Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           Mythoughtsseemedtowhirlwithlightningrapidity,andinafewsecondsawholeprocessofreasoningbecameformulated.Imustnotvolunteertobethefriendthatthefatheradvisedhisdaughtertohavetoaidherinhervigil;andyetthatoneglancehadalessonwhichImustnotignore.Also,didnotshe,whenshewantedhelp,sendtome—tomeastranger,exceptforonemeetingatadanceandonebriefafternoonofcompanionshipontheriver?Woulditnothumiliatehertomakeheraskmetwice?Humiliateher!No!thatpainIcouldatalleventssaveher;itisnothumiliationtorefuse.So,asIhandedherbacktheletter,Isaid:

           "Iknowyouwillforgiveme,MissTrelawny,ifIpresumetoomuch;butifyouwillpermitmetoaidinthewatchingIshallbeproud.Thoughtheoccasionisasadone,Ishallbesofarhappytobeallowedtheprivilege."

           Despitehermanifestandpainfuleffortatself-control,theredtidesweptherfaceandneck.Evenhereyesseemedsuffused,andinsterncontrastwithherpalecheekswhenthetidehadrolledback.Sheansweredinalowvoice:

           "Ishallbeverygratefulforyourhelp!"Theninanafterthoughtsheadded:

           "Butyoumustnotletmebeselfishinmyneed!Iknowyouhavemanydutiestoengageyou;andthoughIshallvalueyourhelphighly—mosthighly—itwouldnotbefairtomonopoliseyourtime."

           "Astothat,"Iansweredatonce,"mytimeisyours.