Риф, или Там, где разбивается счастье

XXXIX

           

           WhileAnnawaitedinthedingyvestibuleoftheHotelChicagoshehadsodistinctavisionofwhatshemeanttosaytoSophyVinerthatthegirlseemedalreadytobebeforeher;andherheartdroppedfromalltheheightofitscouragewhentheporter,afteralongdelay,returnedwiththeannouncementthatMissVinerwasnolongerinthehotel.Anna,doubtfulifsheunderstood,askedifhemerelymeantthattheyoungladywasoutatthemoment;butherepliedthatshehadgoneawaythedaybefore.Beyondthishehadnoinformationtoimpart,andafteramoment’shesitationAnnasenthimbacktoenquireifMrs.McTarvie-Birchwouldreceiveher.ShereflectedthatSophyhadprobablypledgedhersistertothesamesecrecyasMrs.Farlow,andthatapersonalappealtoMrs.Birchmightleadtolessnegativeresults.

           Therewasanotherlongintervalofsuspensebeforetheporterreappearedwithanaffirmativeanswer;andathirdwhileanexiguousandhesitatingliftboreheruppastasuccessionofshabbylandings.

           Whenthelastwasreached,andherguidehaddirectedherdownawindingpassagethatsmeltofsea-goingluggage,shefoundherselfbeforeadoorthroughwhichastrongodouroftobaccoreachedhersimultaneouslywiththesoundsofasuppressedaltercation.Herknockwasfollowedbyasilence,andafteraminuteortwothedoorwasopenedbyahandsomeyoungmanwhoseruffledhairandgeneralairofcreaseddisorderledhertoconcludethathehadjustrisenfromalong-limbedsprawlonasofastrewnwithtumbledcushions.

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