Отель с привидениями
Chapter IV
’Youwantmyrecommendation,’sherejoined.’Whycouldn’tyousaysoatonce?’
Emilyblushed.’Itwouldbesuchachanceformyhusband,’sheansweredconfusedly.’Aletter,inquiringforagoodcourier(asixmonths’engagement,Miss!)cametotheofficethismorning.It’sanotherman’sturntobechosen—andthesecretarywillrecommendhim.Ifmyhusbandcouldonlysendhistestimonialsbythesamepost—withjustawordinyourname,Miss—itmightturnthescale,astheysay.Aprivaterecommendationbetweengentlefolksgoessofar.’Shestoppedagain,andsighedagain,andlookeddownatthecarpet,asifshehadsomeprivatereasonforfeelingalittleashamedofherself.
Agnesbegantoberatherwearyofthepersistenttoneofmysteryinwhichhervisitorspoke.’Ifyouwantmyinterestwithanyfriendofmine,’shesaid,’whycan’tyoutellmethename?’
Thecourier’swifebegantocry.’I’mashamedtotellyou,Miss.’
Forthefirsttime,Agnesspokesharply.’Nonsense,Emily!Tellmethenamedirectly—ordropthesubject—whicheveryoulikebest.’
Emilymadealastdesperateeffort.Shewrungherhandkerchiefhardinherlap,andletoffthenameasifshehadbeenlettingoffaloadedgun:—’LordMontbarry!’
Agnesroseandlookedather.
’Youhavedisappointedme,’shesaidveryquietly,butwithalookwhichthecourier’swifehadneverseeninherfacebefore.’Knowingwhatyouknow,yououghttobeawarethatitisimpossibleformetocommunicatewithLordMontbarry.Ialwayssupposedyouhadsomedelicacyoffeeling.
