the grey room(灰房间)-第1章
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THE GREY ROOM
THE GREY ROOM
by Eden Phillpotts
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THE GREY ROOM
CHAPTER I
THE HOUSE PARTY
The piers of the main entrance of Chadlands were of red brick； and
upon each reposed a mighty sphere of grey granite。 Behind them
stretched away the park； where forest trees； nearly shorn of their leaves at
the edge of winter； still answered the setting sun with fires of thinning
foliage。 They sank away through stretches of brake fern； and already
amid their trunks arose a thin； blue haze … breath of earth made visible by
coming cold。 There was frost in the air； and the sickle of a new moon hung
where dusk of evening dimmed the green of the western sky。
The guns were returning； and eight men with three women arrived at
the lofty gates。 One of the party rode a grey pony； and a woman walked
on each side of him。 They chattered together； and the little company of
tweed … clad people passed into Chadlands Park and trudged forward；
where the manor house rose half a mile ahead。
Then an old man emerged from a lodge； hidden behind a grove of
laurel and bay within the entrance； and shut the great gates of scroll iron。
They were of a flamboyant Italian period； and more arrestive than
distinguished。 Panelled upon them； and belonging to a later day than
they； had been imposed two iron coats of arms； with crest above and motto
beneath … the heraldic bearings of the present owner of Chadlands。
He set store upon such things； but was not responsible for the work。 A
survival himself； and steeped in ancient opinions； his coat； won in a
forgotten age； interested him only less than his Mutiny medal … his sole
personal claim to public honor。 He had served in youth as a soldier； but
was still a subaltern when his father died and he came into his kingdom。
Now； Sir Walter Lennox； fifth baronet； had grown old； and his
invincible kindness of heart； his archaic principles； his great wealth； and
the limited experiences of reality； for which such wealth was responsible；
left him a popular and respected man。 Yet he aroused much exasperation
in local landowners from his generosity and scorn of all economic
principles； and while his tenants held him the very exemplar of a landlord；
and his servants worshipped him for the best possible reasons； his friends；
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THE GREY ROOM
weary of remonstrance； were forced to forgive his bad precedents and a
mistaken liberality quite beyond the power of the average unfortunate who
lives by his land。 But he managed his great manor in his own lavish way；
and marvelled that other men declared difficulties with problems he so
readily solved。 That night； after a little music； the Chadlands' house
party drifted to the billiard … room； and while most of the men； after a
heavy day far afield； were content to lounge by a great open hearth
where a wood fire burned； Sir Walter； who had been on a pony most of the
time； declared himself unwearied； and demanded a game。
〃No excuses； Henry；〃 he said； and turned to a young man lounging in
an easy … chair outside the fireside circle。
The youth started。 His eyes had been fixed on a woman sitting
beside the fire； with her hand in a man's。 It was such an attitude as
sophisticated lovers would only assume in private but the pair were not
sophisticated and lovers still； though married。 They lacked self …
consciousness； and the husband liked to feel his wife's hand in his。 After
all； a thing impossible until you are married may be quite seemly
afterwards； and none of their amiable elders regarded their devotion with
cynicism。
〃All right； uncle！〃 said Henry Lennox。
He rose … a big fellow with heavy shoulders； a clean … shaven； youthful
face； and flaxen hair。 He had been handsome； save for a nose with a
broken bridge； but his pale brown eyes were fine； and his firm mouth and
chin well modelled。 Imagination and reflection marked his countenance。
Sir Walter claimed thirty points on his scoring board； and gave a miss
with the spot ball。
〃I win to … night；〃 he said。
He was a small； very upright man； with a face that seemed to belong to
his generation； and an expression seldom to be seen on a man younger
than seventy。 Life had not puzzled him； his moderate intellect had taken
it as he found it； and； through the magic glasses of good health； good
temper； and great wealth； judged existence a desirable thing and quite easy
to conduct with credit。 〃You only want patience and a brain；〃 he always
declared。 Sir Walter wore an eyeglass。 He was growing bald； but
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preserved a pair of grey whiskers still of respectable size。 His face；
indeed； belied him； for it was moulded in a stern pattern。 One had
guessed him a martinet until his amiable opinions and easy … going
personality were mainfested。 The old man was not vain； he knew that a
world very different from his own extended round about him。 But he
was puzzle…headed； and had never been shaken from his life…long
complacency by circumstances。 He had been disappointed in love as a
young man； and only married late in life。 He had no son； and was a
widower … facts that； to his mind； quite dwarfed his good fortune in every
other respect。 He held the comfortable doctrine that things are always
levelled up； and he honestly believed that he had suffered as much sorrow
and disappointment as any Lennox in the history of the race。
His only child and her cousin； Henry Lennox； had been brought up
together and were of an age … both now twenty … six。 The lad was his
uncle's heir； and would succeed to Chadlands and the title； and it had been
Sir Walter's hope that he and Mary might marry。 Nor had the youth any
objection to such a plan。 Indeed； he loved Mary well enough； there was
even thought to be a tacit understanding between them； and they grew up
in a friendship which gradually became ardent on the man's part； though it
never ripened upon hers。 But she knew that her father keenly desired this
marriage； and supposed that it would happen some day。
They were； however； not betrothed when the war burst upon Europe；
and Henry； then one … and twenty； went from the Officers' Training Corps
to the Fifth Devons； while his cousin became attached to the Red Cross
and nursed at Plymouth。 The accident terminated their shadowy romance
and brought real love into the woman's life； while the man found his hopes
at an end。 He was drafted to Mesopotamia； speedily fell sick of
