human
There was an intermarriage between the Burleighs and the Calbots four or five generations ago, said he;
gpt
I found the record of it in our family papers, shortly before Miss Burleigh and I were engaged; but it appears not to have turned out well. I don't know whether the husband and wife quarrelled, or whether their troubles came from some outside interference; but they had not been long married before a separation took place--not a regular divorce, but the wife went quietly back to her fathers house, and my ancestor is supposed to have gone abroad. But this was not the end of it, Drayton; for, some years later, the husband returned, and he and his wife lived together again.
human
Was there any further estrangement between them, afterwards?
gpt
It is an ugly story, said Calbot, gloomily, getting up from his chair, and taking his old place before the fire.
human
No; they lived together--as long as they did live! But it was about the era of the witchcraft mania--or delusion, if you choose to call it so--and it is strongly hinted in some of the documents in my possession that the Calbots were--not witches--but victims of witchcraft. They accused no one, but they seemed to have been shunned by everybody like persons under the shadow of a curse. Well--it wasn't a great while before Mrs. Calbot died, and her husband went mad soon afterwards. There were two children. One of them, the son, was born before the first separation. The other, a daughter, came into the world after the reunion, and she was an idiot!
gpt
An ugly story, sure enough, said I, shrugging my shoulders with a chilly sensation;
human
Perhaps nothing; but there is one thing which would go for nothing in the way of legal evidence, but which has impressed me, nevertheless. The date of the second coming-together of my ancestor and his wife was 1698.
gpt
Well?
human
If you look at that paper I gave you you'll see the date of Armstrong's death is also 1698.
gpt
Still I don't see the point.
human
It's simply this: the--Thing I saw was the condemned soul of that Archibald Armstrong. Who he may have been I don't know; but I can't help believing that my ancestor knew him when he was still in the flesh. They had a feud, perhaps--maybe about this very marriage--of course you understand I'm only supposing a case. Well, Calbot gets the better of his rival, and is married. Then Armstrong exerts his malignant ingenuity to set them at odds with each other. He may have played on the superstitious fancies which they probably shared with others of that age, and at last we may suppose he accomplished their separation.
gpt
An ingenious idea, I admitted,
human
Why, on hearing of his death, they would naturally suppose all danger over, and that they might live together unmolested. And from this point you may differ with me or not, as you choose. I believe that it was only after Armstrong was dead that his power for evil became commensurate with his will. I believe, Drayton, said Calbot, drawing himself up to his full height, and emphasising his words with the slow gesture of his right arm,
gpt
Look here, my dear John, I said at length, speaking with an effort, for there was a sensation of heavy oppression on my chest;
human
I see there would be little use, Drayton, in my answering your question directly; but I will give you a deliberate and honest account of my personal experiences during these last two days: there will be no danger of your mistaking my meaning then. You won't mind my walking up and down the room while I'm speaking, will you? The subject is a painful one, and motion seems to make it easier, somehow.
gpt
I said I found out all this ancestral trouble some time before I was engaged; and, as you may imagine, I kept silence about it to Miss Burleigh. I think now it was a mistake to do so; but my ideas on many subjects have undergone modification of late. I believe I had forgotten all about the discovery by the time I had made up my mind to risk an avowal: at any rate, I had no misgivings about it; and when I came out from my interview with her--the happiest man in England!--ah Drayton, it seemed to me then that there could be no more pains nor shadows in life for me thence-forward for ever!