Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда
Chapter 1
ThediscoverywasdoublystrikingbecauseitindicatedasthenewerCurwenhouse,builtin1761onthesiteoftheold,adilapidatedbuildingstillstandinginOlneyCourtandwellknowntoWardinhisantiquarianramblesoverStampers’Hill.Theplacewasindeedonlyafewsquaresfromhisownhomeonthegreathill’shigherground,andwasnowtheabodeofanegrofamilymuchesteemedforoccasionalwashing,housecleaning,andfurnace-tendingservices.Tofind,indistantSalem,suchsuddenproofofthesignificanceofthisfamiliarrookeryinhisownfamilyhistory,wasahighlyimpressivethingtoWard;andheresolvedtoexploretheplaceimmediatelyuponhisreturn.Themoremysticalphasesoftheletter,whichhetooktobesomeextravagantkindofsymbolism,franklybaffledhim;thoughhenotedwithathrillofcuriositythattheBiblicalpassagereferredto—Job14,14—wasthefamiliarverse,’Ifamandie,shallheliveagain?AllthedaysofmyappointedtimewillIwait,untilmychangecome.’
