the haunted hotel-第19节
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'Miss Agnes wouldn't give my lord up as a bad one； even when
he jilted her。 And now she's sweet on him after he's dead。
Say a word against him； and she fires up as you see。 All obstinacy！
It will wear out with time。 Stick to her； Master Henry
stick to her！'
'She doesn't seem to have offended you；' said Henry。
'She？' the nurse repeated in amazement'she offend me？
I like her in her tantrums； it reminds me of her when she was a baby。
Lord bless you！ when I go to bid her good…night； she'll give
me a big kiss； poor dearand say； Nurse； I didn't mean it！
About this money； Master Henry？ If I was younger I should
spend it in dress and jewellery。 But I'm too old for that。
What shall I do with my legacy when I have got it？'
'Put it out at interest；' Henry suggested。 'Get so much a year for it；
you know。' 'How much shall I get？' the nurse asked。
'If you put your hundred pounds into the Funds； you will get
between three and four pounds a year。'
The nurse shook her head。 'Three or four pounds a year？ That won't do！
I want more than that。 Look here； Master Henry。 I don't care about
this bit of moneyI never did like the man who has left it to me；
though he was your brother。 If I lost it all to…morrow； I shouldn't
break my heart； I'm well enough off； as it is； for the rest of my days。
They say you're a speculator。 Put me in for a good thing；
there's a dear！ Neck…or…nothingand that for the Funds！'
She snapped her fingers to express her contempt for security of
investment at three per cent。
Henry produced the prospectus of the Venetian Hotel Company。
'You're a funny old woman；' he said。 'There； you dashing speculator
there is neck…or…nothing for you！ You must keep it a secret from
Miss Agnes； mind。 I'm not at all sure that she would approve of my
helping you to this investment。'
The nurse took out her spectacles。 'Six per cent。 guaranteed；' she read；
'and the Directors have every reason to believe that ten per cent。；
or more； will be ultimately realised to the shareholders by the hotel。'
'Put me into that； Master Henry！ And； wherever you go； for Heaven's
sake recommend the hotel to your friends！'
So the nurse； following Henry's mercenary example； had her
pecuniary interest； too； in the house in which Lord Montbarry had died。
Three days passed before Henry was able to visit Agnes again。
In that time； the little cloud between them had entirely passed away。
Agnes received him with even more than her customary kindness。
She was in better spirits than usual。 Her letter to Mrs。 Stephen
Westwick had been answered by return of post； and her proposal had
been joyfully accepted； with one modification。 She was to visit
the Westwicks for a monthand； if she really liked teaching the children；
she was then to be governess； aunt； and cousin； all in one
and was only to go away in an event which her friends in Ireland
persisted in contemplating； the event of her marriage。
'You see I was right；' she said to Henry。
He was still incredulous。 'Are you really going？' he asked。
'I am going next week。'
'When shall I see you again？'
'You know you are always welcome at your brother's house。
You can see me when you like。' She held out her hand。 'Pardon me
for leaving youI am beginning to pack up already。'
Henry tried to kiss her at parting。 She drew back directly。
'Why not？ I am your cousin；' he said。
'I don't like it；' she answered。
Henry looked at her； and submitted。 Her refusal to grant him his
privilege as a cousin was a good signit was indirectly an act
of encouragement to him in the character of her lover。
On the first day in the new week； Agnes left London on her way to Ireland。
As the event proved； this was not destined to be the end of her journey。
The way to Ireland was only the first stage on a roundabout road
the road that led to the palace at Venice。
THE THIRD PART
CHAPTER XIII
In the spring of the year 1861； Agnes was established at the country…seat
of her two friendsnow promoted （on the death of the first lord；
without offspring） to be the new Lord and Lady Montbarry。
The old nurse was not separated from her mistress。 A place；
suited to her time of life； had been found for her in the pleasant
Irish household。 She was perfectly happy in her new sphere；
and she spent her first half…year's dividend from the Venice
Hotel Company； with characteristic prodigality； in presents for
the children。
Early in the year； also； the Directors of the life insurance offices
submitted to circumstances； and paid the ten thousand pounds。
Immediately afterwards； the widow of the first Lord Montbarry
（otherwise； the dowager Lady Montbarry） left England； with Baron Rivar；
for the United States。 The Baron's object was announced； in the scientific
columns of the newspapers； to be investigation into the present
state of experimental chemistry in the great American republic。
His sister informed inquiring friends that she accompanied him；
in the hope of finding consolation in change of scene after the bereavement
that had fallen on her。 Hearing this news from Henry Westwick
（then paying a visit at his brother's house）； Agnes was conscious
of a certain sense of relief。 'With the Atlantic between us；'
she said； 'surely I have done with that terrible woman now！'
Barely a week passed after those words had been spoken； before an
event happened which reminded Agnes of 'the terrible woman'
once more。
On that day； Henry's engagements had obliged him to return to London。
He had ventured； on the morning of his departure； to press his
suit once more on Agnes； and the children； as he had anticipated；
proved to be innocent obstacles in the way of his success。
On the other hand； he had privately secured a firm ally in his
sister…in…law。 'Have a little patience；' the new Lady Montbarry
had said； 'and leave me to turn the influence of the children
in the right direction。 If they can persuade her to listen to you
they shall！'
The two ladies had accompanied Henry； and some other guests
who went away at the same time； to the railway station；
and had just driven back to the house； when the servant announced
that 'a person of the name of Rolland was waiting to see her ladyship。'
'Is it a woman？'
'Yes； my lady。'
Young Lady Montbarry turned to Agnes。
'This is the very person；' she said； 'whom your lawyer thought
likely to help him； when he was trying to trace the lost courier。'
'You don't mean the English maid who was with Lady Montbarry
at Venice？'
'My dear！ don't speak of Montbarry's horrid widow by the name
which is my name now。 Stephen and I have arranged to call her by
her foreign title； before she was married。 I am 〃Lady Montbarry；〃
and she is 〃the Countess。〃 In that way there will be no confusion。
Yes； Mrs。 Rolland was in my service before she became the Countess's maid。
She was a perfectly trustworthy person； with one defect that obliged
me to send her awaya sullen temper which led to perpetual complaints
of her in the servants' hall。 Would you like to see her？'
Agnes accepted the proposal； in the faint hope of getting some
information for the courier's wife。 The complete defeat of every attempt
to trace the lost man had been accepted as final by Mrs。 Ferrari。
She had deliberately arrayed herself in widow's mourning；
and was earning her livelihood in an employment which the unwearied
kindness of Agnes had procured for her in London。 The last chance
of penetrating the mystery of Ferrari's disappearance seemed to rest
now on what Ferrari's former fellow…servant might be able to tell。
With highly…wrought expectations； Agnes followed her friend into the room
in which Mrs。 Rolland was waiting。
A tall bony woman； in the autumn of life； with sunken eyes and
iron…grey hair； rose stiffly from her chair； and saluted the ladies
with stern submission as they opened the door。 A person of
unblemished character； evidentlybut not without visible drawbacks。
Big bushy eyebrows； an awfully deep and solemn voice； a harsh
unbending manner； a complete absence in her
