the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第8节
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to you since she was a child； and that you feel some little interest in his
welfare on that account。 I don't ask it now； Miss。 You have made me
understand that I was wrong。'
Had she really been wrong？ Past remembrances； as well as present
troubles； pleaded powerfully with Agnes for the courier's wife。 'It seems
only a small favour to ask；' she said； speaking under the impulse of
kindness which was the strongest impulse in her nature。 'But I am not sure
that I ought to allow my name to be mentioned in your husband's letter。
Let me hear again exactly what he wishes to say。' Emily repeated the
wordsand then offered one of those suggestions； which have a special
value of their own to persons unaccustomed to the use of their pens。
'Suppose you try； Miss； how it looks in writing？' Childish as the idea was；
Agnes tried the experiment。 'If I let you mention me；' she said； 'we must
at least decide what you are to say。' She wrote the words in the briefest and
plainest form：'I venture to state that my wife has been known from her
childhood to Miss Agnes Lockwood； who feels some little interest in my
welfare on that account。' Reduced to this one sentence； there was surely
nothing in the reference to her name which implied that Agnes had
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
permitted it； or that she was even aware of it。 After a last struggle with
herself； she handed the written paper to Emily。 'Your husband must copy
it exactly； without altering anything；' she stipulated。 'On that condition； I
grant your request。' Emily was not only thankfulshe was really touched。
Agnes hurried the little woman out of the room。 'Don't give me time to
repent and take it back again；' she said。 Emily vanished。
'Is the tie that once bound us completely broken？ Am I as entirely
parted from the good and evil fortune of his life as if we had never met
and never loved？' Agnes looked at the clock on the mantel…piece。 Not ten
minutes since； those serious questions had been on her lips。 It almost
shocked her to think of the common…place manner in which they had
already met with their reply。 The mail of that night would appeal once
more to Montbarry's remembrance of her in the choice of a servant。
Two days later； the post brought a few grateful lines from Emily。 Her
husband had got the place。 Ferrari was engaged； for six months certain；
as Lord Montbarry's courier。
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
CHAPTER V
After only one week of travelling in Scotland； my lord and my lady
returned unexpectedly to London。 Introduced to the mountains and lakes
of the Highlands； her ladyship positively declined to improve her
acquaintance with them。 When she was asked for her reason； she
answered with a Roman brevity； 'I have seen Switzerland。'
For a week more； the newly…married couple remained in London； in
the strictest retirement。 On one day in that week the nurse returned in a
state of most uncustomary excitement from an errand on which Agnes had
sent her。 Passing the door of a fashionable dentist； she had met Lord
Montbarry himself just leaving the house。 The good woman's report
described him； with malicious pleasure； as looking wretchedly ill。 'His
cheeks are getting hollow； my dear； and his beard is turning grey。 I hope
the dentist hurt him！'
Knowing how heartily her faithful old servant hated the man who had
deserted her； Agnes made due allowance for a large infusion of
exaggeration in the picture presented to her。 The main impression
produced on her mind was an impression of nervous uneasiness。 If she
trusted herself in the streets by daylight while Lord Montbarry remained in
London； how could she be sure that his next chance…meeting might not be
a meeting with herself？ She waited at home； privately ashamed of her
own undignified conduct； for the next two days。 On the third day the
fashionable intelligence of the newspapers announced the departure of
Lord and Lady Montbarry for Paris； on their way to Italy。
Mrs。 Ferrari； calling the same evening； informed Agnes that her
husband had left her with all reasonable expression of conjugal kindness；
his temper being improved by the prospect of going abroad。 But one other
servant accompanied the travellersLady Montbarry's maid； rather a silent；
unsociable woman； so far as Emily had heard。 Her ladyship's brother；
Baron Rivar； was already on the Continent。 It had been arranged that he
was to meet his sister and her husband at Rome。
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One by one the dull weeks succeeded each other in the life of Agnes。
She faced her position with admirable courage； seeing her friends； keeping
herself occupied in her leisure hours with reading and drawing； leaving no
means untried of diverting her mind from the melancholy remembrance of
the past。 But she had loved too faithfully； she had been wounded too
deeply； to feel in any adequate degree the influence of the moral remedies
which she employed。 Persons who met with her in the ordinary relations
of life； deceived by her outward serenity of manner； agreed that 'Miss
Lockwood seemed to be getting over her disappointment。' But an old
friend and school companion who happened to see her during a brief visit
to London； was inexpressibly distressed by the change that she detected in
Agnes。 This lady was Mrs。 Westwick； the wife of that brother of Lord
Montbarry who came next to him in age； and who was described in the
'Peerage' as presumptive heir to the title。 He was then away； looking after
his interests in some mining property which he possessed in America。
Mrs。 Westwick insisted on taking Agnes back with her to her home in
Ireland。 'Come and keep me company while my husband is away。 My
three little girls will make you their playfellow； and the only stranger you
will meet is the governess； whom I answer for your liking beforehand。
Pack up your things； and I will call for you to…morrow on my way to the
train。' In those hearty terms the invitation was given。 Agnes thankfully
accepted it。 For three happy months she lived under the roof of her
friend。 The girls hung round her in tears at her departure； the youngest of
them wanted to go back with Agnes to London。 Half in jest； half in earnest；
she said to her old friend at parting； 'If your governess leaves you； keep
the place open for me。' Mrs。 Westwick laughed。 The wiser children took
it seriously； and promised to let Agnes know。
On the very day when Miss Lockwood returned to London； she was
recalled to those associations with the past which she was most anxious to
forget。 After the first kissings and greetings were over； the old nurse （who
had been left in charge at the lodgings） had some startling information to
communicate； derived from the courier's wife。
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'Here has been little Mrs。 Ferrari； my dear； in a dreadful state of mind；
inquiring when you would be back。 Her husband has left Lord
Montbarry； without a word of warningand nobody knows what has
become of him。'
Agnes looked at her in astonishment。 'Are you sure of what you are
saying？' she asked。
The nurse was quite sure。 'Why； Lord bless you！ the news comes
from the couriers' office in Golden Squarefrom the secretary； Miss Agnes；
the secretary himself！' Hearing this； Agnes began to feel alarmed as well
as surprised。 It was still early in the evening。 She at once sent a
