第3部分(第1/7 页)

chairs　were　of　darkly　polished　old　mahogany。　Out　of　these　deep　surrounding　shades　rose　high；　and　glared　white；　the　piled…up　mattresses　and　pillows　of　the　bed；　spread　with　a　snowy　Marseilles　counterpane。　Scarcely　less　prominent　was　an　ample　cushioned　easy…chair　near　the　head　of　the　bed；　also　white；　with　a　footstool　before　it；　and　looking；　as　I　thought；　like　a　pale　throne。

This　room　was　chill；　because　it　seldom　had　a　fire；　it　was　silent；　because　remote　from　the　nursery　and　kitchen；　solemn；　because　it　was　known　to　be　so　seldom　entered。　The　house…maid　alone　came　here　on　Saturdays；　to　wipe　from　the　mirrors　and　the　furniture　a　rs。　Reed　herself；　at　far　intervals；　visited　it　to　review　the　contents　of　a　certain　secret　drawer　in　the　wardrobe；　where　were　stored　divers　parchments；　her　jewel…casket；　and　a　miniature　of　her　deceased　husband；　and　in　those　last　words　lies　the　secret　of　the　red…room—the　spell　which　kept　it　so　lonely　in　spite　of　its　grandeur。

Mr。　Reed　had　been　dead　nine　years：　it　was　in　this　chamber　he　breathed　his　last；　here　he　lay　in　state；　hence　his　coffin　was　borne　by　the　undertaker’s　men；　and；　since　that　day；　a　sense　of　dreary　consecration　had　guarded　it　from　frequent　intrusion。

My　seat；　to　which　Bessie　and　the　bitter　Miss　Abbot　had　left　me　riveted；　was　a　low　ottoman　near　the　marble　chimney…piece；　the　bed　rose　before　me；　to　my　right　hand　there　was　the　high；　dark　wardrobe；　with　subdued；　broken　reflections　varying　the　gloss　of　its　panels；　to　my　left　were　the　muffled　windows；　a　great　looking…glass　between　them　repeated　the　vacant　majesty　of　the　bed　and　room。　I　was　not　quite　sure　whether　they　had　locked　the　door；　and　when　I　dared　move；　I　got　up　and　went　to　see。　Alas！　yes：　no　jail　was　ever　more　secure。　Returning；　I　had　to　cross　before　the　looking…