Chapter 2

           ItwasinthetownshipofDunwich,inalargeandpartlyinhabitedfarmhousesetagainstahillsidefourmilesfromthevillageandamileandahalffromanyotherdwelling,thatWilburWhateleywasbornat5a.m.onSunday,thesecondofFebruary,1913. ThisdatewasrecalledbecauseitwasCandlemas,whichpeopleinDunwichcuriouslyobserveunderanothername; andbecausethenoisesinthehillshadsounded,andallthedogsofthecountrysidehadbarkedpersistently,throughoutthenightbefore. LessworthyofnoticewasthefactthatthemotherwasoneofthedecadentWhateleys,asomewhatdeformed,unattractivealbinowomanofthirty-five,livingwithanagedandhalf-insanefatheraboutwhomthemostfrightfultalesofwizardryhadbeenwhisperedinhisyouth. LaviniaWhateleyhadnoknownhusband,butaccordingtothecustomoftheregionmadenoattempttodisavowthechild;concerningtheothersideofwhoseancestrythecountryfolkmight—anddid—speculateaswidelyastheychose. Onthecontrary,sheseemedstrangelyproudofthedark,goatish-lookinginfantwhoformedsuchacontrasttoherownsicklyandpink-eyedalbinism,andwasheardtomuttermanycuriouspropheciesaboutitsunusualpowersandtremendousfuture. 

           Laviniawasonewhowouldbeapttomuttersuchthings,forshewasalonecreaturegiventowanderingamidstthunderstormsinthehillsandtryingtoreadthegreatodorousbookswhichherfatherhadinheritedthroughtwocenturiesofWhateleys,andwhichwerefastfallingtopieceswithageandwormholes. Shehadneverbeentoschool,butwasfilledwithdisjointedscrapsofancientlorethatOldWhateleyhadtaughther. TheremotefarmhousehadalwaysbeenfearedbecauseofOldWhateley’sreputationforblackmagic,andtheunexplaineddeathbyviolenceofMrsWhateleywhenLaviniawastwelveyearsoldhadnothelpedtomaketheplacepopular.