第46章

第46章“ontotheleads；willyoucomeandseetheviewfromthence？”ifollowedstill，upaverynarrowstaircasetotheattics，andthencebyaladderandthroughatrap-doortotheroofofthehall.iwasnowonalevelwiththecrowcolony，andcouldseeintotheirnests.leaningoverthebattlementsandlookingfardown，isurveyedthegroundslaidoutlikeamap：thebrightandvelvetlawncloselygirdlingthegreybaseofthemansion；thefield，wideasapark，dottedwithitsancienttimber；thewood，dunandsere，dividedbyapathvisiblyovergrown，greenerwithmossthanthetreeswerewithfoliage；thechurchatthegates，theroad，thetranquilhills，allreposingintheautumnday’ssun；thehorizonboundedbyapropitioussky，azure，marbledwithpearlywhite.nofeatureinthescenewasextraordinary，butallwaspleasing.wheniturnedfromitandrepassedthetrap-door，icouldscarcelyseemywaydowntheladder；theatticseemedblackasavaultcomparedwiththatarchofblueairtowhichihadbeenlookingup，andtothatsunlitsceneofgrove，pasture，andgreenhill，ofwhichthehallwasthecentre，andoverwhichihadbeengazingwithdelight.

mrs.fairfaxstayedbehindamomenttofastenthetrap-door；i，bydriftofgroping，foundtheoutletfromtheattic，andproceededtodescendthenarrowgarretstaircase.ilingeredinthelongpassagetowhichthisled，separatingthefrontandbackroomsofthethirdstorey：narrow，low，anddim，withonlyonelittlewindowatthefarend，andlooking，withitstworowsofsmallblackdoorsallshut，likeacorridorinsomebluebeard’scastle.

whileipacedsoftlyon，thelastsoundiexpectedtohearinsostillaregion，alaugh，struckmyear.itwasacuriouslaugh；distinct，formal，mirthless.istopped：thesoundceased，onlyforaninstant；itbeganagain，louder：foratfirst，thoughdistinct，itwasverylow.itpassedoffinaclamorouspealthatseemedtowakeanechoineverylonelychamber；thoughitoriginatedbutinone，andicouldhavepointedoutthedoorwhencetheaccentsissued.

“mrs.fairfax！”icalledout：forinowheardherdescendingthegreatstairs.“didyouhearthatloudlaugh？whoisit？”

“someoftheservants，verylikely，”sheanswered：“perhapsgracepoole.”

“didyouhearit？”iagaininquired.

“yes，plainly：ioftenhearher：shesewsinoneoftheserooms.sometimesleahiswithher；theyarefrequentlynoisytogether.”

thelaughwasrepeatedinitslow，syllabictone，andterminatedinanoddmurmur.

“grace！”exclaimedmrs.fairfax.

ireallydidnotexpectanygracetoanswer；forthelaughwasastragic，aspreternaturalalaughasanyieverheard；and，butthatitwashighnoon，andthatnocircumstanceofghostlinessaccompaniedthecuriouscachinnation；butthatneitherscenenorseasonfavouredfear，ishouldhavebeensuperstitiouslyafraid.however，theeventshowedmeiwasafoolforentertainingasenseevenofsurprise.

thedoornearestmeopened，andaservantcameout，—awomanofbetweenthirtyandforty；aset，square-madefigure，red-haired，andwithahard，plainface：anyapparitionlessromanticorlessghostlycouldscarcelybeconceived.

“toomuchnoise，grace，”saidmrs.fairfax.“rememberdirections！”gracecurtseyedsilentlyandwentin.

“sheisapersonwehavetosewandassistleahinherhousemaid’swork，”continuedthewidow；“notaltogetherunobjectionableinsomepoints，butshedoeswellenough.by-the-bye，howhaveyougotonwithyournewpupilthismorning？”

theconversation，thusturnedonadèle，continuedtillwereachedthelightandcheerfulregionbelow.adèlecamerunningtomeetusinthehall，exclaiming—

“mesdames，vousêtesservies！”adding，“j’aibienfaim，moi！”

wefounddinnerready，andwaitingforusinmrs.fairfax’sroom.