Готель з привидами
Chapter IV
’Well,Emily,whatcanIdoforyou?’
Thecourier’swifemaderatherastrangeanswer:’I’mafraidtotellyou,Miss.’
’Isitsuchaverydifficultfavourtogrant?Sitdown,andletmehearhowyouaregoingon.Perhapsthepetitionwillslipoutwhilewearetalking.Howdoesyourhusbandbehavetoyou?’
Emily’slightgreyeyeslookedmorewaterythanever.Sheshookherheadandsighedresignedly.’Ihavenopositivecomplainttomakeagainsthim,Miss.ButI’mafraidhedoesn’tcareaboutme;andheseemstotakenointerestinhishome—Imayalmostsayhe’stiredofhishome.Itmightbebetterforbothofus,Miss,ifhewenttravellingforawhile—nottomentionthemoney,whichisbeginningtobewantedsadly.’Sheputherhandkerchieftohereyes,andsighedagainmoreresignedlythanever.
’Idon’tquiteunderstand,’saidAgnes.’IthoughtyourhusbandhadanengagementtotakesomeladiestoSwitzerlandandItaly?’
’Thatwashisill-luck,Miss.Oneoftheladiesfellill—andtheotherswouldn’tgowithouther.Theypaidhimamonth’ssalaryascompensation.Buttheyhadengagedhimfortheautumnandwinter—andthelossisserious.’
’Iamsorrytohearit,Emily.Letushopehewillsoonhaveanotherchance.’
’It’snothisturn,Miss,toberecommendedwhenthenextapplicationscometothecouriers’office.Yousee,therearesomanyofthemoutofemploymentjustnow.Ifhecouldbeprivatelyrecommended—’Shestopped,andlefttheunfinishedsentencetospeakforitself.
Agnesunderstoodherdirectly.
