第22部分(第2/7 页)

liage；　the　church　at　the　gates；　the　road；　the　tranquil　hills；　all　reposing　in　the　autumn　day’s　sun；　the　horizon　bounded　by　a　propitious　sky；　azure；　marbled　with　pearly　white。　No　feature　in　the　scene　was　extraordinary；　but　all　was　pleasing。　When　I　turned　from　it　and　repassed　the　trap…door；　I　could　scarcely　see　my　way　down　the　ladder；　the　attic　seemed　black　as　a　vault　pared　with　that　arch　of　blue　air　to　which　I　had　been　looking　up；　and　to　that　sunlit　scene　of　grove；　pasture；　and　green　hill；　of　which　the　hall　was　the　centre；　and　over　which　I　had　been　gazing　with　delight。

Mrs。　Fairfax　stayed　behind　a　moment　to　fasten　the　trap…door；　I；　by　drift　of　groping；　found　the　outlet　from　the　attic；　and　proceeded　to　descend　the　narrow　garret　staircase。　I　lingered　in　the　long　passage　to　which　this　led；　separating　the　front　and　back　rooms　of　the　third　storey：　narrow；　low；　and　dim；　with　only　one　little　window　at　the　far　end；　and　looking；　with　its　two　rows　of　small　black　doors　all　shut；　like　a　corridor　in　some　Bluebeard’s　castle。

While　I　paced　softly　on；　the　last　sound　I　expected　to　hear　in　so　still　a　region；　a　laugh；　struck　my　ear。　It　was　a　curious　laugh；　distinct；　formal；　mirthless。　I　stopped：　the　sound　ceased；　only　for　an　instant；　it　began　again；　louder：　for　at　first；　though　distinct；　it　was　very　low。　It　passed　off　in　a　clamorous　peal　that　seemed　to　wake　an　echo　in　every　lonely　chamber；　though　it　originated　but　in　one；　and　I　could　have　pointed　out　the　door　whence　the　accents　issued。

“Mrs。　Fairfax！”　I　called　out：　for　I　now　heard　her　descending　the　great　stairs。　“Did　you　hear　that　loud　laugh？　Who　is　it？”

“Some　of　the　servants；　very　likely；”　she　answered：　“perhaps　Grace　Poole。”

“Did　you　hear　it？”　I　again　inquired。

“Yes；　plainly：　I　often　hear　her：　s