capitulation on the part of the offender； had been followed by
solitude in the linen…closet； bread and water and a lecture to all； of
vindictive length； in which Miss Griffin had used expressions： Firstly； 〃I
believe you all of you knew of it；〃 Secondly； 〃Every one of you is as
wicked as another；〃 Thirdly； 〃A pack of little wretches。〃
Under these circumstances； we were walking drearily along； and I
especially； with my。 Moosulmaun responsibilities heavy on me； was in a
very low state of mind； when a strange man accosted Miss Griffin； and；
after walking on at her side for a little while and talking with her； looked
at me。 Supposing him to be a minion of the law； and that my hour was
come； I instantly ran away； with the general purpose of making for Egypt。
The whole Seraglio cried out； when they saw me making off as fast as
my legs would carry me （I had an impression that the first turning on the
left； and round by the public…house； would be the shortest way to the
Pyramids）； Miss Griffin screamed after me； the faithless Vizier ran after
me； and the boy at the turnpike dodged me into a corner； like a sheep； and
cut me off。 Nobody scolded me when I was taken and brought back； Miss
Griffin only said； with a stunning gentleness； This was very curious！ Why
had I run away when the gentleman looked at me？
If I had had any breath to answer with； I dare say I should have made
no answer； having no breath； I certainly made none。 Miss Griffin and the
strange man took me between them； and walked me back to the palace in a
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sort of state； but not at all （as I couldn't help feeling； with astonishment） in
culprit state。
When we got there； we went into a room by ourselves； and Miss
Griffin called in to her assistance； Mesrour； chief of the dusky guards of
the Hareem。 Mesrour； on being whispered to； began to shed tears。 〃Bless
you； my precious！〃 said that officer； turning to me； 〃your Pa's took bitter
bad！〃
I asked； with a fluttered heart； 〃Is he very ill？〃
〃Lord temper the wind to you； my lamb！〃 said the good Mesrour；
kneeling down； that I might have a comforting shoulder for my head to
rest on； 〃your Pa's dead！〃
Haroun Alraschid took to flight at the words； the Seraglio vanished；
from that moment； I never again saw one of the eight of the fairest of the
daughters of men。
I was taken home； and there was Debt at home as well as Death； and
we had a sale there。 My own little bed was so superciliously looked upon
by a Power unknown to me； hazily called 〃The Trade；〃 that a brass coal…
scuttle； a roasting…jack； and a birdcage； were obliged to be put into it to
make a Lot of it； and then it went for a song。 So I heard mentioned； and I
wondered what song； and thought what a dismal song it must have been to
sing！
Then； I was sent to a great； cold； bare； school of big boys； where
everything to eat and wear was thick and clumpy； without being enough；
where everybody； largo and small； was cruel； where the boys knew all
about the sale； before I got there； and asked me what I had fetched； and
who had bought me； and hooted at me； 〃Going； going； gone！〃 I never
whispered in that wretched place that I had been Haroun； or had had a
Seraglio： for； I knew that if I mentioned my reverses； I should be so
worried； that I should have to drown myself in the muddy pond near the
playground； which looked like the beer。
Ah me； ah me！ No other ghost has haunted the boy's room； my friends；
since I have occupied it； than the ghost of my own childhood； the ghost of
my own innocence； the ghost of my own airy belief。 Many a time have I
pursued the phantom： never with this man's stride of mine to come up with
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it； never with these man's hands of mine to touch it； never more to this
man's heart of mine to hold it in its purity。 And here you see me working
out； as cheerfully and thankfully as I may； my doom of shaving in the
glass a constant change of customers； and of lying down and rising up
with the skeleton allotted to me for my mortal companion。
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THE TRIAL FOR MURDER。
I have always noticed a prevalent want of courage； even among
persons of superior intelligence and culture； as to imparting their own
psychological experiences when those have been of a strange sort。 Almost
all men are afraid that what they could relate in such wise would find no
parallel or response in a listener's internal life； and might be suspected or
laughed at。 A truthful traveller； who should have seen some extraordinary
creature in the likeness of a sea…serpent； would have no fear of mentioning
it； but the same traveller； having had some singular presentiment； impulse；
vagary of thought； vision （so…called）； dream； or other remarkable mental
impression； would hesitate considerably before he would own to it。 To this
reticence I attribute much of the obscurity in which such subjects are
involved。 We do not habitually communicate our experiences of these
subjective things as we do our experiences of objective creation。 The
consequence is； that the general stock of experience in this regard appears
exceptional； and really is so； in respect of being miserably imperfect。
In what I am going to relate； I have no intention of setting up；
opposing； or supporting； any theory whatever。 I know the history of the
Bookseller of Berlin； I have studied the case of the wife of a late
Astronomer Royal as related by Sir David Brewster； and I have followed
the minutest details of a much more remarkable case of Spectral Illusion
occurring within my private circle of friends。 It may be necessary to state
as to this last； that the sufferer （a lady） was in no degree； however distant；
related to me。 A mistaken assumption on that head might suggest an
explanation of a part of my own case；but only a part；which would be
wholly without foundation。 It cannot be referred to my inheritance of any
developed peculiarity； nor had I ever before any at all similar experience；
nor have I ever had any at all similar experience since。
It does not signify how many years ago； or how few； a certain murder
was committed in England； which attracted great attention。 We hear more
than enough of murderers as they rise in succession to their atrocious
eminence； and I would bury the memory of this particular b
