Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок
Chapter 14
Idonotwantmydaughtertobepresent;forIcannotblindmyselftothefactthattheremaybedangerinit—greatdanger,andofanunknownkind.Ihave,however,alreadyfacedverygreatdangers,andofanunknownkind;andsohasthatbravescholarwhohashelpedmeinthework.Astomyself,Iamwillingtorunanyrisk.Forscience,andhistory,andphilosophymaybenefit;andwemayturnoneoldpageofawisdomunknowninthisprosaicage.ButformydaughtertorunsuchariskIamloth.Heryoungbrightlifeistooprecioustothrowlightlyaway;nowespeciallywhensheisontheverythresholdofnewhappiness.Idonotwishtoseeherlifegiven,asherdearmother’swas—"
Hebrokedownforamoment,andcoveredhiseyeswithhishands.InaninstantMargaretwasbesidehim,claspinghimclose,andkissinghim,andcomfortinghimwithlovingwords.Then,standingerect,withonehandonhishead,shesaid:
"Father!motherdidnotbidyoustaybesideher,evenwhenyouwantedtogoonthatjourneyofunknowndangertoEgypt;thoughthatcountrywasthenupsetfromendtoendwithwarandthedangersthatfollowwar.Youhavetoldmehowsheleftyoufreetogoasyouwished;thoughthatshethoughtofdangerforyouandandfeareditforyou,isprovedbythis!"Sheheldupherwristwiththescarthatseemedtorunblood.