Готель з привидами

           Aretherenootherwomenwhoserveasgovernesses,andwhoaretheequalsofthepersonswhomtheyserve?Besides,Idon’tknowthatIamtheirequal.HaveInotheardthatyourbrotherStephenwasthenextheirtothetitle?Willhenotbethenewlord?Nevermindansweringme!Wewon’tdisputewhetherIamrightorwronginturninggoverness—wewillwaittheevent.Iamwearyofmylonelyuselessexistencehere,andeagertomakemylifemorehappyandmoreuseful,inthehouseholdofallothersinwhichIshouldlikemosttohaveaplace.Ifyouwilllookagain,youwillseethatIhavethesepersonalconsiderationsstilltourgebeforeIfinishmyletter.Youdon’tknowyourbrotherandhiswifeaswellasIdo,ifyoudoubttheiranswer.IbelievetheyhavecourageenoughandheartenoughtosayYes.’

           Henrysubmittedwithoutbeingconvinced.

           Hewasamanwhodislikedalleccentricdeparturesfromcustomandroutine;andhefeltespeciallysuspiciousofthechangeproposedinthelifeofAgnes.Withnewintereststooccupyhermind,shemightbelessfavourablydisposedtolistentohim,onthenextoccasionwhenheurgedhissuit.Theinfluenceofthe’lonelyuselessexistence’ofwhichshecomplained,wasdistinctlyaninfluenceinhisfavour.Whileherheartwasempty,herheartwasaccessible.Butwithhisniecesinfullpossessionofit,thecloudsofdoubtovershadowedhisprospects.Heknewthesexwellenoughtokeepthesepurelyselfishperplexitiestohimself.ThewaitingpolicywasespeciallythepolicytopursuewithawomanassensitiveasAgnes.Ifheonceoffendedherdelicacyhewaslost.