Готель з привидами
Chapter IV
’WhyshouldIfeelafoolishprideaboutmyselfinyourpresence?whyshouldIhaveanysecretsfromyou?Isentbackallyourbrother’sgiftstomesometimeago.Ihavebeenadvisedtodomore,tokeepnothingthatcanremindmeofhim—inshort,toburnhisletters.Ihavetakentheadvice;butIownIshrankalittlefromdestroyingthelastoftheletters.No—notbecauseitwasthelast,butbecauseithadthisinit.’Sheopenedherhand,andshowedhimalockofMontbarry’shair,tiedwithamorselofgoldencord.’Well!well!letitgowiththerest.’
Shedroppeditintotheflame.Forawhile,shestoodwithherbacktoHenry,leaningonthemantel-piece,andlookingintothefire.Hetookthechairtowhichshehadpointed,withastrangecontradictionofexpressioninhisface:thetearswereinhiseyes,whilethebrowsabovewereknitcloseinanangryfrown.Hemutteredtohimself,’Damnhim!’
Sheralliedhercourage,andlookedathimagainwhenshespoke.’Well,Henry,andwhyareyougoingaway?’
’Iamoutofspirits,Agnes,andIwantachange.’
Shepausedbeforeshespokeagain.Hisfacetoldherplainlythathewasthinkingofherwhenhemadethatreply.Shewasgratefultohim,buthermindwasnotwithhim:hermindwasstillwiththemanwhohaddesertedher.Sheturnedroundagaintothefire.
’Isittrue,’sheasked,afteralongsilence,’thattheyhavebeenmarriedto-day?’
Heansweredungraciouslyintheonenecessaryword:—’Yes.’
’Didyougotothechurch?’
Heresentedthequestionwithanexpressionofindignantsurprise.
