Learn English Through Story ☆ Subtitles ✔ The Woman In Black by Susan Hill ( advanced level )

[Music] up to one Christmas Eve my name is Arthur Kipps when I was a young man I worked in London I was a solicitor I worked for the same company all my life 14 years ago I bought this house called monk's peace I live here with my dear wife Esme Esme's first husband had died she was a widow when I married her I became the father of her four young children our years at monk's peace have been happy once it was Christmas Eve all the family were at monk's peace for the holiday we were all sitting by the big fire at the end of the day I was in my armchair listening to the laughter and the talking wake up father someone called we're going to tell ghost stories the lights were turned off suddenly the room was dark and shadowy I smiled as I listened to the young people's stories the stories were full of horror but they did not frighten me they were not true then I remembered I remembered terrible things these memories were terrible because they were true tell us a ghost story father someone cried you must know one story I stood up cold and shaking no no I shouted I have no story to tell I hurried from the room away from them all I went out into the garden I stood there in the cold and in the darkness my heart was beating fast I was shaking with fear will I never forget will I never find peace how can I find peace there is only one way I must write down my terrible story all the horror everything then I will find peace I turned and walked back into the house [Music] chapter 2 London Fog my story begins in November many years ago I was a young man of 23 I worked for a solicitor called mr. Bentley sometimes the work was uninteresting but I worked hard I wanted to do well that November morning the weather was cold a thick yellow fog covered London the fog filled people's ears and eyes it got into houses shops and offices mr. Bentley called me into his office sit down now sir sit down mr. Bentley said he pointed to a paper on his desk this is the will of mrs drablow mrs alice drablow of eel marsh house in Yorkshire a strange old lady and a strange house have you ever been to Yorkshire Arthur no sir well my boy go home and pack your bag mrs drablow is dead she has no relatives in England and we are her solicitors I want you to go to the funeral mr. Bentley's saw that I was surprised I can't go myself mr. Bentley said quickly I'm too busy after the funeral he went on I want you to go to ear Marsh house I want you to look at the old lady's papers bring back anything important mr. Bentley stood up the funerals at 11 o'clock tomorrow morning he said take the afternoon train from Kings Cross station here is the key to Yule Marsh house mrs drablow's will and other important papers are in this envelope and he held out a large brown envelope written on the front of the envelope was mrs. alice drablow you Marsh house nine lives causeway christen gifford yorkshire what a strange address I said yes it's a strange address and it's a strange place mr. Bentley said now off you go my boy there wasn't much time to get ready for the journey I quickly packed my bag then I wrote a note to Stella my fiance then I set off for Kings Cross station the fog was thicker now the smell of fog was everywhere at last I reached the big noisy station I was beginning to feel excited I was going on a journey I had an important job to do I was soon sitting in the train and then it was moving slowly at first and then faster the fog of London was left behind darkness fell I was on my way north to eel marsh house I changed trains at Crewe then I change trains again at a small town called Homer B in Yorkshire the air was cold the wind blew rain on my face the little train I got into at home abhi was old and dirty I put the brown envelope on the seat beside me I opened my newspaper and began to read a few minutes later a big man with a red face got into the carriage he sat down as the train began to move out of home abhi it's cold in here I said but I've left the fog of London behind me we don't have fogs here we have mists the mists come in from the sea the big man said we sat for a few moments in silence then I saw the big man look at the envelope on the seat beside me drablow he said are you a relative no I'm a solicitor I said I'm going to the funeral you'll be the only one there mister my name's Kipps Arthur Kipps I told him I'm Samuel daily the big man said didn't mrs drablow have any friends I asked no she didn't have any friends mr. daily said people become strange when they live in strange places I smiled are you trying to frighten me mr. daily I asked he stared at me no I'm not trying to frighten you he said but there are other people in Chris and Gifford who will try to frighten you I suddenly felt very cold where are you staying tonight mr. Daley asked me I'm going to stay at the Gifford arms the Gifford arms is a comfortable in said mr. Daley I go past it on my way home you can come with me in my car mr. Daley's car was waiting at the station a few minutes later it stopped outside the inn mr. daily gave me his card with his address on it that's where I live he said if you need any help come and see me the Gifford arms was warm and comfortable after a good supper I went to bed I slept well thank God I did I never slept so well again [Music] Chapter three the funeral of mrs drablow the next morning was bright and sunny I had a good breakfast then I walked round the little town of critten Gifford it was market day the little town was busy farmers were buying and selling animals in the market square the streets of critten Gifford were completely flat the countryside all round the town was flat - there were no Hills at all to the east of the town were the marshes and on the marshes was eel marsh house I walked back to the inn and got ready for the funeral I put on a dark suit and went downstairs again mr. Jerome was waiting for me downstairs mr. Jerome was mrs. DuBose agent he looked after her house and land mr. Jerome was a small man dressed in black he smiled politely and we left the inn as we walked through the square people stared at us they stopped talking no one smiled the church stood in an old graveyard there were old gravestones on either side of a long path it was very cold inside the church mr. Jerome and I were the only people at the funeral poor mrs drablow i thought didn't she have any friends at all then I heard a sound behind me I turned a young woman was standing at the back of the church she was dressed in old-fashioned black clothes clothes of sixty years ago a large old-fashioned bonnet covered her face she raised her head and looked at me the young woman's face was white and very sinned how ill she looked when we the church I looked for the woman but I did not see her then in the graveyard I saw her again in the sunshine her face was whiter and thinner I closed my eyes to pray when I opened them the woman had gone beyond the graveyard I saw the estuary and beyond the estuary was the open sea the funeral was over I followed mr. Jerome from the churchyard who was that young woman I asked him mr. Jerome stopped and looked at me young woman he said yes a young woman she was dressed in black and she looked very ill mr. Jerome's face went white I did not see a young woman he said I looked behind me the young woman was standing beside mrs drablow's grave look there she is I said mr. Jerome made a strange sound he did not turn round to look at the woman he held my arm tightly he began to shake mr. Jerome I cried I will let go of my arm and I'll bring a car for you no no he cried no sir stay with me after a few moments mr. Jerome spoke again I'm very sorry sir he said quietly I felt ill for a moment I can go on now we walked slowly back to the Gifford arms are you taking me to eel marsh house mr. Jerome I said politely the little man shook his head no not me he said keckwick will take you you have to go across a causeway to get to Weill Marsh house when the tide is in the sea covers the causeway you can't get across you can only cross the causeway when the tide is out that will be after one o'clock there may be a lot of papers to look at I said I may stay in eel marsh house tonight you will find the inn more comfortable mr. Jerome said quietly perhaps you're right I said the lunch at the Gifford arms was a good one and I ate well at half past one I was waiting outside the inn the key to eel marsh house was in my pocket I listened for the sound of keckwick scar [Music] chapter for eel marsh house after a few minutes a pony and trap came into the square it stopped beside me mr. Kipps the driver said are you Peck weak I asked I was surprised that keckwick did not come in a car the man nodded his head I got into the trap the ponies started off at once we drove quickly through the quiet little town we passed the churchyard and were soon in open country the country around the town was completely flat there was a beautiful grey sky above us after a time we reached the marshes the marshes were strange and beautiful no trees grew in the marshes there was water everywhere there were no people and no houses there was silence the only sound was the noise made by the hooves of the pony and the wheels of the trap we drove along the path until we came to the causeway the long causeway went across the estuary the sandy causeway was not much higher than the water on each side this is Nine Lives causeway I thought at high tide the water will completely cover it the bright winter Sun shone in my eyes I shut them for a moment when I opened my eyes we were near the end of the causeway in front of us was a tall grey house it stood alone looking over the marshes and the water of the estuary the lonely house was on a little island this was eel marsh house the trap stopped in front of the house for a few moments I did not move what a strange lonely place but the place was so beautiful that I did not feel afraid I got out of the app when will the water cover the causeway again in two hours keckwick answered I did not want to leave so soon I wanted more time in this beautiful place two hours won't be enough time for me to do my work here I said I'll come back here again tomorrow I'll bring food and drink with me and stay for a day or two but now that I'm here I'll have a look round the house what are you going to do will you wait here or come back for me later keckwick did not answer he turned the pony and trap round and drove off I watched the trap going back across the causeway I was alone I stood there without moving the key to the house was in my hand a sea bird flew by it gave a cry then there was silence again what a place to live I thought perhaps one day Stella and I will stay here I wanted to be with her in this beautiful place there was a field behind the house it went from the house to the water the Setting Sun made the water red the wind from the sea was getting colder at the end of the field I saw a little church it looked very old it had no roof and its walls were broken some old gravestones stood round the old building it was beginning to grow dark it was time to go inside the house and then I saw the young woman again she was standing beside one of the gravestones it was the woman in black she was wearing the same old-fashioned clothes she looked pale and ill her eyes were dark in her pale face those eye how can I describe them her eyes were evil they stared at me with a terrible hate there was something the woman wanted from me something she had lost what was it I began to shake with fear I felt very cold my heart beat faster and faster I wanted to run but I was not able to move what was wrong with me the woman stepped behind the gravestone she had gone I fear left me I ran down into the graveyard I looked for the young woman everywhere but she had disappeared there were the marshes and there was the shining causeway I was able to see for miles but there were no houses there was no place to hide I did not understand it suddenly my fear returned I ran back to the house I did not look back I was too frightened to look back I reached the house and tried to open the door my hand was shaking at last the key was in the lock I opened the door and stepped inside the door shut with a bang the sound went through the empty house what had happened to me who was the woman in black I did not believe in ghosts but I had seen one a ghost that was evil and terrible but I was inside the house now I was safe I smiled I did not believe in ghosts I had work to do and I wanted to do it well I must forget the woman in black I looked around I was standing in a dark hallway in front of me it was a wide staircase on one side was a passage perhaps it led to the kitchen there were several doors all of them closed it was getting darker I switched on a light in the hall I went to the nearest door and opened it I then opened one door after another one door was locked there was old furniture in every room it was all large and heavy there were old pictures on all the walls every room had desks and cupboards and my job was to look through all of them there was a damp smell in the house some of the rooms had not been used for many years the whole house was dark and shadowy mrs drablow had lived here alone i thought i was not surprised that people said she was strange i pulled up the blinds at every window from each window i was able to see the marshes and the estuary it was a beautiful place but silent and lonely I used the keys to open some desks and cupboards all of them were full of papers I was sure that some of these papers were important I had to look at all of them this job will take a long time I thought it was too late to start work that afternoon I looked at my watch keckwick was not coming back for another hour I decided to walk back along the causeway I was able to see the path from the window it went straight ahead it was not possible for me to lose my way I was sure to meet keckwick on the way I went back into every room I pulled down the blinds I turned off all the lights I locked the front door behind me then I started to walk along the causeway chapter 5 the cry of a child outside the house everything was quiet I looked back once but I did not see the woman in black the causeway was dry but the tide was coming in the water on either side of the causeway was higher now as I walked on I felt very alone the path over the causeway seemed longer - I walked faster the sky and the water were beautiful in the grey light then I saw the sea mist the sea mist was moving quickly over the marshes in a few moments the sea mist covered everything it was a damp white mist it was very different from the yellow fog of London the mist moved about in front of my eyes soon my hair and clothes were wet now I saw only a short way in front of me I looked back I was not able to see yo marsh house it had completely disappeared in the mist I walked on very slowly then I stopped if I went on I might walk off the causeway into the deep mud I decided to go back but going back was difficult to the mist was moving all round me where was the house was I going the right way I felt very afraid and then I heard the pony entrap thank God keckwick was coming back for me I stopped and waited but now the sounds of the Pony entrap were going away from me now the sound was coming from somewhere on the marshes what was wrong had keckwick gone off the path I stood Mary still for a moment there was complete silence suddenly a pony shrieked with fear then I heard a sound I shall never forget the terrible cry of a child a child in fear of death and now the trap was sinking there was a strange sucking sound the trap was going down under the mud and still the child cried out there was nothing I could do I shouted but no one answered how could I find the trap in that terrible mist it was impossible I had to get back to the house if I turned on all the lights someone might see them someone might help it was dark now the mist was thicker too I heard the sea water moving nearer at last I was standing on hard ground in front of the house I found the front door and opened it behind me the marshes were silent i sat down on the nearest chair I began to shake oh the horror of that terrible cry that poor child dying in the marshes I began crying and was not able to stop after a time I made myself stand up I walked into every room and turned on the lights I found some brandy in a cupboard I drank some and my fear turned to anger why had mr. Bentley sent me here why had I left London I walked in and out of the rooms I wanted only one thing I wanted to get away from this terrible place I walked slowly along a passage on the second floor the door at the end was locked I kicked the door angrily but it did not open I turned away and walked back as I went I looked through every window the white sea mist was all around the house I could see nothing I drank some more brandy the brandy helped me to forget to forget that terrible sound of the child crying at last I fell asleep a bell was ringing it rang again and again I opened my eyes slowly I looked through the window the moon shone white in the black sky how long had I been asleep I did not know the bell rang again then I remembered with horror the sound I had heard I remembered the screams of the child I remembered the shrieks of the pony I remembered the noise of the trap as it sank down in the mud and I heard those noises and I dreamt them I did not know the bell rang again someone was at the door who was there all the lights in the house were on people had seen the lights and come to help me I got up slowly and walked to the door there was only one man at the door it was keckwick and behind him was his pony and trap they were real and they were not harmed at all I had to wait till the mist cleared said keckwick and when the mist cleared the tide was in I had to wait until the tide went out and the water left the causeway then I looked at my watch and saw the time it was two o'clock in the morning it's very good of you to come here for me at this time I said I would not have left you to stare here all night tech work said no no I would not have left you here all night how did you get out of the mud I began to say then I knew it had not been care quick it had been someone else but who who had been driving on the marshes on a dark November evening who cake wick looked at me strangely you'd better get in the truck he said I'll Drive you back keckwick knew that something strange had happened to me but he was not going to ask me about it and he did not want to hear about it I got into the trap and we drove off i sat in the trap in a dream a dream of horror and fear I now knew the truth but I did not want to believe it the woman in black was a ghost and the child was a ghost too I had seen the woman I had heard the child they had died long ago but they did not rest in peace the innkeeper of the Gifford arms had not gone to bed he was waiting up for me he let me in without a word it was after three o'clock in the morning when I got to bed I slept but in my dreams I heard the cry of a child I stood once more in the white sea mist and always near me was the woman in black [Music] Chapter six I go back when I woke the Sun was shining at first I felt weak and ill but after a bath and breakfast I felt better I was not going to run away I had a job to do I was afraid I had seen and heard terrible things but I was a young man and young men forget easily I was going back to eel marsh house I was going to look at mrs drablow's papers but not today and not alone I wanted some exercise I told the innkeeper I was going for a long walk can you ride a bicycle sir he said there's a bicycle here you can use I was very pleased stellar and I often rode bicycles into the country yes an hour or two on a bicycle that's what I needed then tomorrow I would go back to eel marsh house but not alone I decided to talk to mr. Jerome he probably had a boy who worked in the office the boy can help me I thought together we will finish the job quickly I walked through the town to mr. Jerome's office he did not look pleased to see me the house is full of papers I said I must look at them all I need help a look of fear came into mr. Jerome's face I can't help you mr. Kipps he said quickly but can your office boy help me I said I don't have an office boy Jerome answered well any other boy in the town I said I'll pay him of course mr. Jerome stood up he face was white you will find no one to help you no one he shouted I think I understand you mr. Jerome I said no one in this town will stay at eel marsh house everyone is too afraid afraid of seeing I stopped the woman in black mr. Jerome said yes I answered I saw her again where he whispered in the graveyard behind Hill Marsh house but she's not going to stop me whoever she is or was I laughed my laugh did not sound true I must be brave mr. Jerome I added I'm not going to run away that's what I said the little man replied very quietly I did not understand him well I'll go back alone I said perhaps I'll not see the woman again I pray that you do not mr. Jerome said slowly I pray that you do not I went back to the inn I wrote a letter to mr. Bentley I told him I wanted to stay for a few days I said nothing about the woman in black then I took the bicycle and rode off the weather was perfect for cycling the wind was cold but the air was bright and clear I decided to ride West away from the marshes I was going to ride to the next village and have lunch there at the end of the town I looked to the east I was looking back to the water of the marshes the marshes were pulling me back I knew I had to go back to them but not now not today taking a deep breath I turned my bicycle my back was to the marshes now I cycled away from the marshes along the country road Chapter seven dinner with mr. Daley I rode back to Kristin Gifford about four hours later I was feeling happier eel marsh house did not frighten me now I knew I was brave enough to go there alone the sea mist and loneliness of the place had frightened me how silly I had been to be afraid that would not happen again I turned the corner into the town square a big car was coming towards me I stopped quickly but I almost fell off the bicycle the car slowed down and stopped mr. Samuel Daley looked out of the window how are you young man he called fine I said I've had a good ride I feel hungry and I'm looking forward to my dinner tonight and what about your business have you been out to the house yes of course I answered it won't take me long mr. Daley looked at me for a few moments he said nothing I'm enjoying the work I went on quickly it's all very interesting but there are many papers to look at mr. Daley went on staring at me mr. Kipps he said those are brave words but I don't believe them come to my house for dinner tonight the innkeeper knows where I live he sat back and the car drove on mr. Daley's words did not make me change my mind I was going back to eel marsh house I went shopping in the town I bought tea coffee and bread then a large torch and rubber boots I wanted to be ready for anything at eel marsh house I told the innkeeper what I was going to do tomorrow I said I'm going to go to eel marsh house I'm going to stay there for two nights can I use your bicycle the innkeeper nodded he said nothing but he looked at me sadly in the evening I cycled out to the Daley's house it was a very large house mr. Daly was clearly a rich man mr. Daly and his wife gave me a friendly welcome the food and drink were very good all through dinner Samuel Daly talked about himself he had worked hard all his life now he owned land and houses I told him about Stella and our plans for the future after dinner mrs. Daly left us until then mr. Daly had not spoken about mrs drablow or eel marsh house he filled my glass and his own with wine you're a fool to go on with it he said I knew what he meant I've got a job to do mr. Daly I said and I want to do it well listen to me Arthur Daley said there are stories about that place stories I'm not going to tell you you'll hear them from other people perhaps you've heard them already you've been out to the house haven't you yes I've been there I answered and I heard and saw things things I cannot understand and then I told him everything mr. Daley listened carefully but said nothing I think the woman in black is a ghost I said she made me afraid she has the power to make people afraid but that is all she did me no harm and what about the pony and trap the child's cry daily asked yes I thought to myself the child's cry was the worst of all but I did not say that to mr. Daley I'm not running away I said you shouldn't go back Daley said I must then don't go alone no one will go with me I answered I'll be all right after all mrs drablow lived there alone for sixty years alone I wonder mr. Daley said he stood up it was time for me to go the servant brought my coat when the man had left Daley said are you really going back to that house I am I answered then if you must go take a dog Daly said I laughed I haven't got a dog I said but I have a dog Daly answered you can take her with you now we walked out of the house together wait here a moment Daly said he walked round to the back of the house I stood there smiling I like dogs I was happy to have a dog with me in that empty old house after a few moments Daly returned with a bright idea dog take her he said bring her back when you've finished what's her name Spyder hearing her name the little dog wagged her tail thank you I said come on girl come on spider I began to walk away the dog did not move she looked at Daley go on girl he said spider ran over to me at once waving goodbye I got on my bicycle then with spider running behind me I rode back to the town I felt happy happy and safe I was looking forward to the morning chapter 8 sounds in the night next day the weather was good at nine o'clock mr. bentley phoned from london i've received your letter he said you can stay for a few days send me any papers that look important leave the other papers in the house don't stay too long I'll finish the work as quickly as I can I answered it's a strange old house I added mrs drablow was a strange old woman mr. Bentley said and he put the phone down by 9:30 I was ready there was a basket on the front of the bicycle I put everything in the basket I cycled off happily the little dog spider ran along behind me the tide was coming in very soon it would cover the causeway but that did not worry me the air was clear the sun was shining on the water see birds were flying and calling over the estuary I was soon at eel marsh house I opened the windows I lit fires in several rooms then I sat down at a big desk the desk was in front of a window I could see the sky the marshes and the water I started work the desk was full of papers most of them I threw away but I kept a few to look at later I opened the cupboard and then another papers more and more papers I looked at everything carefully I worked hard all the morning at two o'clock I had some lunch then I called spider and we went outside I walked down to the old graveyard spider ran up and down she was happy too I tried to read the words on the gravestones but they were too old most of the words were difficult to read the writing on one stone was a little clearer some letters were worn away but I could read most of the words to people were buried here I wondered who they had been I looked around me it was a sad place but I did not feel afraid the air was colder now I went back to the house and spider followed me I was soon back at my desk again I read paper after paper but there was nothing important I made myself a cup of tea I went on working when it was dark I closed the curtains I turned on every light in the house I put more coal on the fire I brought papers from other rooms papers so many papers mrs drablow had thrown nothing away in 60 years it was getting late but I went on working I'll be finished in a day and a half I thought to myself then I'll return to London and my dear Stella at last I was too tired to go on I took a book to read in bed then taking spider with me I went upstairs I was going to sleep in a bedroom at the back of the house I read for about half an hour then I turned out the light spider was already asleep near the bed some time later I woke up the moonlight was shining into the room why was I awake what had happened i sat up and then I saw spider the little dog was standing of the door she was staring at the door listening the little dog was terrified and so was i I listened to yes I could hear something the sound came from somewhere inside the house bump bump bump what was it spider looked at me growled and listened again I got slowly out of bed my heart was beating fast I opened the bedroom door the passage outside was dark and empty spider ran down the passage I heard her sniffing at every closed door I heard the sound again bump bump bump it came from a passage on the left very slowly I began to walk towards the sound I opened the doors one by one every room was dark and silent there was a door at the end of the passage spiders sniffed under this door her growling became louder it was the door I had found locked on my first visit to the house it was the only door I could not open yes the sound came from behind this door bump bump bump I had heard this sound long ago I had heard it when I was a child what was it spider howled the frightened little dog pressed against my legs we were both shaking with fear and still the sound went on bump bump bump I heard another sound it came from behind me it came from the front of the house the bumping noise stopped I turned away from the locked door slowly and carefully I walked back to my bedroom everything was quiet the second sound had come from inside the house I was sure of that I looked round the room perhaps the sound had come from outside I looked out of the window I saw nothing no one the marshes were silver and gray in the moonlight did I hear a cry I listened again no I felt something warm against my leg I bent down to stroke the little dog she was quiet again I listened everything was quiet the house and the marshes were completely silent after a time I went back to the closed door I turned the handle the door did not open I pushed my shoulder against the door it did not move there was no keyhole in the door I could not see into the room I went back to bed but it was a long time before I fell asleep chapter 9 behind the door the morning was cold and wet the sky was covered with thick clouds it was raining I was very tired but after breakfast I felt better I went back to the locked door I stood and listened but I heard nothing at 9 o'clock I rode back along the causeway on the bicycle spider ran beside me there was a letter from Stella at the Gifford arms in her loving words made me feel very happy in two or three more days we would be together again I walked round the town buying more food then I rode back along the causeway I was back at eel marsh house in time for lunch the clouds were thicker now the sea mist was coming in over the marshes inside the house it was already dark I put on all the lights but the house stayed dark and shadowy my fears returned I decided to go back to the town I went outside there was some mist around the house but I was able to see the causeway however it was completely covered by water I could not return to christen Giffords that day so I whistled to Spyder she ran to me quickly we both went back inside the house I emptied papers from more cupboards I started work again I worked hard for several hours I found a packet of letters tied together they looked interesting after supper I sat down by the fire and opened the packet there were some papers and some letters the letters were all in the same handwriting they were signed Genet or J I remembered the gravestone I had seen it was in the graveyard at the back of the eel marsh house one of the names on that grave stone had been Genet was this the same Genet there were dates on the letters the letters had been written 60 years ago each letter began with the words dearest Alice Alice was mrs drablow's first name all the letters were written to mrs. alice drablow i looked through them quickly Genet was mrs drablow's younger sister i began to read the letters carefully they were short and in simple language they told a sad story Genet was unmarried but she was going to have a child the child's father refused to marry janet and he left the country Genet did not know what to do her family refused to help her then the child was born a boy for a few months there were no letters then Genet began writing again and now her letters were full of anger the child is mine Genet wrote I will never give him to strangers but Genet was unmarried she was poor and she could not keep the child at last she had to agree that Alice could take the boy in her last letter Genna throat loved him Alice loved him as your own child but remember he is mine mine he can never be yours forgive me my heart is breaking poor Janet I thought what a sad story I began to look at the other papers the first one was from a solicitor's office the paper was about a boy called Nathaniel Nathaniel was the son of Janet Humphrey Nathaniel had been adopted by thomas and alice drablow of eel marsh house alice drablow was Janet Humphreys married sister Nathaniel had been given the name drablow so the child Nathaniel drablow had lived here I thought away from the mother who loved him I thought for a few moments about Janet Humphrey and her sad life then I picked up the next paper at that moment spider growled the little dog was standing at the door every hair on her body was stiff with fear i sat there for a few moments frozen with fright then I stood up if this was a ghost I must face it I made myself walk to the door I opened it spider rushed out of the room and up the stairs I heard her run along the passage she stopped I knew she had stopped outside the locked door I heard the sound again bump bump bump I knew what I must do I must open that door there was an axe in the woodshed I must get that axe taking my torch I stepped outside the house it was very dark but I found the woodshed and the axe as I was walking back I heard the sound of the pony and trap it came from the front of the house had keckwick come back for me no one was there no one at all I could still hear the pony and trap but now the sound was coming from the marshes I stood there spider beside me I was terribly afraid again I heard the sounds of the water and the mud I heard the pony shriek I heard the child's awful cry and then silence I was shaking now my mouth was dry with fear I had heard these sounds before the pony and child were not alive I knew this a pony and trap and all the people in it had sunk beneath the water spider began to howl and howl I put down the ax and the torch and picked up the little dog I carried her into the house she was afraid and so was I after a few moments the dog jumped out of my arms she ran upstairs towards the locked door I hurried outside picked up the ax and torch and followed her the sound was louder now when I reached the door I saw why the door of the room was open wide open I thought I was going to die of fear the dog ran inside the room the bumping sound went on and now I remembered I knew what the sound was when I was a child my mother had a rocking chair sometimes I couldn't sleep then my mother held me in her arms she sat in the chair and rocked me backwards and forwards bump bump bump that was the sound made by the rocking chair on the floor I was no longer afraid the sound meant peace and rest there was evil in that room I knew that but it had gone away perhaps it was my happy thoughts they had driven the evil away from that place holding the torch in front of me I walked into the room I pressed the light switch nothing happened but my torch was powerful i Sean the bright torch round the room the room had been a child's bedroom there was a small bed in one corner a tall rocking chair stood in front of the fireplace the chair was rocking gently but there was no one there the room was empty no one had passed me in the passage there was no other door I shown my torch of the window it was shut there were two wooden bars across it the chairs stopped moving there was complete silence the little room was clean and tidy there were sheets and pillows on the bed I opened a chest and a cupboard they were both full of clothes clothes for a boy of six or seven the clothes were beautifully made but they were old-fashioned clothes clothes of sixty years ago the room was full of children's toys they were neat and tidy there was no dust on them at all I saw toy soldiers and a sailing ship there were games paints and books all things that little boys loved they had been here for 60 years but everything was neat tidy and clean there was nothing frightening in this room only a feeling of sadness a feeling of something lost I felt sad very sad I went slowly out of the room spider followed and I closed the door I felt too tired to do any more work I had a hot drink and went upstairs the door to the child's bedroom was still closed everything was quiet I went into my bedroom and closed the door [Music] chapter ten terror on the marshes that night there was a very strong wind it whistled and howled around the house the windows shook I slept woke and slept again then suddenly I was wide awake I thought I heard a cry the wind blew more loudly then I heard the cry again it was the cry of a child a cry for help the cry of a child dying in the marshes for how many years had the child cried out rest in peace I prayed but that child could not I could not sleep I got up I opened the bedroom door spider followed me into the passage suddenly two things happened someone or something went past me the wind howled louder than ever and all the lights went out I stood there in the darkness I could not move who had gone by who was in the house with me I had seen and heard nothing but I was sure of one thing someone had gone along the passage to the child's bedroom someone dead for many years a ghost I had to have a light I walked back carefully into my bedroom I went slowly to the table near my bed I found the torch and picked it up but it slipped from my fingers it fell and broke on the floor spider came close and touched my hand as I held the little dog the wind howls again and once more louder than the wind I heard the child's cry I could not sleep I must have a light I thought I cannot stay here in the dark then I remembered I had seen a candle in the child's bedroom for a long time I did not move there was something evil in the child's bedroom but I had to go back to get that candle I went down the passage slowly I opened the door of the child's bedroom everything was quiet I found the candle and picked it up now I was in the bedroom I was not afraid but I felt sad I had a feeling of something lost someone who had died I had never had that feeling before why did I have it now after a few minutes I walked slowly out of the room I closed the door at once the sadness left me in my bedroom I found some matches I lit the candle I opened my book and began to read sometime later I fell asleep when I woke up again the sky was light it was morning spider was standing at the door she wagged her tail and looked at me the dog wanted to go out I got up and dressed quickly spider ran to the front door I opened the door spider ran out happily the air was very cold then I heard a whistle a high clear sound spider heard it too before I could stop her she was running she was running away from the house onto the marsh I called and called but she did not hear me I watched the little dog running on and on but who had whistled the marshes were completely empty then I saw the dog slowed down and stopped I knew at once what had happened the poor animal was caught in the mud the mud was pulling the dog down pulling her down deeper and deeper I could not let the little dog die without sinking I ran out across the marshes towards her the cold wind blew in my face I could not see clearly my feet stuck in the mud I pulled myself free the tide was coming in quickly I called out to the dog most of her body was now under mud and water I could not get any nearer to her I could do nothing we will both die here in this terrible place I thought no it could not happen very carefully I lay down I stretched forward little by little the dog sank deeper into the mud just in time I got hold of the leather collar around the dog's neck I pulled and pulled at last the dog was free from the mud we lay there side by side wet and muddy we were safe thank God the dog was alive and so was I how long we lay there I do not know at last I got up I began to walk slowly back to the house as I got nearer to the house I looked up I saw window of the child's bedroom someone was standing there looking out it was the woman in black she stared at me the hate in her eyes was terrible I began to shake somehow I reached the front door of the house then to my horror I heard the sound I feared most the sound of a pony and trap chapter 11 I leave eel marsh house the next thing I knew I was lying on a couch in the sitting room mr. Daley was leaning over me I tried to sit up but I couldn't I did not know what had happened to me the trap the pony and trap I said oh that was me Samuel Daley said with a smile I've come here in a Polian trap it's safer than a car on that causeway what's the matter what did you think I've I've heard another I said tech wake Babs know not care quick I said but why did you come I was worried about you said Daley it's a good thing I came people have drowned in those marshes you know yes I was nearly pulled under and the dog then I remembered spider I cried where spider did she she's safe Davey said she's here at the sound of her name the little dog jumped up and wagged her tail now I'm taking you home with me said daily you can't stay here for a few moments I said nothing I remembered what had happened to me I knew that the woman in black was a ghost but why was she here I knew there was evil here and sadness to why I wanted to know and I had to finish my work - Thank You mr. Daley I said after a few moments I want to leave eel marsh house but what about my work I must look at all mrs drablow's papers I don't think there's anything important but they must be looked at I found some letters last night I went on they looked interesting I'll bring them with me very slowly I got up I picked up the packet of letters from the desk then I went upstairs to get my things my fear had gone I was leaving eel marsh house if I came back I would not come alone I packed my bag and left the room I decided to have one last look at the child's bedroom the door was open but I was sure I had closed it I could hear mr. daily downstairs I was safe I walked slowly towards the open door then I stopped did I want to go in she had been here I had seen her I pushed open the door I could not believe my eyes everything in the room was broken and torn the cupboards were all open toys clothes and books lay on the floor they had been thrown there by some terrible power everything was destroyed everything accepts the rocking-chair it had been pushed into the center of the room the chair was not moving now who or what had done this terrible thing feeling ill and shaking I got into the trap beside mr. Daley he knew that something had happened but he did not ask any questions he put spider on my knees I held the dog tightly then we drove off away from the house across the 9lives causeway everything was gray and quiet there was no color no sound I looked back at eel marsh house no one was watching us the house stood there gray and terrible as we crossed the estuary I turned my eyes away I did not want to see that terrible place again [Music] chapter 12 the death certificates The Daily's invited me to stay with them for a few days I agreed thankfully after a few days I would go straight back to London not to eel marsh house I would never go back there again but I was angry I had not finished my work the woman in black had stopped me then I remembered the papers I had brought with me from eel marsh house the letters told a sad story I wanted to know how the story ended I read the letters again poor Janet she had loved her child so much but she was unmarried she could not keep her boy she had to give him to her sister mrs drablow the child had lived at eel marsh house what had happened to him I picked up the other papers and looked at them they were death certificates the first was for a boy named Nathaniel drablow aged six years cause of death drowning I looked at the second certificate Rosa Judd nursemaid cause of death drowning on both certificates the date of death was the same I held the death certificates tightly in my hand I felt myself grow cold I got up and walked about the room then I looked at the last piece of paper it was another death certificate this time the date was 12 years later the certificate was for Janet comfrey unmarried aged 36 years cause of death heart failure i sat down in my chair one thing was clear the woman in black was Janet Humphrey or her ghost I did not believe in ghosts but I had seen her and now I knew something else long long ago a pony and trap had left the causeway it had sunk down in the mud of the marshes a child and a nursemaid had been drowned Genet the boy's mother had died 12 years after her son I knew where they were buried they were buried in the old graveyard behind you Marsh house Nathaniel had slept in that bedroom for 60 years the bedroom had stayed the same those clothes those toys were his Genet Humphrey was the woman in black her hatred had never left her her ghost followed anyone who went near Eel Marsh house what power did Janet Humphrey have could the dead harm the living I did not know the answer I wanted to find out the answer [Music] chapter 13 nothing can happen now that evening after dinner I had a long talk with mr. Daley spider was asleep in front of the bright fire daily gave me a drink and I began my story I told him everything I had seen and heard when I had finished there was silence my story was told I was at peace well young man Samuel daily said at last you've had an unhappy time here yes I said but it's finished those things can't harm me now can they daily said nothing but he looked unhappy nothing can happen now I said with a smile I'm never going back there all is well daily said nothing I began to feel worried can there be anything else I asked nothing will harm me now will it not you babs daily said slowly you can leave but the rest of us must stay here we have to live with it with what live with what I asked this town has lived in fear for a long time daily said for more than 50 years terrible things have happened but people don't talk about them my heart beat faster I did not want to know any more but mr. Daley went on talking you know most of the story but not all of it he said jennet humfrye sent her boy to Weill Marsh house to her sister mrs drablow but first Genet went away to another part of the country but she to be near her son she came back to prison she got work in the town but alice drablow refused to see her she refused to let Genet see the child Janet's anger was terrible so alice drablow allowed her to visit the house but she must never tell the boy who she wants but the boy looked like his mother and he loved her he loved his mother more than alice drablow Genet wanted her son back she planned to take him away from eel marsh house then the accident happened the sea-mist came down suddenly the boy and the nursemaid were drowned the driver of the trap - he was keckwick father and the boy's little dog they were all drowned daily said all drowned I said slowly yes and Janet saw everything she saw everything from the bedroom window oh my god I said quietly jennet humfrye began to go mad samuel daily said she was mad with sorrow and anger she said her sister had killed her son then poor Janet became ill she became thin and pale children were frightened of her when she died people began to see her ghost there is something more terrible each time she is seen something else happens what I asked a child has died either by illness or in a terrible accident any child a child in the town any child said daily once it was Jerome's child you may find this hard to believe Arthur Daley added but it is true I looked into his eyes I believe it mr. Daley I said I believe it that night I slept badly I woke up again and again I had terrible dreams when morning came I felt weak and ill I was very ill for five days in my illness I had terrible dreams in my dreams the woman in black pushed her terrible face near mine she sat on my bed watching watching I heard the cry of her dying child again and again I heard the thump thump of the rocking chair slowly I got better at the end of 12 days I was well again it was a day of winter sunshine I was sitting downstairs by the open window spider lay at my feet a bird was singing in the garden I listened to it with peace in my heart I heard the sound of a car and voices I heard footsteps the door behind me opened Arthur a voice said quietly it was a voice I knew I turned quickly my dear Stella was walking towards me she had come to take me home the next morning Stella and I left together we did not go back into the town we went straight to the railway station in mr. Daley's car the dailies had looked after me well I was sad to say goodbye to them they agreed to visitors in London and I was sad to say goodbye to Spyder there was a question I had to ask mr. daily I waited until Stella was saying goodbye to mrs. daily there is something I must know I said to mr. daily you told me that a child always died yes always then as a child no nothing has happened daily said a child hasn't died yet and pray God the woman in black has gone forever I said pray God her power is at an end yes yes daily said we all hope that I began to feel sorry for poor Janet Humphrey she had lost her son her sorrow and anger had made her mad now mrs drablow was dead eel marsh house was empty wasn't that the end could Janet Humphrey rest in peace now the train was waiting I said goodbye to the dailies thank God my business in christen gifford was finished [Music] chapter 14 the story ends that is nearly the end of my story I have one last thing to write but it is the most terrible thing of all for days and nights I have sat at my desk here at monks peace I have tried to write down the rest of my story but my tears have stopped me my dear wife Esme sees I am unhappy but she doesn't know why but now I am ready to finish my story stellar and I returned to London six weeks later we were married my wife and I were not rich but we were happy a year later our son was born our happiness was complete I did not think of the past and I had no more bad dreams another year passed our son was about a year old it was a sunny Sunday afternoon Stella and I took our boy to one of the parks in London everyone was happy the Sun was shining children were running about on the green grass music was playing everyone was enjoying the holiday someone was giving rides to children in a pony entrap our son saw the trap he shouted and pointed at it it was a small trap there was room for only two passengers so Stella took the boy I stood watching them happily the trap went behind some trees I looked around me at the happy people and then I saw her the woman in black she was standing near a big tree she looked at me there was no mistake I was looking at the white face and staring eyes of Janet Humphrey my body was icy cold I could not move I saw the terrible hate in the woman's eyes at that moment the pony and trap came back it came towards me between the tall trees My dear Stella was smiling our little son was laughing I stepped forward they passed the tree where the woman in black was standing she moved quickly in front of the pony the frightened pony shrieked it turned and ran back under the trees the driver could not stop it there was a terrible crash then silence the woman in black had gone but my darling Stella and my dear son lay on the grass they did not move our baby son was dead Stella's body was broken but she did not die not then for ten long months I sat by her bed then Stella died at last from her terrible injuries they asked me for my story I have told it there is nothing more to write [Music]

Channel: Story English with Subtitles

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Keywords: english story, learn english through stories, learn english, english stories, story in english, learn english through story, bedtime stories, listen english story, listening english through story, english story with subtitle, english language, english conversation, english, learn to english, english for beginner, learning english, learn english for beginner, esl, pdf, The Woman In Black, The Woman In Black by Susan Hill, The Woman In Black ( advanced level )

Id: F69D4xkjyjw

Length: 92min 54sec (5574 seconds)

Published: Wed Oct 31 2018