Проклятие мумии, или Камень Семи Звезд
Chapter 17
Thehour,inwhosecomingIhadacquiesced,wasapproachingsoquicklyandwasalreadysonearthatthesenseoffinalitywasbearinguponme!Theissuewasperhapslifeordeathtoanyofus;butforthiswewereallprepared.MargaretandIwereoneastotherisk.Thequestionofthemoralaspectofthecase,whichinvolvedthereligiousbeliefinwhichIhadbeenreared,wasnotonetotroubleme;fortheissues,andthecausesthatlaybehindthem,werenotwithinmypowereventocomprehend.ThedoubtofthesuccessoftheGreatExperimentwassuchadoubtasexistsinallenterpriseswhichhavegreatpossibilities.Tome,whoselifewaspassedinaseriesofintellectualstruggles,thisformofdoubtwasastimulus,ratherthandeterrent.Whatthenwasitthatmadeformeatrouble,whichbecameananguishwhenmythoughtsdweltlongonit?
IwasbeginningtodoubtMargaret!
WhatitwasthatIdoubtedIknewnot.Itwasnotherlove,orherhonour,orhertruth,orherkindness,orherzeal.Whatthenwasit?
Itwasherself!
Margaretwaschanging!AttimesduringthepastfewdaysIhadhardlyknownherasthesamegirlwhomIhadmetatthepicnic,andwhosevigilsIhadsharedinthesick-roomofherfather.Then,eveninhermomentsofgreatestsorroworfrightoranxiety,shewasalllifeandthoughtandkeenness.Nowshewasgenerallydistraite,andattimesinasortofnegativeconditionasthoughhermind—herverybeing—wasnotpresent.
