Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд

           Idonotwantmydaughtertobepresent;forIcannotblindmyselftothefactthattheremaybedangerinit—greatdanger,andofanunknownkind.Ihave,however,alreadyfacedverygreatdangers,andofanunknownkind;andsohasthatbravescholarwhohashelpedmeinthework.Astomyself,Iamwillingtorunanyrisk.Forscience,andhistory,andphilosophymaybenefit;andwemayturnoneoldpageofawisdomunknowninthisprosaicage.ButformydaughtertorunsuchariskIamloth.Heryoungbrightlifeistooprecioustothrowlightlyaway;nowespeciallywhensheisontheverythresholdofnewhappiness.Idonotwishtoseeherlifegiven,asherdearmother’swas—"

           Hebrokedownforamoment,andcoveredhiseyeswithhishands.InaninstantMargaretwasbesidehim,claspinghimclose,andkissinghim,andcomfortinghimwithlovingwords.Then,standingerect,withonehandonhishead,shesaid:

           "Father!motherdidnotbidyoustaybesideher,evenwhenyouwantedtogoonthatjourneyofunknowndangertoEgypt;thoughthatcountrywasthenupsetfromendtoendwithwarandthedangersthatfollowwar.Youhavetoldmehowsheleftyoufreetogoasyouwished;thoughthatshethoughtofdangerforyouandandfeareditforyou,isprovedbythis!"Sheheldupherwristwiththescarthatseemedtorunblood.