“How do you mean?” asked Gloria. “Let me try if I can stay here. If nothing happens, such as happened on that horrible night, why, I might stay and spend the rest of my life here; but if anything of that sort should come again, if it shouldn’t frighten me to death on the spot, it would, at least, scare me away from the house forever.” “Such a night of horror is not likely to return in our lifetime. I accept your terms, Mrs. Brent, and I am very glad to do so. I should dislike to lose you.” “Thanky, honey; so should I,” replied the old woman, rather obscurely. Then: “When would you like me to come in, ma’am?” she inquired. “As soon as you possibly can.” “Well, I think I can come to-day. As you were so kind as to say that you would give me a room next to your own, I shall not need to move the furniture from the lodge-house, as these rooms are already furnished. Now, honey, I’ll go down and see to preparing the dinner.” “Thanks, and—please send your niece up to me, Mrs. Brent,” said Gloria, who still shrank from a _tête-à-tête_ with David Lindsay. Philippa came dancing up stairs and into the room. “There’s an army in the old house, and I am afraid they’ll rout the ghosts!” she exclaimed. “Just think of it! They have all the field negroes—who have not much to do outside at this season of the year, you know—in the house, busy scrubbing, scouring, mopping, sweeping, dusting and what not.” “Then they will get through all the sooner, for which I shall be very glad,” said Gloria. “Oh, they will get through cleaning to-night! And then we shall have peace for some time; for they can’t begin any repairs until the spring, you know.” “I don’t want any repairs. The house is wind and water proof, and that is all that is necessary besides cleanliness. Fresh paint and new wall paper would utterly spoil it.” “I think this inroad of mops and brooms and scrubbing-brushes has spoiled it already. Oh, the poor ghosts! I am so sorry for the ghosts. Yes, and for myself, too. I was so in hopes of seeing a ghost,” sighed Philippa, with a look of downright disappointment. “Why should you wish to see a ghost, if such a being ever exists?” inquired Gloria. “Why, oh, why? Because the apparition of a real ghost would be proof positive of the life after death,” said Philippa, quite seriously. “But your Christian faith should assure you of that, if you have faith.” “Oh, yes, I have faith, of course I have faith. Why, I have been confirmed, child, so of course I have faith; but what I want is certainty. I want to see a ghost who can tell me all about it. There is nothing in this hum-drum world I should like so well as a good, comfortable, sitting down, leisurely gossip with a real ghost! Or a midnight visit from a departed spirit, who would take a chair at my bedside and answer all my questions,” said Philippa; and she looked as if she meant it. “You would be frightened out of your wits!” exclaimed Gloria.