Готель з привидами
Chapter XI
’Pleasegivemeamomenttocomposemyself,’shesaidfaintly.Herheadsankonherbosom:shestoodbeforeAgneslikeaconsciousculpritbeforeamercilessjudge.
Thesilencethatfollowedwas,literally,thesilenceoffearonbothsides.Inthemidstofit,thedoorwasopenedoncemore—andHenryWestwickappeared.
HelookedatLadyMontbarrywithamoment’ssteadyattention—bowedtoherwithformalpoliteness—andpassedoninsilence.Atthesightofherhusband’sbrother,thesinkingspiritofthewomansprangtolifeagain.Herdroopingfigurebecameerect.HereyesmetWestwick’slook,brightlydefiant.Shereturnedhisbowwithanicysmileofcontempt.
HenrycrossedtheroomtoAgnes.
’IsLadyMontbarryherebyyourinvitation?’heaskedquietly.
’No.’
’Doyouwishtoseeher?’
’Itisverypainfultometoseeher.’
Heturnedandlookedathissister-in-law.’Doyouhearthat?’heaskedcoldly.
’Ihearit,’sheanswered,morecoldlystill.
’Yourvisitis,tosaytheleastofit,ill-timed.’
’Yourinterferenceis,tosaytheleastofit,outofplace.’
Withthatretort,LadyMontbarryapproachedAgnes.ThepresenceofHenryWestwickseemedatoncetorelieveandemboldenher.’Permitmetoaskmyquestion,MissLockwood,’shesaid,withgracefulcourtesy.’Itisnothingtoembarrassyou.WhenthecourierFerrariappliedtomylatehusbandforemployment,didyou—’Herresolutionfailedher,beforeshecouldsaymore.Shesanktremblingintothenearestchair,and,afteramoment’sstruggle,composedherselfagain.
