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第44章 姨妈历险记2（第1页）

heservantsfromtownwerehalffrightenedoutoftheirwitsattheideaoflivinginsuchadismal，agan-lookinglace;eseciallywhentheygottogetherintheservantshallintheevening，andcomarednotesonallthehobgoblinstoriesickeduinthecourseoftheday。Theywereafraidtoventurealoneaboutthegloomy，black-lookingchambers。Myladysmaid，whowastroubledwithnerves，declaredshecouldneversleealoneinsucha

"ghastly，rummagingoldbuilding

";andthefootman，whowasakind-heartedyoungfellow，didallinhisowertocheerheru。

Myauntwasstruckwiththelonelyaearanceofthehouse。Beforegoingtobed，therefore，sheexaminedwellthefastnessesofthedoorsandwindows;lockeduthelatewithherownhands，andcarriedthekeys，togetherwithalittleboxofmoneyandjewels，toherownroom;forshewasanotablewoman，andalwayssawtoallthingsherself。Havingutthekeysunderherillow，anddismissedhermaid，shesatbyhertoiletarrangingherhair;forbeinginsiteofhergriefformyuncle，ratherabuxomwidow，shewassome-whatarticularabouthererson。Shesatforalittlewhilelookingatherfaceintheglass，firstononeside，thenontheother，asladiesareattodowhentheywouldascertainwhethertheyhavebeeningoodlooks;foraroisteringcountrysquireoftheneighborhood，withwhomshehadflirtedwhenagirl，hadcalledthatdaytowelcomehertothecountry。

Allofasuddenshethoughtsheheardsomethingmovebehindher。Shelookedhastilyround，buttherewasnothingtobeseen。Nothingbutthegrimlyaintedortraitofheroordearman，hangingagainstthewall。

Shegaveaheavysightohismemory，asshewasaccustomedtodowhenevershesokeofhimincomany，andthenwentonadjustinghernightdress，andthinkingofthesquire。Hersighwasreechoed，oranswered，byalong，drawnbreath。Shelookedroundagain，butnoonewastobeseen。Sheascribedthesesoundstothewindoozingthroughtheratholesoftheoldmansion，androceededleisurelytoutherhairinaers，when，allatonce，shethoughtsheerceivedoneoftheeyesoftheortraitmove。

"Thebackofherheadbeingtowardsit!

"saidthestorytellerwiththeruinedhead，

"good!

"

"Yes，sir，

"relieddrylythenarrator，

"herbackbeingtowardstheortrait，buthereyesfixedonitsreflectionintheglass。

"Well，asIwassaying，sheerceivedoneoftheeyesoftheortraitmove。Sostrangeacircumstance，asyoumaywellsuose，gaveherasuddenshock。Toassureherselfofthefact，sheutonehandtoherforeheadasifrubbingit;eeedthroughherfingers，andmovedthecandlewiththeotherhand。Thelightofthetaergleamedontheeye，andwasreflectedfromit。

Shewassureitmoved。Nay，more，itseemedtogiveherawink，asshehadsometimesknownherhusbandtodowhenliving。Itstruckamomentarychilltoherheart;forshewasalonewoman，andfeltherselffearfullysituated。