"And raiment?" asked the old Professor. "Yes, certainly. I never heard of a nude spook!" "Then your visible soul is concealed by a body of flesh, and clothes, of fabric, or, at least, apparently so. The soul, I take it, would show but low visibility." "Good, Hardwick!" cried Mr. Bruce. "Give them a jolt, they need it,--talking such rubbish!" "Rubbish, Bruce? What do you mean by rubbish?" "Why, all this ghost gabble----" "How do you know it's rubbish? Have you personally disproved it? Do you mean intentional rubbish? Are they talking deceptively, or are they themselves deceived?" "By the Lord Harry, Hardwick, I had forgotten you were such a stickler for words! I must choose my diction carefully. Do you, then, believe that so-called supernatural appearances are caused by psychical influences or are hallucinations of the senses? There, I think I've put it clearly." "Fairly so. But I can't answer clearly. I never express an opinion on a grave question----" Milly's hand flew up to her mouth to repress an involuntary giggle. "A _grave_ question!" she exploded. "It surely is." The Professor looked at her thoughtfully. "It is," he went on, "and it is no laughing matter. As I was saying, I never state an opinion without being sure of my facts. Now, I've had no experience, personally, with supernatural matters, and so am unfit to discuss them. But, I admit I should be very glad to have some such experience. Yes, I certainly should." "Really," and Eve Carnforth looked interested. "I can arrange it for you, Professor Hardwick." "No, no, my dear lady, I do not mean that I want to go to a séance, where the so-called medium throws flowers and things out of a cabinet, or toots trumpets and bangs cymbals! No, thank you, I've seen such often." "What would you choose as an experience?" asked Landon. "I'd like to go to a house that is reputed haunted, and in circumstances that preclude all possibility of fraud, see the haunting spirits or hear them, for myself." "Me, too!" cried Vernie. "Oh, I do think that would be the rippingest fun! If you ever do it, Professor, mayn't I go with you?" "I'll go along," said Eve. "Wouldn't that be a splendid proof! To have such a scientific and open-minded man as the Professor, and a few others who are in earnest and anxious to learn. You couldn't go, Mr. Bruce. You are too sceptical." "I'm just the one you need," he laughed. "A balance wheel to keep you enthusiasts straight. But haunted houses are not to be found on every bush in America. If we were in England now,--or Scotland." "They do have some over here," Landon asserted. "I read of one recently, and I've heard of others." "Let's find one," suggested Eve, "and spend our summer vacation in it! Wouldn't that be a lark?" "Oh, do!" exclaimed Vernie. "I'd just love it! May I go, Uncle Gifford? Oh, please let me." "Only if I go myself, child. The spooks,--I beg their pardon, phantasms, might carry you off. I'll have to go along to rescue you."