Отель с привидениями

           WestwickhadnochoicebuttoexplainthathewasconcernedasashareholderinanewHotelCompanyatVenice,andthathehadinvestedasmallsumofmoneyforthenurse(notveryconsiderately,asIthink)inthespeculation.Hearingthis,thecompany,bywayofhumouringthejoke,drankanewtoast:—Successtothenurse’shotel,andaspeedyriseinthedividend!

           ’WhentheconversationreturnedinduetimetothemoreseriousquestionoftheproposedmeetingatVenice,difficultiesbegantopresentthemselves,causedofcoursebyinvitationsfortheautumnwhichmanyoftheguestshadalreadyaccepted.OnlytwomembersofMrs.Carbury’sfamilywereatlibertytokeeptheproposedappointment.Onoursideweweremoreatleisuretodoaswepleased.Mr.HenryWestwickdecidedtogotoVeniceinadvanceoftherest,totesttheaccommodationofthenewhotelontheopeningday.Mrs.NorburyandMr.FrancisWestwickvolunteeredtofollowhim;and,aftersomepersuasion,LordandLadyMontbarryconsentedtoaspeciesofcompromise.HislordshipcouldnotconvenientlysparetimeenoughforthejourneytoVenice,butheandLadyMontbarryarrangedtoaccompanyMrs.NorburyandMr.FrancisWestwickasfarontheirwaytoItalyasParis.Fivedayssince,theytooktheirdeparturetomeettheirtravellingcompanionsinLondon;leavingmehereinchargeofthethreedearchildren.Theybeggedhard,ofcourse,tobetakenwithpapaandmamma.Butitwasthoughtbetternottointerrupttheprogressoftheireducation,andnottoexposethem(especiallythetwoyoungergirls)tothefatiguesoftravelling.