A MOMENT OF MADNESS. A MOMENT OF MADNESS, _AND OTHER STORIES_. BY FLORENCE MARRYAT, AUTHOR OF ‘PHYLLIDA,’ ‘FACING THE FOOTLIGHTS,’ ETC., ETC. _IN THREE VOLUMES._ VOL. II. LONDON: F. V. WHITE & CO., 31 SOUTHAMPTON STREET, STRAND, W.C. 1883. [_All Rights reserved._] _CHEAP EDITION OF_ FLORENCE MARRYAT’S POPULAR NOVELS. _Crown 8vo, cloth, 3s. 6d._ _At all Booksellers in Town and Country, and at all Railway Bookstalls._ =MY SISTER THE ACTRESS.= By FLORENCE MARRYAT, Author of ‘A Broken Blossom,’ ‘Phyllida,’ ‘How They Loved Him,’ etc., etc. =PHYLLIDA.= By FLORENCE MARRYAT, Author of ‘My Sister the Actress,’ ‘A Broken Blossom,’ etc., etc., etc. =THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL.= By FLORENCE MARRYAT, Author of ‘Love’s Conflict,’ ‘Phyllida,’ ‘A Broken Blossom,’ etc., etc., etc. =A BROKEN BLOSSOM.= By FLORENCE MARRYAT, Author of ‘Phyllida,’ ‘Facing the Footlights,’ etc., etc. F. V. White & Co., 31 Southampton Street, Strand. COLSTON AND SON, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH. [Illustration] _CONTENTS._ PAGE ‘SENT TO HIS DEATH!’—_Continued_, 1 LOST IN THE MARSHES, 21 THE INVISIBLE TENANTS OF RUSHMERE, 93 AMY’S LOVER, 147 LEOPOLD-FERDINAND, DUC DE BRABANT, 185 LITTLE WHITE SOULS, 211 [Illustration] [Illustration] SENT TO HIS DEATH (_Continued_). I had been dreaming of the ghost, and was conscious in a moment, and sitting up in bed. Whatever I had thought of Bessie’s tales before, I believed them now, for I could distinctly hear the low, gasping breath which follows an inordinate fit of sobbing, drawn apparently close to us. ‘What time is it?’ I exclaimed. ‘It is just three. I have been listening to it for some time, but did not like to rouse you till I was sure. Is the door locked?’ ‘Yes; but I will unlock it at once,’ I said, springing out of bed. ‘No, no! pray do not,’ cried Bessie, clinging to me. ‘What are you doing? It might come into the room.’ ‘My dear Bessie, if it is a ghost, no locks can keep it out; and if it is not a ghost, what harm can it do us by entering? Pray be reasonable. We shall never clear up this mystery if we are not a little brave!’ I shook her off, and approached the door, whilst she rushed back to her own bed.