Отель с привидениями
Chapter II
Iadmiredher,Ifeltforher—Ihadnocausetoreproachmyself.Thisisveryimportant,asyouwillpresentlysee.Onherside,Ihavereasontobeassuredthatthecircumstanceshadbeentrulyexplainedtoher,andthatsheunderstoodIwasinnowaytoblame.Now,knowingallthesenecessarythingsasyoudo,explaintome,ifyoucan,why,whenIroseandmetthatwoman’seyeslookingatme,Iturnedcoldfromheadtofoot,andshuddered,andshivered,andknewwhatadeadlypanicoffearwas,forthefirsttimeinmylife.’
TheDoctorbegantofeelinterestedatlast.
’Wasthereanythingremarkableinthelady’spersonalappearance?’heasked.
’Nothingwhatever!’wasthevehementreply.’Hereisthetruedescriptionofher:—TheordinaryEnglishlady;theclearcoldblueeyes,thefinerosycomplexion,theinanimatelypolitemanner,thelargegood-humouredmouth,thetooplumpcheeksandchin:these,andnothingmore.’
’Wasthereanythinginherexpression,whenyoufirstlookedather,thattookyoubysurprise?’
’Therewasnaturalcuriositytoseethewomanwhohadbeenpreferredtoher;andperhapssomeastonishmentalso,nottoseeamoreengagingandmorebeautifulperson;boththosefeelingsrestrainedwithinthelimitsofgoodbreeding,andbothnotlastingformorethanafewmoments—sofarasIcouldsee.Isay,"sofar,"becausethehorribleagitationthatshecommunicatedtomedisturbedmyjudgment.
