Готель з привидами

           Ihardlyknowhowtoexpressit.Theshortestwayperhapswillbetoletyoufinditoutforyourself.Youhavebeenspeakingofmylonelyunprotectedlifehere.Itisnotaveryhappylife,Henry—Iownthat.’Shepaused,observingthegrowinganxietyofhisexpressionashelookedather,withashysatisfactionthatperplexedhim.’DoyouknowthatIhaveanticipatedyouridea?’shewenton.’Iamgoingtomakeagreatchangeinmylife—ifyourbrotherStephenandhiswifewillonlyconsenttoit.’Sheopenedthedeskofthewriting-tablewhileshespoke,tookaletterout,andhandedittoHenry.

           Hereceiveditfromhermechanically.Vaguedoubts,whichhehardlyunderstoodhimself,kepthimsilent.Itwasimpossiblethatthe’changeinherlife’ofwhichshehadspokencouldmeanthatshewasabouttobemarried—andyethewasconsciousofaperfectlyunreasonablereluctancetoopentheletter.Theireyesmet;shesmiledagain.’Lookattheaddress,’shesaid.’Yououghttoknowthehandwriting—butIdaresayyoudon’t.’

           Helookedattheaddress.Itwasinthelarge,irregular,uncertainwritingofachild.Heopenedtheletterinstantly.

           ’DearAuntAgnes,—Ourgovernessisgoingaway.Shehashadmoneylefttoher,andahouseofherown.Wehavehadcakeandwinetodrinkherhealth.Youpromisedtobeourgovernessifwewantedanother.Wewantyou.Mammaknowsnothingaboutthis.PleasecomebeforeMammacangetanothergoverness.YourlovingLucy,whowritesthis.ClaraandBlanchehavetriedtowritetoo.Buttheyaretooyoungtodoit.Theyblotthepaper.