（
逆乱青春伤不起）（
天骄无双）（
名门弃少）（
灵域）（
大豪门）（
黑道的救赎）by washington irving
as one storythe kind produces another, andall the pany seemed fully engrossedthe topic, and disposedbring their relatives and ancestors upon the scene, thereno knowing how many more ghost adventuresmight have heard, had noorpulent old fox-hunter, who had slept soundly through the whole, now suddenly awakened, witoud and long-draw sound broke the charm; the ghosts tookflightthoughhad been cock-crowing, and there waniversal move for bed.
“and now for the haunted chamber,” said the irish captain, taking his candle.
“aye, who’sbe the herothe night?” said the gentleman with the ruined head.
“thatshall seethe morning,” said the old gentleman with the nose:“whoever looks pale and grizzly will have seen the ghost.”
“well, gentlemen,” said the baro, “there’s manrue thing saiact, oneyou will sleepa room to-night—”
“what—a haunted room? a haunted room?i claim the adventure—and i—and i—and i,” crieozen guests, talking and laughingthe same time.
“no—no,” said mine host, “therea secret about onemy roomswhiceel disposedtry a, gentlemen, noneyou shall know who has the haunted chamber, until circumstances reveal it.i will not even knowmyself, but will leaveto chance and the allotmentth the same time,it willany satisfactionyou, i will observe, for the honormy paternal mansion, that there’s scarcelhamberit butwell worthybeing haunted.”
we now separated for the night, and each wenthis allotte wasone wingthe building, anould not but smileits resemblancestylethose eventful apartments describedthe talesthe suppe was spacious and gloomy, decorated with lamp-black portraits, a bedancient damask, witester sufficiently loftygracouchstate, anumbermassive piecesold-fashionreat claw-footed arm-chair before the wide fire-place; stirredthe fire; sat looking into it, and musing upon the odd storiead heard; until, partly overethe fatiguethe day’s hunting, and partlythe wine and wassailmine host, i fell asleepmy chair.
the uneasinessmy position madeslumber troubled, and laidat the mercyall kindswild and fearful dreams; nowwas thatperfidious dinner and supper roserebellion againsag-riddena fat saddlemutton; a plum pudding weighed like lead uponconscience; the merry thoughta capon filledwith horrible suggestions; anevilled lega turkey stalkedall kindsdiabolical shapes throughort, i haiolent fitth strange indefinite evil seemed hanging overthaould not avert; something terrible and loathsome oppressedthaould not shak consciousbeing asleep, and stroverouse myself, but every effort redoubled the evil; until gasping, struggling, almost strangling, i suddenly sprang bolt uprightmy chair, and awoke.
the lightthe mantel-piece had burnt low, and the wick was divided; there wareat winding sheet madethe dripping wax,the side towards me.the disordered taper emitteroad flaring flame, and thretrong lighta painting over the fire-place, whicad not hitherto observed.
it consisted merelya head,ratheace, that appearedbe staring full upon me, and withexpression thatwas withourame, andthe first glancould hardly persuade myself thatwas noeal face, thrusting itself outthe dark oakemy chair gazingit, and the morazed the moredisquieted me.i had never before been affectedthe same wayan emotionscaused were strangewere something like whaave heard ascribedthe eyesthe basilisk;like that mysterious influencereptiles termehand overeyes several times,if seeking instinctivelybrush away this allusion—in vain—they instantly revertedthe picture, and its chilling, creeping influence overflesh was redoubled.
i looked around the roomother pictures, eitherdivertattention,to see whether the same effect wouldproduced bthem were grim enoughproduce the effect,the mere grimnessthe painting produced it—no suc eye passed over them all with perfect indifference, but the momentrevertedthis visage over the fire-place,wasifelectric shock darted through me.the other pictures were dim and faded; but this one protruded frolain black groundthe strongest relief, and with wonderful trutxpression was thatagony—the agonyintense bodily pain; buenace scowled upon the brow, anew sprinklingsblood addeditwas not all these characteristics—it was some horrorthe mind, some inscrutable antipathy awakenedthis picture, which harrowedmy feelings.
i triedpersuade myself that this was chimerical; thatbrain was confusedthe fumesmine host’s good cheer, and,some measure,the odd stories about paintings which had been told ashake off these vaporsthe mind; rose fromchair, and walked about the room; snappedfingers; rallied myself; laughe waorced laugh, and the echoitthe old chamber jarred upon mthe window; trieddiscern the landscape throughwas pitch darkness, and howling storm without; andi heard the wind moan among the trees, i caugheflectionthis accursed visagethe paneglass,thoughwere staring through the the reflectionit was thrilling.
how was this vile nervous fit, for sucow persuaded myselfwas,be conquered?i determinedforce myself notlookthe painting butundress quickly and get intundress, butspiteevery efforould not keep myself from stealinlance every now and thenthe picture; anlance was now sufficientdistress me.even whenback was turnedit, the ideathis strange face behind me, peering overshoulder,offclothes and hurried into bed; but still this visage gazed upon me.i haull viewit frombed, and for some time could not takeeyes from it.i had grown nervousa dismal degree.
i put out the light, and triedforce myselfsleep;—allvain!the fire gleaminga little, threwuncertain light about the room, leaving, however, the regionthe picturedee, thought i,thisthe chamber about which mine host spokehavinystery reigning over it?—i had taken his words merelyspokenjest; might they haveal import?i looke faintly lighted apartment had all the qualifications requisite foaunte beganmy infected imaginationassume strang old portraits turned paler and paler, and blacker and blacker; the streakslight and shadow thrown among the quaint old articlesfurniture, gave them singular shapeswauge dark clothes-pressantique form, geousbrass and lustrous with wax, that begangrow oppressiveme.
“ahen, ” thought i, “ indeed, the herothe haunted room?is there reallpell laid upon me,is this all some contrivancemine host,raisaughmy expense?”the ideabeing hagriddenmy own fancy all night, and then banteredmy haggard looks the next day was intolerable; but the very idea was sufficientproduce the effect, andrenderstill more nervous.“pish,” said i, “it canno suc couldhost imagihat i,any man wouldso worrieda mere picture?itmy own diseased imagination that torments me.”i turnedmy bed, and shifted from sideside,tryfall asleep; but alne cannot get asleeplying quiet,is seldom that tossing about will effectfire gradually went out and left the roo had the ideathis inexplicable countenance gazing and keeping watch uponthrough the darkness.
nay, what was worse, the very darkness seemedgiveadditional power, andmultiplywas like havingunseen enemy hovering about onethhaving one picture nowworry me, i hadevery direction—“and thereis,” thought i, “and there! and there! with its horrible and mysterious expression, still gazing and —iust suffer this strange and dismal influence,were better facingle foe, than thushaunteda thousand imagesit.”
whoever has beensuctatenervous agitation must know that the longercontinues, the more uncontrollablegrows; the very airthe chamber seemedlength infectedthe baleful presencethihovering over me.i almost felt the fearful visage from the wall approachingface,—it seemed breathing upon me.“thisnotbe borne,” said i,length, springing outbed.“i can stand thinly tumble and toss about here all night; makery spectremyself, and bee the herothe haunted chambergoothe consequence, i’ll quit this cursed room, and seeight’s res can but laughmeall events, and they’llsurehave the laugh uponiasleepless night and show theaggard and wo-begone visagethe morning.”
all this was half mutteredmyself,i hastily slippedmy clothes; which having done, i gropedway outthe room, and down-stairsth, after tumbling over twothree piecesfurniture, i made outreacofa, and stretching myself upondeterminedbivouac there for the night.
the momenound myself outthe neighborhoodthat strange picture,seemedif the charm wer its influence wasa assured thatwas confinedits own dreary chamber, foad, witortinstinctive caution, turned the key whelosedcalmed down, therefore, inttatetranquillity; from that introwsiness, and finally inteep sleep; outwhicid not awake, until the housemaid, with her besom and her matin song, cameput the rootaredfindingstretched upon the sofa; buresume circumstancesthe kind were not unmon after hunting dinners,her master’s bachelor establishment; for she wentwith her song and her work, and tookfarther heedme.
i hadunconquerable repugnancereturnmy chamber;i foundwaythe butler’s quarters, madetoiletthe best way circumstances would permit, and was among the firstappearthe breakfas breakfast waubstantial fox-hunter’s repast, and the pany were generally ample justice had been doo the tea, coffee, cold meats, and humming ale, for all these were furnishedabundance, accordingthe tastesthe different guests, the conversation beganbreak out, with all the liveliness and freshnessmorning mirth.
“but whothe herothe haunted chamber?—who has seen the ghost last night?” said the inquisitive gentleman, rolling his lobster eyes about the table.
the question set every tonguemotion; a vast dealbantering; criticisingcountenances;mutual accusation and retort too had drunk deep, and some were unshaven,that there were suspicious faces enoughth could not enter with ease and vivacity intotongue-tied— recollectionwhaad seen and felt the preceding night still hauntedmind.
it seemedif the mysterious picture still helhrall upon me.i thought also that our host’s eye was turnedme withaihort, i was conscious thaas the herothe night, and feltif every one might readinlooks.
the jokes, however, passed over, andsuspicion was just congratulating myselfmy escape, wheervant came in, saying, that the gentleman who had sleptthe sofathe drawing-room, had left his watch under oneth repeater washis hand.
“what!” said the inquisitive gentleman, “did any gentleman sleepthe sofa?”
“soho! soho! a hare—a hare!” cried the old gentleman with the flexible nose.
i could not avoid acknowledging the watch, and was risinggreat confusion, wheoisterous old squire who sat beside me, exclaimed, slappingon the shoulder, “sblood, lad! thou’rt the manhas seen the ghost!”
the attentionthe pany was immediately turnedme;my face had been pale the moment before,now glowed almost tlaugh, but could only makrimace; and found all the musclesmy face twitchingsixes and sevens, and totally outall control.
it takes but littleraisaugh amoneaorldmerriment and jokingmy expense; andi never relisheoke overmuch whenwasmy own expense, i beganfeeittllook cool and calm andrestrainpique; but the coolness and calmnessa mana passion are confounded treacherous.
“gentlemen,” said i, witlight cockingthe chin, anad attempta smile, “thisall very pleasant—ha! ha!—very pleasant—but i’d have you know ias little superstitiousanyyou—ha! ha!—andto anything like timidity—you may smile, gentlemen—burust thereno one here meansinsinuate that.—asa room’s being haunted, i repeat, gentlemen—(growinittle warmseeinursed grin breaking out round me)—asa room’s being haunted, i havelittle faithsuch silly storiesan, since you put the matter homeme, i will say thaave met with somethingmy room strange and inexplicableme—(a shoutlaughter).gentlemen, iserious—i know well what isaying—icalm, gentlemen, (strikingflat upon the table)—by heave neither trifling, nori wishbe trifled with—(the laughterthe pany suppressed with ludicrous attemptsgravity).therea picturethe roomwhicas put last night, that has hadeffect uponthe most singular and inprehensible.”
“a picture!” said the old gentleman with the haunted head.“a picture!” cried the narrator with the waggish nose.“a picture! a picture!” echoed severa there wasungovernable peallaughter.
i could not contaifromseat—looked roundthe pany with fiery indignation—thrust bothhands intopockets, and strodeto onethe windows,thougould have walked through it.i stopped short; looked out upon the landscape without distinguishineatureit; and feltge rising almostsuffocation.
mine host sawwas timad maintainedairgravity through the wholethe scene, and now stepped forthifshelterfrom the overwhelming merrimentmy panions.
“gentlemen,” said he,dislikespoil sport, but you have had your laugh, and the jokethe haunted chamber has bee now take the partm not only vindicate him from your pleasantries, buust reconcile himhimself, fouspectiittle outhumor with his own feelings; and above all, i must crave his pardon for having made him the subjecta kindexperiment.
“yes, gentlemen, theresomething strange and peculiarthe chamberwhich our friend was shown lasa picture which possesseingular and mysterious influence; and with which thereconnecteery curioua picturewhicttacalue froarietycircumstances; and thougave often been tempteddestroyfrom the odd and unfortable sensationsproducesevery ohat beholds it; yeave never been ableprevail upon myselfmakeiicturever likelook upon myself; and whichheldaweall m, therefore, banishedtoom but rarely used; and should have hadcovered last night, had not the natureour conversation, and the whimsical talk abouaunted chamber temptedto letremain,wayexperiment, whethetranger, totally unacquainted with its story, wouldaffectedit.”
the wordsthe baro had turned every thought intifferent channel: all were anxioushear the storythe mysterious picture; and for myself,strongly werefeelings interested, thaotfeel piquedthe experiment whichhost had made uponnerves, and joined eagerlythe general entreaty.
as the morning was stormy, and precluded all egress,host was gladany meansentertaining his pany;drawing his arm-chair beside the fire,began—
m.pi.co
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