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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/12132-0.txt b/12132-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c8eaeec --- /dev/null +++ b/12132-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,307 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12132 *** + +THE LADY OF THE BARGE + +AND OTHER STORIES + +By W. W. Jacobs + + + + +THREE AT TABLE + + +The talk in the coffee-room had been of ghosts and apparitions, and +nearly everybody present had contributed his mite to the stock of +information upon a hazy and somewhat thread-bare subject. Opinions +ranged from rank incredulity to childlike faith, one believer going so +far as to denounce unbelief as impious, with a reference to the Witch of +Endor, which was somewhat marred by being complicated in an inexplicable +fashion with the story of Jonah. + +"Talking of Jonah," he said solemnly, with a happy disregard of the fact +that he had declined to answer several eager questions put to him on the +subject, "look at the strange tales sailors tell us." + +"I wouldn't advise you to believe all those," said a bluff, clean-shaven +man, who had been listening without speaking much. "You see when a +sailor gets ashore he's expected to have something to tell, and his +friends would be rather disappointed if he had not." + +"It's a well-known fact," interrupted the first speaker firmly, "that +sailors are very prone to see visions." + +"They are," said the other dryly, "they generally see them in pairs, and +the shock to the nervous system frequently causes headache next morning." + +"You never saw anything yourself?" suggested an unbeliever. + +"Man and boy," said the other, "I've been at sea thirty years, and the +only unpleasant incident of that kind occurred in a quiet English +countryside." + +"And that?" said another man. + +"I was a young man at the time," said the narrator, drawing at his pipe +and glancing good-humouredly at the company. "I had just come back from +China, and my own people being away I went down into the country to +invite myself to stay with an uncle. When I got down to the place I +found it closed and the family in the South of France; but as they were +due back in a couple of days I decided to put up at the Royal George, +a very decent inn, and await their return. + +"The first day I passed well enough; but in the evening the dulness of +the rambling old place, in which I was the only visitor, began to weigh +upon my spirits, and the next morning after a late breakfast I set out +with the intention of having a brisk day's walk. + +"I started off in excellent spirits, for the day was bright and frosty, +with a powdering of snow on the iron-bound roads and nipped hedges, and +the country had to me all the charm of novelty. It was certainly flat, +but there was plenty of timber, and the villages through which I passed +were old and picturesque. + +"I lunched luxuriously on bread and cheese and beer in the bar of a small +inn, and resolved to go a little further before turning back. When at +length I found I had gone far enough, I turned up a lane at right angles +to the road I was passing, and resolved to find my way back by another +route. It is a long lane that has no turning, but this had several, each +of which had turnings of its own, which generally led, as I found by +trying two or three of them, into the open marshes. Then, tired of +lanes, I resolved to rely upon the small compass which hung from my watch +chain and go across country home. + +"I had got well into the marshes when a white fog, which had been for +some time hovering round the edge of the ditches, began gradually to +spread. There was no escaping it, but by aid of my compass I was saved +from making a circular tour and fell instead into frozen ditches or +stumbled over roots in the grass. I kept my course, however, until at +four o'clock, when night was coming rapidly up to lend a hand to the fog, +I was fain to confess myself lost. + +"The compass was now no good to me, and I wandered about miserably, +occasionally giving a shout on the chance of being heard by some passing +shepherd or farmhand. At length by great good luck I found my feet on a +rough road driven through the marshes, and by walking slowly and tapping +with my stick managed to keep to it. I had followed it for some distance +when I heard footsteps approaching me. + +"We stopped as we met, and the new arrival, a sturdy-looking countryman, +hearing of my plight, walked back with me for nearly a mile, and putting +me on to a road gave me minute instructions how to reach a village some +three miles distant. + +"I was so tired that three miles sounded like ten, and besides that, a +little way off from the road I saw dimly a lighted window. I pointed it +out, but my companion shuddered and looked round him uneasily. + +"'You won't get no good there,' he said, hastily. + +"'Why not?' I asked. + +"'There's a something there, sir,' he replied, 'what 'tis I dunno, but +the little 'un belonging to a gamekeeper as used to live in these parts +see it, and it was never much good afterward. Some say as it's a poor +mad thing, others says as it's a kind of animal; but whatever it is, it +ain't good to see.' + +"'Well, I'll keep on, then,' I said. 'Goodnight.' + +"He went back whistling cheerily until his footsteps died away in the +distance, and I followed the road he had indicated until it divided into +three, any one of which to a stranger might be said to lead straight on. +I was now cold and tired, and having half made up my mind walked slowly +back toward the house. + +"At first all I could see of it was the little patch of light at the +window. I made for that until it disappeared suddenly, and I found myself +walking into a tall hedge. I felt my way round this until I came to a +small gate, and opening it cautiously, walked, not without some little +nervousness, up a long path which led to the door. There was no light and +no sound from within. Half repenting of my temerity I shortened my stick +and knocked lightly upon the door. + +"I waited a couple of minutes and then knocked again, and my stick was +still beating the door when it opened suddenly and a tall bony old woman, +holding a candle, confronted me. + +"'What do you want?' she demanded gruffly. + +"'I've lost my way,' I said, civilly; 'I want to get to Ashville.' + +"'Don't know it,' said the old woman. + +"She was about to close the door when a man emerged from a room at the +side of the hall and came toward us. An old man of great height and +breadth of shoulder. + +"'Ashville is fifteen miles distant,' he said slowly. + +"'If you will direct me to the nearest village, I shall be grateful,' I +remarked. + +"He made no reply, but exchanged a quick, furtive glance with the woman. +She made a gesture of dissent. + +"'The nearest place is three miles off,' he said, turning to me and +apparently trying to soften a naturally harsh voice; 'if you will give me +the pleasure of your company, I will make you as comfortable as I can.' + +"I hesitated. They were certainly a queer-looking couple, and the gloomy +hall with the shadows thrown by the candle looked hardly more inviting +than the darkness outside. + +"'You are very kind,' I murmured, irresolutely, 'but--' + +"'Come in,' he said quickly; 'shut the door, Anne.' + +"Almost before I knew it I was standing inside and the old woman, +muttering to herself, had closed the door behind me. With a queer +sensation of being trapped I followed my host into the room, and taking +the proffered chair warmed my frozen fingers at the fire. + +"'Dinner will soon be ready,' said the old man, regarding me closely. 'If +you will excuse me.' + +"I bowed and he left the room. A minute afterward I heard voices; his +and the old woman's, and, I fancied, a third. Before I had finished my +inspection of the room he returned, and regarded me with the same strange +look I had noticed before. + +"'There will be three of us at dinner,' he said, at length. 'We two and +my son.' + +"I bowed again, and secretly hoped that that look didn't run in the +family. + +"'I suppose you don't mind dining in the dark,' he said, abruptly. + +"'Not at all,' I replied, hiding my surprise as well as I could, 'but +really I'm afraid I'm intruding. If you'll allow me--' + +"He waved his huge gaunt hands. 'We're not going to lose you now we've +got you,' he said, with a dry laugh. 'It's seldom we have company, and +now we've got you we'll keep you. My son's eyes are bad, and he can't +stand the light. Ah, here is Anne.' + +"As he spoke the old woman entered, and, eyeing me stealthily, began to +lay the cloth, while my host, taking a chair the other side of the +hearth, sat looking silently into the fire. The table set, the old woman +brought in a pair of fowls ready carved in a dish, and placing three +chairs, left the room. The old man hesitated a moment, and then, rising +from his chair, placed a large screen in front of the fire and slowly +extinguished the candles. + +"'Blind man's holiday,' he said, with clumsy jocosity, and groping his +way to the door opened it. Somebody came back into the room with him, +and in a slow, uncertain fashion took a seat at the table, and the +strangest voice I have ever heard broke a silence which was fast becoming +oppressive. + +"'A cold night,' it said slowly. + +"I replied in the affirmative, and light or no light, fell to with an +appetite which had only been sharpened by the snack in the middle of the +day. It was somewhat difficult eating in the dark, and it was evident +from the behaviour of my invisible companions that they were as unused to +dining under such circumstances as I was. We ate in silence until the +old woman blundered into the room with some sweets and put them with a +crash upon the table. + +"'Are you a stranger about here?' inquired the curious voice again. + +"I replied in the affirmative, and murmured something about my luck in +stumbling upon such a good dinner. + +"'Stumbling is a very good word for it,' said the voice grimly. 'You +have forgotten the port, father.' + +"'So I have,' said the old man, rising. 'It's a bottle of the +"Celebrated" to-day; I will get it myself.' + +"He felt his way to the door, and closing it behind him, left me alone +with my unseen neighbour. There was something so strange about the whole +business that I must confess to more than a slight feeling of uneasiness. + +"My host seemed to be absent a long time. I heard the man opposite lay +down his fork and spoon, and half fancied I could see a pair of wild eyes +shining through the gloom like a cat's. + +"With a growing sense of uneasiness I pushed my chair back. It caught +the hearthrug, and in my efforts to disentangle it the screen fell over +with a crash and in the flickering light of the fire I saw the face of +the creature opposite. With a sharp catch of my breath I left my chair +and stood with clenched fists beside it. Man or beast, which was it? +The flame leaped up and then went out, and in the mere red glow of the +fire it looked more devilish than before. + +"For a few moments we regarded each other in silence; then the door +opened and the old man returned. He stood aghast as he saw the warm +firelight, and then approaching the table mechanically put down a couple +of bottles. + +"'I beg your pardon,' said I, reassured by his presence, 'but I have +accidentally overturned the screen. Allow me to replace it.' + +"'No,' said the old man, gently, 'let it be. + +"'We have had enough of the dark. I'll give you a light.' + +"He struck a match and slowly lit the candles. Then--I saw that the man +opposite had but the remnant of a face, a gaunt wolfish face in which one +unquenched eye, the sole remaining feature, still glittered. I was +greatly moved, some suspicion of the truth occurring to me. + +"'My son was injured some years ago in a burning house,' said the old +man. 'Since then we have lived a very retired life. When you came to +the door we--' his voice trembled, 'that is-my son---' + +"'I thought," said the son simply, 'that it would be better for me not to +come to the dinner-table. But it happens to be my birthday, and my +father would not hear of my dining alone, so we hit upon this foolish +plan of dining in the dark. I'm sorry I startled you.' + +"'I am sorry,' said I, as I reached across the table and gripped his +hand, 'that I am such a fool; but it was only in the dark that you +startled me.' + +"From a faint tinge in the old man's cheek and a certain pleasant +softening of the poor solitary eye in front of me I secretly +congratulated myself upon this last remark. + +"'We never see a friend,' said the old man, apologetically, 'and the +temptation to have company was too much for us. Besides, I don't know +what else you could have done.' + +"'Nothing else half so good, I'm sure,' said I. + +"'Come,' said my host, with almost a sprightly air. 'Now we know each +other, draw our chairs to the fire and let's keep this birthday in a +proper fashion.' + +"He drew a small table to the fire for the glasses and produced a box of +cigars, and placing a chair for the old servant, sternly bade her to sit +down and drink. If the talk was not sparkling, it did not lack for +vivacity, and we were soon as merry a party as I have ever seen. The +night wore on so rapidly that we could hardly believe our ears when in a +lull in the conversation a clock in the hall struck twelve. + +"'A last toast before we retire,' said my host, pitching the end of his +cigar into the fire and turning to the small table. + +"We had drunk several before this, but there was something impressive in +the old man's manner as he rose and took up his glass. His tall figure +seemed to get taller, and his voice rang as he gazed proudly at his +disfigured son. + +"'The health of the children my boy saved!' he said, and drained his +glass at a draught." + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Three at Table, by W.W. Jacobs + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12132 *** diff --git a/12132-h.zip b/12132-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..26b316f --- /dev/null +++ b/12132-h.zip diff --git a/12132-h/12132-h.htm b/12132-h/12132-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ff00c42 --- /dev/null +++ b/12132-h/12132-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,801 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>THE LADY OF THE BARGE AND OTHERS</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> +<style type="text/css"> +<!-- +body {margin:10%; text-align:justify} +img {border: 0;} +--> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Three at Table, by W.W. Jacobs + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Three at Table + The Lady of the Barge and Others, Part 12. + +Author: W.W. Jacobs + +Release Date: April 22, 2004 [EBook #12132] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE AT TABLE *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="cover.jpg (102K)" src="cover.jpg" height="923" width="738"> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="title.jpg (40K)" src="title.jpg" height="602" width="442"> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<center> +<h1>THE LADY OF THE BARGE<br><br> +AND OTHER STORIES</h1> +<br><br> +<h2>By W. W. Jacobs</h2> +</center> + +<a name="frontis"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="frontis.jpg (80K)" src="frontis.jpg" height="742" width="503"> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<br><br><br><br> + + + + +<br><br><hr><br><br> + +<a name="c12"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<h2> +THREE AT TABLE +</h2> +</center> +<br> + +<p>The talk in the coffee-room had been of ghosts and apparitions, and +nearly everybody present had contributed his mite to the stock of +information upon a hazy and somewhat thread-bare subject. Opinions +ranged from rank incredulity to childlike faith, one believer going so +far as to denounce unbelief as impious, with a reference to the Witch of +Endor, which was somewhat marred by being complicated in an inexplicable +fashion with the story of Jonah.</p> + +<p>"Talking of Jonah," he said solemnly, with a happy disregard of the fact +that he had declined to answer several eager questions put to him on the +subject, "look at the strange tales sailors tell us."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't advise you to believe all those," said a bluff, clean-shaven +man, who had been listening without speaking much. "You see when a +sailor gets ashore he's expected to have something to tell, and his +friends would be rather disappointed if he had not."</p> + +<p>"It's a well-known fact," interrupted the first speaker firmly, "that +sailors are very prone to see visions."</p> + +<p>"They are," said the other dryly, "they generally see them in pairs, and +the shock to the nervous system frequently causes headache next morning."</p> + +<p>"You never saw anything yourself?" suggested an unbeliever.</p> + +<p>"Man and boy," said the other, "I've been at sea thirty years, and the +only unpleasant incident of that kind occurred in a quiet English +countryside."</p> + +<p>"And that?" said another man.</p> + +<p>"I was a young man at the time," said the narrator, drawing at his pipe +and glancing good-humouredly at the company. "I had just come back from +China, and my own people being away I went down into the country to +invite myself to stay with an uncle. When I got down to the place I +found it closed and the family in the South of France; but as they were +due back in a couple of days I decided to put up at the Royal George, +a very decent inn, and await their return.</p> + +<p>"The first day I passed well enough; but in the evening the dulness of +the rambling old place, in which I was the only visitor, began to weigh +upon my spirits, and the next morning after a late breakfast I set out +with the intention of having a brisk day's walk.</p> + +<p>"I started off in excellent spirits, for the day was bright and frosty, +with a powdering of snow on the iron-bound roads and nipped hedges, and +the country had to me all the charm of novelty. It was certainly flat, +but there was plenty of timber, and the villages through which I passed +were old and picturesque.</p> + +<p>"I lunched luxuriously on bread and cheese and beer in the bar of a small +inn, and resolved to go a little further before turning back. When at +length I found I had gone far enough, I turned up a lane at right angles +to the road I was passing, and resolved to find my way back by another +route. It is a long lane that has no turning, but this had several, each +of which had turnings of its own, which generally led, as I found by +trying two or three of them, into the open marshes. Then, tired of +lanes, I resolved to rely upon the small compass which hung from my watch +chain and go across country home.</p> + +<p>"I had got well into the marshes when a white fog, which had been for +some time hovering round the edge of the ditches, began gradually to +spread. There was no escaping it, but by aid of my compass I was saved +from making a circular tour and fell instead into frozen ditches or +stumbled over roots in the grass. I kept my course, however, until at +four o'clock, when night was coming rapidly up to lend a hand to the fog, +I was fain to confess myself lost.</p> + +<p>"The compass was now no good to me, and I wandered about miserably, +occasionally giving a shout on the chance of being heard by some passing +shepherd or farmhand. At length by great good luck I found my feet on a +rough road driven through the marshes, and by walking slowly and tapping +with my stick managed to keep to it. I had followed it for some distance +when I heard footsteps approaching me.</p> + +<p>"We stopped as we met, and the new arrival, a sturdy-looking countryman, +hearing of my plight, walked back with me for nearly a mile, and putting +me on to a road gave me minute instructions how to reach a village some +three miles distant.</p> + +<p>"I was so tired that three miles sounded like ten, and besides that, a +little way off from the road I saw dimly a lighted window. I pointed it +out, but my companion shuddered and looked round him uneasily.</p> + +<p>"'You won't get no good there,' he said, hastily.</p> + +<p>"'Why not?' I asked.</p> + +<p>"'There's a something there, sir,' he replied, 'what 'tis I dunno, but +the little 'un belonging to a gamekeeper as used to live in these parts +see it, and it was never much good afterward. Some say as it's a poor +mad thing, others says as it's a kind of animal; but whatever it is, it +ain't good to see.'</p> + +<p>"'Well, I'll keep on, then,' I said. 'Goodnight.'</p> + +<p>"He went back whistling cheerily until his footsteps died away in the +distance, and I followed the road he had indicated until it divided into +three, any one of which to a stranger might be said to lead straight on. +I was now cold and tired, and having half made up my mind walked slowly +back toward the house.</p> + +<p>"At first all I could see of it was the little patch of light at the +window. I made for that until it disappeared suddenly, and I found myself +walking into a tall hedge. I felt my way round this until I came to a +small gate, and opening it cautiously, walked, not without some little +nervousness, up a long path which led to the door. There was no light and +no sound from within. Half repenting of my temerity I shortened my stick +and knocked lightly upon the door.</p> + +<p>"I waited a couple of minutes and then knocked again, and my stick was +still beating the door when it opened suddenly and a tall bony old woman, +holding a candle, confronted me.</p> + +<p>"'What do you want?' she demanded gruffly.</p> + +<p>"'I've lost my way,' I said, civilly; 'I want to get to Ashville.'</p> + +<p>"'Don't know it,' said the old woman.</p> + +<p>"She was about to close the door when a man emerged from a room at the +side of the hall and came toward us. An old man of great height and +breadth of shoulder.</p> + +<p>"'Ashville is fifteen miles distant,' he said slowly.</p> + +<p>"'If you will direct me to the nearest village, I shall be grateful,' I +remarked.</p> + +<p>"He made no reply, but exchanged a quick, furtive glance with the woman. +She made a gesture of dissent.</p> + +<p>"'The nearest place is three miles off,' he said, turning to me and +apparently trying to soften a naturally harsh voice; 'if you will give me +the pleasure of your company, I will make you as comfortable as I can.'</p> + +<p>"I hesitated. They were certainly a queer-looking couple, and the gloomy +hall with the shadows thrown by the candle looked hardly more inviting +than the darkness outside.</p> + +<p>"'You are very kind,' I murmured, irresolutely, 'but—'</p> + +<p>"'Come in,' he said quickly; 'shut the door, Anne.'</p> + +<p>"Almost before I knew it I was standing inside and the old woman, +muttering to herself, had closed the door behind me. With a queer +sensation of being trapped I followed my host into the room, and taking +the proffered chair warmed my frozen fingers at the fire.</p> + +<p>"'Dinner will soon be ready,' said the old man, regarding me closely. 'If +you will excuse me.'</p> + +<p>"I bowed and he left the room. A minute afterward I heard voices; his +and the old woman's, and, I fancied, a third. Before I had finished my +inspection of the room he returned, and regarded me with the same strange +look I had noticed before.</p> + +<p>"'There will be three of us at dinner,' he said, at length. 'We two and +my son.'</p> + +<p>"I bowed again, and secretly hoped that that look didn't run in the +family.</p> + +<p>"'I suppose you don't mind dining in the dark,' he said, abruptly.</p> + +<p>"'Not at all,' I replied, hiding my surprise as well as I could, 'but +really I'm afraid I'm intruding. If you'll allow me—'</p> + +<p>"He waved his huge gaunt hands. 'We're not going to lose you now we've +got you,' he said, with a dry laugh. 'It's seldom we have company, and +now we've got you we'll keep you. My son's eyes are bad, and he can't +stand the light. Ah, here is Anne.'</p> + +<p>"As he spoke the old woman entered, and, eyeing me stealthily, began to +lay the cloth, while my host, taking a chair the other side of the +hearth, sat looking silently into the fire. The table set, the old woman +brought in a pair of fowls ready carved in a dish, and placing three +chairs, left the room. The old man hesitated a moment, and then, rising +from his chair, placed a large screen in front of the fire and slowly +extinguished the candles.</p> + +<p>"'Blind man's holiday,' he said, with clumsy jocosity, and groping his +way to the door opened it. Somebody came back into the room with him, +and in a slow, uncertain fashion took a seat at the table, and the +strangest voice I have ever heard broke a silence which was fast becoming +oppressive.</p> + +<p>"'A cold night,' it said slowly.</p> + +<p>"I replied in the affirmative, and light or no light, fell to with an +appetite which had only been sharpened by the snack in the middle of the +day. It was somewhat difficult eating in the dark, and it was evident +from the behaviour of my invisible companions that they were as unused to +dining under such circumstances as I was. We ate in silence until the +old woman blundered into the room with some sweets and put them with a +crash upon the table.</p> + +<p>"'Are you a stranger about here?' inquired the curious voice again.</p> + +<p>"I replied in the affirmative, and murmured something about my luck in +stumbling upon such a good dinner.</p> + +<p>"'Stumbling is a very good word for it,' said the voice grimly. 'You +have forgotten the port, father.'</p> + +<p>"'So I have,' said the old man, rising. 'It's a bottle of the +"Celebrated" to-day; I will get it myself.'</p> + +<p>"He felt his way to the door, and closing it behind him, left me alone +with my unseen neighbour. There was something so strange about the whole +business that I must confess to more than a slight feeling of uneasiness.</p> + +<p>"My host seemed to be absent a long time. I heard the man opposite lay +down his fork and spoon, and half fancied I could see a pair of wild eyes +shining through the gloom like a cat's.</p> + +<p>"With a growing sense of uneasiness I pushed my chair back. It caught +the hearthrug, and in my efforts to disentangle it the screen fell over +with a crash and in the flickering light of the fire I saw the face of +the creature opposite. With a sharp catch of my breath I left my chair +and stood with clenched fists beside it. Man or beast, which was it? +The flame leaped up and then went out, and in the mere red glow of the +fire it looked more devilish than before.</p> + +<p>"For a few moments we regarded each other in silence; then the door +opened and the old man returned. He stood aghast as he saw the warm +firelight, and then approaching the table mechanically put down a couple +of bottles.</p> + +<p>"'I beg your pardon,' said I, reassured by his presence, 'but I have +accidentally overturned the screen. Allow me to replace it.'</p> + +<p>"'No,' said the old man, gently, 'let it be.</p> + +<p>"'We have had enough of the dark. I'll give you a light.'</p> + +<p>"He struck a match and slowly lit the candles. Then—I saw that the man +opposite had but the remnant of a face, a gaunt wolfish face in which one +unquenched eye, the sole remaining feature, still glittered. I was +greatly moved, some suspicion of the truth occurring to me.</p> + +<p>"'My son was injured some years ago in a burning house,' said the old +man. 'Since then we have lived a very retired life. When you came to +the door we—' his voice trembled, 'that is-my son—'</p> + +<p>"'I thought," said the son simply, 'that it would be better for me not to +come to the dinner-table. But it happens to be my birthday, and my +father would not hear of my dining alone, so we hit upon this foolish +plan of dining in the dark. I'm sorry I startled you.'</p> + +<p>"'I am sorry,' said I, as I reached across the table and gripped his +hand, 'that I am such a fool; but it was only in the dark that you +startled me.'</p> + +<p>"From a faint tinge in the old man's cheek and a certain pleasant +softening of the poor solitary eye in front of me I secretly +congratulated myself upon this last remark.</p> + +<p>"'We never see a friend,' said the old man, apologetically, 'and the +temptation to have company was too much for us. Besides, I don't know +what else you could have done.'</p> + +<p>"'Nothing else half so good, I'm sure,' said I.</p> + +<p>"'Come,' said my host, with almost a sprightly air. 'Now we know each +other, draw our chairs to the fire and let's keep this birthday in a +proper fashion.'</p> + +<p>"He drew a small table to the fire for the glasses and produced a box of +cigars, and placing a chair for the old servant, sternly bade her to sit +down and drink. If the talk was not sparkling, it did not lack for +vivacity, and we were soon as merry a party as I have ever seen. The +night wore on so rapidly that we could hardly believe our ears when in a +lull in the conversation a clock in the hall struck twelve.</p> + +<p>"'A last toast before we retire,' said my host, pitching the end of his +cigar into the fire and turning to the small table.</p> + +<p>"We had drunk several before this, but there was something impressive in +the old man's manner as he rose and took up his glass. His tall figure +seemed to get taller, and his voice rang as he gazed proudly at his +disfigured son.</p> + +<p>"'The health of the children my boy saved!' he said, and drained his +glass at a draught."</p> + +<p>THE END.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Three at Table, by W.W. 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Jacobs + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Three at Table + The Lady of the Barge and Others, Part 12. + +Author: W.W. Jacobs + +Release Date: April 22, 2004 [EBook #12132] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE AT TABLE *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + +THE LADY OF THE BARGE + +AND OTHER STORIES + +By W. W. Jacobs + + + + +THREE AT TABLE + + +The talk in the coffee-room had been of ghosts and apparitions, and +nearly everybody present had contributed his mite to the stock of +information upon a hazy and somewhat thread-bare subject. Opinions +ranged from rank incredulity to childlike faith, one believer going so +far as to denounce unbelief as impious, with a reference to the Witch of +Endor, which was somewhat marred by being complicated in an inexplicable +fashion with the story of Jonah. + +"Talking of Jonah," he said solemnly, with a happy disregard of the fact +that he had declined to answer several eager questions put to him on the +subject, "look at the strange tales sailors tell us." + +"I wouldn't advise you to believe all those," said a bluff, clean-shaven +man, who had been listening without speaking much. "You see when a +sailor gets ashore he's expected to have something to tell, and his +friends would be rather disappointed if he had not." + +"It's a well-known fact," interrupted the first speaker firmly, "that +sailors are very prone to see visions." + +"They are," said the other dryly, "they generally see them in pairs, and +the shock to the nervous system frequently causes headache next morning." + +"You never saw anything yourself?" suggested an unbeliever. + +"Man and boy," said the other, "I've been at sea thirty years, and the +only unpleasant incident of that kind occurred in a quiet English +countryside." + +"And that?" said another man. + +"I was a young man at the time," said the narrator, drawing at his pipe +and glancing good-humouredly at the company. "I had just come back from +China, and my own people being away I went down into the country to +invite myself to stay with an uncle. When I got down to the place I +found it closed and the family in the South of France; but as they were +due back in a couple of days I decided to put up at the Royal George, +a very decent inn, and await their return. + +"The first day I passed well enough; but in the evening the dulness of +the rambling old place, in which I was the only visitor, began to weigh +upon my spirits, and the next morning after a late breakfast I set out +with the intention of having a brisk day's walk. + +"I started off in excellent spirits, for the day was bright and frosty, +with a powdering of snow on the iron-bound roads and nipped hedges, and +the country had to me all the charm of novelty. It was certainly flat, +but there was plenty of timber, and the villages through which I passed +were old and picturesque. + +"I lunched luxuriously on bread and cheese and beer in the bar of a small +inn, and resolved to go a little further before turning back. When at +length I found I had gone far enough, I turned up a lane at right angles +to the road I was passing, and resolved to find my way back by another +route. It is a long lane that has no turning, but this had several, each +of which had turnings of its own, which generally led, as I found by +trying two or three of them, into the open marshes. Then, tired of +lanes, I resolved to rely upon the small compass which hung from my watch +chain and go across country home. + +"I had got well into the marshes when a white fog, which had been for +some time hovering round the edge of the ditches, began gradually to +spread. There was no escaping it, but by aid of my compass I was saved +from making a circular tour and fell instead into frozen ditches or +stumbled over roots in the grass. I kept my course, however, until at +four o'clock, when night was coming rapidly up to lend a hand to the fog, +I was fain to confess myself lost. + +"The compass was now no good to me, and I wandered about miserably, +occasionally giving a shout on the chance of being heard by some passing +shepherd or farmhand. At length by great good luck I found my feet on a +rough road driven through the marshes, and by walking slowly and tapping +with my stick managed to keep to it. I had followed it for some distance +when I heard footsteps approaching me. + +"We stopped as we met, and the new arrival, a sturdy-looking countryman, +hearing of my plight, walked back with me for nearly a mile, and putting +me on to a road gave me minute instructions how to reach a village some +three miles distant. + +"I was so tired that three miles sounded like ten, and besides that, a +little way off from the road I saw dimly a lighted window. I pointed it +out, but my companion shuddered and looked round him uneasily. + +"'You won't get no good there,' he said, hastily. + +"'Why not?' I asked. + +"'There's a something there, sir,' he replied, 'what 'tis I dunno, but +the little 'un belonging to a gamekeeper as used to live in these parts +see it, and it was never much good afterward. Some say as it's a poor +mad thing, others says as it's a kind of animal; but whatever it is, it +ain't good to see.' + +"'Well, I'll keep on, then,' I said. 'Goodnight.' + +"He went back whistling cheerily until his footsteps died away in the +distance, and I followed the road he had indicated until it divided into +three, any one of which to a stranger might be said to lead straight on. +I was now cold and tired, and having half made up my mind walked slowly +back toward the house. + +"At first all I could see of it was the little patch of light at the +window. I made for that until it disappeared suddenly, and I found myself +walking into a tall hedge. I felt my way round this until I came to a +small gate, and opening it cautiously, walked, not without some little +nervousness, up a long path which led to the door. There was no light and +no sound from within. Half repenting of my temerity I shortened my stick +and knocked lightly upon the door. + +"I waited a couple of minutes and then knocked again, and my stick was +still beating the door when it opened suddenly and a tall bony old woman, +holding a candle, confronted me. + +"'What do you want?' she demanded gruffly. + +"'I've lost my way,' I said, civilly; 'I want to get to Ashville.' + +"'Don't know it,' said the old woman. + +"She was about to close the door when a man emerged from a room at the +side of the hall and came toward us. An old man of great height and +breadth of shoulder. + +"'Ashville is fifteen miles distant,' he said slowly. + +"'If you will direct me to the nearest village, I shall be grateful,' I +remarked. + +"He made no reply, but exchanged a quick, furtive glance with the woman. +She made a gesture of dissent. + +"'The nearest place is three miles off,' he said, turning to me and +apparently trying to soften a naturally harsh voice; 'if you will give me +the pleasure of your company, I will make you as comfortable as I can.' + +"I hesitated. They were certainly a queer-looking couple, and the gloomy +hall with the shadows thrown by the candle looked hardly more inviting +than the darkness outside. + +"'You are very kind,' I murmured, irresolutely, 'but--' + +"'Come in,' he said quickly; 'shut the door, Anne.' + +"Almost before I knew it I was standing inside and the old woman, +muttering to herself, had closed the door behind me. With a queer +sensation of being trapped I followed my host into the room, and taking +the proffered chair warmed my frozen fingers at the fire. + +"'Dinner will soon be ready,' said the old man, regarding me closely. 'If +you will excuse me.' + +"I bowed and he left the room. A minute afterward I heard voices; his +and the old woman's, and, I fancied, a third. Before I had finished my +inspection of the room he returned, and regarded me with the same strange +look I had noticed before. + +"'There will be three of us at dinner,' he said, at length. 'We two and +my son.' + +"I bowed again, and secretly hoped that that look didn't run in the +family. + +"'I suppose you don't mind dining in the dark,' he said, abruptly. + +"'Not at all,' I replied, hiding my surprise as well as I could, 'but +really I'm afraid I'm intruding. If you'll allow me--' + +"He waved his huge gaunt hands. 'We're not going to lose you now we've +got you,' he said, with a dry laugh. 'It's seldom we have company, and +now we've got you we'll keep you. My son's eyes are bad, and he can't +stand the light. Ah, here is Anne.' + +"As he spoke the old woman entered, and, eyeing me stealthily, began to +lay the cloth, while my host, taking a chair the other side of the +hearth, sat looking silently into the fire. The table set, the old woman +brought in a pair of fowls ready carved in a dish, and placing three +chairs, left the room. The old man hesitated a moment, and then, rising +from his chair, placed a large screen in front of the fire and slowly +extinguished the candles. + +"'Blind man's holiday,' he said, with clumsy jocosity, and groping his +way to the door opened it. Somebody came back into the room with him, +and in a slow, uncertain fashion took a seat at the table, and the +strangest voice I have ever heard broke a silence which was fast becoming +oppressive. + +"'A cold night,' it said slowly. + +"I replied in the affirmative, and light or no light, fell to with an +appetite which had only been sharpened by the snack in the middle of the +day. It was somewhat difficult eating in the dark, and it was evident +from the behaviour of my invisible companions that they were as unused to +dining under such circumstances as I was. We ate in silence until the +old woman blundered into the room with some sweets and put them with a +crash upon the table. + +"'Are you a stranger about here?' inquired the curious voice again. + +"I replied in the affirmative, and murmured something about my luck in +stumbling upon such a good dinner. + +"'Stumbling is a very good word for it,' said the voice grimly. 'You +have forgotten the port, father.' + +"'So I have,' said the old man, rising. 'It's a bottle of the +"Celebrated" to-day; I will get it myself.' + +"He felt his way to the door, and closing it behind him, left me alone +with my unseen neighbour. There was something so strange about the whole +business that I must confess to more than a slight feeling of uneasiness. + +"My host seemed to be absent a long time. I heard the man opposite lay +down his fork and spoon, and half fancied I could see a pair of wild eyes +shining through the gloom like a cat's. + +"With a growing sense of uneasiness I pushed my chair back. It caught +the hearthrug, and in my efforts to disentangle it the screen fell over +with a crash and in the flickering light of the fire I saw the face of +the creature opposite. With a sharp catch of my breath I left my chair +and stood with clenched fists beside it. Man or beast, which was it? +The flame leaped up and then went out, and in the mere red glow of the +fire it looked more devilish than before. + +"For a few moments we regarded each other in silence; then the door +opened and the old man returned. He stood aghast as he saw the warm +firelight, and then approaching the table mechanically put down a couple +of bottles. + +"'I beg your pardon,' said I, reassured by his presence, 'but I have +accidentally overturned the screen. Allow me to replace it.' + +"'No,' said the old man, gently, 'let it be. + +"'We have had enough of the dark. I'll give you a light.' + +"He struck a match and slowly lit the candles. Then--I saw that the man +opposite had but the remnant of a face, a gaunt wolfish face in which one +unquenched eye, the sole remaining feature, still glittered. I was +greatly moved, some suspicion of the truth occurring to me. + +"'My son was injured some years ago in a burning house,' said the old +man. 'Since then we have lived a very retired life. When you came to +the door we--' his voice trembled, 'that is-my son---' + +"'I thought," said the son simply, 'that it would be better for me not to +come to the dinner-table. But it happens to be my birthday, and my +father would not hear of my dining alone, so we hit upon this foolish +plan of dining in the dark. I'm sorry I startled you.' + +"'I am sorry,' said I, as I reached across the table and gripped his +hand, 'that I am such a fool; but it was only in the dark that you +startled me.' + +"From a faint tinge in the old man's cheek and a certain pleasant +softening of the poor solitary eye in front of me I secretly +congratulated myself upon this last remark. + +"'We never see a friend,' said the old man, apologetically, 'and the +temptation to have company was too much for us. Besides, I don't know +what else you could have done.' + +"'Nothing else half so good, I'm sure,' said I. + +"'Come,' said my host, with almost a sprightly air. 'Now we know each +other, draw our chairs to the fire and let's keep this birthday in a +proper fashion.' + +"He drew a small table to the fire for the glasses and produced a box of +cigars, and placing a chair for the old servant, sternly bade her to sit +down and drink. If the talk was not sparkling, it did not lack for +vivacity, and we were soon as merry a party as I have ever seen. The +night wore on so rapidly that we could hardly believe our ears when in a +lull in the conversation a clock in the hall struck twelve. + +"'A last toast before we retire,' said my host, pitching the end of his +cigar into the fire and turning to the small table. + +"We had drunk several before this, but there was something impressive in +the old man's manner as he rose and took up his glass. His tall figure +seemed to get taller, and his voice rang as he gazed proudly at his +disfigured son. + +"'The health of the children my boy saved!' he said, and drained his +glass at a draught." + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Three at Table, by W.W. Jacobs + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE AT TABLE *** + +***** This file should be named 12132.txt or 12132.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/1/3/12132/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ad19b58 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #12132 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12132) diff --git a/old/12132-h.zip b/old/12132-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..26b316f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12132-h.zip diff --git a/old/12132-h/12132-h.htm b/old/12132-h/12132-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ff00c42 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12132-h/12132-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,801 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>THE LADY OF THE BARGE AND OTHERS</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> +<style type="text/css"> +<!-- +body {margin:10%; text-align:justify} +img {border: 0;} +--> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Three at Table, by W.W. Jacobs + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Three at Table + The Lady of the Barge and Others, Part 12. + +Author: W.W. Jacobs + +Release Date: April 22, 2004 [EBook #12132] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE AT TABLE *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="cover.jpg (102K)" src="cover.jpg" height="923" width="738"> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="title.jpg (40K)" src="title.jpg" height="602" width="442"> +</center> +<br><br> + + + +<center> +<h1>THE LADY OF THE BARGE<br><br> +AND OTHER STORIES</h1> +<br><br> +<h2>By W. W. Jacobs</h2> +</center> + +<a name="frontis"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="frontis.jpg (80K)" src="frontis.jpg" height="742" width="503"> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<br><br><br><br> + + + + +<br><br><hr><br><br> + +<a name="c12"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<h2> +THREE AT TABLE +</h2> +</center> +<br> + +<p>The talk in the coffee-room had been of ghosts and apparitions, and +nearly everybody present had contributed his mite to the stock of +information upon a hazy and somewhat thread-bare subject. Opinions +ranged from rank incredulity to childlike faith, one believer going so +far as to denounce unbelief as impious, with a reference to the Witch of +Endor, which was somewhat marred by being complicated in an inexplicable +fashion with the story of Jonah.</p> + +<p>"Talking of Jonah," he said solemnly, with a happy disregard of the fact +that he had declined to answer several eager questions put to him on the +subject, "look at the strange tales sailors tell us."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't advise you to believe all those," said a bluff, clean-shaven +man, who had been listening without speaking much. "You see when a +sailor gets ashore he's expected to have something to tell, and his +friends would be rather disappointed if he had not."</p> + +<p>"It's a well-known fact," interrupted the first speaker firmly, "that +sailors are very prone to see visions."</p> + +<p>"They are," said the other dryly, "they generally see them in pairs, and +the shock to the nervous system frequently causes headache next morning."</p> + +<p>"You never saw anything yourself?" suggested an unbeliever.</p> + +<p>"Man and boy," said the other, "I've been at sea thirty years, and the +only unpleasant incident of that kind occurred in a quiet English +countryside."</p> + +<p>"And that?" said another man.</p> + +<p>"I was a young man at the time," said the narrator, drawing at his pipe +and glancing good-humouredly at the company. "I had just come back from +China, and my own people being away I went down into the country to +invite myself to stay with an uncle. When I got down to the place I +found it closed and the family in the South of France; but as they were +due back in a couple of days I decided to put up at the Royal George, +a very decent inn, and await their return.</p> + +<p>"The first day I passed well enough; but in the evening the dulness of +the rambling old place, in which I was the only visitor, began to weigh +upon my spirits, and the next morning after a late breakfast I set out +with the intention of having a brisk day's walk.</p> + +<p>"I started off in excellent spirits, for the day was bright and frosty, +with a powdering of snow on the iron-bound roads and nipped hedges, and +the country had to me all the charm of novelty. It was certainly flat, +but there was plenty of timber, and the villages through which I passed +were old and picturesque.</p> + +<p>"I lunched luxuriously on bread and cheese and beer in the bar of a small +inn, and resolved to go a little further before turning back. When at +length I found I had gone far enough, I turned up a lane at right angles +to the road I was passing, and resolved to find my way back by another +route. It is a long lane that has no turning, but this had several, each +of which had turnings of its own, which generally led, as I found by +trying two or three of them, into the open marshes. Then, tired of +lanes, I resolved to rely upon the small compass which hung from my watch +chain and go across country home.</p> + +<p>"I had got well into the marshes when a white fog, which had been for +some time hovering round the edge of the ditches, began gradually to +spread. There was no escaping it, but by aid of my compass I was saved +from making a circular tour and fell instead into frozen ditches or +stumbled over roots in the grass. I kept my course, however, until at +four o'clock, when night was coming rapidly up to lend a hand to the fog, +I was fain to confess myself lost.</p> + +<p>"The compass was now no good to me, and I wandered about miserably, +occasionally giving a shout on the chance of being heard by some passing +shepherd or farmhand. At length by great good luck I found my feet on a +rough road driven through the marshes, and by walking slowly and tapping +with my stick managed to keep to it. I had followed it for some distance +when I heard footsteps approaching me.</p> + +<p>"We stopped as we met, and the new arrival, a sturdy-looking countryman, +hearing of my plight, walked back with me for nearly a mile, and putting +me on to a road gave me minute instructions how to reach a village some +three miles distant.</p> + +<p>"I was so tired that three miles sounded like ten, and besides that, a +little way off from the road I saw dimly a lighted window. I pointed it +out, but my companion shuddered and looked round him uneasily.</p> + +<p>"'You won't get no good there,' he said, hastily.</p> + +<p>"'Why not?' I asked.</p> + +<p>"'There's a something there, sir,' he replied, 'what 'tis I dunno, but +the little 'un belonging to a gamekeeper as used to live in these parts +see it, and it was never much good afterward. Some say as it's a poor +mad thing, others says as it's a kind of animal; but whatever it is, it +ain't good to see.'</p> + +<p>"'Well, I'll keep on, then,' I said. 'Goodnight.'</p> + +<p>"He went back whistling cheerily until his footsteps died away in the +distance, and I followed the road he had indicated until it divided into +three, any one of which to a stranger might be said to lead straight on. +I was now cold and tired, and having half made up my mind walked slowly +back toward the house.</p> + +<p>"At first all I could see of it was the little patch of light at the +window. I made for that until it disappeared suddenly, and I found myself +walking into a tall hedge. I felt my way round this until I came to a +small gate, and opening it cautiously, walked, not without some little +nervousness, up a long path which led to the door. There was no light and +no sound from within. Half repenting of my temerity I shortened my stick +and knocked lightly upon the door.</p> + +<p>"I waited a couple of minutes and then knocked again, and my stick was +still beating the door when it opened suddenly and a tall bony old woman, +holding a candle, confronted me.</p> + +<p>"'What do you want?' she demanded gruffly.</p> + +<p>"'I've lost my way,' I said, civilly; 'I want to get to Ashville.'</p> + +<p>"'Don't know it,' said the old woman.</p> + +<p>"She was about to close the door when a man emerged from a room at the +side of the hall and came toward us. An old man of great height and +breadth of shoulder.</p> + +<p>"'Ashville is fifteen miles distant,' he said slowly.</p> + +<p>"'If you will direct me to the nearest village, I shall be grateful,' I +remarked.</p> + +<p>"He made no reply, but exchanged a quick, furtive glance with the woman. +She made a gesture of dissent.</p> + +<p>"'The nearest place is three miles off,' he said, turning to me and +apparently trying to soften a naturally harsh voice; 'if you will give me +the pleasure of your company, I will make you as comfortable as I can.'</p> + +<p>"I hesitated. They were certainly a queer-looking couple, and the gloomy +hall with the shadows thrown by the candle looked hardly more inviting +than the darkness outside.</p> + +<p>"'You are very kind,' I murmured, irresolutely, 'but—'</p> + +<p>"'Come in,' he said quickly; 'shut the door, Anne.'</p> + +<p>"Almost before I knew it I was standing inside and the old woman, +muttering to herself, had closed the door behind me. With a queer +sensation of being trapped I followed my host into the room, and taking +the proffered chair warmed my frozen fingers at the fire.</p> + +<p>"'Dinner will soon be ready,' said the old man, regarding me closely. 'If +you will excuse me.'</p> + +<p>"I bowed and he left the room. A minute afterward I heard voices; his +and the old woman's, and, I fancied, a third. Before I had finished my +inspection of the room he returned, and regarded me with the same strange +look I had noticed before.</p> + +<p>"'There will be three of us at dinner,' he said, at length. 'We two and +my son.'</p> + +<p>"I bowed again, and secretly hoped that that look didn't run in the +family.</p> + +<p>"'I suppose you don't mind dining in the dark,' he said, abruptly.</p> + +<p>"'Not at all,' I replied, hiding my surprise as well as I could, 'but +really I'm afraid I'm intruding. If you'll allow me—'</p> + +<p>"He waved his huge gaunt hands. 'We're not going to lose you now we've +got you,' he said, with a dry laugh. 'It's seldom we have company, and +now we've got you we'll keep you. My son's eyes are bad, and he can't +stand the light. Ah, here is Anne.'</p> + +<p>"As he spoke the old woman entered, and, eyeing me stealthily, began to +lay the cloth, while my host, taking a chair the other side of the +hearth, sat looking silently into the fire. The table set, the old woman +brought in a pair of fowls ready carved in a dish, and placing three +chairs, left the room. The old man hesitated a moment, and then, rising +from his chair, placed a large screen in front of the fire and slowly +extinguished the candles.</p> + +<p>"'Blind man's holiday,' he said, with clumsy jocosity, and groping his +way to the door opened it. Somebody came back into the room with him, +and in a slow, uncertain fashion took a seat at the table, and the +strangest voice I have ever heard broke a silence which was fast becoming +oppressive.</p> + +<p>"'A cold night,' it said slowly.</p> + +<p>"I replied in the affirmative, and light or no light, fell to with an +appetite which had only been sharpened by the snack in the middle of the +day. It was somewhat difficult eating in the dark, and it was evident +from the behaviour of my invisible companions that they were as unused to +dining under such circumstances as I was. We ate in silence until the +old woman blundered into the room with some sweets and put them with a +crash upon the table.</p> + +<p>"'Are you a stranger about here?' inquired the curious voice again.</p> + +<p>"I replied in the affirmative, and murmured something about my luck in +stumbling upon such a good dinner.</p> + +<p>"'Stumbling is a very good word for it,' said the voice grimly. 'You +have forgotten the port, father.'</p> + +<p>"'So I have,' said the old man, rising. 'It's a bottle of the +"Celebrated" to-day; I will get it myself.'</p> + +<p>"He felt his way to the door, and closing it behind him, left me alone +with my unseen neighbour. There was something so strange about the whole +business that I must confess to more than a slight feeling of uneasiness.</p> + +<p>"My host seemed to be absent a long time. I heard the man opposite lay +down his fork and spoon, and half fancied I could see a pair of wild eyes +shining through the gloom like a cat's.</p> + +<p>"With a growing sense of uneasiness I pushed my chair back. It caught +the hearthrug, and in my efforts to disentangle it the screen fell over +with a crash and in the flickering light of the fire I saw the face of +the creature opposite. With a sharp catch of my breath I left my chair +and stood with clenched fists beside it. Man or beast, which was it? +The flame leaped up and then went out, and in the mere red glow of the +fire it looked more devilish than before.</p> + +<p>"For a few moments we regarded each other in silence; then the door +opened and the old man returned. He stood aghast as he saw the warm +firelight, and then approaching the table mechanically put down a couple +of bottles.</p> + +<p>"'I beg your pardon,' said I, reassured by his presence, 'but I have +accidentally overturned the screen. Allow me to replace it.'</p> + +<p>"'No,' said the old man, gently, 'let it be.</p> + +<p>"'We have had enough of the dark. I'll give you a light.'</p> + +<p>"He struck a match and slowly lit the candles. Then—I saw that the man +opposite had but the remnant of a face, a gaunt wolfish face in which one +unquenched eye, the sole remaining feature, still glittered. I was +greatly moved, some suspicion of the truth occurring to me.</p> + +<p>"'My son was injured some years ago in a burning house,' said the old +man. 'Since then we have lived a very retired life. When you came to +the door we—' his voice trembled, 'that is-my son—'</p> + +<p>"'I thought," said the son simply, 'that it would be better for me not to +come to the dinner-table. But it happens to be my birthday, and my +father would not hear of my dining alone, so we hit upon this foolish +plan of dining in the dark. I'm sorry I startled you.'</p> + +<p>"'I am sorry,' said I, as I reached across the table and gripped his +hand, 'that I am such a fool; but it was only in the dark that you +startled me.'</p> + +<p>"From a faint tinge in the old man's cheek and a certain pleasant +softening of the poor solitary eye in front of me I secretly +congratulated myself upon this last remark.</p> + +<p>"'We never see a friend,' said the old man, apologetically, 'and the +temptation to have company was too much for us. Besides, I don't know +what else you could have done.'</p> + +<p>"'Nothing else half so good, I'm sure,' said I.</p> + +<p>"'Come,' said my host, with almost a sprightly air. 'Now we know each +other, draw our chairs to the fire and let's keep this birthday in a +proper fashion.'</p> + +<p>"He drew a small table to the fire for the glasses and produced a box of +cigars, and placing a chair for the old servant, sternly bade her to sit +down and drink. If the talk was not sparkling, it did not lack for +vivacity, and we were soon as merry a party as I have ever seen. The +night wore on so rapidly that we could hardly believe our ears when in a +lull in the conversation a clock in the hall struck twelve.</p> + +<p>"'A last toast before we retire,' said my host, pitching the end of his +cigar into the fire and turning to the small table.</p> + +<p>"We had drunk several before this, but there was something impressive in +the old man's manner as he rose and took up his glass. His tall figure +seemed to get taller, and his voice rang as he gazed proudly at his +disfigured son.</p> + +<p>"'The health of the children my boy saved!' he said, and drained his +glass at a draught."</p> + +<p>THE END.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Three at Table, by W.W. 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Jacobs + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Three at Table + The Lady of the Barge and Others, Part 12. + +Author: W.W. Jacobs + +Release Date: April 22, 2004 [EBook #12132] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE AT TABLE *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + +THE LADY OF THE BARGE + +AND OTHER STORIES + +By W. W. Jacobs + + + + +THREE AT TABLE + + +The talk in the coffee-room had been of ghosts and apparitions, and +nearly everybody present had contributed his mite to the stock of +information upon a hazy and somewhat thread-bare subject. Opinions +ranged from rank incredulity to childlike faith, one believer going so +far as to denounce unbelief as impious, with a reference to the Witch of +Endor, which was somewhat marred by being complicated in an inexplicable +fashion with the story of Jonah. + +"Talking of Jonah," he said solemnly, with a happy disregard of the fact +that he had declined to answer several eager questions put to him on the +subject, "look at the strange tales sailors tell us." + +"I wouldn't advise you to believe all those," said a bluff, clean-shaven +man, who had been listening without speaking much. "You see when a +sailor gets ashore he's expected to have something to tell, and his +friends would be rather disappointed if he had not." + +"It's a well-known fact," interrupted the first speaker firmly, "that +sailors are very prone to see visions." + +"They are," said the other dryly, "they generally see them in pairs, and +the shock to the nervous system frequently causes headache next morning." + +"You never saw anything yourself?" suggested an unbeliever. + +"Man and boy," said the other, "I've been at sea thirty years, and the +only unpleasant incident of that kind occurred in a quiet English +countryside." + +"And that?" said another man. + +"I was a young man at the time," said the narrator, drawing at his pipe +and glancing good-humouredly at the company. "I had just come back from +China, and my own people being away I went down into the country to +invite myself to stay with an uncle. When I got down to the place I +found it closed and the family in the South of France; but as they were +due back in a couple of days I decided to put up at the Royal George, +a very decent inn, and await their return. + +"The first day I passed well enough; but in the evening the dulness of +the rambling old place, in which I was the only visitor, began to weigh +upon my spirits, and the next morning after a late breakfast I set out +with the intention of having a brisk day's walk. + +"I started off in excellent spirits, for the day was bright and frosty, +with a powdering of snow on the iron-bound roads and nipped hedges, and +the country had to me all the charm of novelty. It was certainly flat, +but there was plenty of timber, and the villages through which I passed +were old and picturesque. + +"I lunched luxuriously on bread and cheese and beer in the bar of a small +inn, and resolved to go a little further before turning back. When at +length I found I had gone far enough, I turned up a lane at right angles +to the road I was passing, and resolved to find my way back by another +route. It is a long lane that has no turning, but this had several, each +of which had turnings of its own, which generally led, as I found by +trying two or three of them, into the open marshes. Then, tired of +lanes, I resolved to rely upon the small compass which hung from my watch +chain and go across country home. + +"I had got well into the marshes when a white fog, which had been for +some time hovering round the edge of the ditches, began gradually to +spread. There was no escaping it, but by aid of my compass I was saved +from making a circular tour and fell instead into frozen ditches or +stumbled over roots in the grass. I kept my course, however, until at +four o'clock, when night was coming rapidly up to lend a hand to the fog, +I was fain to confess myself lost. + +"The compass was now no good to me, and I wandered about miserably, +occasionally giving a shout on the chance of being heard by some passing +shepherd or farmhand. At length by great good luck I found my feet on a +rough road driven through the marshes, and by walking slowly and tapping +with my stick managed to keep to it. I had followed it for some distance +when I heard footsteps approaching me. + +"We stopped as we met, and the new arrival, a sturdy-looking countryman, +hearing of my plight, walked back with me for nearly a mile, and putting +me on to a road gave me minute instructions how to reach a village some +three miles distant. + +"I was so tired that three miles sounded like ten, and besides that, a +little way off from the road I saw dimly a lighted window. I pointed it +out, but my companion shuddered and looked round him uneasily. + +"'You won't get no good there,' he said, hastily. + +"'Why not?' I asked. + +"'There's a something there, sir,' he replied, 'what 'tis I dunno, but +the little 'un belonging to a gamekeeper as used to live in these parts +see it, and it was never much good afterward. Some say as it's a poor +mad thing, others says as it's a kind of animal; but whatever it is, it +ain't good to see.' + +"'Well, I'll keep on, then,' I said. 'Goodnight.' + +"He went back whistling cheerily until his footsteps died away in the +distance, and I followed the road he had indicated until it divided into +three, any one of which to a stranger might be said to lead straight on. +I was now cold and tired, and having half made up my mind walked slowly +back toward the house. + +"At first all I could see of it was the little patch of light at the +window. I made for that until it disappeared suddenly, and I found myself +walking into a tall hedge. I felt my way round this until I came to a +small gate, and opening it cautiously, walked, not without some little +nervousness, up a long path which led to the door. There was no light and +no sound from within. Half repenting of my temerity I shortened my stick +and knocked lightly upon the door. + +"I waited a couple of minutes and then knocked again, and my stick was +still beating the door when it opened suddenly and a tall bony old woman, +holding a candle, confronted me. + +"'What do you want?' she demanded gruffly. + +"'I've lost my way,' I said, civilly; 'I want to get to Ashville.' + +"'Don't know it,' said the old woman. + +"She was about to close the door when a man emerged from a room at the +side of the hall and came toward us. An old man of great height and +breadth of shoulder. + +"'Ashville is fifteen miles distant,' he said slowly. + +"'If you will direct me to the nearest village, I shall be grateful,' I +remarked. + +"He made no reply, but exchanged a quick, furtive glance with the woman. +She made a gesture of dissent. + +"'The nearest place is three miles off,' he said, turning to me and +apparently trying to soften a naturally harsh voice; 'if you will give me +the pleasure of your company, I will make you as comfortable as I can.' + +"I hesitated. They were certainly a queer-looking couple, and the gloomy +hall with the shadows thrown by the candle looked hardly more inviting +than the darkness outside. + +"'You are very kind,' I murmured, irresolutely, 'but--' + +"'Come in,' he said quickly; 'shut the door, Anne.' + +"Almost before I knew it I was standing inside and the old woman, +muttering to herself, had closed the door behind me. With a queer +sensation of being trapped I followed my host into the room, and taking +the proffered chair warmed my frozen fingers at the fire. + +"'Dinner will soon be ready,' said the old man, regarding me closely. 'If +you will excuse me.' + +"I bowed and he left the room. A minute afterward I heard voices; his +and the old woman's, and, I fancied, a third. Before I had finished my +inspection of the room he returned, and regarded me with the same strange +look I had noticed before. + +"'There will be three of us at dinner,' he said, at length. 'We two and +my son.' + +"I bowed again, and secretly hoped that that look didn't run in the +family. + +"'I suppose you don't mind dining in the dark,' he said, abruptly. + +"'Not at all,' I replied, hiding my surprise as well as I could, 'but +really I'm afraid I'm intruding. If you'll allow me--' + +"He waved his huge gaunt hands. 'We're not going to lose you now we've +got you,' he said, with a dry laugh. 'It's seldom we have company, and +now we've got you we'll keep you. My son's eyes are bad, and he can't +stand the light. Ah, here is Anne.' + +"As he spoke the old woman entered, and, eyeing me stealthily, began to +lay the cloth, while my host, taking a chair the other side of the +hearth, sat looking silently into the fire. The table set, the old woman +brought in a pair of fowls ready carved in a dish, and placing three +chairs, left the room. The old man hesitated a moment, and then, rising +from his chair, placed a large screen in front of the fire and slowly +extinguished the candles. + +"'Blind man's holiday,' he said, with clumsy jocosity, and groping his +way to the door opened it. Somebody came back into the room with him, +and in a slow, uncertain fashion took a seat at the table, and the +strangest voice I have ever heard broke a silence which was fast becoming +oppressive. + +"'A cold night,' it said slowly. + +"I replied in the affirmative, and light or no light, fell to with an +appetite which had only been sharpened by the snack in the middle of the +day. It was somewhat difficult eating in the dark, and it was evident +from the behaviour of my invisible companions that they were as unused to +dining under such circumstances as I was. We ate in silence until the +old woman blundered into the room with some sweets and put them with a +crash upon the table. + +"'Are you a stranger about here?' inquired the curious voice again. + +"I replied in the affirmative, and murmured something about my luck in +stumbling upon such a good dinner. + +"'Stumbling is a very good word for it,' said the voice grimly. 'You +have forgotten the port, father.' + +"'So I have,' said the old man, rising. 'It's a bottle of the +"Celebrated" to-day; I will get it myself.' + +"He felt his way to the door, and closing it behind him, left me alone +with my unseen neighbour. There was something so strange about the whole +business that I must confess to more than a slight feeling of uneasiness. + +"My host seemed to be absent a long time. I heard the man opposite lay +down his fork and spoon, and half fancied I could see a pair of wild eyes +shining through the gloom like a cat's. + +"With a growing sense of uneasiness I pushed my chair back. It caught +the hearthrug, and in my efforts to disentangle it the screen fell over +with a crash and in the flickering light of the fire I saw the face of +the creature opposite. With a sharp catch of my breath I left my chair +and stood with clenched fists beside it. Man or beast, which was it? +The flame leaped up and then went out, and in the mere red glow of the +fire it looked more devilish than before. + +"For a few moments we regarded each other in silence; then the door +opened and the old man returned. He stood aghast as he saw the warm +firelight, and then approaching the table mechanically put down a couple +of bottles. + +"'I beg your pardon,' said I, reassured by his presence, 'but I have +accidentally overturned the screen. Allow me to replace it.' + +"'No,' said the old man, gently, 'let it be. + +"'We have had enough of the dark. I'll give you a light.' + +"He struck a match and slowly lit the candles. Then--I saw that the man +opposite had but the remnant of a face, a gaunt wolfish face in which one +unquenched eye, the sole remaining feature, still glittered. I was +greatly moved, some suspicion of the truth occurring to me. + +"'My son was injured some years ago in a burning house,' said the old +man. 'Since then we have lived a very retired life. When you came to +the door we--' his voice trembled, 'that is-my son---' + +"'I thought," said the son simply, 'that it would be better for me not to +come to the dinner-table. But it happens to be my birthday, and my +father would not hear of my dining alone, so we hit upon this foolish +plan of dining in the dark. I'm sorry I startled you.' + +"'I am sorry,' said I, as I reached across the table and gripped his +hand, 'that I am such a fool; but it was only in the dark that you +startled me.' + +"From a faint tinge in the old man's cheek and a certain pleasant +softening of the poor solitary eye in front of me I secretly +congratulated myself upon this last remark. + +"'We never see a friend,' said the old man, apologetically, 'and the +temptation to have company was too much for us. Besides, I don't know +what else you could have done.' + +"'Nothing else half so good, I'm sure,' said I. + +"'Come,' said my host, with almost a sprightly air. 'Now we know each +other, draw our chairs to the fire and let's keep this birthday in a +proper fashion.' + +"He drew a small table to the fire for the glasses and produced a box of +cigars, and placing a chair for the old servant, sternly bade her to sit +down and drink. If the talk was not sparkling, it did not lack for +vivacity, and we were soon as merry a party as I have ever seen. The +night wore on so rapidly that we could hardly believe our ears when in a +lull in the conversation a clock in the hall struck twelve. + +"'A last toast before we retire,' said my host, pitching the end of his +cigar into the fire and turning to the small table. + +"We had drunk several before this, but there was something impressive in +the old man's manner as he rose and took up his glass. His tall figure +seemed to get taller, and his voice rang as he gazed proudly at his +disfigured son. + +"'The health of the children my boy saved!' he said, and drained his +glass at a draught." + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Three at Table, by W.W. Jacobs + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE AT TABLE *** + +***** This file should be named 12132.txt or 12132.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/1/3/12132/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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