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only claim to respect； indeed； was that it contained the famous
Mervyn cabinet； a fascinating puzzle of which I will speak later；
but which certainly had nothing haunting or horrible about its
appearance。
My uncle's family consisted of three sons。 The eldest； George； the
present baronet； was now in his thirties； married； and with
children of his own。 The second； Jack； was the black…sheep of the
family。 He had been in the Guards； but； about five years back； had
got into some very disgraceful scrape； and had been obliged to
leave the country。 The sorrow and the shame of this had killed his
unhappy mother； and her husband had not long afterwards followed
her to the grave。 Alan； the youngest son； probably because he was
the nearest to us in age； had been our special favorite in earlier
years。 George was grown up before I had well left the nursery； and
his hot； quick temper had always kept us youngsters somewhat in awe
of him。 Jack was four years older than Alan； and； besides； his
profession had； in a way； cut his boyhood short。 When my uncle and
aunt were abroad； as they frequently were for months together on
account of her health； it was Alan； chiefly； who had to spend his
holidays with us； both as school…boy and as undergraduate。 And a
brighter； sweeter…tempered comrade； or one possessed of more
diversified talents for the invention of games or the telling of
stories； it would have been difficult to find。
For five years together now our ancient custom of an annual visit
to Mervyn had been broken。 First there had been the seclusion of
mourning for my aunt； and a year later for my uncle； then George
and his wife； Lucy；she was a connection of our own on our
mother's side； and very intimate with us all；had been away for
nearly two years on a voyage round the world； and since then
sickness in our own family had kept us in our turn a good deal
abroad。 So that I had not seen my cousins since all the calamities
which had befallen them in the interval； and as I steamed
northwards I wondered a good deal as to the changes I should find。
I was to have come out that year in London； but ill…health had
prevented me； and as a sort of consolation Lucy had kindly asked me
to spend a fortnight at Mervyn； and be present at a shooting…party；
which was to assemble there in the first week of October。
I had started early； and there was still an hour of the short
autumn day left when I descended at the little wayside station；
from which a six…mile drive brought me to the Grange。 A dreary
drive I found itthe round； gray； treeless outline of the fells
stretching around me on every side beneath the leaden； changeless
sky。 The night had nearly fallen as we drove along the narrow
valley in which the Grange stood： it was too dark to see the autumn
tints of the woods which clothed and brightened its sides； almost
too dark to distinguish the old tower；Dame Alice's tower as it
was called；which stood some half a mile farther on at its head。
But the light shone brightly from the Grange windows； and all
feeling of dreariness departed as I drove up to the door。 Leaving
maid and boxes to their fate； I ran up the steps into the old；
well…remembered hall； and was informed by the dignified man…servant
that her ladyship and the tea were awaiting me in the morning…room。
I found that there was nobody staying in the house except Alan； who
was finishing the long vacation there： he had been called to the
Bar a couple of years before。 The guests were not to arrive for
another week； so that I had plenty of opportunity in the interval
to make up for lost time with my cousins。 I began my observations
that evening as we sat down to dinner； a cozy party of four。 Lucy
was quite unchangedpretty； foolish； and gentle as ever。 George
showed the full five years' increase of age； and seemed to have
acquired a somewhat painful control of his temper。 Instead of the
old petulant outbursts； there was at times an air of nervous；
irritable self…restraint； which I found the less pleasant of the
two。 But it was in Alan that the most striking alteration
appeared。 I felt it the moment I shook hands with him； and the
impression deepened that evening with every hour。 I told myself
that it was only the natural difference between boy and man；
between twenty and twenty…five； but I don't think that I believed
it。 Superficially the change was not great。 The slight…built；
graceful figure； the deep gray eyes； too small for beauty； the
clear…cut features； the delicate； sensitive lips； close shaven now；
as they had been hairless then；all were as I remembered them。
But the face was paler and thinner than it had been； and there were
lines round the eyes and at the corners of the mouth which were no
more natural to twenty…five than they would have been to twenty。
The old charm indeedthe sweet friendliness of manner； which was
his own peculiar possessionwas still there。 He talked and
laughed almost as much as formerly； but the talk was manufactured
for our entertainment； and the laughter came from his head and not
from his heart。 And it was when he was taking no part in the
conversation that the change showed most。 Then the face； on which
in the old time every passing emotion had expressed itself in a
constant； living current； became cold and impassivewithout
interest； and without desire。 It was at such times that I knew
most certainly that here was something which had been living and
was dead。 Was it only his boyhood？ This question I was unable to
answer。
Still； in spite of all； that week was one of the happiest in my
life。 The brothers were both men of enough ability and cultivation
to be pleasant talkers； and Lucy could perform adequately the part
of conversational accompanist； which； socially speaking； is all
that is required of a woman。 The meals and evenings passed quickly
and agreeably； the mornings I spent in unending gossips with Lucy；
or in games with the children； two bright boys of five and six
years old。 But the afternoons were the best part of the day。
George was a thorough squire in all his tastes and habits； and
every afternoon his wife dutifully accompanied him round farms and
coverts； inspecting new buildings； trudging along half…made roads；
or marking unoffending trees for destruction。 Then Alan and I
would ride by the hour together over moor and meadowland； often
picking our way homewards down the glen…side long after the autumn
evenings had closed in。 During these rides I had glimpses many a
time into depths in Alan's nature of which I doubt whether in the
old days he had himself been aware。 To me certainly they were as a
revelation。 A prevailing sadness； occasionally a painful tone of
bitterness； characterized these more serious moods of his； but I do
not think that； at the end of that week； I would； if I could； have
changed the man； whom I was learning to revere and to pity； for the
light…hearted playmate whom I felt was lost to me for ever。
II
The only feature of the family life which jarred on me was the
attitude of the two brothers towards the children。 I did not
notice this much at first； and at all times it was a thing to be
felt rather than to be seen。 George himself never seemed quite at
ease with them。 The boys were strong and well grown； healthy in
mind and body； and one would have thought that the existence of two
such representatives to carry on his name and inherit his fortune
would have been the very crown of pride and happiness to their
father。 But it was not so。 Lucy indeed was devoted to them； and
in all practical matters no one could have been kinder to them than
was George。 They were free of the whole house； and every
indulgence that money could buy for them they had。 I never heard
him give them a harsh word。 But there was something wrong。 A
constraint in their presence； a relief in their absence； an evident
dislike of discussing them and their affairs； a total want of that
enjoyment of love and possession which in such a case one might
have expected to find。 Alan's state of mind was even more marked。
Never did I hear him willingly address his nephews； or in any way
allude to their existence。 I should have said that he simply
ignored it； but for the heavy gloom which always overspread his
spirits in their company； and for the glances which he would now
and again cast in their directionglances full of some hidden
painful emotion； though of what nature it would have been hard to
define。 Indeed； Alan's attitude towards her children I soon found
to be the only source of friction between Lucy and this otherwise
much…loved member of her husband's family。 I asked her one day why
the boys never appeared at luncheon。
〃Oh； they come when Alan is away；〃 she answered； 〃but they seem to
annoy him so much that George thinks it is better to keep them out
of sight when he is here。 It is very tiresome