He had odd, absent ways, and talked more to himself, I believe, than to all the rest of the world put together。
'She won't understand,' he whispered, looking at me enquiringly。
'No, she won't。 Will she?'
Then there was a pause, during which he brought forth from his breast pocket a small bunch of some half-dozen keys, on one of which he looked frowningly, every now and then balancing it a little before his eyes, between his finger and thumb, as he deliberated。
I knew him too well, of course, to interpose a word。
'They are easily frightened—ay, they are。 I'd better do it another way。
And pausing, he looked in my face as he might upon a picture。
'They are—yes—I had better do it another way—another way; yes—and she'll not suspect—she'll not suppose。
Then he looked steadfastly upon the key, and from it to me, suddenly lifting it up, and said abruptly, 'See, child,' and, after a second or two, 'Remember this key。
It was oddly shaped, and unlike others。
'Yes, sir。' I always called him 'sir。'
'It opens that,' and he tapped it sharply on the door of the cabinet。
'In the daytime it is always here,' at which word he dropped it into his pocket again。 'You see?—and at night under my pillow—you hear me?'
'Yes, sir。
'You won't forget this cabinet—oak—next the door—on your left—you won't forget?'
'No, sir。'
'Pity she's a girl, and so young—ay, a girl, and so young—no sense—giddy。
You say, you'll remember?'
'Yes, sir。'
'It behoves you。'
He turned round and looked full upon me, like a man who has taken a sudden resolution; and I think for a moment he had made up his mind to tell me a great deal more。
But if so, he changed it again; and after another pause, he said slowly and sternly—'You [pg 07] will tell nobody what I have said, under pain of my displeasure。
'Oh! no, sir!'
'Good child!'
'Except,' he resumed, 'under one contingency; that is, in case I should be absent, and Dr。
Bryerly—you recollect the thin gentleman, in spectacles and a black wig, who spent three days here last month—should come and enquire for the key, you understand, in my absence。
'Yes, sir。'
So he kissed me on the forehead, and said—
'Let us return。'
Which, accordingly, we did, in silence; the storm outside, like a dirge on a great organ, accompanying our flitting。