第7章

Thisisolationis，Ithink，gettingonmynerves。IthoughtforawhilelastnightthatIwasgettingon，butthereactioncamealltoosoon。Iwasinmyroomintheeastturret，theroomonthecorbeille，andsawhereandtheremenpassingsilentlyandswiftlybetweenthetreesasthoughinsecret。By—and—byIlocatedtheirmeeting—place，whichwasinahollowinthemidstofthewoodjustoutsidethe"natural"garden，asthemaporplanofthecastlecallsit。IstalkedthatplaceforallIwasworth，andsuddenlywalkedstraightintothemidstofthem。Therewereperhapstwoorthreehundredgathered，abouttheveryfinestlotofmenIeversawinmylife。Itwasinitswayquiteanexperience，andonenotlikelytoberepeated，for，asItoldyou，inthiscountryeverymancarriesarifle，andknowshowtouseit。IdonotthinkIhaveseenasingleman（ormarriedmaneither）withouthisriflesinceIcamehere。I

wonderiftheytakethemwiththemtobed！Well，theinstantafterI

stoodamongstthemeveryrifleintheplacewasaimedstraightatme。

Don’tbealarmed，AuntJanet；theydidnotfireatme。IftheyhadI

shouldnotbewritingtoyounow。Ishouldbeinthatlittlebitofrealestateorthestonebox，andaboutasfullofleadasIcouldhold。Ordinarily，Itakeit，theywouldhavefiredontheinstant；

thatistheetiquettehere。Butthistimethey——allseparatelybutalltogether——madeanewrule。Noonesaidawordor，sofarasI

couldsee，madeamovement。Herecameinmyownexperience。Ihadbeenmorethanonceinatightplaceofsomethingofthesamekind，soIsimplybehavedinthemostnaturalwayIcould。Ifeltconscious——itwasallinaflash，remember——thatifIshowedfearorcauseforfear，orevenacknowledgeddangerbysomuchasevenholdingupmyhands，Ishouldhavedrawnallthefire。Theyallremainedstock—still，asthoughtheyhadbeenturnedintostone，forseveralseconds。Thenaqueerkindoflookflashedroundthemlikewindovercorn——somethinglikethesurpriseoneshowsunconsciouslyonwakinginastrangeplace。Asecondaftertheyeachdroppedtherifletothehollowofhisarmandstoodreadyforanything。ItwasallasregularandquickandsimultaneousasasaluteatSt。James’sPalace。

HappilyIhadnoarmsofanykindwithme，sothattherecouldbenocomplication。Iamratheraquickhandmyselfwhenthereisanyshootingtobedone。However，therewasnotroublehere，butthecontrary；theBlueMountaineers——itsoundslikeanewsortofBondStreetband，doesn’tit？——treatedmeinquiteadifferentwaythantheydidwhenIfirstmetthem。Theywereamazinglycivil，almostdeferential。But，alltimesame，theyweremoredistantthanever，andallthetimeIwasthereIcouldgetnotawhitclosertothem。

Theyseemedinasortofwaytobeafraidorinaweofme。Nodoubtthatwillsoonpassaway，andwhenweknowoneanotherbetterweshallbecomeclosefriends。Theyaretoofinefellowsnottobeworthalittlewaitingfor。（Thatsentence，bytheway，isaprettybadsentence！Inolddaysyouwouldhaveslipperedmeforit！）Yourjourneyisallarranged，andIhopeyouwillbecomfortable。RookewillmeetyouatLiverpoolStreetandlookaftereverything。

Ishan’twriteagain，butwhenwemeetatFiumeIshallbegintotellyoualltherest。Tillthen，good—bye。Agoodjourneytoyou，andahappymeetingtousboth。

RUPERT。

LetterfromJanetMacKelpie，Vissarion，toSirColinMacKelpie，UnitedServiceClub，London。

DEARESTUNCLE，February28，1907。

IhadaverycomfortablejourneyallacrossEurope。RupertwrotetomesometimeagotosaythatwhenIgottoVissarionIshouldbeanEmpress，andhecertainlytookcarethatonthewayhereIshouldbetreatedlikeone。Rooke，whoseemsawonderfuloldman，wasinthenextcompartmenttothatreservedforme。AtHarwichhehadeverythingarrangedperfectly，andsorightontoFiume。Everywheretherewereattentiveofficialswaiting。Ihadacarriagealltomyself，whichIjoinedatAntwerp——awholecarriagewithasuiteofrooms，dining—room，drawing—room，bedroom，evenbath—room。Therewasacookwithakitchenofhisownonboard，arealcheflikeaFrenchnoblemanindisguise。Therewerealsoawaiterandaservant—maid。

MyownmaidMaggiewasquiteawedatfirst。WewereasfarasColognebeforeshesummonedupcouragetoorderthemabout。WheneverwestoppedRookewasontheplatformwithlocalofficials，andkeptthedoorofmycarriagelikeasentryonduty。

AtFiume，whenthetrainsloweddown，IsawRupertwaitingontheplatform。Helookedmagnificent，toweringovereverybodytherelikeagiant。Heisinperfecthealth，andseemedgladtoseeme。Hetookmeoffatonceonanautomobiletoaquaywhereanelectriclaunchwaswaiting。Thistookusonboardabeautifulbigsteam—

yacht，whichwaswaitingwithfullsteamupand——howhegotthereI

don’tknow——Rookewaitingatthegangway。

Ihadanothersuitealltomyself。RupertandIhaddinnertogether—

—IthinkthefinestdinnerIeversatdownto。ThiswasveryniceofRupert，foritwasallforme。Hehimselfonlyateapieceofsteakanddrankaglassofwater。Iwenttobedearly，for，despitetheluxuryofthejourney，Iwasverytired。

Iawokeinthegreyofthemorning，andcameondeck。Wewereclosetothecoast。RupertwasonthebridgewiththeCaptain，andRookewasactingaspilot。WhenRupertsawme，herandowntheladderandtookmeuponthebridge。HeleftmetherewhileherandownagainandbroughtmeupalovelyfurcloakwhichIhadneverseen。Heputitonmeandkissedme。Heisthetenderest—heartedboyintheworld，aswellasthebestandbravest！HemademetakehisarmwhilsthepointedoutVissarion，towardswhichweweresteering。ItisthemostlovelyplaceIeversaw。Iwon’tstoptodescribeitnow，foritwillbebetterthatyouseeitforyourselfandenjoyitallfreshasIdid。

TheCastleisanimmenseplace。Youhadbettershipoff，assoonasallisreadyhereandyoucanarrangeit，theservantswhomI

engaged；andIamnotsurethatweshallnotwantasmanymore。

Therehashardlybeenamoporbroomontheplaceforcenturies，andIdoubtifiteverhadathoroughgoodcleaningalloversinceitwasbuilt。And，doyouknow，Uncle，thatitmightbewelltodoublethatlittlearmyofyoursthatyouarearrangingforRupert？Indeed，theboytoldmehimselfthathewasgoingtowritetoyouaboutit。I

thinkoldLachlanandhiswife，Sandy’sMary，hadbetterbeinchargeofthemaidswhentheycomeover。Alotoflassieslikeyonwillbeillertokeeptogetherthanaflockofsheep。Soitwillbewisetohaveauthorityoverthem，especiallyasnoneofthemspeaksawordofforeigntongues。Rooke——yousawhimatthestationatLiverpoolStreet——will，ifhebeavailable，goovertobringthewholebodyhere。HehasofferedtodoitifIshouldwish。And，bytheway，I

thinkitwillbewell，whenthetimecomesfortheirdeparture，ifnotonlythelassies，butLachlanandSandy’sMary，too，willcallhimMISTERRooke。Heisaveryimportantpersonindeedhere。Heis，infact，asortofMasteroftheCastle，andthoughheisveryself—

suppressing，isamanofrarelyfinequalities。Alsoitwillbewelltokeepauthority。Whenyourclansmencomeover，hewillhavechargeofthem，too。Dearme！IfindIhavewrittensuchalongletter，I

muststopandgettowork。Ishallwriteagain。

YourveryaffectionateJANET。

FromtheSametotheSame。

March3，1907。

DEARESTUNCLE，Allgoeswellhere，andasthereisnonews，Ionlywritebecauseyouareadear，andIwanttothankyouforallthetroubleyouhavetakenforme——andforRupert。Ithinkwehadbetterwaitawhilebeforebringingouttheservants。RookeisawayonsomebusinessforRupert，andwillnotbebackforsometime；Rupertthinksitmaybeacoupleofmonths。Thereisnooneelsethathecouldsendtotakechargeofthepartyfromhome，andIdon’tliketheideaofallthoselassiescomingoutwithoutanescort。EvenLachlanandSandy’sMaryareignorantofforeignlanguagesandforeignways。ButassoonasRookereturnswecanhavethemallout。Idaresayyouwillhavesomeofyourclansmenreadybythen，andIthinkthepoorgirls，whomayfeelabitstrangeinanewcountrylikethis，wherethewaysaresodifferentfromours，willfeeleasierwhentheyknowthattherearesomeoftheirownmankindnearthem。Perhapsitmightbewellthatthoseofthemwhoareengagedtoeachother——Iknowtherearesome——shouldmarrybeforetheycomeouthere。Itwillbemoreconvenientinmanyways，andwillsavelodgment，and，besides，theseBlueMountaineersareveryhandsomemen。Good—night。

JANET。

SirColinMacKelpie，Croom，toJanetMacKelpie，Vissarion。

March9，1907。

MYDEARJANET，Ihavedulyreceivedbothyourletters，andamdelightedtofindyouaresowellpleasedwithyournewhome。Itmustcertainlybeaverylovelyanduniqueplace，andIammyselflongingtoseeit。Icameupherethreedaysago，andam，asusual，feelingallthebetterforabreathofmynativeair。Timegoeson，mydear，andIambeginningtofeelnotsoyoungasIwas。TellRupertthatthemenareallfit，andlongingtogetouttohim。Theyarecertainlyafinelotofmen。

Idon’tthinkIeversawafiner。Ihavehadthemdrilledandtrainedassoldiers，and，inaddition，havehadthemtaughtalotoftradesjustastheyselectedthemselves。Soheshallhavenighhimmenwhocanturntheirhandstoanything——not，ofcourse，thattheyallknoweverytrade，butamongstthemthereissomeonewhocandowhatevermayberequired。Thereareblacksmiths，carpenters，farriers，saddle—makers，gardeners，plumbers，cutlers，gunsmiths，so，astheyallarefarmersbyoriginandsportsmenbypractice，theywillmakeararehouseholdbodyofmen。Theyarenearlyallfirst—

classshots，andIamhavingthempractisewithrevolvers。Theyarebeingtaughtfencingandbroadswordandju—jitsu；Ihaveorganizedtheminmilitaryform，withtheirownsergeantsandcorporals。ThismorningIhadaninspection，andIassureyou，mydear，theycouldgivepointstotheHouseholdtroopinmattersofdrill。ItellyouI

amproudofmyclansmen！

Ithinkyouarequitewiseaboutwaitingtobringoutthelassies，andwiserstillaboutthemarrying。Idaresaytherewillbemoremarryingwhentheyallgetsettledinaforeigncountry。Ishallbegladofit，forasRupertisgoingtosettlethere，itwillbegoodforhimtohaveroundhimalittlecolonyofhisownpeople。Anditwillbegoodforthem，too，forIknowhewillbegoodtothem——asyouwill，mydear。Thehillsarebarrenhere，andlifeishard，andeachyearthereismoreandmoredemandforcrofts，andsoonerorlaterourpeoplemustthinout。AndmayhapourlittlesettlementofMacKelpieclanawaybeyondthefrontiersoftheEmpiremaybesomeservicetothenationandtheKing。Butthisisadream！IseethathereIambeginningtorealiseinmyselfonepartofIsaiah’sprophecy：

"Youryoungmenshallseevisions，andyouroldmenshalldreamdreams。"

Bytheway，mydear，talkingaboutdreams，Iamsendingyououtsomeboxesofbookswhichwereinyourrooms。TheyarenearlyallonoddsubjectsthatWEunderstand——SecondSight，Ghosts，Dreams（thatwaswhatbroughtthemattertomymindjustnow），superstitions，Vampires，Wehr—Wolves，andallsuchuncannyfolkandthings。I

lookedoversomeofthesebooks，andfoundyourmarksandunderliningandcomments，soIfancyyouwillmisstheminyournewhome。Youwill，Iamsure，feelmoreateasewithsucholdfriendsclosetoyou。IhavetakenthenamesandsentthelisttoLondon，sothatwhenyoupaymeavisitagainyouwillbeathomeinallways。Ifyoucometomealtogether，youwillbemorewelcomestill——ifpossible。ButIamsurethatRupert，whoIknowlovesyouverymuch，willtrytomakeyousohappythatyouwillnotwanttoleavehim。

SoIwillhavetocomeoutoftentoseeyouboth，evenatthecostofleavingCroomforsolong。Strange，isitnot？thatnow，when，throughRogerMelton’smorethankindremembranceofme，IamabletogowhereIwillanddowhatIwill，Iwantmoreandmoretoremainathomebymyowningle。Idon’tthinkthatanyonebutyouorRupertcouldgetmeawayfromit。Iamworkingveryhardatmylittleregiment，asIcallit。Theyaresimplyfine，andwill，Iamsure，douscredit。Theuniformsareallmade，andwellmade，too。Thereisnotamanofthemthatdoesnotlooklikeanofficer。Itellyou，Janet，thatwhenweturnouttheVissarionGuardweshallfeelproudofthem。Idaresaythatacoupleofmonthswilldoallthatcanbedonehere。Ishallcomeoutwiththemmyself。Rupertwritesmethathethinksitwillbemorecomfortabletocomeoutdirectinashipofourown。SowhenIgouptoLondoninafewweeks’timeIshallseeaboutcharteringasuitablevessel。Itwillcertainlysavealotoftroubletousandanxietytoourpeople。WoulditnotbewellwhenI

amgettingtheship，ifIcharteronebigenoughtotakeoutallyourlassies，too？Itisnotasiftheywerestrangers。Afterall，mydear，soldiersaresoldiersandlassiesarelassies。Buttheseareallkinsfolk，aswellasclansmenandclanswomen，andI，theirChief，shallbethere。Letmeknowyourviewsandwishesinthisrespect。

Mr。Trent，whomIsawbeforeleavingLondon，askedmeto"conveytoyouhismostrespectfulremembrances"——thesewerehisverywords，andheretheyare。Trentisanicefellow，andIlikehim。Hehaspromisedtopaymeavisitherebeforethemonthisup，andIlookforwardtoourbothenjoyingourselves。

Good—bye，mydear，andtheLordwatchoveryouandourdearboy。

YouraffectionateUncle，COLINALEXANDERMACKELPIE。

BOOKIII：THECOMINGOFTHELADY

RUPERTSENTLEGER’SJOURNAL。

April3，1907。

Ihavewaitedtillnow——wellintomidday——beforebeginningtosetdownthedetailsofthestrangeepisodeoflastnight。IhavespokenwithpersonswhomIknowtobeofnormaltype。Ihavebreakfasted，asusualheartily，andhaveeveryreasontoconsidermyselfinperfecthealthandsanity。Sothattherecordfollowingmayberegardedasnotonlytrueinsubstance，butexactastodetails。I

haveinvestigatedandreportedontoomanycasesforthePsychicalResearchSocietytobeignorantofthenecessityforabsoluteaccuracyinsuchmattersofeventheminutestdetail。

YesterdaywasTuesday，theseconddayofApril，1907。Ipassedadayofinterest，withitsfairamountofworkofvaryingkinds。AuntJanetandIlunchedtogether，hadastrollroundthegardensaftertea——especiallyexaminingthesiteforthenewJapanesegarden，whichweshallcall"Janet’sGarden。"Wewentinmackintoshes，fortherainyseasonisinitsfull，theonlysignofitsnotbeingarepetitionoftheDelugebeingthatbreaksinthecontinuancearebeginning。Theyareshortatpresentbutwilldoubtlessenlargethemselvesastheseasoncomestowardsanend。Wedinedtogetheratseven。AfterdinnerIhadacigar，andthenjoinedAuntJanetforanhourinherdrawing—room。Ileftherathalf—pastten，whenIwenttomyownroomandwrotesomeletters。AttenminutespastelevenI

woundmywatch，soIknowthetimeaccurately。Havingpreparedforbed，Idrewbacktheheavycurtaininfrontofmywindow，whichopensonthemarblestepsintotheItaliangarden。Ihadputoutmylightbeforedrawingbackthecurtain，forIwantedtohavealookatthescenebeforeturningin。AuntJanethasalwayshadanold—fashionedideaoftheneed（orpropriety，Ihardlyknowwhich）ofkeepingwindowsclosedandcurtainsdrawn。Iamgraduallygettinghertoleavemyroomaloneinthisrespect，butatpresentthechangeisinitsfitfulstage，andofcourseImustnothurrymattersorbetoopersistent，asitwouldhurtherfeelings。Thisnightwasoneofthoseundertheoldregime。Itwasadelighttolookout，forthescenewasperfectofitsownkind。Thelongspellofrain——theceaselessdownpourwhichhadforthetimefloodedeverywhere——hadpassed，andwaterinabnormalplacesrathertrickledthanran。Wewerenowbeginningtobeinthesloppyratherthanthedelugedstage。

Therewasplentyoflighttoseeby，forthemoonhadbeguntoshowoutfitfullythroughthemassesofflyingclouds。Theuncertainlightmadeweirdshadowswiththeshrubsandstatuesinthegarden。

ThelongstraightwalkwhichleadsfromthemarblestepsisstrewnwithfinesandwhitefromthequartzstrandinthenooktothesouthoftheCastle。Tallshrubsofwhiteholly，yew，juniper，cypress，andvariegatedmapleandspiraea，whichstoodatintervalsalongthewalkanditsbranches，appearedghost—likeinthefitfulmoonlight。

Themanyvasesandstatuesandurns，alwayslikephantomsinahalf—

light，weremorethaneverweird。Lastnightthemoonlightwasunusuallyeffective，andshowednotonlythegardensdowntothedefendingwall，butthedeepgloomofthegreatforest—treesbeyond；

andbeyondthat，again，towherethemountainchainbegan，theforestrunninguptheirsilveredslopesflamelikeinform，deviatedhereandtherebygreatcragsandtheoutcroppingrockysinewsofthevastmountains。

WhilstIwaslookingatthislovelyprospect，IthoughtIsawsomethingwhiteflit，likeamodifiedwhiteflash，atoddmomentsfromonetoanotheroftheshrubsorstatues——anythingwhichwouldaffordcoverfromobservation。AtfirstIwasnotsurewhetherI

reallysawanythingordidnot。Thiswasinitselfalittledisturbingtome，forIhavebeensolongtrainedtominuteobservationoffactssurroundingme，onwhichoftendependnotonlymyownlife，butthelivesofothers，thatIhavebecomeaccustomedtotrustmyeyes；andanythingcreatingthefaintestdoubtinthisrespectisacauseofmoreorlessanxietytome。Now，however，thatmyattentionwascalledtomyself，Ilookedmorekeenly，andinaveryshorttimewassatisfiedthatsomethingwasmoving——somethingcladinwhite。Itwasnaturalenoughthatmythoughtsshouldtendtowardssomethinguncanny——thebeliefthatthisplaceishaunted，conveyedinathousandwaysofspeechandinference。AuntJanet’seeriebeliefs，fortifiedbyherbooksonoccultsubjects——andoflate，inourisolationfromtherestoftheworld，thesubjectofdailyconversations——helpedtothisend。Nowonder，then，that，fullyawakeandwithsensesallonedge，Iwaitedforsomefurthermanifestationfromthisghostlyvisitor——asinmymindItookittobe。Itmustsurelybeaghostorspiritualmanifestationofsomekindwhichmovedinthissilentway。Inordertoseeandhearbetter，Isoftlymovedbackthefoldinggrille，openedtheFrenchwindow，andsteppedout，bare—footedandpyjama—cladasIwas，onthemarbleterrace。Howcoldthewetmarblewas！Howheavysmelledtherain—ladengarden！Itwasasthoughthenightandthedamp，andeventhemoonlight，weredrawingthearomafromalltheflowersthatblossomed。Thewholenightseemedtoexhaleheavy，half—intoxicatingodours！Istoodattheheadofthemarblesteps，andallimmediatelybeforemewasghostlyintheextreme——thewhitemarbleterraceandsteps，thewhitewalksofquartz—sandglisteningunderthefitfulmoonlight；theshrubsofwhiteorpalegreenoryellow，——alllookingdimandghostlyintheglamorouslight；thewhitestatuesandvases。

Andamongstthem，stillflittingnoiselessly，thatmysteriouselusivefigurewhichIcouldnotsaywasbasedonfactorimagination。I

heldmybreath，listeningintentlyforeverysound；butsoundtherewasnone，savethoseofthenightanditsdenizens。Owlshootedintheforest；bats，takingadvantageofthecessationoftherain，flittedaboutsilently，likeshadowsintheair。Buttherewasnomoresignofmovingghostorphantom，orwhateverIhadseenmighthavebeen——if，indeed，therehadbeenanythingexceptimagination。

So，afterwaitingawhile，Ireturnedtomyroom，closedthewindow，drewthegrilleacrossagain，anddraggedtheheavycurtainbeforetheopening；then，havingextinguishedmycandles，wenttobedinthedark。InafewminutesImusthavebeenasleep。

"Whatwasthat？"IalmostheardthewordsofmyownthoughtasIsatupinbedwideawake。Tomemoryratherthanpresenthearingthedisturbingsoundhadseemedlikethefainttappingatthewindow。

ForsomesecondsIlistened，mechanicallybutintently，withbatedbreathandthatquickbeatingoftheheartwhichinatimorouspersonspeaksforfear，andforexpectationinanother。Inthestillnessthesoundcameagain——thistimeavery，veryfaintbutunmistakabletappingattheglassdoor。

Ijumpedup，drewbackthecurtain，andforamomentstoodappalled。

There，outsideonthebalcony，inthenowbrilliantmoonlight，stoodawoman，wrappedinwhitegrave—clothessaturatedwithwater，whichdrippedonthemarblefloor，makingapoolwhichtrickledslowlydownthewetsteps。Attitudeanddressandcircumstanceallconveyedtheideathat，thoughshemovedandspoke，shewasnotquick，butdead。

Shewasyoungandverybeautiful，butpale，likethegreypallorofdeath。Throughthestillwhiteofherface，whichmadeherlookascoldasthewetmarbleshestoodon，herdarkeyesseemedtogleamwithastrangebutenticinglustre。Evenintheunsearchingmoonlight，whichisafterallratherdeceptivethanilluminative，I

couldnotbutnoticeonerarequalityofhereyes。Eachhadsomequalityofrefractionwhichmadeitlookasthoughitcontainedastar。Ateverymovementshemade，thestarsexhibitednewbeauties，ofmorerareandradiantforce。Shelookedatmeimploringlyastheheavycurtainrolledback，andineloquentgesturesimploredmetoadmither。InstinctivelyIobeyed；Irolledbackthesteelgrille，andthrewopentheFrenchwindow。Inoticedthatsheshiveredandtrembledastheglassdoorfellopen。Indeed，sheseemedsoovercomewithcoldastoseemalmostunabletomove。Inthesenseofherhelplessnessallideaofthestrangenessofthesituationentirelydisappeared。Itwasnotasifmyfirstideaofdeathtakenfromhercerementswasnegatived。ItwassimplythatIdidnotthinkofitatall；Iwascontenttoacceptthingsastheywere——shewasawoman，andinsomedreadfultrouble；thatwasenough。

Iamthusparticularaboutmyownemotions，asImayhavetorefertothemagaininmattersofcomprehensionorcomparison。Thewholethingissovastlystrangeandabnormalthattheleastthingmayafterwardsgivesomeguidinglightorcluetosomethingotherwisenotunderstandable。Ihavealwaysfoundthatinreconditemattersfirstimpressionsareofmorerealvaluethanlaterconclusions。Wehumansplacefartoolittlerelianceoninstinctasagainstreason；andyetinstinctisthegreatgiftofNaturetoallanimalsfortheirprotectionandthefulfilmentoftheirfunctionsgenerally。

WhenIsteppedoutonthebalcony，notthinkingofmycostume，I