下载辰思小说免费APP
“Wedon’tknow！“answeredtheothersinasfearfulakey，andrelatedhowtheyhadfoundthedooroftheirroomajar，andabrightlightstreamingintothecorridor。Theydidnotstoptoponderthisfact，but，withtheheedlessnessoftheirsex，pushedthedoorwideopen，whentheysawseatedbeforethemirrorabewilderingfigure，withdisheveledlockswanderingdowntheback，andindishabilleexpressiveofbeingquiteathomethere，whichturneduponthemapairofpaleblueeyes，underaforeheadremarkableforthestragglingfringeofhairthatcoveredit。
Theyprofessedtohaveremainedtransfixedatthesight，andtohavenotedalikedismayonthevisagebeforetheglass，eretheysummonedstrengthtofly。ThesefactsColonelEllisongaveatthecommandofhiswife，withmanyprotestsandinsinceredelaysamidstwhichthecuriosityofhishearersalonepreventedthemfromrendinghiminpieces。
“Andwhatdoyousupposeitwas？“demandedhiswife，withforcedcalmness，whenhehadatlastmadeanendofthestoryandhisabominablehypoocisies。
“Well，Ithinkitwasamermaid。“
“Amermaid！“saidhiswife，scornfully。“Howdoyouknow？“
“Ithadacombinitshand，foronething；andbesides，mydear，IhopeI
knowamermaidwhenIseeit。“
“Well，“saidMrs。Ellison，“itwasnomermaid，itwasamistake；andI’mgoingtoseeaboutit。Willyougowithme，Richard？“
“Nomoneycouldinduceme！Ifit’samistake，itisn’tproperformetogo；ifit’samermaid，it’sdangerous。“
“Oyoucoward！“saidtheintrepidlittlewomantoaheroofallthefightsonSherman’smarchtothesea；andpresentlytheyheardherattackthemysteriousenemywithalady-likecourage，claimingtheinvadedchamber。Thefoerepliedwithlikecivility，sayingtheclerkhadgivenherthatroomwiththeunderstandingthatanotherladywastobeputtherewithher，andshehadleftthedoorunlockedtoadmither。Thewatcherswiththesickmannextdoorappearedandconfirmedthisspeech，afeeblevoicefromthebedclothessworetoit。
“Ofcourse，“addedtheinvader，“ifI’dknown’owitreallywas，Ineverwouldlavelistenedtosuchathing，never。Andthereisn’tanother’oleinthelousetolayme’ead，“sheconcluded。
“Thenit’stheclerk’sfault，“saidMrs。Ellison，gladtoretreatunharmed；andshemadeherhusbandringfortheguiltywretch，apale，quietyoungFrenchman，whomtheunitedparty，sallyingintothecorridor，begantoupbraidinonebreath，theladyindishabillevanishingasoftenassherememberedit，andreappearingwheneversomestrongpointofargumentordenunciationoccurredtoher。
Theclerk，whowastheBenjaminofhiswickedtribe，threwhimselfupontheirmercyandconfessedeverything:thehousewassocrowded，andhehadbeensocrazedbythedemandsuponhim，thathehadunderstoodColonelEllison’sapplicationtobeforabedfortheyoungladyinhisparty，andhehaddonetheverybesthecould。Iftheladythere——shevanishedagain——wouldgiveuptheroomtothetwogentlemen，hewouldfindheraplacewiththehousekeeper。Tothistheladyconsentedwithoutdifficulty，andtherestdispersing，shekissedoneofthesickman’swatcherswith“Isn’titashame，Bella？“andflitteddownthedarknessofthecorridor。Theroomsuponitseemedall，savethetwoassignedourtravellers，tobeoccupiedbyladiesofthetroupe；theirdoorssuccessivelyopened，andshewasheardexplainingtoeachasshepassed。Themomentarydispleasurewhichshehadshownatherbanishmentwasover。Shedetailedthefactswithperfectgood-nature，andthoughtheothersappearednomorethanhers
