Her manner was wholly earnest. It was plain that she had entered into some sort of a compact with her aunt, and no doubt the arrangement was in the characteristic whimsical vein of which I had enjoyed personal experience. I did not wish to press Cecilia for explanations she might not be free to make, but I ventured a suggestion or two. "Hezekiah may be entering the house and playing ghost for amusement, merely in a spirit of childish rebellion against the interdiction that forbids her the house. That is quite plausible, Hezekiah being the spirited young person we know her to be. And it may amuse her, too, to plug the chimneys at a time when her sister is enjoying the visits of suitors. Without quite realizing that such was her animus, she may be the least,--the very least bit jealous!" Cecilia flushed and her eyes flashed indignantly. She bent toward me eagerly. "Please do not say such a thing! You must not even think it!" "She may be a little forlorn, alone in your father's house over the hills at times when you are surrounded by admirers, and it is my assumption from what I have learned in one way and another of your flight abroad last summer, that some of these gentlemen now established at the Prescott Arms are known to her." "Oh, all of them, certainly." "And Hartley Wiggins among the rest?" "That, Mr. Ames, is most unkind," she declared earnestly. "She has told me that she was not in the least interested in Mr. Wiggins." "And she told me the same thing, but I do not feel sure of it! But what if she is! You are not really interested in him yourself!" In the library at Hopefield Manor I should not have thought of speaking to Cecilia Hollister in any such fashion; but the flying train gave wings to my daring. I was surprised at my own temerity, and more surprised that she did not seem to resent my new manner of speech. She did not, however, vouchsafe any reply to my statement, but changed the subject abruptly. My description of the ghost had taken considerable time, and we were now running through the tunnels and would soon be at the end of our journey. She put on her hat and veil without making it necessary for us to discontinue our talk. A certain languor that had marked her at her aunt's vanished. There was a clearer light in her eye, and as I helped her into her coat I felt that here was a woman to whose high qualities I had done scant justice. "I count on finishing my errand and taking the two-seven," she remarked. "That's a short time to allow yourself. I've heard that it's a dreary business chasing the employment agencies." "Not if you know where not to go. If you 'll get me a machine of some sort I 'll be off at once." "I fear I shan't conclude my own business so soon; but if you will honor me at luncheon?"-- This last was at the door of a taxicab I had found for her. "Sorry, Mr. Ames, but it's out of the question. I hope to see you at dinner to-night. And please"-- "Yes, Miss Hollister"--