Отель с привидениями

           Lateronthesameday,ArthurcalledwithanofferingoffruitandflowersforMrs.Carbury,andwithinstructionstoaskifshewaswellenoughtoreceiveLordandLadyMontbarryandMissLockwoodonthemorrow.Inaweek’stime,thetwohouseholdswereonthefriendliestterms.Mrs.Carbury,confinedtothesofabyaspinalmalady,hadbeenhithertodependentonhernieceforoneofthefewpleasuresshecouldenjoy,thepleasureofhavingthebestnewnovelsreadtoherastheycameout.Discoveringthis,ArthurvolunteeredtorelieveMissHaldane,atintervals,intheofficeofreader.Hewascleveratmechanicalcontrivancesofallsorts,andheintroducedimprovementsinMrs.Carbury’scouch,andinthemeansofconveyingherfromthebedchambertothedrawing-room,whichalleviatedthepoorlady’ssufferingsandbrightenedhergloomylife.Withtheseclaimsonthegratitudeoftheaunt,aidedbythepersonaladvantageswhichheunquestionablypossessed,Arthuradvancedrapidlyinthefavourofthecharmingniece.Shewas,itisneedlesstosay,perfectlywellawarethathewasinlovewithher,whilehewashimselfmodestlyreticentonthesubject—sofaraswordswent.ButshewasnotequallyquickinpenetratingthenatureofherownfeelingstowardsArthur.Watchingthetwoyoungpeoplewithkeenpowersofobservation,necessarilyconcentratedonthembythecompleteseclusionofherlife,theinvalidladydiscoveredsignsofrousedsensibilityinMissHaldane,whenArthurwaspresent,whichhadneveryetshownthemselvesinhersocialrelationswithotheradmirerseagertopaytheiraddressestoher.