Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок

           Atlastweknewthatthewrappingswerecomingtoanend.AlreadytheproportionswerereducedtothoseofanormalfigureofthemanifestheightoftheQueen,whowasmorethanaverageheight.Andastheenddrewnearer,soMargaret’spallorgrew;andherheartbeatmoreandmorewildly,tillherbreastheavedinawaythatfrightenedme.

           Justasherfatherwastakingawaythelastofthebandages,hehappenedtolookupandcaughtthepainedandanxiouslookofherpaleface.Hepaused,andtakingherconcerntobeastotheoutrageonmodesty,saidinacomfortingway:

           "Donotbeuneasy,dear!See!thereisnothingtoharmyou.TheQueenhasonarobe.—Ay,andaroyalrobe,too!"

           Thewrappingwasawidepiecethewholelengthofthebody.Itbeingremoved,aprofuselyfullrobeofwhitelinenhadappeared,coveringthebodyfromthethroattothefeet.

           Andsuchlinen!Weallbentovertolookatit.

           Margaretlostherconcern,inherwoman’sinterestinfinestuff.Thentherestofuslookedwithadmiration;forsurelysuchlinenwasneverseenbytheeyesofourage.Itwasasfineasthefinestsilk.Butneverwasspunorwovensilkwhichlayinsuchgraciousfolds,constrictthoughtheywerebytheclosewrappingsofthemummycloth,andfixedintohardnessbythepassingofthousandsofyears.