Готель з привидами

           Eventheofficiatingpriestwasonlyaharmless,humble-lookingoldman,whowentthroughhisdutiesresignedly,andfeltvisiblerheumaticdifficultieseverytimehebenthisknees.Theoneremarkableperson,theCountessherself,onlyraisedherveilatthebeginningoftheceremony,andpresentednothinginherplaindressthatwasworthasecondlook.Never,onthefaceofit,wastherealessinterestingandlessromanticmarriagethanthis.FromtimetotimetheDoctorglancedroundatthedoororupatthegalleries,vaguelyanticipatingtheappearanceofsomeprotestingstranger,inpossessionofsometerriblesecret,commissionedtoforbidtheprogressoftheservice.Nothingintheshapeofaneventoccurred—nothingextraordinary,nothingdramatic.Boundfasttogetherasmanandwife,thetwodisappeared,followedbytheirwitnesses,tosigntheregisters;andstillDoctorWybrowwaited,andstillhecherishedtheobstinatehopethatsomethingworthseeingmustcertainlyhappenyet.

           Theintervalpassed,andthemarriedcouple,returningtothechurch,walkedtogetherdownthenavetothedoor.DoctorWybrowdrewbackastheyapproached.Tohisconfusionandsurprise,theCountessdiscoveredhim.Heheardhersaytoherhusband,’Onemoment;Iseeafriend.’LordMontbarrybowedandwaited.ShesteppeduptotheDoctor,tookhishand,andwrungithard.Hefeltheroverpoweringblackeyeslookingathimthroughherveil.’Onestepmore,yousee,onthewaytotheend!’Shewhisperedthosestrangewords,andreturnedtoherhusband