Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           HowcouldIspeakadoubtofMargarettoanyone,evenherfather!HowcouldIspeakadoubttoMargaret,whenMargaretherselfwasthetheme!Icouldonlyendure—andhope.Andofthetwotheendurancewasthelesserpain.

           IthinkthatMargaretmusthaveattimesfeltthattherewassomecloudbetweenus,fortowardstheendofthefirstdayshebegantoshunmealittle;orperhapsitwasthatshehadbecomemorediffidentthatusualaboutme.Hithertoshehadsoughteveryopportunityofbeingwithme,justasIhadtriedtobewithher;sothatnowanyavoidance,oneoftheother,madeanewpaintousboth.

           Onthisdaythehouseholdseemedverystill.Eachoneofuswasabouthisownwork,oroccupiedwithhisownthoughts.Weonlymetatmealtimes;andthen,thoughwetalked,allseemedmoreorlesspreoccupied.Therewasnotinthehouseeventhestiroftheroutineofservice.TheprecautionofMr.Trelawnyinhavingthreeroomspreparedforeachofushadrenderedservantsunnecessary.Thedining-roomwassolidlypreparedwithcookedprovisionsforseveraldays.TowardseveningIwentoutbymyselfforastroll.IhadlookedforMargarettoaskhertocomewithme;butwhenIfoundher,shewasinoneofherapatheticmoods,andthecharmofherpresenceseemedlosttome.Angrywithmyself,butunabletoquellmyownspiritofdiscontent,Iwentoutaloneovertherockyheadland.