WEBVTT 00:00:00.490 --> 00:00:29.579 The Empty House by Algernon Blackwood. managed 00:00:29.579 --> 00:00:31.820 somehow to proclaim at once their character for 00:00:31.820 --> 00:00:35.280 evil. In the case of the latter, no particular 00:00:35.280 --> 00:00:38.659 feature need betray them. They may boast an open 00:00:38.659 --> 00:00:42.439 countenance and an ingenuous smile, and yet little 00:00:42.439 --> 00:00:44.820 of their company leaves the unalterable conviction 00:00:44.820 --> 00:00:46.979 that there is something radically amiss with 00:00:46.979 --> 00:00:51.060 their being, that they are evil. Willy -nilly, 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:54.439 they seem to communicate an atmosphere of secret 00:00:54.439 --> 00:00:57.880 and wicked thoughts, which makes those in their 00:00:57.880 --> 00:01:01.399 immediate neighbourhood shrink from them as from 00:01:01.399 --> 00:01:06.180 a thing diseased. And perhaps, with houses, the 00:01:06.180 --> 00:01:09.599 same principle is operative. And it is the aroma 00:01:09.599 --> 00:01:12.640 of evil deeds committed under a particular roof, 00:01:13.060 --> 00:01:16.760 long after the actual doer has passed away, that 00:01:16.760 --> 00:01:19.760 makes the goose -flesh cum and the hair rise. 00:01:20.760 --> 00:01:22.879 Something of the original passion of the evil 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:26.840 doer, and of the horror felt by his victim, enters 00:01:26.840 --> 00:01:29.519 the heart of the innocent watcher, and he becomes 00:01:29.519 --> 00:01:33.359 suddenly conscious of tingling nerves, creeping 00:01:33.359 --> 00:01:37.620 skin, and a chilling of the blood. He is terror 00:01:37.620 --> 00:01:43.060 -stricken without apparent cause. There was manifestly 00:01:43.060 --> 00:01:45.379 nothing in the external appearance of this particular 00:01:45.379 --> 00:01:49.099 house to bear out the tales of horror that were 00:01:49.099 --> 00:01:52.700 said to reign within. It was neither lonely nor 00:01:52.700 --> 00:01:56.959 unkempt. It stood crowded into a corner of the 00:01:56.959 --> 00:01:59.620 square, and looked exactly like the houses on 00:01:59.620 --> 00:02:02.120 either side of it. It had the same number of 00:02:02.120 --> 00:02:05.400 windows as its neighbor, the same balcony overlooking 00:02:05.400 --> 00:02:08.599 the gardens, the same white steps leading up 00:02:08.599 --> 00:02:11.860 to the heavy black front door, and in the rear 00:02:11.860 --> 00:02:14.919 there was the same narrow strip of green, with 00:02:14.919 --> 00:02:17.719 neat box -borders running up the wall that divided 00:02:17.719 --> 00:02:21.569 it from the backs of the adjoining houses. Apparently, 00:02:21.569 --> 00:02:23.650 too, the number of chimney -pots on the roof 00:02:23.650 --> 00:02:26.849 was the same, and the breadth and angle of the 00:02:26.849 --> 00:02:30.069 eaves, and even the height of the dirty area 00:02:30.069 --> 00:02:34.789 railings. And yet this house in the square, that 00:02:34.789 --> 00:02:37.509 seemed precisely similar to its fifty ugly neighbours, 00:02:38.330 --> 00:02:41.689 was a matter of fact entirely different, horribly 00:02:41.689 --> 00:02:46.250 different. Whereinly this marked invisible difference 00:02:46.250 --> 00:02:49.590 is impossible to say. It cannot be ascribed wholly 00:02:49.590 --> 00:02:52.370 to the imagination, because persons who had spent 00:02:52.370 --> 00:02:54.810 some time in the house, knowing nothing of the 00:02:54.810 --> 00:02:58.270 facts, had declared positively that certain rooms 00:02:58.270 --> 00:03:01.069 were so disagreeable that they would rather die 00:03:01.069 --> 00:03:03.729 than enter them again, and that the atmosphere 00:03:03.729 --> 00:03:06.930 of the whole house produced in them symptoms 00:03:06.930 --> 00:03:10.870 of a genuine terror. While the series of innocent 00:03:10.870 --> 00:03:14.250 tenants who tried to live in it, and being forced 00:03:14.250 --> 00:03:16.969 to decamp at the shortest possible notice, was 00:03:16.969 --> 00:03:19.370 indeed little less than a scandal in the town. 00:03:21.229 --> 00:03:23.330 When Shorthouse arrived to pay a weekend visit 00:03:23.330 --> 00:03:25.590 to his Aunt Julia, in her little house on the 00:03:25.590 --> 00:03:28.150 sea -front on the other end of town, he found 00:03:28.150 --> 00:03:31.189 her charged to the brim with mystery and excitement. 00:03:32.310 --> 00:03:34.729 He had only received her telegram that morning, 00:03:35.289 --> 00:03:39.349 and he had come anticipating boredom. But the 00:03:39.349 --> 00:03:42.689 moment he touched her hand, cursed her apple 00:03:42.689 --> 00:03:45.780 -skin wrinkled cheek, He caught the first wave 00:03:45.780 --> 00:03:49.460 of her electric condition. The impression deepened 00:03:49.460 --> 00:03:51.340 when he learned that there were to be no other 00:03:51.340 --> 00:03:54.939 visitors, and that he had been telegraphed for 00:03:54.939 --> 00:03:59.620 a very special object. Something was in the wind, 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:03.099 and that something would doubtless bear fruit, 00:04:03.819 --> 00:04:08.479 for this elderly spinster ant, with a mania for 00:04:08.479 --> 00:04:12.219 psychical research, had brains as well as willpower. 00:04:12.509 --> 00:04:15.750 And, by hook or by crook, she usually managed 00:04:15.750 --> 00:04:19.470 to accomplish her ends. The revelation was made 00:04:19.470 --> 00:04:22.870 soon after T. when she sided close up to him 00:04:22.870 --> 00:04:25.589 as they paced slowly along the sea -front in 00:04:25.589 --> 00:04:30.370 the dusk. "'I've got the keys,' she announced 00:04:30.370 --> 00:04:34.290 with delight, yet half -awesome voice. "'Got 00:04:34.290 --> 00:04:38.470 them till Monday.' "'The keys of the bathing 00:04:38.470 --> 00:04:42.050 -machine, or?' he asked innocently. Looking from 00:04:42.050 --> 00:04:45.290 the sea to town, nothing brought her so quickly 00:04:45.290 --> 00:04:48.589 to the point as feigning stupidity. Neither, 00:04:48.649 --> 00:04:52.269 she whispered. I've got the keys of the haunted 00:04:52.269 --> 00:04:55.610 house in the square, and I'm going there to -night. 00:04:57.790 --> 00:05:00.730 Shorthouse was conscious of the slightest possible 00:05:00.730 --> 00:05:03.990 tremor down his back. He dropped his teasing 00:05:03.990 --> 00:05:07.529 tone. Something in her voice and manner thrilled 00:05:07.529 --> 00:05:13.000 him. She was in earnest. "'But you can't go alone,' 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:17.699 he began. "'That's why I'm wired for you,' she 00:05:17.699 --> 00:05:21.819 said with decision. He turned to her. The ugly 00:05:21.819 --> 00:05:25.699 -lined, enigmatical face was alive with excitement. 00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:29.019 There was the glow of genuine enthusiasm rounded 00:05:29.019 --> 00:05:32.899 like a halo. The eyes shone. He caught another 00:05:32.899 --> 00:05:35.740 wave for excitement, and a second tremor, more 00:05:35.740 --> 00:05:39.509 marked than the first, accompanied it. "'Thanks, 00:05:39.589 --> 00:05:43.629 Aunt Julia,' he said politely. "'Thanks awfully.' 00:05:43.629 --> 00:05:47.769 "'I should not dare to go quite alone,' she went 00:05:47.769 --> 00:05:50.829 on, raising her voice. "'But with you I should 00:05:50.829 --> 00:05:53.889 enjoy it immensely. You're afraid of nothing, 00:05:53.930 --> 00:06:01.629 I know.' "'Thanks so much,' he began. "'Is anything 00:06:01.629 --> 00:06:06.029 likely to happen?' "'A great deal has happened,' 00:06:06.029 --> 00:06:10.189 she whispered. Though it's been most cleverly 00:06:10.189 --> 00:06:13.490 hushed up. Three tenants have come and gone in 00:06:13.490 --> 00:06:16.250 the last few months, and the house is said to 00:06:16.250 --> 00:06:21.009 be empty for good now." In spite of himself, 00:06:22.050 --> 00:06:24.910 Shorthouse became interested. His aunt was so 00:06:24.910 --> 00:06:29.389 very much in earnest. The house is very old indeed, 00:06:29.490 --> 00:06:33.930 she went on, and the story, an unpleasant one, 00:06:34.329 --> 00:06:38.829 dates a long way back. It has to do with the 00:06:38.829 --> 00:06:41.430 murder committed by a jealous stableman who had 00:06:41.430 --> 00:06:44.670 some affair with a servant in the house. One 00:06:44.670 --> 00:06:47.410 night he managed to secrete himself in the cellar, 00:06:47.769 --> 00:06:50.810 and when everyone was asleep, he crept upstairs 00:06:50.810 --> 00:06:54.129 to the servant's quarters, chased the girl down 00:06:54.129 --> 00:06:57.589 to the next landing, and before anyone could 00:06:57.589 --> 00:07:00.750 come to her rescue, threw her bodily over the 00:07:00.750 --> 00:07:05.410 banisters into the hall below. And the stableman? 00:07:06.629 --> 00:07:09.189 Was caught, I believe, and hanged for murder. 00:07:09.889 --> 00:07:13.009 But it all happened a century ago, and I have 00:07:13.009 --> 00:07:15.389 not been able to get more details of the story. 00:07:16.990 --> 00:07:19.350 Shorthouse now felt his interest thoroughly aroused. 00:07:20.550 --> 00:07:22.750 But though he was not particularly nervous for 00:07:22.750 --> 00:07:26.370 himself, he hesitated a little on his aunt's 00:07:26.370 --> 00:07:31.790 account. On one condition, he said at length. 00:07:33.449 --> 00:07:35.930 Nothing will prevent my going, she said firmly. 00:07:36.939 --> 00:07:41.399 But I may as well hear your condition That you 00:07:41.399 --> 00:07:44.779 guarantee your power of self -control if anything 00:07:44.779 --> 00:07:48.579 really horrible happens I mean that you are sure 00:07:48.579 --> 00:07:54.319 you won't get too frightened Jim she said scornfully 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:59.360 I'm not young I know nor are my nerves But with 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:02.959 you I should be afraid of nothing in the world 00:08:02.959 --> 00:08:07.139 This of course settled it for Shorthouse had 00:08:07.139 --> 00:08:10.139 no pretensions to being other than a very ordinary 00:08:10.139 --> 00:08:14.360 young man, and an appeal to his vanity was irresistible. 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:19.860 He agreed to go. Instinctively, by a sort of 00:08:19.860 --> 00:08:23.240 subconscious preparation, he kept himself and 00:08:23.240 --> 00:08:27.120 his forces well in hand the whole evening. compelling 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:30.259 an accumulative reserve of control by that nameless 00:08:30.259 --> 00:08:33.419 inward process of gradually putting all the emotions 00:08:33.419 --> 00:08:37.179 away and turning the key upon them. A process 00:08:37.179 --> 00:08:40.759 difficult to describe, but wonderfully effective, 00:08:41.379 --> 00:08:43.580 as all men who lived through severe trials of 00:08:43.580 --> 00:08:47.860 the inner man well understood. Later it stood 00:08:47.860 --> 00:08:52.200 him in good stead. But it was not until half 00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:55.549 -past ten, when they stood in the hall, well 00:08:55.549 --> 00:08:57.830 in the glare of friendly lamps and still surrounded 00:08:57.830 --> 00:09:01.190 by comforting human influences, that he had to 00:09:01.190 --> 00:09:03.450 make the first call upon the historic collected 00:09:03.450 --> 00:09:07.990 strength. For once the door was closed, he saw 00:09:07.990 --> 00:09:11.309 the deserted silent street stretching away white 00:09:11.309 --> 00:09:14.429 in the moonlight before them. It came to him 00:09:14.429 --> 00:09:17.789 clearly that the real test that night would be 00:09:17.789 --> 00:09:21.350 in dealing with two fears instead of one. He 00:09:21.350 --> 00:09:23.309 would have to carry his hands' fear as well as 00:09:23.309 --> 00:09:26.659 his own. And as he glanced down at her sphinx 00:09:26.659 --> 00:09:29.080 -like countenance and realized that it might 00:09:29.080 --> 00:09:31.840 assume no pleasant aspect in the rush of real 00:09:31.840 --> 00:09:35.460 terror, he felt satisfied with only one thing 00:09:35.460 --> 00:09:39.059 in the whole adventure, that he had confidence 00:09:39.059 --> 00:09:41.860 in his own will and power to stand against any 00:09:41.860 --> 00:09:46.279 shock that might come. Slowly they walked along 00:09:46.279 --> 00:09:49.419 the empty streets of the town. A bright autumn 00:09:49.419 --> 00:09:52.759 moon silvered the roofs, casting deep shadows. 00:09:53.049 --> 00:09:56.049 There was no breath of wind, and the trees in 00:09:56.049 --> 00:09:58.309 the former garden by the sea -front watched them 00:09:58.309 --> 00:10:02.750 silently as they passed along. To his aunt's 00:10:02.750 --> 00:10:06.250 occasional remarks, Shorthouse made no reply, 00:10:07.169 --> 00:10:09.590 realizing that she was simply surrounding herself 00:10:09.590 --> 00:10:12.889 with mental buffers, saying ordinary things to 00:10:12.889 --> 00:10:15.289 prevent herself from thinking of extraordinary 00:10:15.289 --> 00:10:20.240 things. Few windows showed lights. And from scarcely 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:24.659 a single chimney came smoke or sparks. Shorthouse 00:10:24.659 --> 00:10:26.860 had already begun to notice everything, even 00:10:26.860 --> 00:10:30.779 in the slightest details. Presently they stopped 00:10:30.779 --> 00:10:32.720 at the street -quarter, and looked up at the 00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:35.279 name on the side of the house, full in the moonlight, 00:10:35.860 --> 00:10:39.500 and with one accord, but without remark, turned 00:10:39.500 --> 00:10:42.360 into the square, crossed over to the side of 00:10:42.360 --> 00:10:46.000 it that lay in shadow. The number of the house 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:49.649 is thirteen. whispered a voice at his side, and 00:10:49.649 --> 00:10:52.730 neither of them made the obvious reference, but 00:10:52.730 --> 00:10:55.789 passed across the broad sheet of moonlight, and 00:10:55.789 --> 00:10:59.269 began to march up the pavement in silence. It 00:10:59.269 --> 00:11:02.049 was about halfway up the square that Shorthouse 00:11:02.049 --> 00:11:05.370 felt an arm slip quietly but significantly into 00:11:05.370 --> 00:11:08.429 his own, and knew then that their adventure had 00:11:08.429 --> 00:11:11.149 begun in earnest, and that his companion was 00:11:11.149 --> 00:11:14.629 already yielding imperceptibly to the influences 00:11:14.629 --> 00:11:20.059 against them. She needed support. A few minutes 00:11:20.059 --> 00:11:24.440 later they stopped before a tall, narrow house 00:11:24.440 --> 00:11:27.720 that rose before them into the night, ugly in 00:11:27.720 --> 00:11:31.940 shape, and painted a dingy white. Shutterless 00:11:31.940 --> 00:11:35.259 windows without blinds stared down upon them, 00:11:35.639 --> 00:11:39.200 shining here and there in the moonlight. There 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:41.360 were weather streaks in the wall and cracks in 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:44.450 the paint. and the balcony bulged out from the 00:11:44.450 --> 00:11:48.009 first floor a little unnaturally. But beyond 00:11:48.009 --> 00:11:50.549 this generally forlorn appearance of an occupied 00:11:50.549 --> 00:11:53.610 house, there was nothing at first sight to single 00:11:53.610 --> 00:11:56.490 out this particular mansion for the evil character 00:11:56.490 --> 00:11:59.750 it had most certainly acquired. Taking a look 00:11:59.750 --> 00:12:01.629 over his shoulders to make sure that they had 00:12:01.629 --> 00:12:04.730 not been followed, they went boldly up the steps 00:12:04.730 --> 00:12:07.450 and stood against the huge black door that fronted 00:12:07.450 --> 00:12:11.490 them forbiddingly. But the first wave of nervousness 00:12:11.629 --> 00:12:14.830 was now upon them, and Shorthouse fumbled a long 00:12:14.830 --> 00:12:17.269 time with the key before he could fit it into 00:12:17.269 --> 00:12:20.929 the lock at all. For a moment, if the truth be 00:12:20.929 --> 00:12:24.389 told, they both hoped it would not open, for 00:12:24.389 --> 00:12:26.850 they were prey to various unpleasant emotions, 00:12:27.350 --> 00:12:29.649 as they stood there on the threshold of their 00:12:29.649 --> 00:12:33.769 ghostly adventure. Shorthouse, shuffling with 00:12:33.769 --> 00:12:36.529 the key, and hampered by the steady weight on 00:12:36.529 --> 00:12:40.330 his arm, certainly felt the solemnity of the 00:12:40.330 --> 00:12:45.200 moment. It was as if the whole world—for all 00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:47.779 experience seemed at that instant concentrated 00:12:47.779 --> 00:12:50.919 in his own consciousness—were listening to the 00:12:50.919 --> 00:12:54.480 grating noise of the key. A stray puff of wind 00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:57.179 wandered down the empty street, woke a momentary 00:12:57.179 --> 00:13:00.620 rustling in the trees behind them. But otherwise 00:13:00.620 --> 00:13:04.279 this rattling of the key was the only sound audible. 00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:08.179 And at last it turned in the lock, and the heavy 00:13:08.179 --> 00:13:10.960 door swung open. and revealed a yawning gulf 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:15.379 of darkness below. With a last glance at the 00:13:15.379 --> 00:13:18.279 moonlit square they passed quickly in, and the 00:13:18.279 --> 00:13:20.720 door slammed behind them with a roar that echoed 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:22.960 prodigiously through the empty halls and passages. 00:13:23.580 --> 00:13:26.659 But instantly, with the echoes, another sound 00:13:26.659 --> 00:13:29.179 made itself heard, and Aunt Julia leaned suddenly 00:13:29.179 --> 00:13:31.559 so heavily upon him that he had to take a step 00:13:31.559 --> 00:13:38.460 backwards to save himself from falling. so close 00:13:38.460 --> 00:13:40.580 that it seemed they must have actually been by 00:13:40.580 --> 00:13:43.980 his side in the darkness. With the possibility 00:13:43.980 --> 00:13:47.139 of practical jokes in mind, Shorthouse had once 00:13:47.139 --> 00:13:48.919 swung his heavy stick in the direction of the 00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:53.000 sound, but had met nothing more solid than air. 00:13:54.100 --> 00:13:56.559 He heard his aunt give a little gasp behind him. 00:13:57.559 --> 00:13:59.759 "'There's someone here!' she whispered. I heard 00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:03.940 him. "'Be quiet!' he said sternly. It was nothing 00:14:03.940 --> 00:14:06.740 but the noise of the front door. "'Oh, get a 00:14:06.740 --> 00:14:09.389 light, quick!' She added, as her nephew, fumbling 00:14:09.389 --> 00:14:12.230 with the box of matches, opened it upside down 00:14:12.230 --> 00:14:14.350 and let them all fall with a rattle on to the 00:14:14.350 --> 00:14:18.750 stone floor. The sound, however, was not repeated. 00:14:19.730 --> 00:14:21.809 There was no evidence of retreating footsteps. 00:14:23.490 --> 00:14:25.929 In another minute they had a candle burning, 00:14:26.529 --> 00:14:29.070 using an empty end of a cigar case as a holder, 00:14:29.750 --> 00:14:32.789 and when the first flare had died down he held 00:14:32.789 --> 00:14:36.690 the impromptu lamp aloft and surveyed the scene. 00:14:37.549 --> 00:14:40.230 And it was dreary enough and all -conscious, 00:14:40.509 --> 00:14:43.850 for there was nothing more desolate in all the 00:14:43.850 --> 00:14:46.929 abodes of men than an unfurnished house dimly 00:14:46.929 --> 00:14:51.210 lit, silent and forsaken, and yet tending it 00:14:51.210 --> 00:14:53.970 by rumour with the memories of evil and violent 00:14:53.970 --> 00:14:58.730 histories. They were standing in the wide hallway. 00:14:59.269 --> 00:15:01.950 On their left was the open door of the spacious 00:15:01.950 --> 00:15:05.529 dining -room. and in the front the hall ran ever 00:15:05.529 --> 00:15:09.490 narrowing into a long dark passage that led apparently 00:15:09.490 --> 00:15:12.529 to the top of the kitchen stairs. The broad, 00:15:12.830 --> 00:15:15.149 uncooperative stairway rose in a sweep before 00:15:15.149 --> 00:15:19.470 them, everywhere draped in shadows, except for 00:15:19.470 --> 00:15:22.429 a single spot about half -way up, where the moonlight 00:15:22.429 --> 00:15:25.250 came in through the window and fell into a bright 00:15:25.250 --> 00:15:28.909 patch on the boards. The shaft of light shed 00:15:28.909 --> 00:15:32.039 a faint radiance above and below it. lending 00:15:32.039 --> 00:15:35.059 to the objects within its reach a misty outline 00:15:35.059 --> 00:15:37.679 that was infinitely more suggestive and ghostly 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:41.460 than complete darkness. Filtered moonlight always 00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:44.799 seems to paint faces on the surrounding gloom. 00:15:45.019 --> 00:15:47.159 And as Shorthouse peered up into the well of 00:15:47.159 --> 00:15:49.740 darkness, and the thought of countless empty 00:15:49.740 --> 00:15:52.080 rooms and passages in the upper part of the old 00:15:52.080 --> 00:15:55.360 house, he caught himself longing again for the 00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:58.639 safety of the moonlit square, or the cosy, bright 00:15:58.639 --> 00:16:00.799 drawing -room that they had left an hour before. 00:16:01.860 --> 00:16:04.320 Then, realizing that these thoughts were dangerous, 00:16:05.100 --> 00:16:07.919 he thrust them away again, and summoned all his 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:12.480 energy for concentration on the present. Aunt 00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:16.279 Julia, he said aloud severely, we must now go 00:16:16.279 --> 00:16:18.179 through the house from top to bottom and make 00:16:18.179 --> 00:16:22.720 a thorough search. The echoes of his voice died 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:25.379 away slowly all over the building, and in the 00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:27.580 intense silence that followed he looked at her. 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:31.059 In the candlelight He saw that her face was already 00:16:31.059 --> 00:16:34.419 ghastly pale, but she dropped his arm for a moment 00:16:34.419 --> 00:16:36.779 and said in a whisper, stepping close in front 00:16:36.779 --> 00:16:41.539 of him, "'I agree. We must be sure there's no 00:16:41.539 --> 00:16:45.220 one hiding. That's the first thing.' She spoke 00:16:45.220 --> 00:16:47.799 with evident effort, and he looked at her with 00:16:47.799 --> 00:16:52.840 admiration. "'You feel not quite sure of yourself? 00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:57.460 It's not too late—' "'I think so,' she whispered. 00:16:57.529 --> 00:16:59.870 her eyes shifting nervously toward the shadows 00:16:59.870 --> 00:17:05.309 behind. Quite sure. Only one thing. What's that? 00:17:06.509 --> 00:17:09.329 You must never leave me alone for an instant. 00:17:11.190 --> 00:17:14.970 As long as you understand that any sound or appearance 00:17:14.970 --> 00:17:17.970 must be investigated at once, for to hesitate 00:17:17.970 --> 00:17:24.150 means to admit fear. That is fatal. Agreed, she 00:17:24.150 --> 00:17:26.730 said a little shakily, after a moment's hesitation. 00:17:29.300 --> 00:17:32.960 I'll try." Arm in arm, Shorthouse holding the 00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:35.700 dripping candle and stick, while his aunt carried 00:17:35.700 --> 00:17:38.539 the cloak over her shoulders, figures of utter 00:17:38.539 --> 00:17:42.140 comedy to all but themselves, they began a systematic 00:17:42.140 --> 00:17:46.480 search, stealthily walking on tiptoe and shading 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:48.460 the candle lest it should betray their presence 00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:52.000 through the shutterless windows. They went first 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:55.339 into the big dining -room. There was not a stick 00:17:55.339 --> 00:17:59.609 of furniture to be seen. Bare walls, ugly mantel 00:17:59.609 --> 00:18:02.230 -pieces, empty grates stared at them. Everything, 00:18:02.349 --> 00:18:05.509 they felt, resented their intrusion, watching 00:18:05.509 --> 00:18:08.509 them, as it were, with veiled eyes. Whispers 00:18:08.509 --> 00:18:11.529 followed them, shadows flitted noiselessly to 00:18:11.529 --> 00:18:14.009 the right and left. Something seemed ever at 00:18:14.009 --> 00:18:16.950 their back, watching, waiting for an opportunity 00:18:16.950 --> 00:18:20.930 to do them injury. There was an inevitable sense 00:18:20.930 --> 00:18:24.230 that operations which went on when the room was 00:18:24.230 --> 00:18:27.809 empty had been temporarily suspended. till they 00:18:27.809 --> 00:18:31.250 were well out of the way again. The whole dark 00:18:31.250 --> 00:18:33.990 interior of the old building seemed to become 00:18:33.990 --> 00:18:37.470 a malignant presence that rose up, warning them 00:18:37.470 --> 00:18:40.910 to detest and mind their own business. Every 00:18:40.910 --> 00:18:43.049 moment the strain on their nerves increased. 00:18:45.450 --> 00:18:47.569 Out of the gloomy dining -room they passed through 00:18:47.569 --> 00:18:50.089 the large folding doors into a sort of library 00:18:50.089 --> 00:18:53.430 or smoking -room, wrapped equally in silence, 00:18:53.650 --> 00:18:57.299 darkness and dust. And from this They regained 00:18:57.299 --> 00:19:00.819 the hall near the top of the back stairs. Here 00:19:00.819 --> 00:19:02.900 a pitch -black tunnel opened before them into 00:19:02.900 --> 00:19:06.460 the lower regions. And it must be confessed they 00:19:06.460 --> 00:19:11.099 hesitated. But only for a moment. With the worst 00:19:11.099 --> 00:19:13.180 of the night still to come, it was essential 00:19:13.180 --> 00:19:17.720 to turn from nothing. And Julia stumbled at the 00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:20.299 top of the step of the dark descent, ill -lit 00:19:20.299 --> 00:19:23.059 by the flickering candle, and even Shorthouse 00:19:23.059 --> 00:19:25.420 felt at least half -decision go out of his legs. 00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:30.240 Come on," he said preemptively, and his voice 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:33.440 ran on and lost itself in the dark, empty spaces 00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:37.480 below. I'm coming, she faltered, catching his 00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:42.400 arms with unnecessary violence. They went a little 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:45.380 unsteadily down the stone steps, a cold, damp 00:19:45.380 --> 00:19:48.779 air meeting them in the face, close and malodorous. 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:52.380 The kitchen into which the stairs led along the 00:19:52.380 --> 00:19:55.059 narrow passage was large, with a lofty ceiling. 00:19:56.259 --> 00:19:59.599 Several doors opened out of it, some into the 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:01.599 cupboards with the empty jars still standing 00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:04.660 on the shelves, and others into horrible little 00:20:04.660 --> 00:20:07.980 ghostly back offices, even colder and less inviting 00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:11.299 than the last. Black beetles scurried all over 00:20:11.299 --> 00:20:14.539 the floor, and once, when they knocked against 00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:17.039 a deal -table standing in the corner, something 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:19.279 about the size of a cat jumped down with a rush 00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:22.180 and fled, scampering across the stone floor into 00:20:22.180 --> 00:20:26.319 the darkness. Everywhere. There was a sense of 00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:30.000 recent occupation, an impression of sadness and 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:34.019 gloom. Leaving the main kitchen, they next went 00:20:34.019 --> 00:20:37.380 toward the scullery. The door was standing ajar, 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:40.460 and as they pushed it open to its full extent 00:20:40.460 --> 00:20:44.140 Aunt Julia uttered a piercing scream, when she 00:20:44.140 --> 00:20:46.480 instantly tried to stifle by placing her hand 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:49.740 over her mouth. For a second Shorthouse stood 00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:53.240 stock still, catching his breath. He felt as 00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:55.700 if his spine had suddenly become hollow and someone 00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:59.180 had filled it with particles of ice, facing them 00:20:59.180 --> 00:21:01.140 directly in their way between the door -posts 00:21:01.140 --> 00:21:04.359 to the figure of a woman. She had dishevelled 00:21:04.359 --> 00:21:07.640 hair and wildly staring eyes, and her face was 00:21:07.640 --> 00:21:10.839 terrified in white as death. She stood there 00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:12.819 motionless for the space of a single second. 00:21:13.700 --> 00:21:17.299 Then the candle flickered and she was gone, gone 00:21:17.299 --> 00:21:21.200 utterly, and the door framed nothing but empty 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:25.509 darkness. Only the beastly jumping candlelight," 00:21:25.509 --> 00:21:27.970 he said quickly, in a voice that sounded like 00:21:27.970 --> 00:21:30.569 someone else's and was only half under control. 00:21:31.269 --> 00:21:36.769 Come on, Ant. There's nothing there. He dragged 00:21:36.769 --> 00:21:40.269 her forward. With a clattering of feet and a 00:21:40.269 --> 00:21:44.549 great appearance of boldness they went on. But 00:21:44.549 --> 00:21:47.349 over his body the skin moved as if crawling ants 00:21:47.349 --> 00:21:50.170 covered it, and he knew by the weight on his 00:21:50.170 --> 00:21:52.869 arm that he was supplying the force of locomotion 00:21:52.869 --> 00:21:58.089 for the two. The scullery was cold, bare and 00:21:58.089 --> 00:22:01.309 empty, more like a large prison cell than anything 00:22:01.309 --> 00:22:06.390 else. They went round it, tried the door into 00:22:06.390 --> 00:22:09.490 the yard and the windows, but found them all 00:22:09.490 --> 00:22:13.029 fastened securely. His aunt moved beside him 00:22:13.029 --> 00:22:16.289 like a person in a dream. Her eyes were tightly 00:22:16.289 --> 00:22:19.230 shut, and she seemed merely to follow the pressure 00:22:19.230 --> 00:22:22.960 of his arm. Her courage filled him with amazement. 00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:26.480 At the same time, he noticed that a certain odd 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:29.279 change had come over her face, which somehow 00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:34.119 evaded his powers of analysis. "'There's nothing 00:22:34.119 --> 00:22:37.539 here, Auntie,' he repeated aloud quickly. "'Let's 00:22:37.539 --> 00:22:40.880 go upstairs and see the rest of the house. Then 00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:45.140 we'll choose a room to wait up in.' She followed 00:22:45.140 --> 00:22:49.450 him obediently, keeping close to his side. and 00:22:49.450 --> 00:22:53.730 they locked the kitchen door behind them. It 00:22:53.730 --> 00:22:59.609 was a great relief to get tip again. In the hall 00:22:59.609 --> 00:23:02.109 there was more light than before, for the moon 00:23:02.109 --> 00:23:04.170 had traveled a little further down the stairs. 00:23:05.250 --> 00:23:08.029 Cautiously they began to go up in the dark vault 00:23:08.029 --> 00:23:10.589 of the upper house, the boards creaking under 00:23:10.589 --> 00:23:14.549 their weight. On the first floor they found a 00:23:14.549 --> 00:23:17.210 large double drawing -room, a search of which 00:23:17.210 --> 00:23:20.349 unveiled nothing. Here, also, there was no sign 00:23:20.349 --> 00:23:24.009 of furniture or recent occupancy. Nothing but 00:23:24.009 --> 00:23:27.490 dust and neglect and shadows. They opened the 00:23:27.490 --> 00:23:29.890 big folding doors between front and back drawing 00:23:29.890 --> 00:23:32.609 rooms, and they came out again to the landing 00:23:32.609 --> 00:23:36.609 and went on upstairs. They had not gone more 00:23:36.609 --> 00:23:39.029 than a dozen steps when they both simultaneously 00:23:39.029 --> 00:23:42.390 stopped to listen, looking into each other's 00:23:42.390 --> 00:23:44.670 eyes with new apprehension across the flickering 00:23:44.670 --> 00:23:48.609 candle flame. From the room they had left hardly 00:23:48.609 --> 00:23:52.029 ten seconds before came the sounds of doors quietly 00:23:52.029 --> 00:23:57.289 closing. It was beyond all question. They heard 00:23:57.289 --> 00:23:59.450 the booming noise that accompanies the shutting 00:23:59.450 --> 00:24:02.049 of the heavy doors, followed by a sharp catching 00:24:02.049 --> 00:24:06.490 of the latch. We must go back and see, said Shorthouse 00:24:06.490 --> 00:24:08.829 briefly in a low tone, turning to go downstairs 00:24:08.829 --> 00:24:12.549 again. Somehow she managed to drag after him, 00:24:12.829 --> 00:24:15.450 her feet catching in her dress, her face livid. 00:24:17.069 --> 00:24:19.390 When they entered the front drawing -room, it 00:24:19.390 --> 00:24:21.490 was plain that the folding doors had been closed 00:24:21.490 --> 00:24:25.269 half a minute before. Without hesitation, Shorthouse 00:24:25.269 --> 00:24:28.849 opened them. He almost expected to see someone 00:24:28.849 --> 00:24:32.289 facing him in the back -room. But only darkness 00:24:32.289 --> 00:24:35.529 and cold air met him. They went through both 00:24:35.529 --> 00:24:38.890 rooms, finding nothing unusual. They tried in 00:24:38.890 --> 00:24:40.849 every way to make the doors close of themselves. 00:24:41.650 --> 00:24:44.049 But there was not enough wind even to set the 00:24:44.049 --> 00:24:47.259 candle -flame flickering. The doors would not 00:24:47.259 --> 00:24:50.779 move without strong pressure. All was silent 00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:54.900 as the grave. Undeniably the rooms were utterly 00:24:54.900 --> 00:25:01.680 empty, and the house utterly still. "'It's beginning,' 00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:05.099 whispered a voice at his elbow, which be hardly 00:25:05.099 --> 00:25:08.680 recognized as his aunt. He nodded acquiescence, 00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:12.519 taking out his watch to know of the time. It 00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:15.420 was fifteen minutes before midnight. setting 00:25:15.420 --> 00:25:17.559 the candle in its case upon the floor in order 00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:20.579 to do so. It took a moment or two to balance 00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:25.000 it safely against the wall. And Julia always 00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:26.900 declared that this was the moment she was not 00:25:26.900 --> 00:25:29.339 actually watching him, but had turned her head 00:25:29.339 --> 00:25:31.759 toward the inner room, where she fancied she 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:35.539 heard something moving. But at any rate, both 00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:38.579 positively agreed that the sound of rushing feet, 00:25:38.819 --> 00:25:41.500 heavy and swift, and the next instant the candle 00:25:41.500 --> 00:25:45.569 was out. But the Shorthouse himself had come 00:25:45.569 --> 00:25:48.470 more than this, and he had always thanked his 00:25:48.470 --> 00:25:50.930 fortune and stars that it came to him alone and 00:25:50.930 --> 00:25:54.329 not to his aunt too. For, as he rose from the 00:25:54.329 --> 00:25:56.289 stooping position of the balancing the candle, 00:25:56.730 --> 00:25:59.309 and before it was actually extinguished, a face 00:25:59.309 --> 00:26:01.869 thrust itself forward so close to his own that 00:26:01.869 --> 00:26:03.769 he could have almost touched it with his lips. 00:26:04.289 --> 00:26:07.369 It was a face working with passion, a man's face, 00:26:07.569 --> 00:26:10.730 dark with thick features, angry and savage eyes. 00:26:11.130 --> 00:26:13.970 It belonged to a common man, and it was evil 00:26:13.970 --> 00:26:17.009 in an extraordinary normal expression, no doubt 00:26:17.009 --> 00:26:20.029 before he saw it, alive with intense, aggressive 00:26:20.029 --> 00:26:22.829 emotion. It was malignant and terrible human 00:26:22.829 --> 00:26:26.890 countenance. There was no movement in the air, 00:26:27.529 --> 00:26:29.890 nothing but the sound of rushing feet, stocking 00:26:29.890 --> 00:26:32.589 their muffled feet, the apparition of the face, 00:26:33.130 --> 00:26:35.470 and the almost simultaneously extinguishing of 00:26:35.470 --> 00:26:39.069 the candle. In spite of himself, Shorthouse uttered 00:26:39.069 --> 00:26:41.750 a little cry. nearly losing his balance as his 00:26:41.750 --> 00:26:44.230 aunt clung to him with her whole weight in one 00:26:44.230 --> 00:26:47.069 moment of real uncontrollable terror. She made 00:26:47.069 --> 00:26:51.210 no sound, but simply seized him bodily. Fortunately, 00:26:51.289 --> 00:26:54.750 however, she had seen nothing, but had only heard 00:26:54.750 --> 00:26:57.609 the rushing feet, for her control returned almost 00:26:57.609 --> 00:27:00.809 at once, and he was able to disentangle himself 00:27:00.809 --> 00:27:04.309 and strike a match. The shadows ran away on all 00:27:04.309 --> 00:27:06.970 sides before the glare. And his aunt stooped 00:27:06.970 --> 00:27:09.269 down, groping for the cigar -case with the precious 00:27:09.269 --> 00:27:12.990 candle. Then they discovered the candle had not 00:27:12.990 --> 00:27:16.009 been blown out at all. It had been crushed out. 00:27:16.730 --> 00:27:19.289 The wick was now pressed down into the wax, which 00:27:19.289 --> 00:27:21.650 was flattened by some smooth, heavy instrument. 00:27:22.289 --> 00:27:25.049 How his companion so quickly overcame her terror! 00:27:25.650 --> 00:27:28.509 Shorthouse neverly properly understood. But his 00:27:28.509 --> 00:27:31.650 admiration for her self -control increased tenfold, 00:27:31.950 --> 00:27:34.410 and at the same time served to feed his own dying 00:27:34.410 --> 00:27:37.730 flame. for which he was undeniably grateful. 00:27:38.890 --> 00:27:41.210 Equally inexplicable to him was the evidence 00:27:41.210 --> 00:27:44.470 of physical force they had just witnessed. He 00:27:44.470 --> 00:27:46.569 had once suppressed the memories of stories he 00:27:46.569 --> 00:27:49.410 had heard of physical mediums and their dangerous 00:27:49.410 --> 00:27:53.069 phenomena. For if these were true, neither his 00:27:53.069 --> 00:27:56.410 aunt or himself was unwittingly in physical medium. 00:27:57.250 --> 00:27:59.349 It meant that they were simply aiding to the 00:27:59.349 --> 00:28:01.849 focus of the forces of the haunted house already 00:28:01.849 --> 00:28:05.220 charged to the brim. It was like walking with 00:28:05.220 --> 00:28:08.940 unprotected lamps among uncovered stores of gunpowder. 00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:13.880 So with as little reflection as possible, he 00:28:13.880 --> 00:28:18.319 simply relit the candle, went tipped to the next 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:23.799 floor. The arm in his trembled. It is true, and 00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:27.119 his own tread was often uncertain. But they went 00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:30.400 on with thoroughness, and after a search revealing 00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:32.640 nothing, they climbed the last flight of stairs 00:28:32.640 --> 00:28:36.519 to the top floor of all. Here they found a perfect 00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:39.599 nest of small servants' rooms, with broken pieces 00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:43.420 of furniture, dirty caned bottom chairs, chest 00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:46.640 of drawers cracked mirrors, decrepit bedsteads. 00:28:47.359 --> 00:28:49.819 The rooms had low sloping ceilings already hung 00:28:49.819 --> 00:28:52.920 here and there with cobwebs, small windows, and 00:28:52.920 --> 00:28:55.900 badly plastered walls, a depressing and dismal 00:28:55.900 --> 00:28:58.160 region which they were glad to leave behind. 00:28:59.480 --> 00:29:02.140 It was on the stroke of midnight when they entered 00:29:02.140 --> 00:29:04.740 a small room on the third floor, close to the 00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:07.299 top of the stairs, and arranged to make themselves 00:29:07.299 --> 00:29:09.140 comfortable for the remainder of the adventure. 00:29:10.259 --> 00:29:12.900 It was absolutely bare, and was said to be the 00:29:12.900 --> 00:29:15.779 room they used as a clothes -closet, into which 00:29:15.779 --> 00:29:18.740 the infuriated groom had chased his victim and 00:29:18.740 --> 00:29:21.960 finally caught her. Outside, across from the 00:29:21.960 --> 00:29:24.599 narrow landing, began the stairs leading up to 00:29:24.599 --> 00:29:26.900 the floor above, and the servants' quarters where 00:29:26.900 --> 00:29:29.450 they had just searched. In spite of the chilliness 00:29:29.450 --> 00:29:30.970 of the night, there was something in the air 00:29:30.970 --> 00:29:35.390 of this room that cried for an open window. But 00:29:35.390 --> 00:29:38.789 there was more than this. Short House could only 00:29:38.789 --> 00:29:42.410 describe it by saying he felt less master of 00:29:42.410 --> 00:29:44.809 himself than in any other part of the house. 00:29:45.890 --> 00:29:47.890 There was something that acted directly on his 00:29:47.890 --> 00:29:51.470 nerves, tiring the resolution and fueling the 00:29:51.470 --> 00:29:54.809 will. He was conscious of this result before 00:29:54.809 --> 00:29:58.440 he had been in the room five minutes. And it 00:29:58.440 --> 00:30:00.819 was in this short time they stayed there that 00:30:00.819 --> 00:30:03.400 he suffered the wholesale depletion of his own 00:30:03.400 --> 00:30:06.880 vital forces, which was, for himself, the chief 00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:09.819 horror of the whole experience. They put the 00:30:09.819 --> 00:30:12.680 candle on the floor of the cupboard, leaving 00:30:12.680 --> 00:30:15.000 the door a few inches ajar so there was no glare 00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:17.740 to confuse the eyes, no shadow to shift about 00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:20.519 on the walls and ceiling. They spread the cloak 00:30:20.519 --> 00:30:23.200 on the floor and sat down to wait, with their 00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:27.150 backs against the wall. Shorthouse was within 00:30:27.150 --> 00:30:30.430 two feet of the door on to the landing. His position 00:30:30.430 --> 00:30:32.609 commanded a good view of the main staircase leading 00:30:32.609 --> 00:30:35.630 down into the darkness, and also the beginning 00:30:35.630 --> 00:30:38.170 of the servant's stairs going to the floor above. 00:30:38.950 --> 00:30:41.390 The heavy stick lay beside him within easy reach. 00:30:43.089 --> 00:30:46.309 The moon was now high over the house. Through 00:30:46.309 --> 00:30:47.890 the open window they could see the accompanying 00:30:47.890 --> 00:30:51.049 stars, like friendly eyes watching in the sky. 00:30:51.930 --> 00:30:54.430 One by one the clocks of the town struck midnight. 00:30:54.839 --> 00:30:57.859 And when the sounds died away, the deep silence 00:30:57.859 --> 00:31:00.160 of a windless night fell again over everything. 00:31:01.680 --> 00:31:05.339 Only the boom of the sea, far away and lugubrious, 00:31:05.640 --> 00:31:09.619 filled the air with hollow murmurs. Inside the 00:31:09.619 --> 00:31:13.180 house the silence became awful. Awful, he thought, 00:31:13.900 --> 00:31:15.799 because any minute now it might be broken by 00:31:15.799 --> 00:31:18.460 the sounds of portending terror. The strain of 00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:20.819 waiting told more and more severely on the nerves. 00:31:21.400 --> 00:31:23.640 They talked in whispers when they talked it all. 00:31:23.819 --> 00:31:26.019 for their voices sounded queer and unnatural. 00:31:27.140 --> 00:31:29.200 A chilliness not altogether due to the night 00:31:29.200 --> 00:31:33.319 air invaded the room and made them cold. The 00:31:33.319 --> 00:31:35.500 influences against them, whatever they might 00:31:35.500 --> 00:31:38.420 be, were slowly robbing them of self -confidence 00:31:38.420 --> 00:31:42.160 and the power of decisive action. Their forces 00:31:42.160 --> 00:31:44.599 were on the wane, and the possibility of real 00:31:44.599 --> 00:31:48.299 fear took on a new and terrible meaning. He began 00:31:48.299 --> 00:31:50.779 to tremble for the elderly woman by his side. 00:31:51.969 --> 00:31:55.109 whose pluck could hardly save her beyond a certain 00:31:55.109 --> 00:31:59.190 extent. He heard the blood singing in his veins. 00:32:00.170 --> 00:32:03.170 It sometimes seemed so loud that he fancied it 00:32:03.170 --> 00:32:05.789 prevented his hearing properly certain other 00:32:05.789 --> 00:32:08.250 sounds that were beginning to very faintly make 00:32:08.250 --> 00:32:10.670 themselves audible into depths of the house. 00:32:12.210 --> 00:32:14.029 Every time he fastened his attention on these 00:32:14.029 --> 00:32:18.430 sounds, they instantly ceased. They certainly 00:32:18.430 --> 00:32:21.740 came no near. Yet he could not rid himself of 00:32:21.740 --> 00:32:24.039 the idea the movement was going on somewhere 00:32:24.039 --> 00:32:26.460 in the lower regions of the house. The drawing 00:32:26.460 --> 00:32:29.140 -room floor, where the doors had been so strangely 00:32:29.140 --> 00:32:33.339 closed, seemed too near. The sounds were further 00:32:33.339 --> 00:32:36.180 off than that. He thought of the great kitchen, 00:32:36.579 --> 00:32:39.319 with the scurrying black beetles, and the dismal 00:32:39.319 --> 00:32:42.920 little scullery. But somehow or other they did 00:32:42.920 --> 00:32:45.859 not seem to come from there either. Surely they 00:32:45.859 --> 00:32:50.099 were not outside the house! Then suddenly the 00:32:50.099 --> 00:32:52.279 truth flashed in his mind, and for the space 00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:54.400 of a minute he felt as if his blood had stopped 00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:59.640 flowing and turned to ice. The sounds were not 00:32:59.640 --> 00:33:02.640 downstairs at all. They were upstairs, upstairs, 00:33:03.559 --> 00:33:05.480 somewhere among those gloomy little servants' 00:33:05.799 --> 00:33:08.539 rooms with bits of broken furniture, low ceilings 00:33:08.539 --> 00:33:10.740 and cramped windows, upstairs where the victim 00:33:10.740 --> 00:33:13.319 had first been disturbed and stalked to her death. 00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:17.039 And the moment he discovered where the sounds 00:33:17.039 --> 00:33:20.059 were— He began to hear them more clearly, it 00:33:20.059 --> 00:33:22.859 was the sound of feet, moving stealthily along 00:33:22.859 --> 00:33:25.299 the passage overhead, in and out among the rooms 00:33:25.299 --> 00:33:28.980 and past the furniture. He turned quickly to 00:33:28.980 --> 00:33:30.759 steal a glance at the motionless figure seated 00:33:30.759 --> 00:33:33.119 beside him to note whether she had shared his 00:33:33.119 --> 00:33:36.220 discovery. The faint candlelight coming through 00:33:36.220 --> 00:33:38.579 the crack in the cupboard door threw her strongly 00:33:38.579 --> 00:33:41.160 marked face into vivid relief against the white 00:33:41.160 --> 00:33:44.519 of the wall. But it was something else that made 00:33:44.519 --> 00:33:47.880 him catch his breath and stare again. An extraordinary 00:33:47.880 --> 00:33:50.019 something that had come into her face and seemed 00:33:50.019 --> 00:33:53.279 to spread over her features like a mask. It smoothed 00:33:53.279 --> 00:33:55.359 out the deep lines, drew the skin everywhere 00:33:55.359 --> 00:33:57.539 a little tighter, so the wrinkles disappeared. 00:33:58.359 --> 00:34:01.440 It brought into her face, with the sole exception 00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:05.319 of her old eyes, an appearance of youth, almost 00:34:05.319 --> 00:34:09.159 childhood. He stared in speechless amazement, 00:34:09.760 --> 00:34:12.360 amazement that was dangerously near to horror. 00:34:13.139 --> 00:34:16.539 It was his aunt's face, indeed. But it was her 00:34:16.539 --> 00:34:19.699 face of forty years ago, the vacant, innocent 00:34:19.699 --> 00:34:23.139 face of a girl. He had heard stories of that 00:34:23.139 --> 00:34:25.719 strange effect of terror which could wipe a human 00:34:25.719 --> 00:34:28.460 countenance clean of other emotions, obliterating 00:34:28.460 --> 00:34:32.599 all previous expressions. But he had never realized 00:34:32.599 --> 00:34:35.300 that it could be literally true, or could mean 00:34:35.300 --> 00:34:38.179 anything so simply horrible as what he now saw. 00:34:38.579 --> 00:34:41.059 For the dreadful signature of over -mastering 00:34:41.059 --> 00:34:43.599 fear was plainly written in that utter vacancy 00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:47.480 of the girlish face beside him. And when, feeling 00:34:47.480 --> 00:34:49.659 his intense gaze, she turned to look at him. 00:34:50.579 --> 00:34:53.440 He instinctively closed his eyes tightly to shut 00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:57.840 out the sight. Yet when he turned a minute later, 00:34:58.159 --> 00:35:00.880 his feelings well in hand, he saw to his intense 00:35:00.880 --> 00:35:03.840 relief another expression. His ant was smiling. 00:35:04.579 --> 00:35:07.460 And though the face was deathly white, the awful 00:35:07.460 --> 00:35:10.659 veil had lifted, and the normal look was returning. 00:35:12.900 --> 00:35:15.400 Anything wrong? was all he could think of to 00:35:15.400 --> 00:35:18.420 say at the moment, and the answer was eloquent, 00:35:18.480 --> 00:35:23.760 coming from such a woman. I felt cold and a little 00:35:23.760 --> 00:35:27.960 frightened, she whispered. He offered to close 00:35:27.960 --> 00:35:29.840 the door, but she seized hold of him and begged 00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:33.639 him not to leave her side for an instant. It's 00:35:33.639 --> 00:35:36.860 upstairs, I know, she whispered with an odd half 00:35:36.860 --> 00:35:42.579 -laugh. But I can't possibly go up. But Shorthouse 00:35:42.579 --> 00:35:45.920 thought otherwise. knowing that inaction lay 00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:49.199 their best hope of self -control. He took the 00:35:49.199 --> 00:35:52.280 brandy flask and poured out a glass of neat spirit, 00:35:52.780 --> 00:35:56.079 stiff enough to help anybody over anything. She 00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:59.960 swallowed it with a little shiver. His only idea 00:35:59.960 --> 00:36:02.780 now was to get out of the house before her collapse 00:36:02.780 --> 00:36:06.559 became inevitable. But this could not be safely 00:36:06.559 --> 00:36:09.360 done by turning tail and running from the enemy. 00:36:10.079 --> 00:36:13.320 Inaction was no longer possible. Every minute 00:36:13.320 --> 00:36:16.280 he was growing less master of himself, and desperate 00:36:16.280 --> 00:36:18.780 aggressive measures were imperative without further 00:36:18.780 --> 00:36:22.519 delay. Moreover, the actions to be taken toward 00:36:22.519 --> 00:36:26.179 the enemy, not away from it, the climax, if necessary 00:36:26.179 --> 00:36:30.059 and unavoidable, would have to be faced boldly. 00:36:30.119 --> 00:36:33.239 He could do it now, but in ten minutes he might 00:36:33.239 --> 00:36:35.840 not have the force left to act for himself, much 00:36:35.840 --> 00:36:39.980 less for both. Upstairs the sounds were meanwhile 00:36:39.980 --> 00:36:42.480 becoming louder and closer. accompanied by the 00:36:42.480 --> 00:36:45.519 occasional creaking of the boards. Someone was 00:36:45.519 --> 00:36:48.139 moving stealthily about, stumbling now, and then 00:36:48.139 --> 00:36:51.980 awkwardly against the furniture, waiting a few 00:36:51.980 --> 00:36:54.219 moments to allow for the tremendous dose of spirit 00:36:54.219 --> 00:36:56.460 to produce its effect, and knowing this would 00:36:56.460 --> 00:36:58.780 last but a short time under the circumstances. 00:36:59.699 --> 00:37:02.380 Shorthouse then quietly got on his feet, and 00:37:02.380 --> 00:37:04.960 saying in a determined voice, "'Now Aunt Julia, 00:37:05.099 --> 00:37:07.179 we'll go upstairs and find out what this noise 00:37:07.179 --> 00:37:09.619 is all about. You must come, too. It is what 00:37:09.619 --> 00:37:14.159 we agreed.' He picked up his stick and went to 00:37:14.159 --> 00:37:17.619 the cupboard for the candle. A limp four rose 00:37:17.619 --> 00:37:20.800 shakily beside him, breathing hard, and he heard 00:37:20.800 --> 00:37:23.420 a voice say very faintly something about being 00:37:23.420 --> 00:37:27.880 ready to come. The woman's courage amazed him. 00:37:28.480 --> 00:37:31.480 It was so much greater than his own. Holding 00:37:31.480 --> 00:37:34.179 aloft the dripping candle, some subtle force 00:37:34.179 --> 00:37:37.119 exhaled from this trembling, white -faced old 00:37:37.119 --> 00:37:39.760 woman at his side that was the true source of 00:37:39.760 --> 00:37:43.730 his inspiration. It held something really great 00:37:43.730 --> 00:37:46.349 that shamed him and gave him the support without 00:37:46.349 --> 00:37:48.570 which he would have proved far less equal to 00:37:48.570 --> 00:37:52.510 the occasion. They crossed the dark landing, 00:37:53.289 --> 00:37:55.329 avoiding with their eyes the deep black space 00:37:55.329 --> 00:37:58.170 over the banisters. Then they began to mount 00:37:58.170 --> 00:38:01.349 the narrow staircase to meet the sounds which 00:38:01.349 --> 00:38:05.090 minute by minute grew louder and nearer. About 00:38:05.090 --> 00:38:07.650 halfway up the stairs Aunt Julia stumbled, and 00:38:07.650 --> 00:38:09.909 Shorthouse turned to catch her by the arm. And 00:38:09.909 --> 00:38:11.929 just at that moment there came a terrific crash 00:38:11.929 --> 00:38:14.829 in the servants' quarters overhead. It was instantly 00:38:14.829 --> 00:38:17.250 followed by a shrill, agonizing scream. There 00:38:17.250 --> 00:38:20.070 was a cry of terror, a cry of help melted into 00:38:20.070 --> 00:38:24.369 one. Before they could move aside or go down 00:38:24.369 --> 00:38:27.210 a single step, someone came rushing along the 00:38:27.210 --> 00:38:30.050 passage overhead, blundering horribly, racing 00:38:30.050 --> 00:38:32.769 madly at full speed, three steps at a time, down 00:38:32.769 --> 00:38:35.389 the very staircase which they stood. The steps 00:38:35.389 --> 00:38:38.050 were light and uncertain. But close behind them 00:38:38.050 --> 00:38:39.710 sounded the heavier tread of another person. 00:38:40.010 --> 00:38:43.250 The staircase seemed to shake. Shorthouse and 00:38:43.250 --> 00:38:45.469 his companion just had time to flatten themselves 00:38:45.469 --> 00:38:47.809 against the wall when the jumble of flying steps 00:38:47.809 --> 00:38:50.530 was upon them, and two persons, with the slightest 00:38:50.530 --> 00:38:53.309 possible interval between them, dashed past at 00:38:53.309 --> 00:38:56.469 full speed. It was a perfect whirlwind of sound 00:38:56.469 --> 00:38:59.469 breaking in upon the midnight silence of the 00:38:59.469 --> 00:39:02.969 empty building. The two runners, pursuer and 00:39:02.969 --> 00:39:05.550 pursued, had passed clean through them where 00:39:05.550 --> 00:39:08.059 they stood. and already with a thud the boards 00:39:08.059 --> 00:39:10.579 below received the first one, then the other. 00:39:11.559 --> 00:39:14.639 Yet they had seen absolutely nothing, not a hand, 00:39:14.699 --> 00:39:17.260 an arm, or a face, or even a shred of flying 00:39:17.260 --> 00:39:22.780 clothing. Then came a second's pause. Then the 00:39:22.780 --> 00:39:25.340 first one, the lighter of the two, obviously 00:39:25.340 --> 00:39:28.019 the pursued one, ran with uncertain footsteps 00:39:28.019 --> 00:39:30.340 into the little room which Shorthouse and his 00:39:30.340 --> 00:39:33.579 aunt just left. The heavier ones followed. There 00:39:33.579 --> 00:39:36.079 was a sound of scuffling, gasping, and smothered 00:39:36.079 --> 00:39:39.079 screaming, and then out onto the landing came 00:39:39.079 --> 00:39:41.860 the step of a single person treading weightily. 00:39:44.579 --> 00:39:46.960 A dead silence followed for the space of a half 00:39:46.960 --> 00:39:50.000 a minute, and then was heard a rushing sound 00:39:50.000 --> 00:39:53.800 through the air. It was followed by a dull, crashing 00:39:53.800 --> 00:39:57.139 thud in the depths of the house below, on the 00:39:57.139 --> 00:40:02.630 stone floor of the hall. Utter silence reigned 00:40:02.630 --> 00:40:07.449 after. Nothing moved. The flame of the candle 00:40:07.449 --> 00:40:10.730 was steady. It had been steady the whole time. 00:40:11.690 --> 00:40:13.949 And the air had been undisturbed by any movement 00:40:13.949 --> 00:40:20.110 whatsoever. Palsied with terror, Aunt Julia, 00:40:20.170 --> 00:40:22.889 without waiting for her companion, began fumbling 00:40:22.889 --> 00:40:25.889 her way downstairs. She was crying to herself. 00:40:26.369 --> 00:40:29.010 When Shorthouse put his arm around her and half 00:40:29.010 --> 00:40:31.929 carried her, He felt she was trembling like a 00:40:31.929 --> 00:40:34.510 leaf. He went into the little room, picked up 00:40:34.510 --> 00:40:36.809 the cloak from the floor, and arm in arm walked 00:40:36.809 --> 00:40:39.650 very slowly, without speaking a word or looking 00:40:39.650 --> 00:40:41.989 once behind them. They marched down the three 00:40:41.989 --> 00:40:45.409 flights of stairs into the hall. In the hall 00:40:45.409 --> 00:40:48.590 they saw nothing. But the whole way down the 00:40:48.590 --> 00:40:50.269 stairs they were conscious that someone followed 00:40:50.269 --> 00:40:54.650 them. Step by step. When they went faster IT 00:40:54.650 --> 00:40:57.929 was left behind. When they went more slowly IT 00:40:57.929 --> 00:41:01.849 caught up. Never once did they look behind to 00:41:01.849 --> 00:41:05.389 see, and at each turning of the staircase they 00:41:05.389 --> 00:41:07.369 lowered their eyes with the fear of the following 00:41:07.369 --> 00:41:12.650 horror they might see on the stairs above. With 00:41:12.650 --> 00:41:15.250 trembling hands, Shorthouse opened the front 00:41:15.250 --> 00:41:18.210 door, and they walked out into the moonlight 00:41:18.210 --> 00:41:22.230 and drew a deep breath of the cool night air 00:41:22.230 --> 00:41:27.170 blowing in from the sea. This is the end of the 00:41:27.170 --> 00:41:32.280 empty house. by Algernon Blackwood Recording 00:41:32.280 --> 00:41:37.800 by Scott W. Fields Globersville, New York, USA 00:41:37.800 --> 00:41:42.219 www .scottwfields .com