Готель з привидами

           Herluggagehadalreadybeenremoved,andMissLockwoodhadonlytotakepossessionoftheroom(Number13A),whichwasnowentirelyatherdisposal.

           ’IimmediatelyproposedtoseeMrs.James,’LadyMontbarrycontinued,’andtothankherpersonallyforherextremekindness.ButIwasinformedthatshehadgoneout,withoutleavingwordatwhathourshemightbeexpectedtoreturn.Ihavewrittenalittlenoteofthanks,sayingthatwehopetohavethepleasureofpersonallyexpressingoursenseofMrs.James’scourtesyto-morrow.Inthemeantime,Agnes,Ihaveorderedyourboxestoberemoveddownstairs.Go!—andjudgeforyourself,mydear,ifthatgoodladyhasnotgivenuptoyoutheprettiestroominthehouse!’

           Withthosewords,LadyMontbarryleftMissLockwoodtomakeahastytoiletfordinner.

           ThenewroomatonceproducedafavourableimpressiononAgnes.Thelargewindow,openingintoabalcony,commandedanadmirableviewofthecanal.ThedecorationsonthewallsandceilingwereskilfullycopiedfromtheexquisitelygracefuldesignsofRaphaelintheVatican.Themassivewardrobepossessedcompartmentsofunusualsize,inwhichdoublethenumberofdressesthatAgnespossessedmighthavebeenconvenientlyhungatfulllength.Intheinnercorneroftheroom,neartheheadofthebedstead,therewasarecesswhichhadbeenturnedintoalittledressing-room,andwhichopenedbyaseconddoorontheinteriorstaircaseofthehotel,commonlyusedbytheservants.Noticingtheseaspectsoftheroomataglance,Agnesmadethenecessarychangeinherdress,asquicklyaspossible.