Готель з привидами

           Henrysmiledasheansweredher.’Keepthesecret,’hesaid,’orMontbarrywillneverforgiveme!’

           Shereadtherestinhisface.’Oh!’sheexclaimed,blushingbrightly,’youhavenotgivenupyourpleasantholidayinItalyonmyaccount?’

           ’IshallgobackwithyoutoEngland,Agnes.Thatwillbeholidayenoughforme.’

           Shetookhishandinanirrepressibleoutburstofgratitude.’Howgoodyouaretome!’shemurmuredtenderly.’WhatshouldIhavedoneinthetroublesthathavecometome,withoutyoursympathy?Ican’ttellyou,Henry,howIfeelyourkindness.’

           Shetriedimpulsivelytolifthishandtoherlips.Hegentlystoppedher.’Agnes,’hesaid,’areyoubeginningtounderstandhowtrulyIloveyou?’

           Thatsimplequestionfounditsownwaytoherheart.Sheownedthewholetruth,withoutsayingaword.Shelookedathim—andthenlookedawayagain.

           Hedrewhernearertohim.’Myowndarling!’hewhispered—andkissedher.Softlyandtremulously,thesweetlipslingered,andtouchedhislipsinreturn.Thenherheaddrooped.Sheputherarmsroundhisneck,andhidherfaceonhisbosom.Theyspokenomore.

           Thecharmedsilencehadlastedbutalittlewhile,whenitwasmercilesslybrokenbyaknockatthedoor.

           Agnesstartedtoherfeet.Sheplacedherselfatthepiano;theinstrumentbeingoppositetothedoor,itwasimpossible,whensheseatedherselfonthemusic-stool,foranypersonenteringtheroomtoseeherface.Henrycalledoutirritably,’Comein.’

           Thedoorwasnotopened.Thepersonontheothersideofitaskedastrangequestion.

           ’IsMr.