Chapter XXI

           LordandLadyMontbarrywerereceivedbythehousekeeper;themanagerbeingabsentforadayortwoonbusinessconnectedwiththeaffairsofthehotel.

           Theroomsreservedforthetravellersonthefirstfloorwerethreeinnumber;consistingoftwobedroomsopeningintoeachother,andcommunicatingontheleftwithadrawing-room.Completesofar,thearrangementsprovedtobelesssatisfactoryinreferencetothethirdbedroomrequiredforAgnesandfortheeldestdaughterofLordMontbarry,whousuallysleptwithherontheirtravels.Thebed-chamberontherightofthedrawing-roomwasalreadyoccupiedbyanEnglishwidowlady.Otherbedchambersattheotherendofthecorridorwerealsoletineverycase.TherewasaccordinglynoalternativebuttoplaceatthedisposalofAgnesacomfortableroomonthesecondfloor.LadyMontbarryvainlycomplainedofthisseparationofoneofthemembersofhertravellingpartyfromtherest.Thehousekeeperpolitelyhintedthatitwasimpossibleforhertoaskothertravellerstogiveuptheirrooms.Shecouldonlyexpressherregret,andassureMissLockwoodthatherbed-chamberonthesecondfloorwasoneofthebestroomsinthatpartofthehotel.

           Ontheretirementofthehousekeeper,LadyMontbarrynoticedthatAgneshadseatedherselfapart,feelingapparentlynointerestinthequestionofthebedrooms.Wassheill?No;shefeltalittleunnervedbytherailwayjourney,andthatwasall.Hearingthis,LordMontbarryproposedthatsheshouldgooutwithhim,andtrytheexperimentofhalfanhour’swalkinthecooleveningair.Agnesgladlyacceptedthesuggestion.