the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第20章
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of the few pleasures she could enjoy； the pleasure of having the best new
novels read to her as they came out。 Discovering this； Arthur volunteered
to relieve Miss Haldane； at intervals； in the office of reader。 He was clever
at mechanical contrivances of all sorts； and he introduced improvements in
Mrs。 Carbury's couch； and in the means of conveying her from the
bedchamber to the drawing…room； which alleviated the poor lady's
sufferings and brightened her gloomy life。 With these claims on the
gratitude of the aunt； aided by the personal advantages which he
unquestionably possessed； Arthur advanced rapidly in the favour of the
charming niece。 She was； it is needless to say； perfectly well aware that he
was in love with her； while he was himself modestly reticent on the
subject so far as words went。 But she was not equally quick in
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penetrating the nature of her own feelings towards Arthur。 Watching the
two young people with keen powers of observation； necessarily
concentrated on them by the complete seclusion of her life； the invalid
lady discovered signs of roused sensibility in Miss Haldane； when Arthur
was present； which had never yet shown themselves in her social relations
with other admirers eager to pay their addresses to her。 Having drawn her
own conclusions in private； Mrs。 Carbury took the first favourable
opportunity （in Arthur's interests） of putting them to the test。
'I don't know what I shall do；' she said one day； 'when Arthur goes
away。'
Miss Haldane looked up quickly from her work。 'Surely he is not
going to leave us！' she exclaimed。
'My dear！ he has already stayed at his uncle's house a month longer
than he intended。 His father and mother naturally expect to see him at
home again。'
Miss Haldane met this difficulty with a suggestion； which could only
have proceeded from a judgment already disturbed by the ravages of the
tender passion。 'Why can't his father and mother go and see him at Lord
Montbarry's？' she asked。 'Sir Theodore's place is only thirty miles away；
and Lady Barville is Lord Montbarry's sister。 They needn't stand on
ceremony。'
'They may have other engagements；' Mrs。 Carbury remarked。
'My dear aunt； we don't know that！ Suppose you ask Arthur？'
'Suppose you ask him？'
Miss Haldane bent her head again over her work。 Suddenly as it was
done； her aunt had seen her faceand her face betrayed her。
When Arthur came the next day； Mrs。 Carbury said a word to him in
private； while her niece was in the garden。 The last new novel lay
neglected on the table。 Arthur followed Miss Haldane into the garden。
The next day he wrote home； enclosing in his letter a photograph of Miss
Haldane。 Before the end of the week； Sir Theodore and Lady Barville
arrived at Lord Montbarry's； and formed their own judgment of the fidelity
of the portrait。 They had themselves married early in lifeand； strange to
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say； they did not object on principle to the early marriages of other people。
The question of age being thus disposed of； the course of true love had no
other obstacles to encounter。 Miss Haldane was an only child； and was
possessed of an ample fortune。 Arthur's career at the university had been
creditable； but certainly not brilliant enough to present his withdrawal in
the light of a disaster。 As Sir Theodore's eldest son； his position was
already made for him。 He was two…and…twenty years of age； and the young
lady was eighteen。 There was really no producible reason for keeping the
lovers waiting； and no excuse for deferring the wedding…day beyond the
first week in September。 In the interval； while the bride and bridegroom
would be necessarily absent on the inevitable tour abroad； a sister of Mrs。
Carbury volunteered to stay with her during the temporary separation from
her niece。 On the conclusion of the honeymoon； the young couple were
to return to Ireland； and were to establish themselves in Mrs。 Carbury's
spacious and comfortable house。
These arrangements were decided upon early in the month of August。
About the same date； the last alterations in the old palace at Venice were
completed。 The rooms were dried by steam； the cellars were stocked； the
manager collected round him his army of skilled servants； and the new
hotel was advertised all over Europe to open in October。
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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 houses
privileged 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
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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
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Montbarry arranged to accompany Mrs。 Norbury and Mr。 Francis
Westwick
