Отель с привидениями

           Shesawhimstarvinginaloathsomeprison;shesawhimpursuedbyassassins,anddyingundertheirknives;shesawhimdrowninginimmeasurabledepthsofdarkwater;shesawhiminabedonfire,burningtodeathintheflames;shesawhimtemptedbyashadowycreaturetodrink,anddyingofthepoisonousdraught.Thereiteratedhorrorofthesedreamshadsuchaneffectonherthatsherosewiththedawnofday,afraidtotrustherselfagaininbed.Intheoldtimes,shehadbeennotedinthefamilyastheonememberofitwholivedonaffectionatetermswithMontbarry.Hisothersisterandhisbrotherswereconstantlyquarrellingwithhim.Evenhismotherownedthathereldestsonwasofallherchildrenthechildwhomsheleastliked.Sensibleandresolutewomanasshewas,Mrs.Norburyshudderedwithterrorasshesatatthewindowofherroom,watchingthesunrise,andthinkingofherdreams.

           Shemadethefirstexcusethatoccurredtoher,whenhermaidcameinattheusualhour,andnoticedhowillshelooked.Thewomanwasofsosuperstitiousatemperamentthatitwouldhavebeeninthelastdegreeindiscreettotrustherwiththetruth.Mrs.Norburymerelyremarkedthatshehadnotfoundthebedquitetoherliking,onaccountofthelargesizeofit.Shewasaccustomedathome,ashermaidknew,tosleepinasmallbed.Informedofthisobjectionlaterintheday,themanagerregrettedthathecouldonlyoffertotheladythechoiceofoneotherbedchamber,numberedThirty-eight,andsituatedimmediatelyoverthebedchamberwhichshedesiredtoleave.Mrs.Norburyacceptedtheproposedchangeofquarters.