three ghost stories(三个鬼故事)-第8章
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intelligent man； with a world of watery experiences in him； and great
practical knowledge。 At times； there was a curious nervousness about him；
apparently the lingering result of some old illness； but； it seldom lasted
many minutes。 He got the Cupboard Room； and lay there next to Mr。
Undery； my friend and solicitor： who came down； in an amateur capacity；
〃to go through with it；〃 as he said； and who plays whist better than the
whole Law List； from the red cover at the beginning to the red cover at the
end。
I never was happier in my life； and I believe it was the universal
feeling among us。 Jack Governor； always a man of wonderful resources；
was Chief Cook； and made some of the best dishes I ever ate； including
unapproachable curries。 My sister was pastrycook and confectioner。
Starling and I were Cook's Mate； turn and turn about； and on special
occasions the chief cook 〃pressed〃 Mr。 Beaver。 We had a great deal of out…
door sport and exercise； but nothing was neglected within； and there was
no ill…humour or misunderstanding among us； and our evenings were so
delightful that we had at least one good reason for being reluctant to go to
bed。
We had a few night alarms in the beginning。 On the first night； I was
knocked up by Jack with a most wonderful ship's lantern in his hand； like
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the gills of some monster of the deep； who informed me that he 〃was
going aloft to the main truck；〃 to have the weathercock down。 It was a
stormy night and I remonstrated； but Jack called my attention to its
making a sound like a cry of despair； and said somebody would be
〃hailing a ghost〃 presently； if it wasn't done。 So； up to the top of the house；
where I could hardly stand for the wind； we went； accompanied by Mr。
Beaver； and there Jack； lantern and all； with Mr。 Beaver after him；
swarmed up to the top of a cupola； some two dozen feet above the
chimneys； and stood upon nothing particular； coolly knocking the
weathercock off； until they both got into such good spirits with the wind
and the height； that I thought they would never come down。 Another night；
they turned out again； and had a chimney…cowl off。 Another night； they cut
a sobbing and gulping water…pipe away。 Another night； they found out
something else。 On several occasions； they both； in the coolest manner；
simultaneously dropped out of their respective bedroom windows； hand
over hand by their counterpanes； to 〃overhaul〃 something mysterious in
the garden。
The engagement among us was faithfully kept； and nobody revealed
anything。 All we knew was； if any one's room were haunted； no one
looked the worse for it。
CHAPTER IITHE GHOST IN MASTER B。'S
ROOM
When I established myself in the triangular garret which had gained so
distinguished a reputation； my thoughts naturally turned to Master B。 My
speculations about him were uneasy and manifold。 Whether his Christian
name was Benjamin； Bissextile （from his having been born in Leap Year）；
Bartholomew； or Bill。 Whether the initial letter belonged to his family
name； and that was Baxter； Black； Brown； Barker； Buggins； Baker； or Bird。
Whether he was a foundling； and had been baptized B。 Whether he was a
lion…hearted boy； and B。 was short for Briton； or for Bull。 Whether he
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could possibly have been kith and kin to an illustrious lady who
brightened my own childhood； and had come of the blood of the brilliant
Mother Bunch？
With these profitless meditations I tormented myself much。 I also
carried the mysterious letter into the appearance and pursuits of the
deceased； wondering whether he dressed in Blue； wore Boots （he couldn't
have been Bald）； was a boy of Brains； liked Books； was good at Bowling；
had any skill as a Boxer； even in his Buoyant Boyhood Bathed from a
Bathing…machine at Bognor； Bangor； Bournemouth； Brighton； or
Broadstairs； like a Bounding Billiard Ball？
So； from the first； I was haunted by the letter B。
It was not long before I remarked that I never by any hazard had a
dream of Master B。； or of anything belonging to him。 But； the instant I
awoke from sleep； at whatever hour of the night； my thoughts took him up；
and roamed away； trying to attach his initial letter to something that would
fit it and keep it quiet。
For six nights； I had been worried this in Master B。's room； when I
began to perceive that things were going wrong。
The first appearance that presented itself was early in the morning
when it was but just daylight and no more。 I was standing shaving at my
glass； when I suddenly discovered； to my consternation and amazement；
that I was shavingnot myselfI am fiftybut a boy。 Apparently Master
B。！
I trembled and looked over my shoulder； nothing there。 I looked again
in the glass； and distinctly saw the features and expression of a boy； who
was shaving； not to get rid of a beard； but to get one。 Extremely troubled
in my mind； I took a few turns in the room； and went back to the looking…
glass； resolved to steady my hand and complete the operation in which I
had been disturbed。 Opening my eyes； which I had shut while recovering
my firmness； I now met in the glass； looking straight at me； the eyes of a
young man of four or five and twenty。 Terrified by this new ghost； I closed
my eyes； and made a strong effort to recover myself。 Opening them again；
I saw； shaving his cheek in the glass； my father； who has long been dead。
Nay； I even saw my grandfather too； whom I never did see in my life。
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Although naturally much affected by these remarkable visitations； I
determined to keep my secret； until the time agreed upon for the present
general disclosure。 Agitated by a multitude of curious thoughts； I retired to
my room； that night； prepared to encounter some new experience of a
spectral character。 Nor was my preparation needless； for； waking from an
uneasy sleep at exactly two o'clock in the morning； what were my feelings
to find that I was sharing my bed with the skeleton of Master B。！
I sprang up； and the skeleton sprang up also。 I then heard a plaintive
voice saying； 〃Where am I？ What is become of me？〃 and； looking hard in
that direction； perceived the ghost of Master B。
The young spectre was dressed in an obsolete fashion： or rather； was
not so much dressed as put into a case of inferior pepper…and… salt cloth；
made horrible by means of shining buttons。 I observed that these buttons
went； in a double row； over each shoulder of the young ghost； and
appeared to descend his back。 He wore a frill round his neck。 His right
hand （which I distinctly noticed to be inky） was laid upon his stomach；
connecting this action with some feeble pimples on his countenance； and
his general air of nausea； I concluded this ghost to be the ghost of a boy
who had habitually taken a great deal too much medicine。 〃Where am I？〃
said the little spectre； in a pathetic voice。 〃And why was I born in the
Calomel days； and why did I have all that Calomel given me？〃
I replied； with sincere earnestness； that upon my soul I couldn't tell
him。
〃Where is my little sister；〃 said the ghost； 〃and where my angelic little
wife； and where is the boy I went to school with？〃
I entreated the phantom to be comforted； and above all things to take
heart respecting the loss of the boy he went to school with。 I represented to
him that probably that boy never did； within human experience； come out
well； when discovered。 I urged that I myself had； in later life； turned up
several boys whom I went to school with； and none of them had at all
answered。 I expressed my humble belief that that boy never did answer。 I
represented that he was a mythic character； a delusion； and a snare。 I
recounted how； the last time I found him； I found him at a dinner party
behind a wall of white cravat； with an inconclusive opinion on every
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possible subject； and a power of silent boredom absolutely Titanic。 I
related how； on the strength of our having been together at 〃Old
Doylance's；〃 he had asked himself to breakfast with me （a social offence
of the largest magnitude）； how； fanning my weak embers of belief in
Doylance's boys； I had let him in； and how； he had proved to be a fearful
wanderer about the earth； pursuing the race of Adam with inexplicable
notions concerning the currency； and with a proposition that the Bank of
England should； on pain of being abolished； instantly strike off and
circulate； God knows how many thousand millions of ten…and…sixpenny
notes。
The ghost heard me in silence； and with a fixed stare。 〃Barber！〃 it
apostrophised me when I had finished。
〃Barber？〃 I repeatedfor I am not of that profession。
〃Condemned；〃 said the ghost； 〃to shave a constant change of
customersnow； menow； a young mannow； thyself as thou artnow；
thy fathernow； thy grandfather； condemned； too； to lie down with a
skeleton every night； and to rise with it every morning〃
（I shuddered on hearing this dismal announcement。）
〃Barber！ Pursue me！〃
