the haunted hotel-第22节
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and the new hotel was advertised all over Europe to open
in October。
CHAPTER XV
（MISS AGNES LOCKWOOD TO MRS。 FERRARI）
'I promised to give you some account； dear Emily； of the marriage
of Mr。 Arthur Barville and Miss Haldane。 It took place ten days since。
But I have had so many things to look after in the absence of the master
and mistress of this house； that I am only able to write to you
to…day。
'The invitations to the wedding were limited to members of the families
on either side； in consideration of the ill health of Miss Haldane's aunt。
On the side of the Montbarry family； there were present；
besides Lord and Lady Montbarry； Sir Theodore and Lady Barville；
Mrs。 Norbury （whom you may remember as his lordship's second sister）；
and Mr。 Francis Westwick； and Mr。 Henry Westwick。 The three children
and I attended the ceremony as bridesmaids。 We were joined by two
young ladies； cousins of the bride and very agreeable girls。
Our dresses were white； trimmed with green in honour of Ireland；
and we each had a handsome gold bracelet given to us as a present from
the bridegroom。 If you add to the persons whom I have already mentioned；
the elder members of Mrs。 Carbury's family； and the old servants
in both housesprivileged to drink the healths of the married pair
at the lower end of the roomyou will have the list of the company at
the wedding…breakfast complete。
'The weather was perfect； and the ceremony （with music）
was beautifully performed。 As for the bride； no words can describe
how lovely she looked； or how well she went through it all。
We were very merry at the breakfast； and the speeches went off
on the whole quite well enough。 The last speech； before the party
broke up； was made by Mr。 Henry Westwick； and was the best of all。
He offered a happy suggestion； at the end； which has produced a very
unexpected change in my life here。
'As well as I remember； he concluded in these words：〃On one point；
we are all agreedwe are sorry that the parting hour is near；
and we should be glad to meet again。 Why should we not meet again？
This is the autumn time of the year； we are most of us leaving home
for the holidays。 What do you say （if you have no engagements
that will prevent it） to joining our young married friends before
the close of their tour； and renewing the social success of this
delightful breakfast by another festival in honour of the honeymoon？
The bride and bridegroom are going to Germany and the Tyrol； on their
way to Italy。 I propose that we allow them a month to themselves；
and that we arrange to meet them afterwards in the North of Italy
say at Venice。〃
'This proposal was received with great applause； which was changed
into shouts of laughter by no less a person than my dear old nurse。
The moment Mr。 Westwick pronounced the word 〃Venice；〃 she
started up among the servants at the lower end of the room；
and called out at the top of her voice； 〃Go to our hotel；
ladies and gentlemen！ We get six per cent。 on our money already；
and if you will only crowd the place and call for the best
of everything； it will be ten per cent in our pockets in no time。
Ask Master Henry！〃
'Appealed to in this irresistible manner； Mr。 Westwick had no choice
but to explain that he was concerned as a shareholder in a new Hotel
Company at Venice； and that he had invested a small sum of money
for the nurse （not very considerately； as I think） in the speculation。
Hearing this； the company； by way of humouring the joke；
drank a new toast：Success to the nurse's hotel； and a speedy rise
in the dividend！
'When the conversation returned in due time to the more serious
question of the proposed meeting at Venice； difficulties began
to present themselves； caused of course by invitations for the autumn
which many of the guests had already accepted。 Only two members of
Mrs。 Carbury's family were at liberty to keep the proposed appointment。
On our side we were more at leisure to do as we pleased。
Mr。 Henry Westwick decided to go to Venice in advance of the rest；
to test the accommodation of the new hotel on the opening day。
Mrs。 Norbury and Mr。 Francis Westwick volunteered to follow him；
and； after some persuasion； Lord and Lady Montbarry consented
to a species of compromise。 His lordship could not conveniently
spare time enough for the journey to Venice； but he and Lady
Montbarry arranged to accompany Mrs。 Norbury and Mr。 Francis
Westwick as far on their way to Italy as Paris。 Five days since；
they took their departure to meet their travelling companions
in London； leaving me here in charge of the three dear children。
They begged hard； of course； to be taken with papa and mamma。
But it was thought better not to interrupt the progress of their education；
and not to expose them （especially the two younger girls） to the fatigues
of travelling。
'I have had a charming letter from the bride； this morning；
dated Cologne。 You cannot think how artlessly and prettily she
assures me of her happiness。 Some people； as they say in Ireland；
are born to good luckand I think Arthur Barville is one of them。
'When you next write； I hope to hear that you are in better health
and spirits； and that you continue to like your employment。
Believe me； sincerely your friend；A。 L。'
Agnes had just closed and directed her letter； when the eldest
of her three pupils entered the room with the startling announcement
that Lord Montbarry's travelling…servant had arrived from Paris！
Alarmed by the idea that some misfortune had happened； she ran out
to meet the man in the hall。 Her face told him how seriously he had
frightened her； before she could speak。 'There's nothing wrong； Miss；'
he hastened to say。 'My lord and my lady are enjoying themselves
at Paris。 They only want you and the young ladies to be with them。'
Saying these amazing words； he handed to Agnes a letter from
Lady Montbarry。
'Dearest Agnes；' （she read）； 'I am so charmed with the delightful
change in my lifeit is six years； remember； since I last travelled
on the Continentthat I have exerted all my fascinations to persuade
Lord Montbarry to go on to Venice。 And； what is more to the purpose；
I have actually succeeded！ He has just gone to his room to write
the necessary letters of excuse in time for the post to England。
May you have as good a husband； my dear； when your time comes！
In the mean while； the one thing wanting now to make my happiness
complete； is to have you and the darling children with us。
Montbarry is just as miserable without them as I amthough he doesn't
confess it so freely。 You will have no difficulties to trouble you。
Louis will deliver these hurried lines； and will take care of you
on the journey to Paris。 Kiss the children for me a thousand times
and never mind their education for the present！ Pack up instantly；
my dear； and I will be fonder of you than ever。 Your affectionate friend；
Adela Montbarry。'
Agnes folded up the letter； and； feeling the need of composing herself；
took refuge for a few minutes in her own room。
Her first natural sensations of surprise and excitement at the prospect
of going to Venice were succeeded by impressions of a less agreeable kind。
With the recovery of her customary composure came the unwelcome
remembrance of the parting words spoken to her by Montbarry's
widow：'We shall meet againhere in England； or there in Venice
where my husband diedand meet for the last time。'
It was an odd coincidence； to say the least of it； that the march
of events should be unexpectedly taking Agnes to Venice； after those
words had been spoken！ Was the woman of the mysterious warnings
and the wild black eyes still thousands of miles away in America？
Or was the march of events taking her unexpectedly； too； on the
journey to Venice？ Agnes started out of her chair； ashamed of
even the momentary concession to superstition which was implied
by the mere presence of such questions as these in her mind。
She rang the bell； and sent for her little pupils； and announced
their approaching departure to the household。 The noisy delight
of the children； the inspiriting effort of packing up in a hurry；
roused all her energies。 She dismissed her own absurd misgivings
from consideration； with the contemp
