"I know she was, and I always felt for you. It was so sad. Well, to go on with my story. In a frivolous mood Jehu took to a bicycle, and the very first time he scorched he was thrown, and so injured his back that he died in a week. Before he departed he entreated that I would see him; so I could not be nasty, and I went. And he told me then that he was about to be wrapped in glory. I asked him if this were so certain. 'Cocksure' was his reply; and they were his last words. And _he has not kept his word_." "And he haunts you now?" "Yes. He dangles about with his great ox-eyes fixed on me. But as to his envelope of glory I have not seen a fag end of it, and I have told him so." "Do you really mean this, Philippa?" "I do. He wrings his hands and sighs. He gets no change out of me, I promise you." "This is a very strange condition of affairs." "It only shows how well matched we are. I do not suppose you will find two other people in England so situated as we are, and therefore so admirably suited to one another." "There is much in what you say. But how are we to rid ourselves of the nuisance--for it is a nuisance being thus haunted. We cannot spend all our time in a theatre." "We must defy them. Marry in spite of them." "I never did defy my wife when she was alive. I do not know how to pluck up courage now that she is dead. Feel my hand, Philippa, how it trembles. She has broken my nerve. When I was young I could play spellikins--my hand was so steady. Now I am quite incapable of doing anything with the little sticks." "Well, hearken to what I propose," said Miss Weston. "I will beard the old cat----" "Hush, not so disrespectful; she was my wife." "Well, then, the ghostly old lady, in her den. You think she will appear if I go to pay you a visit?" "Sure of it. She is consumed with jealousy. She had no personal attractions herself, and you have a thousand. I never knew whether she loved me, but she was always confoundedly jealous of me." "Very well, then. You have often spoken to me about changes in the decoration of your villa. Suppose I call on you to-morrow afternoon, and you shall show me what your schemes are." "And your ghost, will he attend you?" "Most probably. He also is as jealous as a ghost can well be." "Well, so be it. I shall await your coming with impatience. Now, then, we may as well go to our respective homes." A cab was accordingly summoned, and after Mr. Woolfield had handed Philippa in, and she had taken her seat in the back, he entered and planted himself with his back to the driver. "Why do you not sit by me?" asked the girl. "I can't," replied Benjamin. "Perhaps you may not see, but I do, my deceased wife is in the cab, and occupies the place on your left." "Sit on her," urged Philippa. "I haven't the effrontery to do it," gasped Ben.