"Our very own, who watches over the fortunes of the house," said his sister. "At least, that is the tradition. When last heard of, he was wandering about, with his hand uplifted as if in warning. Not very original, is it? And not of much use, unless he will tell us what we are being warned against."
"Oh, no. Even he seems to have deserted us now."
"Speak for yourself, Madge," said her brother, stealing a side glance towards Meredith.
"Have you, then, Laurence?" she ejaculated, turning quickly towards him. "I thought you were inclined to make a jest of the monk."
"I am inclined to do that no longer, perhaps."
"Do you mean that you _have_ seen him? You told me nothing about it, Laurence."
"When I knew what a fright it gave you only to imagine you saw him?"
"But I was only ten years old then, you know. I was frightened, Mr. Meredith," she said, turning to him with a smile. "But even then I was quite as curious as frightened; for though I fell upon my knees and hid my face, I begged him not to go until I got sufficiently used to him to be able to ask what I wanted to know."
"Had he not the grace to do that, Miss Verschoyle?"
"Well, it was only an old military cloak of my father's, which Laurence had hung over a broom in a corner of the school-room to try my courage."
"I wonder what questions you would ask now?"
"Oh, there are so many things one would like to know," the sweet face shadowing, and the eyes taking an anxious expression.
"Is the monk supposed to have a predilection for any particular chamber?" asked Meredith. "Ghosts are uncertain visitors, I know; but it would be something to pass a night where one might be expected."
"You might find it no jest if he came," said Laurence.
"Oh, I should take him seriously enough. In fact, I have something of Miss Verschoyle's feeling. There are so many questions one would like to ask."
She was glancing curiously towards her brother. "Why did he take that tone--he that, until now, had been as ready as the rest to jest at the ghost?" But she had no time to speculate as to what was in his mind. Now that he had returned, she might consider herself off duty in the matter of doing her share towards entertaining; and she had to help Sally to prepare a room for the guest, her invalid mother to attend to, and to contrive a fitting breakfast for the morrow.