本文来自福尔摩斯之《巴斯克维尔的猎犬》
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Chapter 6.
Baskerville Hall
Sir Henry Baskerville and Dr. Mortimer were ready upon the appointed day, and we started as arranged for Devonshire(<ˈdɛvənˌʃər> n.(英国)德文郡). Mr. Sherlock Holmes drove with me to the station and gave me his last parting injunctions(<ɪn'dʒʌŋkʃ(ə)n> n.命令；指令；（法院的）强制令；警告) and advice.
“I will not bias(<'baɪəs> adv.偏n.偏见) your mind by suggesting theories or suspicions, Watson,” said he; “I wish you simply to report facts in the fullest( v.满；把(裙子)缝出皱褶) possible manner to me, and you can leave me to do the theorizing(<'θiə.raɪz> v.从理论上说明；形成理论；理论化).”
“What sort of facts?” I asked.
“Anything which may seem to have a bearing however indirect upon the case, and especially the relations between young Baskerville and his neighbours or any fresh particulars concerning the death of Sir Charles. I have made some inquiries myself in the last few days, but the results have, I fear, been negative. One thing only appears to be certain, and that is that Mr. James Desmond(<ˈdɛzmənd> n.德斯蒙德；【男名】男子名), who is the next heir, is an elderly gentleman of a very amiable(<'eɪmiəb(ə)l> adj.和蔼可亲的；亲切友好的) disposition(<.dɪspə'zɪʃ(ə)n> n.倾向；性情；性格；布置), so that this persecution(<.pɜrsɪ'kjuʃ(ə)n> n.困扰；苛求；迫害；残害) does not arise from him. I really think that we may eliminate(<ɪˈlɪməˌnet> v.消除；消灭；清除；淘汰) him entirely from our calculations. There remain the people who will actually surround Sir Henry Baskerville upon the moor.”
“Would it not be well in the first place to get rid of this Barrymore couple?”
“By no means. You could not make a greater mistake. If they are innocent it would be a cruel injustice(<ɪn'dʒʌstɪs> n.不公正), and if they are guilty(<'ɡɪlti> adj.感到内疚的；感到惭愧的；犯有罪的；有过失的) we should be giving up all chance of bringing it home to them. No, no, we will preserve them upon our list of suspects. Then there is a groom(<ɡrum> v.培养；（给动物）擦洗；) at the Hall, if I remember right. There are two moorland farmers. There is our friend Dr. Mortimer, whom I believe to be entirely honest, and there is his wife, of whom we know nothing. There is this naturalist(<'nætʃ(ə)rəlɪst> adj.同“naturalistic”n.博物学家), Stapleton, and there is his sister, who is said to be a young lady of attractions(<ə'trækʃ(ə)n> n.吸引；向往的地方；有吸引力的事；有吸引力的特征（或品质、人）). There is Mr. Frankland(web.弗兰克兰；法兰克兰；富兰克兰得), of Lafter(web.莱福特) Hall, who is also an unknown factor, and there are one or two other neighbours. These are the folk who must be your very special study.”
“I will do my best.”
“You have arms, I suppose?”
“Yes, I thought it as well to take them.”
“Most certainly. Keep your revolver near you night and day, and never relax your precautions( n.预防；预防措施；防备；避孕措施v.使提防；预先警告).”
Our friends had already secured a first-class carriage and were waiting for us upon the platform.
“No, we have no news of any kind,” said Dr. Mortimer in answer to my friend’s questions. “I can swear to one thing, and that is that we have not been shadowed during the last two days. We have never gone out without keeping a sharp watch, and no one could have escaped our notice.”
“You have always kept together, I presume( v.假设；假定)?”
“Except yesterday afternoon. I usually give up one day to pure amusement when I come to town, so I spent it at the Museum( n.博物馆) of the College of Surgeons(<'sɜrdʒən> n.外科医生).”
“And I went to look at the folk in the park,” said Baskerville.
“But we had no trouble of any kind.”
“It was imprudent(<ɪm'prud(ə)nt> adj.不明智的；不谨慎的), all the same,” said Holmes, shaking his head and looking very grave. “I beg, Sir Henry, that you will not go about alone. Some great misfortune will befall( v.降临到（某人）头上；发生在（某人）身上) you if you do. Did you get your other boot?”
“No, sir, it is gone forever.”
“Indeed. That is very interesting. Well, good-bye,” he added as the train began to glide(<ɡlaɪd> n.滑翔；滑动；滑行；滑音v.滑翔；滑动；滑行；掠过) down the platform. “Bear in mind, Sir Henry, one of the phrases in that queer old legend which Dr. Mortimer has read to us, and avoid the moor in those hours of darkness when the powers of evil are exalted(<ɪɡ'zɔltəd> adj.地位高的；高贵的；显赫的；兴奋的v.“exalt”的过去分词和过去式).”
I looked back at the platform when we had left it far behind and saw the tall, austere(<ɔ'stɪr> adj.朴素的；简陋的；无华饰的；严肃的) figure of Holmes standing motionless(<ˈmoʊʃ(ə)nləs> adj.静止不动(的)；呆若木鸡(的)) and gazing after us.
The journey was a swift and pleasant one, and I spent it in making the more intimate acquaintance of my two companions and in playing with Dr. Mortimer’s spaniel. In a very few hours the brown earth had become ruddy(<'rʌdi> adj.红润健康的；红色的；可恶的adv.该死v.(使)变红), the brick had changed to granite(<'ɡrænɪt> n.花岗岩；花岗石), and red cows grazed(<ɡreɪz> n.放牧；擦伤；擦过；牧草v.放牧；擦过；吃草；〈谑〉吃饭) in well-hedged fields where the lush( adj.多汁的；味美的；青葱的；草木茂盛的n.酒；醉汉v.(使)喝醉) grasses and more luxuriant vegetation(<.vedʒə'teɪʃ(ə)n> n.草木；（统称）植物) spoke of a richer, if a damper(<'dæmpər> n.挡板；（钢琴的）制音器), climate. Young Baskerville stared eagerly out of the window and cried aloud with delight as he recognized the familiar features of the Devon(<ˈdɛvən> n.德文郡) scenery(<'sin(ə)ri> n.风景；景色；风光；舞台布景).
“I’ve been over a good part of the world since I left it, Dr. Watson,” said he; “but I have never seen a place to compare with it.”
“I never saw a Devonshire(<ˈdɛvənˌʃər> n.(英国)德文郡) man who did not swear by his county,” I remarked.
“It depends upon the breed( v.交配繁殖；饲养；孕育) of men quite as much as on the county,” said Dr. Mortimer. “A glance at our friend here reveals the rounded head of the Celt( n.【考古】石凿；【史】凯尔特人), which carries inside it the Celtic(<'seltɪk> adj.凯尔特人的) enthusiasm and power of attachment. Poor Sir Charles’s head was of a very rare type, half Gaelic(<'ɡeɪlɪk> n.（苏格兰的）盖尔语), half Ivernian in its characteristics(<.kerəktə'rɪstɪk> n.特征；特点；品质adj.典型的；独特的；特有的). But you were very young when you last saw Baskerville Hall, were you not?”
“I was a boy in my teens( n.十几岁（13 至 19 岁之间）) at the time of my father’s death and had never seen the Hall, for he lived in a little cottage on the South Coast. Thence(<ðens> adv.从那里；然后；随之) I went straight to a friend in America. I tell you it is all as new to me as it is to Dr. Watson, and I’m as keen as possible to see the moor.”
“Are you? Then your wish is easily granted, for there is your first sight of the moor,” said Dr. Mortimer, pointing out of the carriage window.
Over the green squares of the fields and the low curve of a wood there rose in the distance a grey, melancholy hill, with a strange jagged(<'dʒæɡəd> adj.凹凸不平的；有尖突的；锯齿状的v.“jag”的过去式) summit, dim and vague in the distance, like some fantastic landscape in a dream. Baskerville sat for a long time, his eyes fixed upon it, and I read upon his eager face how much it meant to him, this first sight of that strange spot where the men of his blood had held sway( n.影响；摇摆；摆动；统治v.摇动；说服；使相信；使动摇) so long and left their mark so deep. There he sat, with his tweed( n.（杂色）粗花呢；粗花呢服装) suit and his American accent(<æk'sent> n.口音；重音；强调；腔调v.强调；着重；突出), in the corner of a prosaic( adj.平庸的；没有诗意（或美感）的；平淡的；乏味的) railway-carriage, and yet as I looked at his dark and expressive(<ɪk'spresɪv> adj.表达；表现) face I felt more than ever how true a descendant( n.后裔；后代；子孙；（由过去类似物发展来的）派生物adj.同“descendent”) he was of that long line of high-blooded, fiery(<'faɪri> adj.火一般的；火的；暴躁的；易怒的), and masterful(<'mæstərfəl> adj.有控制能力的；有驾驭能力的) men. There were pride, valour(<'vælər> n.勇气), and strength in his thick brows, his sensitive(<'sensətɪv> adj.体贴的；体恤的) nostrils(<'nɑstrəl> n.鼻孔；鼻孔内壁), and his large hazel(<'heɪz(ə)l> adj.淡绿褐色的；n.榛树) eyes. If on that forbidding moor a difficult and dangerous quest( v.探索；探求n.探索) should lie before us, this was at least a comrade(<'kɑm.ræd> n.朋友；同事；（共产党或社会主义政党的）同志；（尤指战争期间的）战友) for whom one might venture to take a risk with the certainty that he would bravely share it.
The train pulled up at a small wayside station and we all descended. Outside, beyond the low, white fence, a wagonette(n.(坐六人或八人的)四轮游览轻便马车) with a pair of cobs( n.(面包等的)小圆块) was waiting. Our coming was evidently a great event, for station-master and porters clustered round us to carry out our luggage(<'lʌɡɪdʒ> n.行李). It was a sweet, simple country spot, but I was surprised to observe that by the gate there stood two soldierly men in dark uniforms who leaned upon their short rifles and glanced keenly at us as we passed. The coachman(<'kəʊtʃmən> n.（旧时）马车夫), a hard-faced, gnarled( adj.扭曲的；多节瘤的) little fellow, saluted( n.致敬；致意；（尤指士兵和军官之间的）敬礼) Sir Henry Baskerville, and in a few minutes we were flying swiftly down the broad, white road. Rolling pasture(<'pæstʃər> n.牧场；牧草地；生活状况；工作条件v.放牧) lands curved upward on either side of us, and old gabled houses peeped out from amid the thick green foliage(<'foʊliɪdʒ> n.（植物的）叶；枝叶), but behind the peaceful(<ˈpiːsf(ə)l> adj.和平的；宁静的) and sunlit countryside there rose ever, dark against the evening sky, the long, gloomy curve of the moor, broken by the jagged(<'dʒæɡəd> adj.凹凸不平的；有尖突的；锯齿状的v.“jag”的过去式) and sinister(<'sɪnɪstər> adj.邪恶的；险恶的；不祥的；有凶兆的) hills.
The wagonette(n.(坐六人或八人的)四轮游览轻便马车) swung( v.摆动；摇摆；荡秋千；回旋n.摆动；挥动；摆动量；) round into a side road, and we curved upward through deep lanes worn by centuries of wheels, high banks on either side, heavy with dripping moss( n.苔藓；地衣v.拿苔覆盖；使长满苔藓) and fleshy(<'fleʃi> adj.多肉的；肥胖的；肉质的) hart( n.雄鹿（尤指雄赤鹿）)’s-tongue ferns( n.蕨类；【植】蕨类植物；羊齿植物；羊齿草). Bronzing bracken(<'brækən> n.欧洲蕨（叶大，秋季干枯）) and mottled(<'mɑt(ə)ld> adj.斑驳的；杂色的) bramble(<'bræmb(ə)l> n.黑莓灌木) gleamed in the light of the sinking sun. Still steadily rising, we passed over a narrow granite(<'ɡrænɪt> n.花岗岩；花岗石) bridge and skirted( n.裙子；女裙；（连衣裙、外衣等的）下摆；裙板) a noisy stream which gushed(<ɡʌʃ> v.涌出；大量涌出；过分称赞；夸张地表现对…的感情n.涌出；爆发) swiftly down, foaming( n.泡沫；泡沫橡胶；海绵橡胶；泡沫剂（用于洗涤、剃须、灭火等）v.有泡沫；起泡沫) and roaring amid the grey boulders(<'boʊldər> n.（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾). Both road and stream wound up through a valley dense with scrub( adj.矮小的；低劣的；次等的；) oak(<əʊk> n.【植】栎树) and fir. At every turn Baskerville gave an exclamation(<.eksklə'meɪʃ(ə)n> n.感叹；感叹词；感叹语) of delight, looking eagerly about him and asking countless questions. To his eyes all seemed beautiful, but to me a tinge( v.染上点颜色；轻微地影响；稍微地影响n.淡淡的(颜色,神色)；少许) of melancholy lay upon the countryside, which bore so clearly the mark of the waning( adj.苍白无力的；无血色的) year. Yellow leaves carpeted(<'kɑrpət> n.地毯；（尤指铺满房间的一块）地毯；) the lanes and fluttered down upon us as we passed. The rattle of our wheels died away as we drove through drifts of rotting vegetation(<.vedʒə'teɪʃ(ə)n> n.草木；（统称）植物)—sad gifts, as it seemed to me, for Nature to throw before the carriage of the returning heir of the Baskervilles.
“Halloa!” cried Dr. Mortimer, “what is this?”
A steep curve of heath( n.（杂草和灌木丛生的）荒地)-clad( adj.穿…衣服的；…覆盖的) land, an outlying(<'aʊt.laɪɪŋ> adj.边远的；偏远的；远离市镇的) spur( v.刺激；激励；促进；鞭策n.刺激；激励；鞭策；靴刺) of the moor, lay in front of us. On the summit, hard and clear like an equestrian(<ɪ'kwestriən> n.骑手) statue(<ˈstætʃu> n.雕像；塑像；铸像v.用雕像装饰) upon its pedestal(<'pedɪst(ə)l> n.基座), was a mounted soldier, dark and stern, his rifle poised( adj.处于准备状态；蓄势待发) ready over his forearm. He was watching the road along which we travelled.
“What is this, Perkins(n.帕金(斯))?” asked Dr. Mortimer.
Our driver half turned in his seat. “There’s a convict( v.定罪) escaped from Princetown(web.王子镇；城市王子镇；普林斯镇), sir. He’s been out three days now, and the warders(<'wɔrdər> n.(监狱)看守；保管员；守望员；卫兵) watch every road and every station, but they’ve had no sight of him yet. The farmers about here don’t like it, sir, and that’s a fact.”
“Well, I understand that they get five pounds if they can give information.”
“Yes, sir, but the chance of five pounds is but a poor thing compared to the chance of having your throat cut. You see, it isn’t like any ordinary convict( v.定罪). This is a man that would stick at nothing.”
“Who is he, then?”
“It is Selden(n.塞尔登), the Notting Hill murderer(<'mɜrdərər> n.杀人犯；杀人凶手).”
I remembered the case well, for it was one in which Holmes had taken an interest on account of the peculiar ferocity( n.凶猛；残暴；凶恶) of the crime and the wanton(<'wɑntən> adj.恶意的；不怀好意的；恣意的) brutality( n.残忍；兽性；蛮横) which had marked all the actions of the assassin(<ə'sæsɪn> n.（为金钱或政治目的的）暗杀者). The commutation(<.kɑmjə'teɪʃ(ə)n> n.减刑；代偿；折合偿付；代偿金) of his death sentence had been due to some doubts as to his complete sanity(<'sænəti> n.理智；明智；精神健全；神志正常), so atrocious(<ə'troʊʃəs> adj.糟透的；十分讨厌的；残暴的；残忍的) was his conduct( v.实施；执行；表现；引导n.举止；管理方法；经营方式；实施办法). Our wagonette(n.(坐六人或八人的)四轮游览轻便马车) had topped a rise and in front of us rose the huge expanse of the moor, mottled(<'mɑt(ə)ld> adj.斑驳的；杂色的) with gnarled( adj.扭曲的；多节瘤的) and craggy(<'kræɡi> adj.多峭壁的；峻峭的；轮廓分明有皱纹的) cairns( n.【旅】凯恩斯；“cairn”的复数) and tors. A cold wind swept down from it and set us shivering. Somewhere there, on that desolate(<'desələt> adj.无人居住的；荒无人烟的；荒凉的) plain, was lurking( v.潜伏；（不好或危险的事）潜在；“ 潜水 ”n.诡计；妙计；花招) this fiendish(<'findɪʃ> adj.恶魔般的；残忍的；令人憎恶的；（常令人不快地）巧妙复杂的) man, hiding in a burrow(<'bʌroʊ> v.挖洞；挖掘（洞或洞穴通道）；偎依；（使…）钻到（…下面）n.（动物的）洞穴) like a wild beast, his heart full of malignancy( n.恶性（肿瘤）) against the whole race which had cast him out. It needed but this to complete the grim suggestiveness of the barren(<'berən> n.不毛之地adj.贫瘠的；不毛的；不结果实的；不育的) waste, the chilling wind, and the darkling sky. Even Baskerville fell silent and pulled his overcoat more closely around him.
We had left the fertile(<'fɜrt(ə)l> adj.肥沃的；富饶的；能生育的；可繁殖的) country behind and beneath us. We looked back on it now, the slanting(<'slɑ:ntɪŋ> adj.不直的；不平的) rays of a low sun turning the streams to threads of gold and glowing on the red earth new turned by the plough( n.犁；北斗星) and the broad tangle(<'tæŋɡ(ə)l> n.纠纷；混乱) of the woodlands. The road in front of us grew bleaker( adj.荒凉的；阴冷的；苍白的；暗淡的n.【鱼】(淡水产)银鲤) and wilder over huge russet(<'rʌsɪt> n.黄褐色) and olive(<'ɑlɪv> n.橄榄；油橄榄；橄榄绿) slopes, sprinkled(<'sprɪŋk(ə)l> v.洒；撒) with giant boulders(<'boʊldər> n.（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾). Now and then we passed a moorland cottage, walled and roofed with stone, with no creeper(<'kripər> n.蔓生植物；攀缘植物) to break its harsh( adj.残酷的；严酷的；严厉的；恶劣的) outline. Suddenly we looked down into a cuplike depression( n.抑郁；沮丧；洼地；抑郁症), patched with stunted(<'stʌntɪd> adj.发育不足的) oaks(<əʊk> n.【植】栎树) and firs which had been twisted and bent by the fury(<'fjʊri> n.狂怒；狂暴；暴怒；大发雷霆) of years of storm. Two high, narrow towers rose over the trees. The driver pointed with his whip.
“Baskerville Hall,” said he.
Its master had risen and was staring with flushed cheeks and shining eyes. A few minutes later we had reached the lodge-gates, a maze( n.迷宫；错综复杂) of fantastic tracery(<'treɪsəri> n.窗花格) in wrought( adj.制造的；精制的；精炼的；装饰的v.造成了（尤指变化）) iron, with weather-bitten pillars on either side, blotched( n.(皮肤上的)疱；v.弄脏) with lichens(<'laɪken> n.地衣v.使生满地衣), and surmounted( v.克服；登上；顶上覆盖着) by the boars( n.野猪；未阉的公猪)’ heads of the Baskervilles. The lodge was a ruin of black granite(<'ɡrænɪt> n.花岗岩；花岗石) and bared ribs( n.肋骨；罗纹；排骨) of rafters(<'ræftər> v.给…装椽子；把(木材)作成椽子n.撑木排的人；【建】椽), but facing it was a new building, half constructed, the first fruit of Sir Charles’s South African gold.
Through the gateway we passed into the avenue(<'ævə.nu> n.林荫道；大街；途径), where the wheels were again hushed amid the leaves, and the old trees shot their branches in a sombre(<'sɑmbər> adj.昏暗的；阴沉的；暗淡的；阴郁的) tunnel over our heads. Baskerville shuddered as he looked up the long, dark drive to where the house glimmered like a ghost at the farther end.
“Was it here?” he asked in a low voice.
“No, no, the yew( n.红豆杉；紫杉；紫杉木) alley(<'æli> n.小巷；（网球或羽毛球球场两侧的）双打边线) is on the other side.”
The young heir glanced round with a gloomy face.
“It’s no wonder my uncle felt as if trouble were coming on him in such a place as this,” said he. “It’s enough to scare any man. I’ll have a row of electric lamps up here inside of six months, and you won’t know it again, with a thousand candle-power Swan( v.悠游；悠然闲逛n.天鹅) and Edison(<ˈɛdɪsən> n.爱迪生) right here in front of the hall door.”
The avenue(<'ævə.nu> n.林荫道；大街；途径) opened into a broad expanse of turf( n.草皮), and the house lay before us. In the fading light I could see that the centre was a heavy block of building from which a porch projected. The whole front was draped( v.披；装饰；遮盖；盖住n.帷幕) in ivy, with a patch clipped bare here and there where a window or a coat of arms broke through the dark veil. From this central block rose the twin towers, ancient, crenelated(<'krenə.leɪtəd> v.造雉堞), and pierced( v.穿透；扎；刺破；穿过n.皮尔斯) with many loopholes(<'lup.hoʊl> na.逃路). To right and left of the turrets(<'tʌrət> n.塔楼，角楼) were more modern wings of black granite(<'ɡrænɪt> n.花岗岩；花岗石). A dull light shone through heavy mullioned(<'mʌlɪrnd> adj.有竖框的) windows, and from the high chimneys which rose from the steep, high-angled roof there sprang a single black column of smoke.
“Welcome, Sir Henry! Welcome to Baskerville Hall!”
A tall man had stepped from the shadow of the porch to open the door of the wagonette(n.(坐六人或八人的)四轮游览轻便马车). The figure of a woman was silhouetted(<.sɪlu'et> n.剪影；（浅色背景衬托出的）暗色轮廓) against the yellow light of the hall. She came out and helped the man to hand down our bags.
“You don’t mind my driving straight home, Sir Henry?” said Dr. Mortimer. “My wife is expecting me.”
“Surely you will stay and have some dinner?”
“No, I must go. I shall probably find some work awaiting me. I would stay to show you over the house, but Barrymore will be a better guide than I. Good-bye, and never hesitate night or day to send for me if I can be of service.”
The wheels died away down the drive while Sir Henry and I turned into the hall, and the door clanged( n.铿锵(声)；鹤,雁鸣唳) heavily behind us. It was a fine apartment in which we found ourselves, large, lofty(<'lɔfti> adj.巍峨的；高耸的；崇高的；高尚的), and heavily raftered(<'ræftər> v.给…装椽子) with huge baulks(n.障碍；阻滞；梁木) of age-blackened oak(<əʊk> n.【植】栎树). In the great old-fashioned fireplace behind the high iron dogs a log-fire crackled(<'kræk(ə)l> n.爆裂声) and snapped. Sir Henry and I held out our hands to it, for we were numb( adj.麻木的；失去知觉的；迟钝的) from our long drive. Then we gazed round us at the high, thin window of old stained( n.污点；污渍；着色剂) glass, the oak(<əʊk> n.【植】栎树) panelling, the stags( n.牡(赤)鹿；阉过的雄畜<牛,猪>)’ heads, the coats of arms upon the walls, all dim and sombre(<'sɑmbər> adj.昏暗的；阴沉的；暗淡的；阴郁的) in the subdued( adj.闷闷不乐的；抑郁的；默不作声的；柔和的v.“subdue”的过去分词和过去式) light of the central lamp.
“It’s just as I imagined it,” said Sir Henry. “Is it not the very picture of an old family home? To think that this should be the same hall in which for five hundred years my people have lived. It strikes me solemn to think of it.”
I saw his dark face lit up with a boyish enthusiasm as he gazed about him. The light beat upon him where he stood, but long shadows trailed down the walls and hung like a black canopy(<'kænəpi> n.天篷；罩盖) above him. Barrymore had returned from taking our luggage(<'lʌɡɪdʒ> n.行李) to our rooms. He stood in front of us now with the subdued( adj.闷闷不乐的；抑郁的；默不作声的；柔和的v.“subdue”的过去分词和过去式) manner of a well-trained servant. He was a remarkable-looking man, tall, handsome, with a square black beard and pale, distinguished features.
“Would you wish dinner to be served at once, sir?”
“Is it ready?”
“In a very few minutes, sir. You will find hot water in your rooms. My wife and I will be happy, Sir Henry, to stay with you until you have made your fresh arrangements, but you will understand that under the new conditions this house will require a considerable staff.”
“What new conditions?”
“I only meant, sir, that Sir Charles led a very retired life, and we were able to look after his wants. You would, naturally, wish to have more company, and so you will need changes in your household.”
“Do you mean that your wife and you wish to leave?”
“Only when it is quite convenient to you, sir.”
“But your family have been with us for several generations, have they not? I should be sorry to begin my life here by breaking an old family connection.”
I seemed to discern( v.识别；觉察出；了解；听出) some signs of emotion upon the butler(<'bʌtlər> n.男管家)’s white face.
“I feel that also, sir, and so does my wife. But to tell the truth, sir, we were both very much attached to Sir Charles, and his death gave us a shock and made these surroundings( n.环境；附近adj.周围的；附近的v.“surround”的现在分词) very painful to us. I fear that we shall never again be easy in our minds at Baskerville Hall.”
“But what do you intend to do?”
“I have no doubt, sir, that we shall succeed in establishing ourselves in some business. Sir Charles’s generosity(<.dʒenə'rɑsəti> n.慷慨；宽宏大量；大方) has given us the means to do so. And now, sir, perhaps I had best show you to your rooms.”
A square balustraded(<'bælə.streɪd> n.（阳台、桥等的）栏杆) gallery(<ˈɡæləri> n.画廊；美术馆；走廊；楼座) ran round the top of the old hall, approached by a double stair. From this central point two long corridors extended the whole length of the building, from which all the bedrooms opened. My own was in the same wing as Baskerville’s and almost next door to it. These rooms appeared to be much more modern than the central part of the house, and the bright paper and numerous candles did something to remove the sombre(<'sɑmbər> adj.昏暗的；阴沉的；暗淡的；阴郁的) impression which our arrival had left upon my mind.
But the dining-room which opened out of the hall was a place of shadow and gloom. It was a long chamber with a step separating the dais(<'deɪɪs> n.（尤指房间一端的）讲台) where the family sat from the lower portion reserved for their dependents. At one end a minstrel(<'mɪnstrəl> n.（中世纪的）游方艺人)’s gallery(<ˈɡæləri> n.画廊；美术馆；走廊；楼座) overlooked it. Black beams shot across above our heads, with a smoke-darkened ceiling beyond them. With rows of flaring torches to light it up, and the colour and rude hilarity( n.欢闹；狂欢) of an old-time banquet(<'bæŋkwɪt> n.宴会；筵席；盛宴v.宴请；饮宴；大吃大喝), it might have softened; but now, when two black-clothed gentlemen sat in the little circle of light thrown by a shaded(<ʃeɪd> n.阴凉处；色度；灯罩；背阴v.给…遮挡（光线）；加灯罩；把…涂暗；画阴影) lamp, one’s voice became hushed and one’s spirit subdued( adj.闷闷不乐的；抑郁的；默不作声的；柔和的v.“subdue”的过去分词和过去式). A dim line of ancestors, in every variety of dress, from the Elizabethan(<ɪ.lɪzə'biθn> adj.英国伊丽莎白女王的) knight to the buck( n.雄鹿；（一）美元；（一）澳元) of the Regency(<'ridʒənsi> n.摄政期), stared down upon us and daunted( v.威吓) us by their silent company. We talked little, and I for one was glad when the meal was over and we were able to retire into the modern billiard(<'bɪlɪɚd> adj.台球(用)的n.〈美口〉同“carom”)-room and smoke a cigarette.
“My word, it isn’t a very cheerful place,” said Sir Henry. “I suppose one can tone down to it, but I feel a bit out of the picture at present. I don’t wonder that my uncle got a little jumpy(<'dʒʌmpi> adj.胆战心惊的；提心吊胆的；紧张不安的) if he lived all alone in such a house as this. However, if it suits you, we will retire early tonight, and perhaps things may seem more cheerful in the morning.”
I drew aside my curtains before I went to bed and looked out from my window. It opened upon the grassy(<'ɡræsi> adj.长满草的；被草覆盖的) space which lay in front of the hall door. Beyond, two copses( n.同“coppice”) of trees moaned( v.呻吟；哼叫；抱怨(有时没原因地):n.呻吟声；(波浪,风等的)号；悲叹声；〔诗〕悲叹) and swung( v.摆动；摇摆；荡秋千；回旋n.摆动；挥动；摆动量；) in a rising wind. A half moon broke through the rifts( n.裂缝；分歧；断裂；分裂v.劈开) of racing clouds. In its cold light I saw beyond the trees a broken fringe( n.外围；刘海儿；流苏；额前短垂发adj.边缘的；附加的v.形成…的边缘) of rocks, and the long, low curve of the melancholy moor. I closed the curtain, feeling that my last impression was in keeping with the rest.
And yet it was not quite the last. I found myself weary(<'wɪri> adj.疲惫的；使人疲劳的) and yet wakeful(<'weɪkfəl> adj.失眠的；不能入睡的；没怎么睡的；不眠的), tossing( v.抛；摇摆；(轻)拌；【网】把(球)打高n.掷钱；掷钱决定；双方各有一半的机会；摇摇) restlessly(adv.心神不定地；慌张地；不住) from side to side, seeking for the sleep which would not come. Far away a chiming( v.鸣响；敲响；报时n.响亮清晰的声音；（尤指）铃声) clock struck out the quarters of the hours, but otherwise a deathly(<'deθli> adj.死一样的；致命的) silence lay upon the old house. And then suddenly, in the very dead of the night, there came a sound to my ears, clear, resonant(<'rezənənt> adj.嘹亮的；响亮的；回响的；悠扬的), and unmistakable(<.ʌnmɪ'steɪkəb(ə)l> adj.不会弄错的；确定无疑的；清楚明白的). It was the sob of a woman, the muffled(<'mʌf(ə)ld> adj.沉闷的；压抑的；模糊不清的v.“muffle”的过去分词和过去式), strangling(<'stræŋɡ(ə)l> v.扼死) gasp of one who is torn by an uncontrollable(<.ʌnkən'troʊləb(ə)l> adj.无法控制的；难以防止的；禁不住的) sorrow. I sat up in bed and listened intently(<ɪn'tentlɪ> adv.聚精会神地；一心一意地). The noise could not have been far away and was certainly in the house. For half an hour I waited with every nerve on the alert, but there came no other sound save the chiming( v.鸣响；敲响；报时n.响亮清晰的声音；（尤指）铃声) clock and the rustle(<'rʌs(ə)l> n.沙沙声；轻轻的摩擦声) of the ivy on the wall.
