Готель з привидами

           TheydirectedtheirstepstowardsthesquareofSt.Mark,soastoenjoythebreezeblowingoverthelagoon.ItwasthefirstvisitofAgnestoVenice.Thefascinationofthewonderfulcityofthewatersexerteditsfullinfluenceoverhersensitivenature.Theproposedhalf-hourofthewalkhadpassedaway,andwasfastexpandingtohalfanhourmore,beforeLordMontbarrycouldpersuadehiscompaniontorememberthatdinnerwaswaitingforthem.Astheyreturned,passingunderthecolonnade,neitherofthemnoticedaladyindeepmourning,loiteringintheopenspaceofthesquare.ShestartedassherecognisedAgneswalkingwiththenewLordMontbarry—hesitatedforamoment—andthenfollowedthem,atadiscreetdistance,backtothehotel.

           LadyMontbarryreceivedAgnesinhighspirits—withnewsofaneventwhichhadhappenedinherabsence.

           Shehadnotleftthehotelmorethantenminutes,beforealittlenoteinpencilwasbroughttoLadyMontbarrybythehousekeeper.Thewriterprovedtobenolessapersonthanthewidowladywhooccupiedtheroomontheothersideofthedrawing-room,whichherladyshiphadvainlyhopedtosecureforAgnes.WritingunderthenameofMrs.James,thepolitewidowexplainedthatshehadheardfromthehousekeeperofthedisappointmentexperiencedbyLadyMontbarryinthematteroftherooms.Mrs.Jameswasquitealone;andaslongasherbed-chamberwasairyandcomfortable,itmatterednothingtoherwhethershesleptonthefirstorthesecondfloorofthehouse.ShehadaccordinglymuchpleasureinproposingtochangeroomswithMissLockwood.