"Come and sit by me Mr. Joyce," she said making a place beside her when they sat on the grass for tea. "You shall feed me." "Ah, what a privilege!" put in Santiago and Bess frowned. She did not like the Spaniard. "I am so hungry," announced Robin. "Jim, you sit over there by Miss Endicotte, and Mr. Marsh can sit beside Miss Flo." Santiago placed himself beside Sidney who at once got up and walked away to the other side of the circle. Sidney hated the Mexican, and openly said as much. There was a bad feeling about him, said Sidney, and he sometimes shivered and turned pale when in Don Manuel's company. The Mexican did not seem annoyed. He understood Sidney better than did the others. Or he said he did and explained his reasons to Herrick. The doctor laughed at him when these were explained and declined to argue such nonsense. At this Don Manuel smiled but did not take offence. He had his own reasons for remaining on friendly terms with Jim. "How pleasant it is here," said Bess looking at the green boughs overhead, "so solitary! One would think we were miles away in the country." "So we are," said Robin amidst a general laugh. "How many more miles do you want us to be Miss Bess?" The girl laughed herself. "You know what I mean perfectly well. Of course nothing could be more absolutely rural than this, but Saxham is the same. What I meant to say is that no human habitation can be seen hereabouts." "No. The tower has disappeared;" said Stephen gravely, "it used to be visible from here. Just over those two pines." Santiago chimed in. "Ah, that is where my poor friend met with his death! I wonder you are not afraid to live in the house, Señor." "Why should he be afraid?" put in Ida rather indignantly. "Ghosts are not pleasant things," said the Mexican with a shrug. "Do you mean to say that the wicked Colonel walks?" asked Robin. "You are talking nonsense," said Herrick who was beginning to find the conversation disagreeable, and in the presence of Stephen, not in good taste. "There are no such things as ghosts, and the room in which Colonel Carr died has been demolished. If you talk like this the ignorant country people will be inventing some legend." Sidney who had been listening to all this very quietly looking first at one speaker and then at the other, let his grave blue eyes fall upon the doctor. "How do you know that there are no such things as ghosts?" he demanded. "There are. I have seen them myself." Everybody shuddered, and Santiago looked at the boy with a curious smile. "Where have you seen a ghost?" asked Herrick quietly. "In this wood, in the village churchyard; all kinds of shapes and forms. They do not frighten me. Only bad people are frightened. You would be," he added looking at Santiago. "Yes," responded that gentleman, "you are quite right. I am glad I have not your gift of seeing things." "You laugh at it I suppose?" "Pardon me, I know too much about it to laugh."