CHAPTER IV The Story of the House From their nearby rooms Eve and Norma rushed to Vernie's room. The child was huddled beneath the bed clothes and at their entrance shot her head out, crying wildly, "Look! look! the old candlestick!" Milly came running, in dressing-gown and slippers, and from distant regions came the voices of the men. "What's the matter?" asked Gifford Bruce. "Wasn't that Vernie's voice?" "Yes, Uncle Gif," Vernie called out. "Oh, did you do it?" "Do what?" and in his hastily donned bath robe, old Mr. Bruce appeared. "Why," and Vernie was calm now, "there's that old candlestick, the one the--the murderer used--on my dresser! Last night I had a little china one!" "What are you talking about--a murderer! Wake up, child!" "I'm not asleep. But I see, now. You had this old one, Uncle Gif, and, you know you said you were going to fool us if you could, and so you sneaked it in here to pretend the haunt did it!" "What! What nonsense! I did nothing of the sort!" "Who did, then? You know you had this one last night." "I certainly did. Wonder what's in my room now." Mr. Bruce ran back to his room and returned with the little china candlestick Vernie had carried to her room the night before. They had certainly been exchanged during the night. Everybody stared at the two candles, so worthless in themselves, but so inexplicably transferred, if, as he declared, Gifford Bruce had not exchanged them. "Of course I didn't do it," he repeated, angrily. "I did say, in fun, that I meant to trick you, but when I saw how nervous and wrought up all you women were last night, I wouldn't dream of doing such a thing! Why, Vernie, I think too much of you, dear, to add to your fear or discomfort in any way." At last everybody concluded it was the work of some one of their number, and there were varying opinions as to the identity of the perpetrator of what must have been meant for a joke. But at breakfast time the matter was discussed very seriously and each avowed in all honour that he or she knew nothing of it. "I can speak not only for myself," said Professor Hardwick, gravely, "but for Mr. Tracy and Mr. Braye. They would have had to pass my door to move around the halls, and I was awake all night, looking and listening, and I know they did not leave their rooms." "I speak for myself," said Gifford Bruce, haughtily. "I declare on my oath that I did not leave my bed. Somebody exchanged those candles,--but it was not I." The Landons spoke for each other, and no one, of course, could suspect Wynne or Milly. And naturally, the two girls, Eve and Norma, would not go to Mr. Bruce's room to play a trick like that. "I don't mind now," said Vernie, "when it's all light and cheerful and you're all around me, and the breakfast is so good and all. I think it's the beginning of these experiences we came up here to look for. Why are you all so surprised? Because I had the first party?"