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understand； two girls are said to have died in that room more than
a hundred years ago； and for that reason there is a prejudice
against putting a girl to sleep there。 That is all。 Merely a
vague； unreasonable tradition。〃
Alan took a moment to answer。
〃Yes；〃 he said at length； speaking slowly； and as if replying to
arguments in his own mind as much as to those which I had uttered。
〃Yes； it is nothing but a tradition after all； and that of the very
vaguest and most unsupported kind。〃
〃Is there even any proof that girls have not slept there since
those two died？〃 I asked。 I think that the suggestion conveyed in
this question was a relief to him； for after a moment's pause； as
if to search his memory； he turned round。
〃No；〃 he answered； 〃I don't think that there is any such proof； and
I have no doubt that you are right； and that it is a mere prejudice
that makes me dislike your sleeping there。〃
〃Then；〃 I said； with a little assumption of sisterly superiority；
〃I think George was right； and that you were wrong。〃
Alan smiled；a smiled which sat oddly on the still pale face； and
in the wearied； worn…looking eyes。 〃Very likely；〃 he said； 〃I
daresay that I am superstitious。 I have had things to make me so。〃
Then coming nearer to me； and laying his hands on my shoulders； he
went on； smiling more brightly； 〃We are a queer…tempered； bad…
nerved race； we Mervyns； and you must not take us too seriously；
Evie。 The best thing that you can do with our odd ways is to
ignore them。〃
〃Oh； I don't mind；〃 I answered； laughing； too glad to have won him
back to even temporary brightness； 〃as long as you and George don't
come to blows over the question of where I am to sleep； which after
all is chiefly my concern；and Lucy's。〃
〃Well； perhaps it is；〃 he replied； in the same tone； 〃and now be
off to the drawing…room； where Lucy is defending the tea…table
single…handed all this time。〃
I obeyed； and should have gone more cheerfully had I not turned at
the doorway to look back at him； and caught one glimpse of his face
as he sank heavily down into the large arm…chair by the fireside。
However； by dinner…time he appeared to have dismissed all painful
reflections from his mind； or to have buried them too deep for
discovery。 The people staying in the house were； in spite of my
sense of grievance at their arrival； individually pleasant； and
after dinner I discovered them to be socially well assorted。 For
the first hour or two； indeed； after their arrival； each glared at
the other across those triple lines of moral fortification behind
which every well…bred Briton takes refuge on appearing at a
friend's country…house。 But flags of truce were interchanged over
the soup； an armistice was agreed upon during the roast； and the
terms of a treaty of peace and amity were finally ratified under
the sympathetic influence of George's best champagne。 For the
achievement of this happy result Alan certainly worked hard； and
received therefor many a grateful glance from his sister…in…law。
He was more excited than I had ever seen him before； and talked
brilliantly and wellthough perhaps not as exclusively to his
neighbors as they may have wished。 His eyes and his attention
seemed everywhere at once： one moment he was throwing remarks
across to some despairing couple opposite； and the next he was
breaking an embarrassing pause in the conversation by some rapid
sally of nonsense addressed to the table in general。 He formed a
great contrast to his brother； who sat gloomy and dejected； making
little or no response to the advances of the two dowagers between
whom he was placed。 After dinner the younger members of the party
spent the evening by Alan's initiative； and chiefly under his
direction； in a series of lively and rather riotous games such as
my nursery days had delighted in； and my schoolroom ones had
disdained。 It was a great and happy surprise to discover that；
grown up； I might again enjoy them。 I did so； hugely； and when
bedtime came all memories more serious than those of 〃musical
chairs〃 or 〃follow my leader〃 had vanished from my mind。 I think；
from Alan's glance as he handed me my bed candle； that the pleasure
and excitement must have improved my looks。
〃I hope you have enjoyed your first evening of gayety； Evie；〃 he
said。
〃I have；〃 I answered； with happy conviction； 〃and really I believe
that it is chiefly owing to you； Alan。〃 He met my smile by
another； but I think that there must have been something in his
look which recalled other thoughts； for as I started up the stairs
I threw a mischievous glance back at him and whispered； 〃Now for
the horrors of the haunted chamber。〃
He laughed rather loudly； and saying 〃Good…night； and good…luck；〃
turned to attend to the other ladies。
His wishes were certainly fulfilled。 I got to bed quickly； andas
soon as my happy excitement was sufficiently calmed to admit of it
to sleep。 The only thing which disturbed me was the wind； which
blew fiercely and loudly all the earlier portion of the night； half
arousing me more than once。 I spoke of it at breakfast the next
morning； but the rest of the world seemed to have slept too heavily
to have been aware of it。
IV
The men went out shooting directly after breakfast； and we women
passed the day in orthodox country…house fashion；working and
eating； walking and riding； driving and playing croquet； and above；
beyond； and through all things； chattering。 Beyond a passing sigh
while I was washing my hands； or a moment of mournful remembrance
while I changed my dress； I had scarcely time even to regret the
quiet happiness of the week that was past。 In the evening we
danced in the great hall。 I had two valses with Alan。 During a
pause for breath； I found that we were standing near the fireplace；
on the very spot where he and George had stood on the previous
afternoon。 The recollection made me involuntarily glance up at his
face。 It looked sad and worried； and the thought suddenly struck
me that his extravagant spirits of the night before； and even his
quieter； careful cheerfulness of to…night； had been but artificial
moods at best。 He turned； and finding my eyes fixed on him； at
once plunged into conversation； discussed the peculiarities of one
of the guests； good…humoredly enough； but with so much fun as to
make me laugh in spite of myself。 Then we danced again。 The
plaintive music； the smooth floor； and the partner were all alike
perfect； and I experienced that entire delight of physical
enjoyment which I believe nothing but a valse under such
circumstances can give。 When it was over I turned to Alan； and
exclaimed with impulsive appeal； 〃Oh； I am so happy；you must be
happy too！〃 He smiled rather uncertainly； and answered； 〃Don't
bother yourself about me； Evie； I am all right。 I told you that we
Mervyns had bad nerves； and I am rather tired。 That's all。〃 I was
too passionately determined just then upon happiness； and his was
too necessary to mine for me not to believe that he was speaking
the truth。
We kept up the dancing till Lucy discovered with a shock that
midnight had struck； and that Sunday had begun； and we were all
sent off to bed。 I was not long in making my nightly preparations；
and had scarcely inserted myself between the sheets when； with a
few long moans； the wind began again； more violently even than the
night before。 It had been a calm； fine day； and I made wise
reflections as I listened upon the uncertainty of the north…country
climate。 What a tempest it was！ How it moaned； and howled； and
shrieked！ Where had I heard the superstition which now came to my
mind； that borne upon the wind come the spirits of the drowned；
wailing and crying for the sepulture which had been denied them？
But there were other sounds in that wind； too。 Evil； murderous
thoughts； perhaps； which had never taken body in deeds； but which；
caught up in the air； now hurled themselves in impotent fury
through the world。 How I wished the wind would stop。 It seemed
full of horrible fancies； and it kept knocking them into my head；
and it wouldn't leave off。 Fancies； or memorieswhich？and my
mind reverted with a flash to the fearful thoughts which had
haunted it the day before in Dame Alice's tower。 It was dark now。
Those ghastly intangible shapes must have taken full form and
color； peopling the old ruin with their ageless hideousness。 And
the storm had found them there and borne them along with it as it
blew through the creviced walls。 That was why the wind's sound
struck so strangely on my brain。 Ah！ I could hear them now； those
still living memories of dead horror。 Through the window crannies
they came shrieking and wailing。 They filled the chimney with
spirit sobs； and now they were pressing on； crowding through the
room；eager； eager to reach their prey。 Nearer they came；nearer