The Poe Clan Vol. 1

MOto HagiO

…and my tutor starts in fidgeting.

in the afternoon, a dreadful sonata begins…

Beautiful… like the spring!

He’s quite strict.

BAM

!

This is my tutor.

My sister is seventeen.

And beautiful.

Read the rest of this chapter, Charles.

I study every day.

EHEM.

Now then.

I am fourteen.

it’s my sister playing the sonata.

is that clear?

I run around.

I sing silly songs.

Songs? …was a lass in days of yore

Limpid locks of…

A song!

I blow grass whistles.

I shout.

And in the afternoon, I’m free.

First love, hidden in the girl’s budding breast…

…calls out to him in words more gentle than any breeze or melody.

The day before yesterday.

I’m Marybelle.

is that so?

The same age as my brother, Edgar.

When did you come? This house has been empty for ages.

I’m Charles.

I’m fourteen.

Do you know the family that moved into the old mansion just outside town the other day?

She seemed to me like a mayfly or a breeze.

awkward silences blushing cheeks and racing hearts…

Among the roses of the overgrown garden

Lord Portnell.

Eccentric pair, they are. Not so much as a "how-do-you-do." And I hear they haven’t got a single maid.

But she was wearing a lovely Grecian dress.

Poor nobleman, eh?

Yes, Father.

I trust you’re studying hard, Charles?

EH EM!

my sister’s dreadful piano is not to be heard.

The next afternoon…

… … …

5

Well, well.

A lovers’ spat?

Marybelle, tell me about yourself.

T M P!

Whatever the reason, I’m off.

Marybelle.

What?

B A M!

I want to know more about you.

Tell me about when you were little.

Me? I’ve lived in this town my whole life.

I have a big sister.

HA HA HA HA

MARYBELLE!

6

OH!

What about you?

…is you!

Come back here!

And my favorite thing in the world right now…

When I was little? But it was so long ago. I can’t remember.

My favorite season is spring.

Don’t know how sweet a young girl is in spring.

Oh! Ah!

Haha!

Don’t pretend you don’t know.

How her eyes laugh and invite kisses.

Marybelle!

This evening air’s not good for you. Come into the house now.

You called?

That’s… her brother…?

Who’s that!?

is something wrong? it’s my brother, Edgar.

7

We’ll see you again tomorrow?

Can he really be the same age as I am?

We’ll see you again tomorrow.

He looked at me as if he was a hundred years my elder. Such cold eyes…

So blue…

But they’re a strange lot, they are! Never a window open, don’t you know?

That’s none of your business.

And don’t you dare go saying a word to Mother.

is it true you’ve been playing with the girl from the mansion outside of town?

Master Charles, you shouldn’t be out so late.

I was worried about you.

Oh, and did you hear there was someone walking down the road?

Not someone from town, anyway.

8

A very tall man in a cloak.

The vicar saw him from his window, didn’t he?

You’d think they were up to no good. it’s so quiet!

But in the middle of the night!

That’s what roads are for, isn’t it?

Said he was walking toward the mansion outside of town.

Oh-h, don’t you see?

That’s precisely why it’s scary!

is that all!?

Oh, really now!

Because that’s all he was doing!

Come on.

Then we’ll just hide somewhere he can’t see us.

How silly.

Does it bother you?

Your brother hasn’t moved from that spot.

....

9

Marybelle!

We’re always traveling.

We won’t be here for very long.

Someday, yes.

You mean you’re going to leave someday?

We’re never in one place for long.

You’d think an invalid lived here.

Why are your windows always closed? it must be dark.

it doesn’t matter.

We have no love for houses or towns. Father, Mother, Edgar, and I.

YOU MUSTN’T!

You mustn’t leave!

Don’t leave!

I love you!

So graceful she

Such rare beauty

10

There was a lass in days of yore Limpid locks of silver she wore