All that and the following day Leopold was in spirits for him wonderful. On Monday night there came a considerable reaction; he was dejected, worn, and weary. Twelve o’clock the next day was the hour appointed for their visit to Mr. Hooker, and at eleven he was dressed and ready--restless, agitated, and very pale, but not a whit less determined than at first. A drive was the pretext for borrowing Mrs. Ramshorn’s carriage. “Why is Mr. Wingfold not coming?” asked Lingard, anxiously, when it began to move. “I fancy we shall be quite as comfortable without him, Poldie,” said Helen. “Did you expect him?” “He promised to go with me. But he hasn’t called since the time was fixed.”--Here Helen looked out of the window.--“I can’t think why it is. I can do my duty without him though,” continued Leopold, “and perhaps it is just as well.--Do you know, George, since I made up my mind, I have seen her but once, and that was last night, and only in a dream.” “A state of irresolution is one peculiarly open to unhealthy impressions,” said George, good-naturedly disposing of his long legs so that they should be out of the way. Leopold turned from him to his sister. “The strange thing, Helen,” he said, “was that I did not feel the least afraid of her, or even abashed before her. ‘I see you,’ I said. ‘Be at peace. I am coming; and you shall do to me what you will.’ And then--what do you think?--O my God! she smiled one of her own old smiles, only sad too, very sad, and vanished. I woke, and she seemed only to have just left the room, for there was a stir in the darkness.--Do you believe in ghosts, George?” Leopold was not one of George’s initiated, I need hardly say. “No,” answered Bascombe. “I don’t wonder. I can’t blame you, for neither did I once. But just wait till you have made one, George!” “God forbid!” exclaimed Bascombe, a second time forgetting himself. “Amen!” said Leopold: “for after that there’s no help but be one yourself, you know.” “If he would only talk like that to old Hooker!” thought George. “It would go a long way to forestall any possible misconception of the case.” “I can’t think why Mr. Wingfold did not come yesterday,” resumed Leopold. “I made sure he would.” “Now, Poldie, you mustn’t talk,” said Helen, “or you’ll be exhausted before we get to Mr. Hooker’s.” “She did not wish the non-appearance of the curate on Monday to be closely inquired into. His company at the magistrate’s was by all possible means to be avoided. George had easily persuaded Helen, more easily than he expected, to wait their return in the carriage, and the two men were shown into the library, where the magistrate presently joined them. He would have shaken hands with Leopold as well as George, but the conscious felon drew back. “No, sir; excuse me,” he said. “Hear what I have to tell you first; and if after that you will shake hands with me, it will be a kindness indeed. But you will not! you will not!”