“I’ve heard tell of a murder that was done here in old times.” “There is murder enough in these times, as to that Luke,” (32)
The word murder is repeated between the two character, Phoebe and Luke, as they walk through the mansion. The double mention of this seem a strong foreshadowing of what is to come and also sets the setting as the mansion as a place to be haunted and even feared. The secret chambers that were talked about would a perfect place for a murder.
Phoebe’s retort bring up the possibility of a murder being abounding in the present or could imply that she knew of someone recently murdered. She is described as pale and ghost like herself, which seems to add to her character’s paranormal quality. Perhaps she could even be a ghost haunting the mansion.
Luke’s line of “a murder in the old times” could referring a murder in the past that is relevant. One suspected murder could be Sir Audley. He 56 and Luke is 23 making it possible for him to have murdered someone before Luke and Phoebe even being born. Sir Audley already carries corpses of hope within himself that could be more than just a metaphor. If he had grown up in the house or it had even been passed down in his family, it would be entirely possible for him to the know the secret rooms to hide a body, perhaps the body of his last wife.
I agree that Phoebe Marks character is connected to death in some way or form. Like Therese said Phoebe’s character is that of a ghostly figure; maybe she symbolizes the bringer of death? In Chapter 17 Phoebe goes out of her way to inform Lady Audley that Robert did not return, home. In this passage she seems to symbolize a messenger, a ghost, “silent and self-constrained, she seemed to hold herself within herself, and take no color from the outer world.” Which my connect her with possibly having something to do with George Talbot being missing or possibly being murdered.