Отель с привидениями

           Theywereafamilypartyatthedinner-tablethatday.TheonlyguestleftinthehousewasanephewofthenewLordMontbarry—theeldestsonofhissister,LadyBarville.LadyMontbarrycouldnotresisttellingthestoryofthefirst(andlast)attackmadeonthevirtueofMrs.Rolland,withacomically-exactimitationofMrs.Rolland’sdeepanddismalvoice.Beingaskedbyherhusbandwhatwastheobjectwhichhadbroughtthatformidablepersontothehouse,shenaturallymentionedtheexpectedvisitofMissHaldane.ArthurBarville,unusuallysilentandpre-occupiedsofar,suddenlystruckintotheconversationwithaburstofenthusiasm.’MissHaldaneisthemostcharminggirlinallIreland!’hesaid.’Icaughtsightofheryesterday,overthewallofhergarden,asIwasridingby.Whattimeisshecomingto-morrow?Beforetwo?I’lllookintothedrawing-roombyaccident—Iamdyingtobeintroducedtoher!’

           Agneswasamusedbyhisenthusiasm.’AreyouinlovewithMissHaldanealready?’sheasked.

           Arthuransweredgravely,’It’snojokingmatter.Ihavebeenalldayatthegardenwall,waitingtoseeheragain!ItdependsonMissHaldanetomakemethehappiestorthewretchedestmanliving.’

           ’Youfoolishboy!Howcanyoutalksuchnonsense?’

           Hewastalkingnonsenseundoubtedly.But,ifAgneshadonlyknownit,hewasdoingsomethingmorethanthat.HewasinnocentlyleadingheranotherstageneareronthewaytoVenice.