the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第21章
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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
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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 contempt that they deserved。 She worked as only women can
work； when their hearts are in what they do。 The travellers reached Dublin
that day； in time for the boat to England。 Two days later； they were with
Lord and Lady Montbarry at Paris。
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CHAPTER XVI
It was only the twentieth of September； when Agnes and the children
reached Paris。 Mrs。 Norbury and her brother Francis had then already
started on their journey to Italyat least three weeks before the date at
which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers。
The person answerable for this premature departure was Francis
Westwick。
Like his younger brother Henry； he had increased his pecuniary
resources by his own enterprise and ingenuity； with this difference； that
his speculations were connected with the Arts。 He had made money； in the
first instance； by a weekly newspaper； and he had then invested his profits
in a London theatre。 This latter enterprise； admirably conducted； had been
rewarded by the public with steady and liberal encouragement。
Pondering over a new form of theatrical attraction for the coming winter
season； Francis had determined to revive the languid public taste for the
ballet by means of an entertainment of his own invention； combining
dramatic interest with dancing。 He was now； accordingly； in search of
the best dancer （possessed of the indispensable personal attractions） who
was to be found in the theatres of the Continent。 Hearing from his foreign
correspondents of two women who had made successful first appearances；
one at Milan and one at Florence； he had arranged to visit those cities； and
to judge of the merits of the dancers for himself； before he joined the bride
and bridegroom。 His widowed sister； having friends at Florence whom she
was anxious to see； readily accompanied him。 The Montbarrys remained
at Paris； until it was time to present themselves at the family meeting in
Venice。 Henry found them still in the French capital； when he arrived from
London on his way to the opening of the new hotel。
Against Lady Montbarry's advice； he took the opportunity of renewing
his addresses to Agnes。 He could hardly have chosen a more
unpropitious time for pleading his cause with her。 The gaieties of Paris
（quite incomprehensibly to herself as well as to everyone about her） had a
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depressing effect on her spirits。 She had no illness to complain of； she
shared willingly in the ever…varying succession of amusements offered to
strangers by the ingenuity of the liveliest people in the worldbut nothing
roused her： she remained persistently dull and weary through it all。 In this
frame of mind and body； she was in no humour to receive Henry's ill…
timed addresses with favour； or even with patience： she plainly and
positively refused to listen to him。 'Why do you remind me of what I
have suffered？' she asked petulantly。 'Don't you see that it has left its
mark on me for life？'
'I thought I knew something of women by this time；' Henry said；
appealing privately to Lady Montbarry for consolation。 'But Agnes
completely puzzles me。 It is a year since Montbarry's death； and she
remains as devoted to his memory as if he had died faithful to her she
still feels the loss of him； as none of us feel it！'
'She is the truest woman that ever breathed the breath of life；' Lady
Montbarry answered。 'Remember that； and you will understand her。 Can
such a woman as Agnes give her love or refuse it； according to
circumstances？ Because the man was unworthy of her； was he less the
man of her choice？ The truest and best friend to him （little as he
deserved it） in his lifetime； she naturally remains the truest and best friend
to his memory now。 If you really love her； wait； and trust to your two best
friends to time and to me。 There is my advice； let your own experience
decide whether it is not the best advice that I can offer。 Resume your
journey to Venice to…morrow； and when you take leave of Agnes； speak to
her as cordially as if nothing had happened。'
Henry wisely followed this advice。 Thoroughly understanding him；
Agnes made the leave…taking friendly and pleasant on her side。 When he
stopped at the door for a last look at her； she hurriedly turned her head so
that her face was hidden from him。 Was that a good sign？ Lady
Montbarry； accompanying Henry down the stairs； said； 'Yes； decidedly！
Write when you get to Venice。 We shall wait here to receive letters from
Arthur and his wife； and we shall time our departure for Italy accordingly。'
A week passed； and no letter came from Henry。 Some days later； a
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telegram was received from him。 It was despatched from Milan； instead
of from Venice； and it brought this strange message：'I have left the hotel。
Will return on the arrival of Arthur and his wife。 Address； meanwhile；
Albergo Reale； Milan。'
Preferring Venice before all other cities of Europe； and having
arranged to remain there until the family meeting took
