the haunted hotel(闹鬼的旅馆)-第27章
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Montbarry declared that she was the only perfectly pretty woman he had
ever seen； who was really unconscious of her own attractions。 The old
nurse said she looked as if she had just stepped out of a picture； and
wanted nothing but a gilt frame round her to make her complete。 Miss
Haldane； on her side； returned from her first visit to the Montbarrys
charmed with her new acquaintances。 Later on the same day； Arthur
called with an offering of fruit and flowers for Mrs。 Carbury； and with
instructions to ask if she was well enough to receive Lord and Lady
Montbarry and Miss Lockwood on the morrow。 In a week's time； the two
households were on the friendliest terms。 Mrs。 Carbury； confined to the
sofa by a spinal malady； had been hitherto dependent on her niece for one
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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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
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 ma
