The House on the Borderland
Page 10
_X_
THE TIME OF WAITING
The sun was now warm, and shining brightly, forming a wondrous contrastto the dark and dismal cellars; and it was with comparatively lightfeelings, that I made my way up to the tower, to survey the gardens.There, I found everything quiet, and, after a few minutes, went down toMary's room.
Here, having knocked, and received a reply, I unlocked the door. Mysister was sitting, quietly, on the bed; as though waiting. She seemedquite herself again, and made no attempt to move away, as I approached;yet, I observed that she scanned my face, anxiously, as though in doubt,and but half assured in her mind that there was nothing to fear from me.
To my questions, as to how she felt, she replied, sanely enough, thatshe was hungry, and would like to go down to prepare breakfast, if I didnot mind. For a minute, I meditated whether it would be safe to let herout. Finally, I told her she might go, on condition that she promisednot to attempt to leave the house, or meddle with any of the outerdoors. At my mention of the doors, a sudden look of fright crossed herface; but she said nothing, save to give the required promise, and thenleft the room, silently.
Crossing the floor, I approached Pepper. He had waked as I entered;but, beyond a slight yelp of pleasure, and a soft rapping with his tail,had kept quiet. Now, as I patted him, he made an attempt to stand up,and succeeded, only to fall back on his side, with a little yowlof pain.
I spoke to him, and bade him lie still. I was greatly delighted withhis improvement, and also with the natural kindness of my sister'sheart, in taking such good care of him, in spite of her condition ofmind. After a while, I left him, and went downstairs, to my study.
In a little time, Mary appeared, carrying a tray on which smoked a hotbreakfast. As she entered the room, I saw her gaze fasten on the propsthat supported the study door; her lips tightened, and I thought shepaled, slightly; but that was all. Putting the tray down at my elbow,she was leaving the room, quietly, when I called her back. She came, itseemed, a little timidly, as though startled; and I noted that her handclutched at her apron, nervously.
'Come, Mary,' I said. 'Cheer up! Things look brighter. I've seen noneof the creatures since yesterday morning, early.'
She looked at me, in a curiously puzzled manner; as though notcomprehending. Then, intelligence swept into her eyes, and fear; but shesaid nothing, beyond an unintelligible murmur of acquiescence. Afterthat, I kept silence; it was evident that any reference to theSwine-things, was more than her shaken nerves could bear.
Breakfast over, I went up to the tower. Here, during the greater partof the day, I maintained a strict watch over the gardens. Once or twice,I went down to the basement, to see how my sister was getting along.Each time, I found her quiet, and curiously submissive. Indeed, on thelast occasion, she even ventured to address me, on her own account, withregard to some household matter that needed attention. Though this wasdone with an almost extraordinary timidity, I hailed it with happiness,as being the first word, voluntarily spoken, since the critical moment,when I had caught her unbarring the back door, to go out among thosewaiting brutes. I wondered whether she was aware of her attempt, and hownear a thing it had been; but refrained from questioning her, thinkingit best to let well alone.
That night, I slept in a bed; the first time for two nights. In themorning, I rose early, and took a walk through the house. All was as itshould be, and I went up to the tower, to have a look at the gardens.Here, again, I found perfect quietness.
At breakfast, when I met Mary, I was greatly pleased to see that shehad sufficiently regained command over herself, to be able to greet mein a perfectly natural manner. She talked sensibly and quietly; onlykeeping carefully from any mention of the past couple of days. In this,I humored her, to the extent of not attempting to lead the conversationin that direction.
Earlier in the morning, I had been to see Pepper. He was mending,rapidly; and bade fair to be on his legs, in earnest, in another day ortwo. Before leaving the breakfast table, I made some reference to hisimprovement. In the short discussion that followed, I was surprised togather, from my sister's remarks, that she was still under theimpression that his wound had been given by the wildcat, of myinvention. It made me feel almost ashamed of myself for deceiving her.Yet, the lie had been told to prevent her from being frightened. Andthen, I had been sure that she must have known the truth, later, whenthose brutes had attacked the house.
During the day, I kept on the alert; spending much of my time, as onthe previous day, in the tower; but not a sign could I see of theSwine-creatures, nor hear any sound. Several times, the thought had cometo me, that the Things had, at last, left us; but, up to this time, Ihad refused to entertain the idea, seriously; now, however, I began tofeel that there was reason for hope. It would soon be three days since Ihad seen any of the Things; but still, I intended to use the utmostcaution. For all that I could tell, this protracted silence might be aruse to tempt me from the house--perhaps right into their arms. Thethought of such a contingency, was, alone, sufficient to make mecircumspect.
So it was, that the fourth, fifth and sixth days went by, quietly,without my making any attempt to leave the house.
On the sixth day, I had the pleasure of seeing Pepper, once more, uponhis feet; and, though still very weak, he managed to keep me companyduring the whole of that day.