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disturbed； Agnes； I might say things to you； if I stayed here any longer；
whichwhich are better not said now。 I shall cross the Channel by the mail
to…night； and see how a few weeks' change will help me。' He took her
hand。 'Is there anything in the world that I can do for you？' he asked very
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earnestly。 She thanked him； and tried to release her hand。 He held it with
a tremulous lingering grasp。 'God bless you； Agnes！' he said in faltering
tones； with his eyes on the ground。 Her face flushed again； and the next
instant turned paler than ever； she knew his heart as well as he knew it
himself she was too distressed to speak。 He lifted her hand to his lips；
kissed it fervently； and； without looking at her again； left the room。 The
nurse hobbled after him to the head of the stairs： she had not forgotten
the time when the younger brother had been the unsuccessful rival of the
elder for the hand of Agnes。 'Don't be down…hearted； Master Henry；'
whispered the old woman； with the unscrupulous common sense of
persons in the lower rank of life。 'Try her again； when you come back！'
Left alone for a few moments； Agnes took a turn in the room； trying to
compose herself。 She paused before a little water…colour drawing on the
wall； which had belonged to her mother： it was her own portrait when
she was a child。 'How much happier we should be；' she thought to
herself sadly； 'if we never grew up！'
The courier's wife was shown ina little meek melancholy woman；
with white eyelashes； and watery eyes； who curtseyed deferentially and
was troubled with a small chronic cough。 Agnes shook hands with her
kindly。 'Well； Emily； what can I do for you？'
The courier's wife made rather a strange answer： 'I'm afraid to tell
you； Miss。'
'Is it such a very difficult favour to grant？ Sit down； and let me hear
how you are going on。 Perhaps the petition will slip out while we are
talking。 How does your husband behave to you？'
Emily's light grey eyes looked more watery than ever。 She shook her
head and sighed resignedly。 'I have no positive complaint to make
against him； Miss。 But I'm afraid he doesn't care about me； and he seems
to take no interest in his home I may almost say he's tired of his home。
It might be better for both of us； Miss； if he went travelling for a while
not to mention the money； which is beginning to be wanted sadly。' She put
her handkerchief to her eyes； and sighed again more resignedly than ever。
'I don't quite understand；' said Agnes。 'I thought your husband had an
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engagement to take some ladies to Switzerland and Italy？'
'That was his ill…luck； Miss。 One of the ladies fell ill and the others
wouldn't go without her。 They paid him a month's salary as
compensation。 But they had engaged him for the autumn and winter
and the loss is serious。'
'I am sorry to hear it； Emily。 Let us hope he will soon have another
chance。'
'It's not his turn； Miss； to be recommended when the next applications
come to the couriers' office。 You see； there are so many of them out of
employment just now。 If he could be privately recommended' She
stopped； and left the unfinished sentence to speak for itself。
Agnes understood her directly。 'You want my recommendation；' she
rejoined。 'Why couldn't you say so at once？'
Emily blushed。 'It would be such a chance for my husband；' she
answered confusedly。 'A letter； inquiring for a good courier （a six
months' engagement； Miss！） came to the office this morning。 It's another
man's turn to be chosenand the secretary will recommend him。 If my
husband could only send his testimonials by the same postwith just a
word in your name； Missit might turn the scale； as they say。 A private
recommendation between gentlefolks goes so far。' She stopped again； and
sighed again； and looked down at the carpet； as if she had some private
reason for feeling a little ashamed of herself。
Agnes began to be rather weary of the persistent tone of mystery in
which her visitor spoke。 'If you want my interest with any friend of
mine；' she said； 'why can't you tell me the name？'
The courier's wife began to cry。 'I'm ashamed to tell you； Miss。'
For the first time； Agnes spoke sharply。 'Nonsense； Emily！ Tell me
the name directlyor drop the subjectwhichever you like best。'
Emily made a last desperate effort。 She wrung her handkerchief hard
in her lap； and let off the name as if she had been letting off a loaded gun：…
…'Lord Montbarry！'
Agnes rose and looked at her。
'You have disappointed me；' she said very quietly； but with a look
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THE HAUNTED HOTEL A Mystery of Modern Venice
which the courier's wife had never seen in her face before。 'Knowing what
you know； you ought to be aware that it is impossible for me to
communicate with Lord Montbarry。 I always supposed you had some
delicacy of feeling。 I am sorry to find that I have been mistaken。'
Weak as she was； Emily had spirit enough to feel the reproof。 She
walked in her meek noiseless way to the door。 'I beg your pardon； Miss。
I am not quite so bad as you think me。 But I beg your pardon； all the
same。'
She opened the door。 Agnes called her back。 There was something
in the woman's apology that appealed irresistibly to her just and generous
nature。 'Come；' she said； 'we must not part in this way。 Let me not
misunderstand you。 What is it that you expected me to do？'
Emily was wise enough to answer this time without any reserve。 'My
husband will send his testimonials； Miss； to Lord Montbarry in Scotland。
I only wanted you to let him say in his letter that his wife has been known
to you since she was a child； and that you feel some lit