Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           Trelawny’sadvice,weseparated;eachtoprepareinourownwayforthestrainofthecomingnight.Margaretlookedpaleandsomewhatoverwrought,soIadvisedhertoliedownandtrytosleep.Shepromisedthatshewould.Theabstractionwhichhadbeenuponherfitfullyalldayliftedforthetime;withallheroldsweetnessandlovingdelicacyshekissedmegood-byeforthepresent!WiththesenseofhappinesswhichthisgavemeIwentoutforawalkonthecliffs.Ididnotwanttothink;andIhadaninstinctivefeelingthatfreshairandGod’ssunlight,andthemyriadbeautiesoftheworksofHishandwouldbethebestpreparationoffortitudeforwhatwastocome.

           WhenIgotback,allthepartywereassemblingforalatetea.Comingfreshfromtheexhilarationofnature,itstruckmeasalmostcomicthatwe,whowerenearingtheendofsostrange—almostmonstrous—anundertaking,shouldbeyetboundbytheneedsandhabitsofourlives.

           Allthemenofthepartyweregrave;thetimeofseclusion,evenifithadgiventhemrest,hadalsogivenopportunityforthought.Margaretwasbright,almostbuoyant;butImissedabouthersomethingofherusualspontaneity.Towardsmyselftherewasashadowyairofreserve,whichbroughtbacksomethingofmysuspicion.Whenteawasover,shewentoutoftheroom;butreturnedinaminutewiththerollofdrawingwhichshehadtakenwithherearlierintheday.ComingclosetoMr.