“Miss Selwyn delivered your most kind message to me, Marchesa,” commenced the bereaved mother, “and you must not be surprised at my availing myself of your kindness at so early a period. My dear child was my idol, the youngest of my large family, and I lost her in so cruelly sudden a manner. Only four days ill of scarlet fever, and she had gone from us. She could not stand up against it! She was always delicate, my poor little Rose! And is it possible that you can help me to see her? O! Marchesa!” cried the Countess, seizing her hands, “if you can, I shall be your debtor to the last day of my life. Only one glimpse, that is all I ask, one glimpse to assure me that she lives and that I shall meet her again, and I shall die content!” The Marchesa did not release the Countess’s hands--on the contrary, she retained and pressed them firmly. “Is your Ladyship aware of the method pursued in such cases? Do you know that the services of a materialising medium are necessary, and that often even they are not successful?” “Yes! yes! but I should not mind how often I had to sit, if I only succeed at last! And expense is no object whatever! I have tried all sorts of mediums, dear Marchesa, but have never heard a word, nor seen a sign of her! O! it has been heart-rending--discouraging--but I shall never cease trying till I succeed!” “I think I know a way by which you can see her!” replied Hannah, whose eyes had been dreamily fixed upon space for the last minute. “Pray, pray, tell it to me!” exclaimed the Countess, with agitation. “One moment! I must ask you first to bind yourself to the strictest secrecy! My husband, the Baron, is like many in the present day, most averse to my mixing myself up in Spiritualism with any but himself, and if he heard that you and I had been sitting together, he would certainly forbid me to help you any more!” “I will be secret as the grave!” said Lady Loreley, fervently; “no one shall ever hear a word of it from me!” “Not even the Earl, or Miss Selwyn?” asked Hannah. “No one! Not even my nearest and dearest, unless you give me leave!” was the reply. “Then you must come with me to my private boudoir,” said the Marchesa. “What! is the medium there?” “Yes! she will be there!” replied Hannah, as she rang the bell and desired the servant to deny her to any other callers. Then, she led the way up to her little boudoir, round which the Countess looked curiously. “You have successfully concealed your medium, dear Marchesa!” she said. “No! Lady Loreley, she is in full view! _I_ am the medium!” Her visitor started with surprise. “_You!_ Are you jesting with me, Marchesa? Is it possible that you can call back the spirits of the Dead?” “Just as possible as anybody else! No one can _call_ them back, Lady Loreley! But they come all the same, when they get the opportunity! Are you nervous? Shall you be afraid to sit in the dark with me?”