Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд
Chapter 13
I—I"—heseemedslightlyatalosshowtobegin,andthisgavemehope—"IsupposeIamtotakeit,fromwhatyouhavesaidtomeofyourfeelingstowardsmygirl,thatitisinyourmindtobeasuitorforherhand,lateron?"Iansweredatonce:
"Absolutely!Firmandfixed;itwasmyintentiontheeveningafterIhadbeenwithherontheriver,toseekyou,ofcourseafteraproperandrespectfulinterval,andtoaskyouifImightapproachheronthesubject.EventsforcedmeintocloserrelationshipmorequicklythanIhadtohopewouldbepossible;butthatfirstpurposehasremainedfreshinmyheart,andhasgrowninintensity,andmultiplieditselfwitheveryhourwhichhaspassedsincethen."Hisfaceseemedtosoftenashelookedatme;thememoryofhisownyouthwascomingbacktohiminstinctively.Afterapausehesaid:
"IsupposeImaytakeit,too,MalcolmRoss"—thereturntothefamiliarityofaddresssweptthroughmewithagloriousthrill—"thatasyetyouhavenotmadeanyprotestationtomydaughter?"
"Notinwords,sir."Thearrierepenseeofmyphrasestruckme,notbyitsownhumour,butthroughthegrave,kindlysmileonthefather’sface.Therewasapleasantsarcasminhiscomment:
"Notinwords!Thatisdangerous!Shemighthavedoubtedwords,orevendisbelievedthem.
