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though the pattern still looked as if it was formed out of
characters of the alphabet curiously entwined together； you found
yourself unable to fix upon any definite word； or even letter。 You
looked again and again； and the longer that you looked the more
certain became your belief that you were on the verge of discovery。
If you could approach the mysterious legend from a slightly
different point of view； or look at it from another distance； the
clew to the puzzle would be seized； and the words would stand forth
clear and legible in your sight。 But the clew never had been
discovered； and the motto； if there was one； remained unread。
For a few minutes we stood looking at the cabinet in silence； and
then Lucy gave a discontented little sigh。 〃There's another
tiresome piece of superstition；〃 she exclaimed； 〃by far the
handsomest piece of furniture in the house stuck away here in a
bedroom which is hardly ever used。 Again and again have I asked
George to let me have it moved downstairs； but he won't hear of
it。〃
〃Was it not placed here by Dame Alice herself？〃 I inquired a little
reproachfully； for I felt that Lucy was not treating the cabinet
with the respect which it really deserved。
〃Yes； so they say；〃 she answered； and the tone of light contempt in
which she spoke was now pierced by a not unnatural pride in the
romantic mysteries of her husband's family。 〃She placed it here；
and it is said； you know； that when the closed cabinet is opened；
and the mysterious motto is read； the curse will depart from the
Mervyn family。〃
〃But why don't they break it open？〃 I asked； impatiently。 〃I am
sure that I would never have remained all my life in a house with a
thing like that； and not found out in some way or another what was
inside it。〃
〃Oh； but that would be quite fatal；〃 answered she。 〃The curse can
only be removed when the cabinet is opened as Dame Alice intended
it to be； in an orthodox fashion。 If you were to force it open；
that could never happen； and the curse would therefore remain for
ever。〃
〃And what is the curse？〃 I asked； with very different feelings to
those with which I had timidly approached the same subject with
Alan。 Lucy was not a Mervyn； and not a person to inspire awe under
any circumstances。 My instincts were right again； for she turned
away with a slight shrug of her shoulders。
〃I have no idea；〃 she said。 〃George and Alan always look
portentously solemn and gloomy whenever one mentions the subject；
so I don't。 If you ask me for the truth； I believe it to be a pure
invention； devised by the Mervyns for the purpose of delicately
accounting for some of the disreputable actions of their ancestors。
For you know； Evie；〃 she added； with a little laugh； 〃the less said
about the character of the family into which your aunt and I have
married the better。〃
The remark made me angry； I don't know why； and I answered stiffly；
that as far as I was acquainted with them； I at least saw nothing
to complain of。
〃Oh； as regards the present generation； no；except for that poor；
wretched Jack；〃 acquiesced Lucy； with her usual imperturbable good…
humor。
〃And as regards the next？〃 I suggested； smiling； and already
ashamed of my little temper。
〃The next is perfect； of course；poor dear boys。〃 She sighed as
she spoke； and I wondered whether she was really as unconscious as
she generally appeared to be of the strange dissatisfaction with
which her husband seemed to regard his children。 Anyhow the
mention of them had evidently changed her mood； and almost directly
afterwards； with the remark that she must go and look after her
guests； who had all arrived by now； she left me to myself。
For some minutes I sat by the bright fire； lost in aimless；
wandering thought； which began with Dame Alice and her cabinet； and
which ended somehow with Alan's face； as I had last seen it looking
up at me in front of the hall…door。 When I had reached that point；
I roused myself to decide that I had dreamt long enough； and that
it was quite time to go down to the guests and to tea。 I
accordingly donned my best teagown； arranged my hair； and proceeded
towards the drawing…room。 My way there lay through the great
central hall。 This apartment was approached from most of the
bedrooms in the house through a large； arched doorway at one end of
it； which communicated directly with the great staircase。 My
bedroom； however； which； as I have said； lay among the private
apartments of the house； opened into a passage which led into a
broad gallery； or upper chamber； stretching right across the end of
the hall。 From this you descended by means of a small staircase in
oak； whose carved balustrade； bending round the corner of the hall；
formed one of the prettiest features of the picturesque old room。
The barrier which ran along the front of the gallery was in solid
oak； and of such a height that； unless standing close up to it； you
could neither see nor be seen by the occupants of the room below。
On approaching this gallery I heard voices in the hall。 They were
George's and Alan's； evidently in hot discussion。 As I issued from
the passage； George was speaking； and his voice had that
exasperated tone in which an angry man tries to bring to a close an
argument in which he has lost his temper。 〃For heaven's sake leave
it alone； Alan； I neither can nor will interfere。 We have enough
to bear from these cursed traditions as it is； without adding one
which has no foundation whatever to justify ita mere contemptible
piece of superstition。〃
〃No member of our family has a right to call any tradition
contemptible which is connected with that place； and you know it；〃
answered Alan； and though he spoke low； his voice trembled with
some strong emotion。 A first impulse of hesitation which I had had
I checked； feeling that as I had heard so much it was fairer to go
on； and I advanced to the top of the staircase。 Alan stood by the
fireplace facing me； but far too occupied to see me。 His last
speech had seemingly aroused George to fury； for the latter turned
on him now with savage passion。
〃Damn it all； Alan！〃 he cried； 〃can't you be quiet？ I will be
master in my own house。 Take care； I tell you； the curse may not
be quite fulfilled yet after all。〃
As George uttered these words； Alan lifted his eyes to him with a
glance of awful horror： his face turned ghastly white； his lips
trembled for a moment； and then he answered back with one half…
whispered word of supreme appeal〃George！〃 There was a long…
drawn； unutterable anguish in his tone； and his voice； though
scarcely audible； penetrated to every corner of the room； and
seemed to hang quivering in the air around one after the sound had
ceased。 Then there was a terrible stillness。 Alan stood trembling
in every limb； incapable apparently of speech or action； and George
faced him； as silent and motionless as he was。 For an instant they
remained thus； while I looked breathlessly on。 Then George； with a
muttered imprecation； turned on his heel and left the room。 Alan
followed him as he went with dull lifeless eyes； and as the door
closed he breathed deeply； with a breath that was almost a groan。
Taking my courage in both hands； I now descended the stairs； and at
the sound of my footfall he glanced up； started； and then came
rapidly to meet me。
〃Evie！ you here；〃 he said； 〃I did not notice you。 How long have
you been here？〃 He was still quite white； and I noticed that he
panted for breath as he spoke。
〃Not long；〃 I answered； timidly； and rather spasmodically； 〃I only
heard a sentence or two。 You wanted George to do something about
some tradition or other；and he was angry；and he said something
about the curse。〃
While I spoke Alan kept his eyes fixed on mine； reading through
them； as I knew； into my mind。 When I had finished he turned his
gaze away satisfied； and answered very quietly； 〃Yes； that was it。〃
Then he went back to the fireplace； rested his arm against the high
mantelpiece above it； and leaning his forehead on his arm； remained
silently looking into the fire。 I could see by his bent brow and
compressed lips that he was engaged upon some earnest train of
thought or reasoning； and I stood waitingworried； puzzled；
curious； but above all things； pitiful； and oh！ longing so
intensely to help him if I could。 Presently he straightened
himself a little； and addressed me more in his ordinary tone of
voice； though without looking round。 〃So I hear they have changed
your room。〃
〃Yes；〃 I answered。 And then； flushing rather； 〃Is that what you
and George have been quarreling about？〃 I received no reply； and
taking this silence for assent； I went on deprecatingly； 〃Because
you know； if it was； I think you are rather foolish； Alan。 As I
understand； two girls are said to have died in that room more than
a hundred years ago；