jeremy-第18章

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vain　woman；　thought　it　nevertheless　quite　natural　that　men　should
stare；　and　fancied　more　frequently　that　they　did　so　than　was
strictly　the　truth。

Jeremy；　meanwhile；　was　occupied　now　with　the　thought　as　to　what　he
would　do　did　the　Captain　really　want　him　to　go　away　with　him。　He
discussed　it　with　himself；　but　he　did　not　doubt　what　he　would　do；　he
would　go。　And　he　would　go；　he　knew；　with　fear　and　dread；　and　with　a
longing　to　stay；　and　be　warm　in　the　schoolroom；　and　have　jam　for
tea；　and　half　an　hour　before　bedtime　downstairs；　and　Yorkshire
pudding　on　Sundays。　But　the　Captain　could　make　him　do　anything。　。　。
Yes；　the　Captain　could　make　him　do　anything。　。　。

His　afternoon　walks　now　were　prolonged　agonies。　He　would　turn　his
head　at　every　moment；　would　stare　into　dark　corners；　would　start　at
the　sound　of　steps。　His　sleep　now　was　broken　with　horrid　dreams；　and
he　would　jump　up　and　cry　out；　and　one　night　he　actually　dreamt　of
his　dead…white　road　and　the　sounds　that　came　up　from　below　the　hill；
the　bell　and　the　sea；　and　the　distant　rattle　of　the　little　carts。

Then　the　Captain　drew　near　to　the　very　house　itself。　He　haunted
Orange　Street；　could　be　seen　lounging　against　a　lamp…post　opposite
the　High　School；　looked　once　into　the　very　garden　of　the　Coles；
Jeremy　watching　him　with　beating　heart　from　the　schoolroom　window。
It　was　incredible　to　Jeremy　that　no　one　else　of　the　house　perceived
him；　but　no　one　ever　mentioned　him；　and　this　made　it　appear　all　the
more　a　dream；　as　though　the　Captain　were　invisible　to　everyone　save
himself。　He　began　to　hate　him　even　more　than　he　feared　him；　and　yet
with　that　hatred　the　pleasure　and　excitement　remained。　I　remember
how；　years　ago　in　Polchester；　when　I　could　not　have　been　more　than
six　years　old；　I　myself　was　haunted　with　exactly　that　same　mixture
of　pleasure　and　horror　by　the　figure　of　a　hunch…backed　pedlar　who
used　to　come　to　our　town。　Many　years　after　I　heard　that　he　had　been
hung　for　the　murder　of　some　wretched　woman　who　had　accompanied　him
on　some　of　his　journeys。　I　was　not　surprised；　but　when　I　heard　the
story　I　felt　then　again　the　old　thrill　of　mingled　pleasure　and　fear。

One　windy　afternoon；　near　dusk；　when　they　were　returning　from　their
walk；　Jeremy　suddenly　heard　the　voice　in　his　ear：

〃I　may　be　coming　to　visit　yer　one　o'　these　nights。　Keep　yer　eyes
open　and　yer　tongue　quiet　if　I　do。〃

Jeremy　saw　the　figures　of　Miss　Jones　and　his　sisters　pass　round　the
corner　of　the　road。

〃What　for？〃　he　gasped。

The　Captain's　figure　seemed　to　swell　gigantic　against　the　white
light　of　the　fading　sky。　The　wind　whistled　about　their　ears。

〃Just　to　visit　yer；　that's　all。　'Cause　I've　taken　a　fancy　to　yer。〃
The　Captain　chuckled　and　had　vanished。　。　。

Jeremy　flung　one　glance　at　the　grey　desolate　road　behind　him；　then
ran　for　his　life　to　join　the　others。

What；　after　that；　did　he　expect？　He　did　not　know。　Only　the　Captain
was　drawing　closer；　and　closer；　and　closer。

He　could　feel　now　always　his　hot　breath　upon　his　ear。　Two　days　after
the　whispered　dialogue　in　the　road；　that　first　promise　of　spring
broke　down　into　a　tempest　of　wind　and　rain。　The　Coles'　house　in
Orange　Street；　although　it　looked；　with　its　stout；　white　stone；
strong　enough；　was　old　and　shaky。　Now；　in　the　storm；　it　shook　and
wheezed　and　rattled　in　every　one　of　its　joints。　Jeremy；　at　ordinary
times；　loved　the　sound　of　the　wind　about　the　house；　when　he　himself
was　safe　and　warm　and　cosy；　but　this　was　now　another　affair。　Lying
in　his　bed　he　could　hear　the　screams　down　the　chimney；　then　the　tug
at　his　window…pane；　the　rattling　clutch　upon　the　wood；　then　the
sweep　under　the　bed　and　the　rush　up　the　wallpaper；　until　at　last；
from　behind　some　badly　defended　spot　where　the　paper　was　thin；　there
would　come　a　wailing；　whistling　screech　as　though　someone　were　being
murdered　in　the　next　room。　On　other　days　Jeremy；　when　he　heard　this
screech；　shivered　with　a　cosy；　creeping　thrill；　but　now　he　put　his
head　under　the　bedclothes；　shut　his　eyes　very　tight；　and　tried　not
to　see　the　Captain　with　his　ugly　nose　and　tiny　gimlet　eyes。

He　would　be　half　asleep。

〃Come；〃　said　the　Captain　from　the　window；　〃the　boat　is　waiting！　You
promised；　you　know。　Come　just　as　you　areno　time　to　dress；〃　and
poor　Jeremy　would　feel　the　great；　heavy　hand　upon　his　shoulder　and
wake　shivering　and　shaking　from　head　to　foot。

On　the　third　day　following　his　last　interview　with　the　Captain　he
went　to　bed　a　little　reassured　and　comforted。　Perhaps　the　Captain
had　gone　away。　For　three　days　he　had　seen　and　heard　nothing　of　him
at　all。

That　was　a　night　of　rainrain　that　slashed　and　whipped　the　house　as
though　it　would　batter　it　to　the　ground。　The　rain　would　come　with　a
wild　fury　upon　the　panes；　trembling　with　its　excited　anger；　would
crash　against　the　glass；　then　fall　back　and　hang　waiting　for　a
further　attack；　next　the　results　of　the　first　attack　would　slip　and
slide　like　the　crawling　of　a　thousand　snakes；　then　fall　and　drop
slowly　and　heavily　as　though　every　drop　were　foretelling　some　awful
peril。　Jeremy　lay　and　listened；　but　he　resolved　that　to…night　he
would　not　be　frightened；　would　not　think　of　the　Captain。

He　said　the　Lord's　Prayer　five　times；　then　counted　sheep　jumping
over　the　gate；　a　safe　solution　for　sleepless　hours。　He　saw　the
sheepfirst　one　a　very　fat　one；　then　one　a　very　thin　one；　but　the
gate　stood　at　the　bottom　of　a　little　hill；　so　that　it　was　very
difficult　for　the　poor　creatures；　who　jumped　and　slipped　back　on　the
incline。　Then　a　lot　of　sheep　insisted　on　jumping　together；　and　he
could　hardly　count　themforty…five；　forty…six；　forty…seven；　forty…
eight。　。　。　。　He　was　asleep。

After　a　long；　long　time　of　soundlessness；　of　lying　upon　a　sea　that
was　like　a　bed　of　down；　and　looking　up；　happily　into　clear　blue
light；　he　was　once　more　conscious　of　the　rain。　Yes；　there　it　was
with　its　sweeping　rush；　its　smash　upon　the　pane；　its　withdrawal；　its
trickling　patter　and　heavy　drops　as　though　it　were　striking　time。
Yes；　that　was　the　rain　and　thatWhat　was　that？

He　was　wide　awake；　lying　back　against　his　pillow；　but　his　eyes
staring　in　front　of　them　till　they　burnt。　The　house　was　absolutely
dark；　absolutely　silent；　but　between　the　attacks　of　the　rain　there
was　a　wound；　something　that　had　not　to　do　with　the　house　nor　with
the　weather。　He　strained　with　his　ears；　sitting　up　in　bed；　his　hands
clutching　the　bed　clothes。　He　heard　it　quite　clearly　now。　Someone
was　moving　in　the　nursery。

With　that　the　whole　of　his　brain　was　awake　and　he　knew　quite
clearly；　beyond　a　shadow　of　any　doubt；　what　had　happened；　the
Captain　had　come　to　fetch　him。　With　that　knowledge　an　icy　despair
gripped　him。　He　did　not　want　to　go。　Oh；　he　did　not　want　to　go！　He
was　trembling　from　head　to　foot　so　that　the　bed　shook　beneath　him；
his　breath　came　in　little　hot　gasping　pants；　and　his　eyes　were　wide
with　terror。　He　was　helpless。　The　Captain　would　only　say　〃Come；〃　and
go　he　must；　leave　his　warm　house　and　his　parents　whom　he　loved　and
Mary　and　Helen　and　Hamlet；　yes；　and　even　Miss　Jones。　He　would　be
dragged　down　the　long　white　road；　through　the　lighted　village；　out
on　to　the　shiny　beach；　in　a　boat　out　to　the　dark　shipand　then　he
would　be　alone　with　the　Captain；　alone　in　the　dark　ship；　with　the
Captain's　heavy　hand　upon　his　shoulder；　his　mouth　smiling；　his　great
legs　drawing　him　in　as　a　spider　draws　a　fly　into　its　web；　and
everyone　asleep；　only　the　stars　and　the　dark　water。　He　tried　to　say
the　Lord's　Prayer　again；　but　the　words　would　not　come。　The　sweat
began　to　trickle　down　his　nose。　。　。

Then　he　heard　in　the　next　room　some　movement　against　a　piece　of
furniture　and　a　voice　muttering。　That　decided　him：　better　to　go　and
face　it　than　to　wait　there；　so　as　though　he　were　moving　in　his
sleep；　he　got　out　of　bed；　crossed　the　floor　and　entered　the
schoolroom。

The　first　sound　that　he　heard　was　the　ticking　of　the　old　nursery
clock；　a　strange　familiar　voice　in　this　awful　world；　then　suddenly；
although　the　room　was　in　black　darkness；　he　himself　was　staring　into
blazing　light。

He　started　back　and　uttered　a　little　cry；　but　even　as　he　did　so　that
well…remembered　hand　was　upon　his　shoulder　and　the　well…known　voice
in　his　ear：

〃Move　an　inch；　utter　a　sound；　and　I　blow　yer　brains　out；　yer〃　the
voice；　very　low；　faded　into；　the　dark。　He　was　staring　into　a
lantern；　and　above　the　lantern　was　the　dark　body　of　the　Captain。
Then　as　he　looked　up　he　was　indeed　near　his　last　moment；　for　had　he
not　been　a　brave　boy；　old　for　his　years；　and　determined；　he　would
have　cried　out　with　a　scream　that　would　have　raised　the　house。

The　Captain　had　no　face。　。　。　The　Captain　had　no　face。　。　。　Only　out
of　a　deep　darkness　those　little　eyes　glittered　like　candle…points。
Jeremy　uttered　no　sound。　Then　catching　the　Captain's　coat　because　he
trembled　so；　he　said：　〃I'm　coming　at　oncebut　don't　wake　Mary　and
Helen。　They'd　be　frightened。　May　I　get　a　coat；　because　it　raining？〃

〃Coming！〃　whispered　the　Captain；　his　voice　coming　from　that　space　in
the　air　where　were　his　eyes。　〃You　move　one　inch　from　'ere　or　utter
one　sound　and　I　do　yer　in；　yerI'm　watchin'　yer；　mind！〃

The　lantern　light　suddenly　vanished。　The　room　was　black。　There　was
no　sound　but　the　ticking　of　the　clock；　and　now　the　rain；　which　had
seemed　to　stop　during　this　terrible　dialogue；　beat　with　friendly
comfort　once　more　upon　the　pane。　Jeremy　stood　there；　his　body　held
together　as　though　in　an　iron　case；　scarcely　breathing。　There　was　no
more　sound　at　all。　Quite　clearly　now　Mary's　snores　could　be　heard
coming　from　her　room。

Jeremy　had　only　one　thoughtonly　one　thought　in　all　the　world。　The
Captain　did　not　want　him。　The　Captain　had　gone　and　not　taken　him
with　him。　He　was　safe；　he　was　freed；　the　terror　was　over　and　he　was
at　liberty。

At　last　he　moved　back　to　his　room。　He　got　into　bed　again。　He　was
terribly　cold；　and　little　spasms　of　shivers　seized　him；　but　he　did
not　care。　The　Captain　was　gone；　and　he　had　not　taken　him　with
him。　。　。




V


He　was　not　aware　whether　he　slept　or　no；　but　suddenly　sunlight　was
in　the　room；　the　bath…water　was　running；　the　canary　was　singing　and
Hamlet　was　scratching　upon　his　door。　He　jumped　out　of　bed　and　let
the　dog　in。　Then　he　heard　Rose's　voice　from　the　next　room：

〃。　。　。　and　'e's　taken　everything；　'e　'as。　All　the　silver
candlesticks　and　the　plate　what　was　give　to　master　by　the　Temp'rance
Society；　and　Master　Jeremy's　mug　what　he　'ad　at　'is　christening　and
all　the　knives　and　forks'e　'asand　the　gold　clock　out　o'　the
drorin'…room；　and　the　mess！　Why；　I　says　to　Cook　'e　couldn't　'ave
made　more　mess；　I　say；　not　if　'e'd　come　to　do　nothin'　else。　Grease
everywhere；　you　never　see　nothin'　like　it；　and　all　the　drawers　open
and　the　papers　scattered　about。　Thank　'Eaven　'e　never　found　Cook's
earrings。　Real　gold　they　was；　ever　so　many　carat　and　give　to　Cook
ever　so　many　years　ago　by　'er　John。　Poor　woman！　She'd　'ave　been　in　a
terrible　takin'　if　she'd　lost　'em。　。　。　And　so　quiet　toonot　a　sound
and　everyone　sleepin'　all　round　'im。　Wonderful　'ow　they　does　it！　I
thank　the　Lord　I　didn't　'ear　'im；　I'd　'ave　died　of　fright…shouldn't
like！　Why；　Cook　says　she　knew　a　'ouse　once　。　。　。〃

But　Jeremy　did　not　listen；　he　did　not　care。　As　Hamlet　sprang　about
h