Not much more passed between us until we passed the old church yard, where the organist left us. "Scarcely late enough for ghosts," said the Colonel, with a smile, "but Kate would rather like to meet one." "Not I," said Miss Vernon; "anything troubled, as ghosts always are, would be terribly out of place this calm heavenly night; though to be sure we have a black monk who walks up and down our garden from sunset till cock crow." "There is something strangely attractive in the romantic antiquity of your domicile. I fancy it must exercise some influence on one's spirits," said I, smiling. "Indeed, Captain Egerton, I often tell grandpapa that I am sure we are influenced by locality as well as everything else." We paused at the wicket gate. "I was endeavouring to make out that inscription this morning, Colonel," said I. "You can almost read it now, the moon shines so full upon it," observed Kate. "If you knew the text you would have made it out at once. See, at this side there is the _Beati mundo corde_ quite plain, and round here can you not trace _Deum videbunt_?" "Ah, yes; of course, now you point it out." "This is the proper light to read it by," said Miss Vernon, thoughtfully, "and do you know I sometimes like to think the entrance to our house is, as it were, sanctified by that beautiful sentence--'Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God!'" "Ah, enthusiast!" said her grandfather, laughing and shaking his head, "Dragoons do not quite comprehend such fancies." I could see the soft colour mount into her cheek as if she had betrayed herself. "Do you believe him, Miss Vernon?" I asked eagerly. "I do not know; good night." "Good night, Egerton, you dine with us to-morrow; you can take the train to Carrington afterwards, you know." "Thank you, Colonel, with pleasure; good night." The wicket closed on them, and I remained for some minutes in the full, clear, calm light, gazing at the half-defaced letters, and recalling the tones of Miss Vernon's expressive and musical voice, as she pronounced the (as I thought) appropriate words which formed the inscription. And then I strolled on slowly to my hotel, thinking more seriously than is usual to me, and finally fell asleep and dreamt I was riding across the sea to Dungar on Winter's white pony, which did not strike me as anything uncommon. CHAPTER VI. REACTION. Another day of calm and deep enjoyment.