Готель з привидами

           ’Ihavehadacharmingletterfromthebride,thismorning,datedCologne.Youcannotthinkhowartlesslyandprettilysheassuresmeofherhappiness.Somepeople,astheysayinIreland,areborntogoodluck—andIthinkArthurBarvilleisoneofthem.

           ’Whenyounextwrite,Ihopetohearthatyouareinbetterhealthandspirits,andthatyoucontinuetolikeyouremployment.Believeme,sincerelyyourfriend,—A.L.’

           Agneshadjustclosedanddirectedherletter,whentheeldestofherthreepupilsenteredtheroomwiththestartlingannouncementthatLordMontbarry’stravelling-servanthadarrivedfromParis!Alarmedbytheideathatsomemisfortunehadhappened,sheranouttomeetthemaninthehall.Herfacetoldhimhowseriouslyhehadfrightenedher,beforeshecouldspeak.’There’snothingwrong,Miss,’hehastenedtosay.’MylordandmyladyareenjoyingthemselvesatParis.Theyonlywantyouandtheyoungladiestobewiththem.’Sayingtheseamazingwords,hehandedtoAgnesaletterfromLadyMontbarry.

           ’DearestAgnes,’(sheread),’Iamsocharmedwiththedelightfulchangeinmylife—itissixyears,remember,sinceIlasttravelledontheContinent—thatIhaveexertedallmyfascinationstopersuadeLordMontbarrytogoontoVenice.And,whatismoretothepurpose,Ihaveactuallysucceeded!HehasjustgonetohisroomtowritethenecessarylettersofexcuseintimefortheposttoEngland.