'I can't! I daren't!' she exclaimed. 'After what has happened
in that horrible room, she is more repellent to me than ever.
Don't ask me to do it, Henry! Feel my hand--you have turned me as cold
as death only with talking of it!'
She was not exaggerating the terror that possessed her.
Henry hastened to change the subject.
'Let us talk of something more interesting,' he said. 'I have
a question to ask you about yourself. Am I right in believing
that the sooner you get away from Venice the happier you will be?'
'Right?' she repeated excitedly. 'You are more than right!
No words can say how I long to be away from this horrible place.
But you know how I am situated--you heard what Lord Montbarry said
at dinner-time?'
'Suppose he has altered his plans, since dinner-time?' Henry suggested.
Agnes looked surprised. 'I thought he had received letters from
England which obliged him to leave Venice to-morrow,' she said.
'Quite true,' Henry admitted. 'He had arranged to start
for England to-morrow, and to leave you and Lady Montbarry
and the children to enjoy your holiday in Venice, under my care.
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