Готель з привидами
Chapter XII
’
’Youreldestniece,’Agnesexplained,asHenrylookedatherinamazement.’ThechildrenusedtocallmeauntwhenIwasstayingwiththeirmotherinIreland,intheautumn.Thethreegirlsweremyinseparablecompanions—theyarethemostcharmingchildrenIknow.ItisquitetruethatIofferedtobetheirgoverness,iftheyeverwantedone,onthedaywhenIleftthemtoreturntoLondon.Iwaswritingtoproposeittotheirmother,justbeforeyoucame.’
’Notseriously!’Henryexclaimed.
Agnesplacedherunfinishedletterinhishand.EnoughofithadbeenwrittentoshowthatshedidseriouslyproposetoenterthehouseholdofMr.andMrs.StephenWestwickasgovernesstotheirchildren!Henry’sbewildermentwasnottobeexpressedinwords.
’Theywon’tbelieveyouareinearnest,’hesaid.
’Whynot?’Agnesaskedquietly.
’YouaremybrotherStephen’scousin;youarehiswife’soldfriend.’
’Allthemorereason,Henry,fortrustingmewiththechargeoftheirchildren.’
’Butyouaretheirequal;youarenotobligedtogetyourlivingbyteaching.Thereissomethingabsurdinyourenteringtheirserviceasagoverness!’
’Whatisthereabsurdinit?Thechildrenloveme;themotherlovesme;thefatherhasshownmeinnumerableinstancesofhistruefriendshipandregard.Iamtheverywomanfortheplace—and,astomyeducation,Imusthavecompletelyforgottenitindeed,ifIamnotfittoteachthreechildrentheeldestofwhomisonlyelevenyearsold.YousayIamtheirequal.
