tintheJudgesHouse!
"shesaid,andgrewaleasshesoke。Heexlainedthelocalityofthehouse,sayingthathedidnotknowitsname。Whenhehadfinishedsheanswered:
"Aye,sureenough—sureenoughtheverylace!ItistheJudgesHousesureenough。
"Heaskedhertotellhimaboutthelace,whysocalled,andwhattherewasagainstit。Shetoldhimthatitwassocalledlocallybecauseithadbeenmanyyearsbefore—howlongshecouldnotsay,asshewasherselffromanotherartofthecountry,butshethoughtitmusthavebeenahundredyearsormore—theabodeofajudgewhowasheldingreatterroronaccountofhisharshsentencesandhishostilitytorisonersatAssizes。Astowhattherewasagainstthehouse,itselfshecouldnottell。Shehadoftenasked,butnoonecouldinformher;buttherewasageneralfeelingthattherewassomething,andforherownartshewouldnottakeallthemoneyinDrinkwatersBankandstayinthehouseanhourbyherself。ThensheaologizedtoMalcolmsonforherdisturbingtalk。
"Itistoobadofme,sir,andyou—andayounggentleman,too—ifyouwillardonmesayingit,goingtolivethereallalone。Ifyouweremyboy—andyoullexcusemeforsayingit—youwouldntsleethereanight,notifIhadtogotheremyselfandullthebigalarmbellthatsonthatroof!
"
Thegoodcreaturewassomanifestlyinearnest,andwassokindlyinherintentions,thatMalcolmson,althoughamused,wastouched。Hetoldherkindlyhowmuchheareciatedherinterestinhim,andadded:
"But,mydearMrs。Witham,indeedyouneednotbeconcernedaboutme!AmanwhoisreadingfortheMathematicalTrioshastoomuchtothinkoftobedisturbedanyanyofthesemysterioussomething,andhisworkisoftooexactandrosaicakindtoallowofhishavinganycornerinhismindformysteriesofanykind。HarmonicalProgression,PermutationsandCombinations,andElliticFunctionshavesufficientmysteriesforme!
"Mrs。Withamkindlyundertooktoseeafterhiscommissions,andhewenthimselftolookfortheoldwomanwhohadbeenrecommendedtohim。WhenhereturnedtotheJudgesHousewithher,afteranintervalofacouleofhours,hefoundMrs。Withamherselfwaitingwithseveralmenandboyscarryingarcels,andanuholsterersmanwithabedinacar,forshesaid,thoughtablesandchairsmightbeallverywell,abedthathadntbeenairedformayhafiftyyearswasnotroerforyoungbonestolieon。Shewasevidentlycurioustoseetheinsideofthehouse;andthoughmanifestlysoafraidofthe
"something
"thatattheslightestsoundsheclutchedontoMalcolmson,whomsheneverleftforamoment,wentoverthewholelace。
Afterhisexaminationofthehouse,Malcolmsondecidedtotakeuhisabodeinthegreatdining-room,whichwasbigenoughtoserveforallhisrequirements;andMrs。Witham,withtheaidofthecharwoman,Mrs。Demster,roceededtoarrangematters。Whenthehamerswerebroughtinandunacked,Malcolmsonsawthatwithmuchkindforethoughtshehadsentfromherownkitchensufficientrovisionstolastforafewdays。Beforegoingsheexressedallsortsofkindwishes;andatthedoorturnedandsaid:
"Anderhas,sir,astheroomisbiganddraughtyitmightbewelltohaveoneofthosebigscreensutroundyourbedatnight-though,truthtotell,IwoulddiemyselfifIweretobesoshutinwithallkindsof-ofthings,thatuttheirheadsroundthesides,orovertheto,andlookonme!
"Theimagewhichshehadcalleduwastoomuchforhernerves,andshefledincontinently。
Mrs。Demstersniffedinasueriormannerasthelandladydisaeared,andremarkedthatforherownartshewasntafraidofallthebogiesinthekingdom。
"Illtellyouwhatitis,sir,
"shesaid;
"bogiesisallkindsandsortsofthings—excetbogies!Ratsandmice,andbeetles,andcreakydoors,andlooseslates,andbrokenanes,andstiffdrawerhandles,thatstayoutwhenyouullthemandthenfalldowninthemiddleofthenight。Lookatthewainscotoftheroom!Itisold—hundredsofyearsold!Doyouthinktheresnoratsandbeetlesthere!Anddoyouimagine,sir,thatyouwontseenoneofthem?Ratsisbogies,Itellyou,andbogiesisrats;anddontyougettothinkanythingelse!
"
"Mrs。Demster,
"saidMalcolmsongravely,makingheraolitebow,
"youknowmorethanaSeniorWrangler!Andletmesay,that,asamarkofesteemforyourindubitablesoundnessofheadandheart,Ishall,whenIgo,giveyouossessionofthishouse,andletyoustayherebyyourselfforthelasttwomonthsofmytenancy,forfourweekswillservemyurose。
"
"Thankyoukindly,sir!
"sheanswered,
"butIcouldntsleeawayfromhomeanight。IaminGreenhowsCharity,andifIsletanightawayfrommyroomsIshouldloseallIhavegottoliveon。Therulesisverystrict;andtherestoomanywatchingforavacancyformetorunanyrisksinthematter。Onlyforthat,sir,Idgladlycomehereandattendonyoualtogetherduringyourstay。
"
"Mygoodwoman,
"saidMalcolmsonhastily,
"Ihavecomehereonurosetoobtainsolitude;andbelievemethatIamgratefultothelateGreenhowforhavingsoorganisedhisadmirablecharity—whateveritis—thatIamerforcedeniedtheoortunityofsufferingfromsuchaformoftemtation!SaintAnthonyhimselfcouldnotbemorerigidontheoint!
"
Theoldwomanlaughedharshly。
"Ah,youyounggentlemen,
"shesaid,
"youdontfearfornaught;andbelikeyoullgetallthesolitudeyouwanthere。
"Shesettoworkwithhercleaning;andbynightfall,whenMalcolmsonreturnedfromhiswalk—healwayshadoneofhisbookstostudyashewalked—hefoundtheroomswetandtidied,afireburningintheoldhearth,thelamlit,andthetablesreadforsuerwithMrs。Withamsexcellentfare。
"Thisiscomfort,indeed,
"hesaid,asherubbedhishands。