Готель з привидами
Chapter XIII
Theywereafamilypartyatthedinner-tablethatday.TheonlyguestleftinthehousewasanephewofthenewLordMontbarry—theeldestsonofhissister,LadyBarville.LadyMontbarrycouldnotresisttellingthestoryofthefirst(andlast)attackmadeonthevirtueofMrs.Rolland,withacomically-exactimitationofMrs.Rolland’sdeepanddismalvoice.Beingaskedbyherhusbandwhatwastheobjectwhichhadbroughtthatformidablepersontothehouse,shenaturallymentionedtheexpectedvisitofMissHaldane.ArthurBarville,unusuallysilentandpre-occupiedsofar,suddenlystruckintotheconversationwithaburstofenthusiasm.’MissHaldaneisthemostcharminggirlinallIreland!’hesaid.’Icaughtsightofheryesterday,overthewallofhergarden,asIwasridingby.Whattimeisshecomingto-morrow?Beforetwo?I’lllookintothedrawing-roombyaccident—Iamdyingtobeintroducedtoher!’
Agneswasamusedbyhisenthusiasm.’AreyouinlovewithMissHaldanealready?’sheasked.
Arthuransweredgravely,’It’snojokingmatter.Ihavebeenalldayatthegardenwall,waitingtoseeheragain!ItdependsonMissHaldanetomakemethehappiestorthewretchedestmanliving.’
’Youfoolishboy!Howcanyoutalksuchnonsense?’
Hewastalkingnonsenseundoubtedly.But,ifAgneshadonlyknownit,hewasdoingsomethingmorethanthat.HewasinnocentlyleadingheranotherstageneareronthewaytoVenice.
