Готель з привидами

           OnwinningthevictorytheEnglishmanagerhadatonceleftMilan,recalledtoLondonbytheaffairsofhistheatre.Hewasaccompaniedonthejourneyback,ashehadbeenaccompaniedonthejourneyout,byhissister.Resolved,afterpassingtwonightsofterrorintheVenetianhotel,nevertoenteritagain,Mrs.Norburyaskedtobeexcusedfromappearingatthefamilyfestival,onthegroundofill-health.Atherage,travellingfatiguedher,andshewasgladtotakeadvantageofherbrother’sescorttoreturntoEngland.

           Whilethetalkatthedinner-tableflowedeasilyonward,theevening-timeadvancedtonight—anditbecamenecessarytothinkofsendingthechildrentobed.

           AsAgnesrosetoleavetheroom,accompaniedbytheeldestgirl,sheobservedwithsurprisethatHenry’smannersuddenlychanged.Helookedseriousandpre-occupied;andwhenhisniecewishedhimgoodnight,heabruptlysaidtoher,’Marian,Iwanttoknowwhatpartofthehotelyousleepin?’Marian,puzzledbythequestion,answeredthatshewasgoingtosleep,asusual,with’AuntAgnes.’Notsatisfiedwiththatreply,Henrynextinquiredwhetherthebedroomwasneartheroomsoccupiedbytheothermembersofthetravellingparty.Answeringforthechild,andwonderingwhatHenry’sobjectcouldpossiblybe,AgnesmentionedthepolitesacrificemadetoherconveniencebyMrs.James.’Thankstothatlady’skindness,’shesaid,’MarianandIareonlyontheothersideofthedrawing-room.’Henrymadenoremark;helookedincomprehensiblydiscontentedasheopenedthedoorforAgnesandhercompaniontopassout.