the great god pan(潘恩大帝)-第4部分
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THE GREAT GOD PAN
being about a year after her arrival at the village。 The preceding winter
had been remarkably severe； the snow drifting to a great depth； and the
frost continuing for an unexampled period； and the summer following was
as noteworthy for its extreme heat。 On one of the very hottest days in
this summer； Helen V。 left the farmhouse for one of her long rambles in
the forest； taking with her； as usual； some bread and meat for lunch。 She
was seen by some men in the fields making for the old Roman Road； a
green causeway which traverses the highest part of the wood； and they
were astonished to observe that the girl had taken off her hat； though the
heat of the sun was already tropical。 As it happened； a labourer； Joseph
W。 by name； was working in the forest near the Roman Road； and at
twelve o'clock his little son； Trevor； brought the man his dinner of bread
and cheese。 After the meal； the boy； who was about seven years old at
the time； left his father at work； and； as he said； went to look for flowers in
the wood； and the man； who could hear him shouting with delight at his
discoveries； felt no uneasiness。 Suddenly； however； he was horrified at
hearing the most dreadful screams； evidently the result of great terror；
proceeding from the direction in which his son had gone； and he hastily
threw down his tools and ran to see what had happened。 Tracing his path
by the sound； he met the little boy； who was running headlong； and was
evidently terribly frightened； and on questioning him the man elicited that
after picking a posy of flowers he felt tired； and lay down on the grass and
fell asleep。 He was suddenly awakened； as he stated； by a peculiar noise；
a sort of singing he called it； and on peeping through the branches he saw
Helen V。 playing on the grass with a 〃strange naked man；〃 who he seemed
unable to describe more fully。 He said he felt dreadfully frightened and
ran away crying for his father。 Joseph W。 proceeded in the direction
indicated by his son； and found Helen V。 sitting on the grass in the middle
of a glade or open space left by charcoal burners。 He angrily charged her
with frightening his little boy； but she entirely denied the accusation and
laughed at the child's story of a 〃strange man；〃 to which he himself did not
attach much credence。 Joseph W。 came to the conclusion that the boy
had woke up with a sudden fright； as children sometimes do； but Trevor
persisted in his story； and continued in such evident distress that at last his
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father took him home； hoping that his mother would be able to soothe him。
For many weeks； however； the boy gave his parents much anxiety； he
became nervous and strange in his manner； refusing to leave the cottage by
himself； and constantly alarming the household by waking in the night
with cries of 〃The man in the wood！ father！ father！〃
In course of time； however； the impression seemed to have worn off；
and about three months later he accompanied his father to the home of a
gentleman in the neighborhood； for whom Joseph W。 occasionally did
work。 The man was shown into the study； and the little boy was left
sitting in the hall； and a few minutes later； while the gentleman was giving
W。 his instructions； they were both horrified by a piercing shriek and the
sound of a fall； and rushing out they found the child lying senseless on the
floor； his face contorted with terror。 The doctor was immediately
summoned； and after some examination he pronounced the child to be
suffering form a kind of fit； apparently produced by a sudden shock。 The
boy was taken to one of the bedrooms； and after some time recovered
consciousness； but only to pass into a condition described by the medical
man as one of violent hysteria。 The doctor exhibited a strong sedative；
and in the course of two hours pronounced him fit to walk home； but in
passing through the hall the paroxysms of fright returned and with
additional violence。 The father perceived that the child was pointing at
some object； and heard the old cry； 〃The man in the wood；〃 and looking in
the direction indicated saw a stone head of grotesque appearance； which
had been built into the wall above one of the doors。 It seems the owner
of the house had recently made alterations in his premises； and on digging
the foundations for some offices； the men had found a curious head；
evidently of the Roman period； which had been placed in the manner
described。 The head is pronounced by the most experienced
archaeologists of the district to be that of a faun or satyr。 ＇Dr。 Phillips
tells me that he has seen the head in question； and assures me that he has
never received such a vivid presentment of intense evil。＇
From whatever cause arising； this second shock seemed too severe for
the boy Trevor； and at the present date he suffers from a weakness of
intellect； which gives but little promise of amending。 The matter caused
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a good deal of sensation at the time； and the girl Helen was closely
questioned by Mr。 R。； but to no purpose； she steadfastly denying that she
had frightened or in any way molested Trevor。
The second event with which this girl's name is connected took place
about six years ago； and is of a still more extraordinary character。
At the beginning of the summer of 1882； Helen contracted a friendship
of a peculiarly intimate character with Rachel M。； the daughter of a
prosperous farmer in the neighbourhood。 This girl； who was a year
younger than Helen； was considered by most people to be the prettier of
the two； though Helen's features had to a great extent softened as she
became older。 The two girls； who were together on every available
opportunity； presented a singular contrast； the one with her clear； olive
skin and almost Italian appearance； and the other of the proverbial red and
white of our rural districts。 It must be stated that the payments made to
Mr。 R。 for the maintenance of Helen were known in the village for their
excessive liberality； and the impression was general that she would one
day inherit a large sum of money from her relative。 The parents of Rachel
were therefore not averse from their daughter's friendship with the girl；
and even encouraged the intimacy； though they now bitterly regret having
done so。 Helen still retained her extraordinary fondness for the forest； and
on several occasions Rachel accompanied her； the two friends setting out
early in the morning； and remaining in the wood until dusk。 Once or
twice after these excursions Mrs。 M。 thought her daughter's manner rather
peculiar； she seemed languid and dreamy； and as it has been expressed；
〃different from herself；〃 but these peculiarities seem to have been thought
too trifling for remark。 One evening； however； after Rachel had come
home； her mother heard a noise which sounded like suppressed weeping in
the girl's room； and on going in found her lying； half undressed； upon the
bed； evidently in the greatest distress。 As soon as she saw her mother；
she exclaimed； 〃Ah； mother； mother； why did you let me go to the forest
with Helen？〃 Mrs。 M。 was astonished at so strange a question； and
proceeded to make inquiries。 Rachel told her a wild story。 She said
Clarke closed the book with a snap； and turned his chair towards the
fire。 When his friend sat one evening in that very chair； and told his story；
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Clarke had interrupted him at a point a little subsequent to this； had cut
short his words in a paroxysm of horror。 〃My God！〃 he had exclaimed；
〃think； think what you are saying。 It is too incredible； too monstrous；
such things can never be in this quiet world； where men and women live
and die； and struggle； and conquer； or maybe fail； and fall down under
sorrow； and grieve and suffer strange fortunes for many a year； but not this；
Phillips； not such things as this。 There must be some explanation； some
way out of the terror。 Why； man； if such a case were possible； our earth
would be a nightmare。〃
But Phillips had told his story to the end； concluding：
〃Her flight remains a mystery to this day； she vanished in broad
sunlight； they saw her walking in a meadow； and a few moments later she
was not there。〃
Clarke tried to conceive the thing again； as he sat by the fire； and again
his mind shuddered and shrank back； appalled before the sight of such
awful；
