The Woman in Black Chapter 6 Summary

The Sound of a Pony and Trap

  • As Arthur walks back along the causeway, the water starts to seep in.
    Uh-oh.
  • And… here comes the fog. Even better.
  • He can't see the town, and he can't see Eel Marsh House either.
  • Okay, this really isn't looking good.
  • But he walks on, sticking to his path and sure that it'll get him to the village in no time. Sure it will.
  • Soon, he hears the clop-clop of a pony and trap. At first he thinks it's Keckwick coming to get him, but then he hears some more disturbing noises.
  • Like the sound of sucking and a terrified sobbing, almost as though a pony and trap has been dragged into the mud and a child is dying.
  • Arthur freaks, but there's nothing he can do—he's in the middle of nowhere.
  • As the water starts to come up, Arthur makes his way back toward the house and to safety.
  • Once inside, he just sits there and cries helplessly. Poor sad Arthur.
  • Then he drinks some brandy, which solves all of his problems. (Just kidding!)
  • He wanders through the house and tries to get into one locked door, but can't.
  • We're guess that's going to come back to haunt him (no pun intended).
  • Then he lies down on a sofa.
  • Ding ding! Arthur hears a bell and realizes that he's fallen asleep, but that someone's arrived—who's come home?
  • It's Keckwick here to get him, even though it's 2 a.m. What a nice guy.
  • Arthur asks him how he got out, since he thought Keckwick was the one trapped in the marsh. Keckwick doesn't say anything.
  • They ride back in silence and Arthur goes to sleep at the hotel, a bit shaken from his whole experience.
  • Okay, maybe more than a bit.