"No, indeed; not in collected moments; but I was left alone in the dark, and the surprise at seeing some one changed to fright." "May I inquire from whom you heard this fine tale?" "From Mrs. Penn first. But the women-servants talk of it. Lizzy Dene confessed she had gone up now to watch for it?" He turned round quickly. "_What_ do you say? Lizzy Dene went up to watch for it?" "I was not pleased at finding Lizzy in my room; she has no business to call her there, and I insisted upon knowing what took her to it. At first she would not say, but presently confessed: she had gone to watch for the ghost." If ever a man's countenance betrayed a sickly dread, Mr. Chandos's did then. He went to the door, hesitated, and came back again, as if scarcely knowing what to be about. "And she saw it?—saw some one walking there? She, and you?" "I don't think she did; I saw it after she had gone. Oh, Mr. Chandos; I can see you are angry with me! I am very sorry; I——" "Angry? no," he interrupted, in a gentle tone. "I only think how foolish you must be to listen to anything of the sort. I wish I could have shielded you from this alarm! I wish you had not come just now to Chandos!" He rang the bell; a loud peal; and desired that Hill should be sent to him. I had never seen his face so stern as when he turned it upon her. "Can you not contrive to keep the women-servants to their proper occupations, Hill? I hear they are going about the house looking after ghosts." "Sir! Mr. Harry!" "Miss Hereford went to her room just now, and found Lizzy Dene at its window. The woman said she was watching for the ghost." Hill's face presented a picture. She stood more like a petrifaction than a living woman. Mr. Chandos recalled her to herself. "Hill!" was all he said. "I'll see about it, sir. I'll give that Lizzy Dene a word of a sort." "I think you had better give her no 'word' at all, in the sense you indicate," returned Mr. Chandos. "Keep the women to their duties below at night, and say nothing. _Let the ghost die out, Hill_." "Very well, sir." "As I daresay it will do, quietly enough. Sit with them yourself, if necessary. And—Hill—there's no necessity to mention anything of this to Lady Chandos." "But—Mr. Harry——" "Yes, yes; I know what you would say," he interrupted; "leave that to me." He went limping out at the hall-door as he spoke. Hill disappeared in the direction of the kitchens, muttering angrily. . "That beast of a Lizzy! If she should get spreading this among the out-door men! I always said that girl brought no good to Chandos." CHAPTER XX. LIZZY DENE. "For my heart was hot and restless: And my life was full of care; And the burden laid upon me Seemed greater than I could bear."