资源描述：
《THE GREY ROOM(灰房间) 》由会员上传分享，免费在线阅读，更多相关内容在学术论文-天天文库。
1、THEGREYROOMTHEGREYROOMbyEdenPhillpotts1THEGREYROOMCHAPTERITHEHOUSEPARTYThepiersofthemainentranceofChadlandswereofredbrick,anduponeachreposedamightysphereofgreygranite.Behindthemstretchedawaythepark,whereforesttrees,nearlyshornoftheirleavesattheedgeofwinter,stillansweredthesettingsunwithfir
2、esofthinningfoliage.Theysankawaythroughstretchesofbrakefern,andalreadyamidtheirtrunksaroseathin,bluehaze-breathofearthmadevisiblebycomingcold.Therewasfrostintheair,andthesickleofanewmoonhungwhereduskofeveningdimmedthegreenofthewesternsky.Thegunswerereturning,andeightmenwiththreewomenarrive
3、dattheloftygates.Oneofthepartyrodeagreypony,andawomanwalkedoneachsideofhim.Theychatteredtogether,andthelittlecompanyoftweed-cladpeoplepassedintoChadlandsParkandtrudgedforward,wherethemanorhouserosehalfamileahead.Thenanoldmanemergedfromalodge,hiddenbehindagroveoflaurelandbaywithintheentranc
4、e,andshutthegreatgatesofscrolliron.TheywereofaflamboyantItalianperiod,andmorearrestivethandistinguished.Panelleduponthem,andbelongingtoalaterdaythanthey,hadbeenimposedtwoironcoatsofarms,withcrestaboveandmottobeneath-theheraldicbearingsofthepresentownerofChadlands.Hesetstoreuponsuchthings,b
5、utwasnotresponsibleforthework.Asurvivalhimself,andsteepedinancientopinions,hiscoat,woninaforgottenage,interestedhimonlylessthanhisMutinymedal-hissolepersonalclaimtopublichonor.Hehadservedinyouthasasoldier,butwasstillasubalternwhenhisfatherdiedandhecameintohiskingdom.Now,SirWalterLennox,fif
6、thbaronet,hadgrownold,andhisinvinciblekindnessofheart,hisarchaicprinciples,hisgreatwealth,andthelimitedexperiencesofreality,forwhichsuchwealthwasresponsible,lefthimapopularandrespectedman.Yethearousedmuchexasperationinlocallandownersfromhisgenerosityandscornofalleconomicprinciples;andwhile
7、histenantsheldhimtheveryexemplarofalandlord,andhisservantsworshippedhimforthebestpossiblereasons,hisfriends,2THEGREYROOMwearyofremonstrance,wereforcedtoforgivehisbadprecedentsandamistakenliberalityquitebeyondthepoweroftheaverageunfortunatewholivesbyhisland.But
