(100%) The Canterville Ghost (6)
본 글은 지적활동증명(Proof of Brain) 워크시트입니다. 참여를 위해서는 반드시 번역 가이드를 읽으세요.
[119] ✔︎ About ten minutes later, the bell rang for tea, and, as Virginia did not come down, Mrs. Otis sent up one of the footmen to tell her. After a little time he returned and said that he could not find Miss Virginia anywhere. As she was in the habit of going out to the garden every evening to get flowers for the dinner-table, Mrs. Otis was not at all alarmed at first, but when six o'clock struck, and Virginia did not appear, she became really agitated, and sent the boys out to look for her, while she herself and Mr. Otis searched every room in the house.
[120] ✔︎ At half-past six the boys came back and said that they could find no trace of their sister anywhere. They were all now in the greatest state of excitement, and did not know what to do, when Mr. Otis suddenly remembered that, some few days before, he had given a band of gipsies permission to camp in the park. He accordingly at once set off for Blackfell Hollow, where he knew they were, accompanied by his eldest son and two of the farm-servants.
[121] ✔︎ The little Duke of Cheshire, who was perfectly frantic with anxiety, begged hard to be allowed to go too, but Mr. Otis would not allow him, as he was afraid there might be a scuffle. On arriving at the spot, however, he found that the gipsies had gone, and it was evident that their departure had been rather sudden, as the fire was still burning, and some plates were lying on the grass.
[122] ✔︎ Having sent off Washington and the two men to scour the district, he ran home, and despatched telegrams to all the police inspectors in the county, telling them to look out for a little girl who had been kidnapped by tramps or gipsies. He then ordered his horse to be brought round, and, after insisting on his wife and the three boys sitting down to dinner, rode off down the Ascot road with a groom.
[123] ✔︎ He had hardly, however, gone a couple of miles, when he heard somebody galloping after him, and, looking round, saw the little Duke coming up on his pony, with his face very flushed, and no hat. "I'm awfully sorry, Mr. Otis," gasped out the boy, "but I can't eat any dinner as long as Virginia is lost. Please don't be angry with me; if you had let us be engaged last year, there would never have been all this trouble. You won't send me back, will you? I can't go! I won't go!"
[124] ✔︎ The Minister could not help smiling at the handsome young scapegrace, and was a good deal touched at his devotion to Virginia, so leaning down from his horse, he patted him kindly on the shoulders, and said, "Well, Cecil, if you won't go back, I suppose you must come with me, but I must get you a hat at Ascot."
[125] ✔︎ "Oh, bother my hat! I want Virginia!" cried the little Duke, laughing, and they galloped on to the railway station. There Mr. Otis inquired of the station-master if any one answering to the description of Virginia had been seen on the platform, but could get no news of her. The station-master, however, wired up and down the line, and assured him that a strict watch would be kept for her, and, after having bought a hat for the little Duke from a linen-draper, who was just putting up his shutters, Mr. Otis rode off to Bexley, a village about four miles away, which he was told was a well-known haunt of the gipsies, as there was a large common next to it.
[126] ✔︎ Here they roused up the rural policeman, but could get no information from him, and, after riding all over the common, they turned their horses' heads homewards, and reached the Chase about eleven o'clock, dead-tired and almost heart-broken. They found Washington and the twins waiting for them at the gate-house with lanterns, as the avenue was very dark. Not the slightest trace of Virginia had been discovered. The gipsies had been caught on Brockley meadows, but she was not with them, and they had explained their sudden departure by saying that they had mistaken the date of Chorton Fair, and had gone off in a hurry for fear they should be late.
[127] ✔︎ Indeed, they had been quite distressed at hearing of Virginia's disappearance, as they were very grateful to Mr. Otis for having allowed them to camp in his park, and four of their number had stayed behind to help in the search. The carp-pond had been dragged, and the whole Chase thoroughly gone over, but without any result. It was evident that, for that night at any rate, Virginia was lost to them; and it was in a state of the deepest depression that Mr. Otis and the boys walked up to the house, the groom following behind with the two horses and the pony.
[128] ✔︎ In the hall they found a group of frightened servants, and lying on a sofa in the library was poor Mrs. Otis, almost out of her mind with terror and anxiety, and having her forehead bathed with eau de cologne by the old housekeeper. Mr. Otis at once insisted on her having something to eat, and ordered up supper for the whole party. It was a melancholy meal, as hardly any one spoke, and even the twins were awestruck and subdued, as they were very fond of their sister.
[129] ✔︎ When they had finished, Mr. Otis, in spite of the entreaties of the little Duke, ordered them all to bed, saying that nothing more could be done that night, and that he would telegraph in the morning to Scotland Yard for some detectives to be sent down immediately.
[130] ✔︎ Just as they were passing out of the dining-room, midnight began to boom from the clock tower, and when the last stroke sounded they heard a crash and a sudden shrill cry; a dreadful peal of thunder shook the house, a strain of unearthly music floated through the air, a panel at the top of the staircase flew back with a loud noise, and out on the landing, looking very pale and white, with a little casket in her hand, stepped Virginia. In a moment they had all rushed up to her. Mrs. Otis clasped her passionately in her arms, the Duke smothered her with violent kisses, and the twins executed a wild war-dance round the group.
[131] ✔︎ "Good heavens! child, where have you been?" said Mr. Otis, rather angrily, thinking that she had been playing some foolish trick on them. "Cecil and I have been riding all over the country looking for you, and your mother has been frightened to death. You must never play these practical jokes any more."
[132] ✔︎ "Except on the Ghost! except on the Ghost!" shrieked the twins, as they capered about.
[133] ✔︎ "My own darling, thank God you are found; you must never leave my side again," murmured Mrs. Otis, as she kissed the trembling child, and smoothed the tangled gold of her hair.
[134] ✔︎ "Papa," said Virginia, quietly, "I have been with the Ghost. He is dead, and you must come and see him. He had been very wicked, but he was really sorry for all that he had done, and he gave me this box of beautiful jewels before he died."
[135] ✔︎ The whole family gazed at her in mute amazement, but she was quite grave and serious; and, turning round, she led them through the opening in the wainscoting down a narrow secret corridor, Washington following with a lighted candle, which he had caught up from the table. Finally, they came to a great oak door, studded with rusty nails.
[136] ✔︎ When Virginia touched it, it swung back on its heavy hinges, and they found themselves in a little low room, with a vaulted ceiling, and one tiny grated window. Imbedded in the wall was a huge iron ring, and chained to it was a gaunt skeleton, that was stretched out at full length on the stone floor, and seemed to be trying to grasp with its long fleshless fingers an old-fashioned trencher and ewer, that were placed just out of its reach.
[137] ✔︎ The jug had evidently been once filled with water, as it was covered inside with green mould. There was nothing on the trencher but a pile of dust. Virginia knelt down beside the skeleton, and, folding her little hands together, began to pray silently, while the rest of the party looked on in wonder at the terrible tragedy whose secret was now disclosed to them.
[138] ✔︎ "Hallo!" suddenly exclaimed one of the twins, who had been looking out of the window to try and discover in what wing of the house the room was situated. "Hallo! the old withered almond-tree has blossomed. I can see the flowers quite plainly in the moonlight."
[139] ✔︎ "God has forgiven him," said Virginia, gravely, as she rose to her feet, and a beautiful light seemed to illumine her face.
[140] ✔︎ "What an angel you are!" cried the young Duke, and he put his arm round her neck, and kissed her.
[125] "아, 모자가 성가시게 하는군요! 전 버지니아를 원해요!" 어린 듀크가 웃으며 소리쳤다. 그들은 함께 기차역으로 달려갔다. 그곳에서 오티스 씨는 역장에게 플랫폼에서 버지니아를 본 사람이 있는지 물었지만, 새로운 소식을 들을 수 없었다. 그러나 역장은 여기 저기로 전보를 치며 그녀를 찾기 위해 철저하게 지켜볼 것이라 확고하게 말했다. 이제 막 셔터를 내리고 있는 리넨 상인으로부터 어린 듀크의 모자를 산 다음, 오티스 씨는 4마일 정도 떨어진 마을인 벡슬리까지 말을 타고 갔다. 그는 바로 옆에 큰 공원이 있어 이곳에 집시들이 자주 가는 곳이라는 이야기를 들었던 터였다.
[130] 그들이 식당을 빠져 나가고 있을 때, 시계탑에서 자정을 알리는 소리가 들렸고, 마지막 종 소리가 울릴 때 그들은 쾅 하는 소리와 함께 날카로운 울음 소리를 들었다. 무시무시하게 큰 천둥소리가 집을 뒤흔들었고, 허공에서 섬뜩한 가락의 음악이 흘러나왔고, 계단 꼭대기의 판이 요란한 소리를 내며 뒤로 날아갔다. 그리고 그곳에서 몹시 창백하고 하얗게 질린 버지니아가 손에 작은 장식함을 들고 걸어 나왔다. 그들은 모두 일순간 그녀에게 달려갔다. 오티스 부인은 버지니아를 격렬하게 껴안았고, 공작은 그녀에게 열렬히 키스했다. 쌍둥이는 무리를 둘러싸고 몹시 흥분하며 전승 기념 춤을 췄다.
[126] 여기서 그들은 시골의 경찰관들을 깨우긴 했지만, 아무런 정보를 얻을 수 없었다. 말을 타고 모든 공원을 도라본 다음 그들은 말머리를 집으로 돌렸고, 11시쯤에 체이스에 도착했는데, 녹초가 되었고 거의 가슴이 찢어지는 듯 했다. 길은 매우 어두웠고, 그들은 워싱턴과 쌍둥이들이 등불을 들고 문간에서 그들을 기다리고 있는 것을 발견했다. 버지니아의 흔적은 조금도 발견되지 않았다. 집시들은 브로클리 목초지에서 붙잡혔지만, 버지니아는 그들과 함께 잇지 않았다. 그들은 초톤 축제 날짜를 잘못 알고, 늦을까 싶어 급히 떠났다고 설명했다.
[119] 10분쯤 지나자 차를 마시라는 벨이 울렸고, 버지니아가 내려오지 않자 오티스 부인은 하인 한 명을 보내 그녀를 불러오도록 했다. 잠시 뒤 돌아오는 그는 어디에서도 소녀 버지니아가 보이지 않는다고 말했다. 버지니아는 저녁이면 정원으로 나가 저녁 식탁 위에 올릴 꽃으로 나가는 버릇이 있었기 때문에, 오티스 부인은 처음에는 전혀 불안해 하지 않았다. 하지만, 여섯 시가 되어도 버지니아가 보이지 않자, 그녀는 몹시 불안해 하며 소년들을 밖으로 보내 그녀를 찾도록 했고, 자신과 오티스 씨는 집 안의 모든 방을 뒤졌다.
[127] 사실 집시들도 버지니아의 실종 소식을 듣고 상당히 괴로워했다. 그들은 오티스 씨가 자신의 공원에서 야영을 허락해 준 것을 매우 고맙게 여기고 있었고, 그들 중 네 명이 남아 수색 작업을 도왔다. 잉어가 사는 연못의 물을 모두 빼고, 체이스의 모든 곳을 살펴봤지만 아무런 소용이 없었다. 확실한 것은 그날 저녁 그들에게서 버지나아가 사라졌다는 것이다. 오티스 씨와 소년들은 깊은 절망에 빠져 집으로 걸어들어갔다. 두 마리 말과 조랑말을 데리고 마부가 그 뒤를 따랐다.
[123] 그러나 그는 몇 마일조차 달려갈 수 없었는데, 누군가 자신을 허겁지겁 쫓아 오는 소리가 들렸기 때문이다. 주위를 둘러보니 모자도 없이 얼굴이 몹시 상기된 채로 조랑말을 타고 오는 어린 듀크가 보였다. "정말 죄송합니다. 오티스 씨." 소년이 숨을 헐떡이며 말했다. "버지니아가 없어졌는데 저녁을 먹고 있을 수 없어요. 부디 제게 화내지 말아 주세요. 작년에 우리가 약혼을 할 수 있게 내버려뒀더라면, 이 모든 문제가 절대 일어나지 않았을 거에요. 절 돌려보내진 않으실거죠? 못 가요! 안 갈 거에요!"
[128] 홀에서 그들은 겁에 질린 하인들을 발견했다. 가엾은 오티스 부인은 서재의 소파에 누워 있었는데, 공포와 불안으로 제정신이 아니었다. 늙은 가정부가 오드콜로뉴 물로 그녀의 이마를 씻겼다. 오티스 씨는 그녀에게 무언가를 먹자고 했고, 사람들을 위해 저녁을 준비하라고 했다. 우울한 식사였다. 누구도 거의 말을 하지 않았고, 쌍둥이들은 자신의 여동생을 무척 좋아했기 때문에 큰 충격을 받은 듯 가만히 있었다.
[120] 소년들은 여섯시 반에 돌아와서는 어디서도 여동생의 흔적을 찾을 수 없었다고 말했다. 그들은 모두 몹시 흥분한 상태였고, 어떻게 해야 할지 몰랐다. 오티스 씨는 문득 며칠 전, 한 무리의 집시들에게 공원에서 캠핑을 할 수 있게 허락했던 기억이 났다. 그는 곧장 가장 나이가 많은 아들 둘과 농장 일꾼 두 명과 함께 그들이 있었던 블랙펠 할로우를 향해 출발했다.
[136] 버지니아가 문을 건드리자, 육중한 경첩이 뒤로 젖혀졌다. 그들은 아치형 천장과 작은 유리창이 하나 있는 낮은 방에 있었다. 벽에는 거대한 쇠 고리가 박혀 있었고, 수척한 해골이 그것에 묶여 있었다. 그것은 돌바닥 위에 길게 늘어져 있었는데, 살이 없는 손가락으로 손이 닿지 않는 곳에 놓여 있는, 오래된 나무 쟁반과 큰 물병을 잡으려는 것 같았다.
[122] 워싱턴과 두 남자를 보내 구역을 샅샅이 뒤지도록 한 다음, 그는 집으로 달려갔고, 주의 모든 경찰 조사관들에게 떠돌이나 집시들에게 납치된 어린 소녀를 찾아달라는 전보를 부쳤다. 그리고 그는 말을 몰고 오라 명령한 뒤, 아내와 그의 세 아들은 저녁을 먹고 있도록 고집한 다음, 마부와 함께 애스컷 길을 달려 내려갔다.