Dark Shadows - A New Beginning

Chapter Five

The walk from the cliffs to Adam's house was a lengthy walk of about 15 minutes.

They had almost come back to the vast expanse of green before Collinwood, when Adam led them off into a wooded area. 

The walk was considerably long, but leisurely. Adam didn't walk too fast. 

Stanley thought that Adam looked as though he were drinking in the nighttime air and surroundings. Almost as though Adam was enjoying a fine glass of wine.

Adam's eyes had a merry sparkle in them, and he wore a slight smile of stoic content. 

"You look very in your element, Mr. Collins," Stanley remarked. 

"Oh, I am," Adam said lightly, in a conversational way. "I've always loved the night, you know. There's something so pretty and serene about the glow of the moon's light. The way the light illumines the world. Have you ever noticed?"

"I think I know what you mean," Stanley agreed with a smile. "You seem a bit of a romantic, Mr. Collins."

Adam chuckled at that. 

"You're not the first to tell me that," he said humorously. "...but don't tell the other kids in town. They might make fun of me."

Stanley laughed, knowing immediately that he and Adam were going to get on just fine. 

Then he noticed that Adam's face now wore a different expression. It was almost as though Adam were in on a private joke. Something he had no intention of letting on to Stanley, or anyone else. 

He's a man with some secrets - Stanley thought. I wonder what?

Stanley had no time to pursue his private thought. He could see a house just through some trees up ahead. The bricks of the exterior looked rather age-worn even in the moon's light.

"Must be an old house," Stanley remarked.

"It is," Adam confirmed. "It was built in the 1700s, as the original Collins home."

"Wow!" Stanley enthused. He couldn't help it. "I've never been in such an old house before!"

"I'm glad you sound so delighted," Adam said, sounding extremely pleased. "I consider it a treasure myself."

Adam reached for one of the double doors and jiggled the doorknob in a particular way. After a lengthy jiggle and a push, the old doorknob turned with some effort. 

"Come on in," Adam invited, waving for Stanley to go first. 

Stanley stepped into the small foyer with a certain kind of wonder. He reached out his hand and touched the faded colonial wallpaper, wondering what all these walls had seen in their time.

"You look like you're in love," Adam remarked.

Stanley laughed and followed his host into an old-fashioned parlor just off the foyer. There were clear signs that this room had undergone some recent restoration.

They've installed some electricity - Stanley thought to himself.

The foyer was lighted by a wall scone, but there were a few table lamps in the parlor. Adam clicked one of them on, which illuminated the room rather nicely. 

Stanley now noticed that there was a picture above the fireplace. If he didn't know any better - the portrait must be of the same man as the one in Collinwood's foyer.

"I see you've been acquainted with my ancestor," Adam remarked, noticing Stanley's eyes were on the portrait. "The resemblance is remarkable, isn't it? Would you believe the man in this portrait is my uncle?"