saw my companion gazing at her almost with horror, as she flitted about
us silently as a specter. I endeavored to talk, while eating heartily,
for I was hungry, but found it difficult to arouse Mrs. Bernard to any
response, and she merely toyed with her food. In despair I turned to
the other, hopeful that a question or two might dissolve the spell.

"You are the housekeeper, I believe?"

She favored me with a single glance of surprise.

"Yes."

"Have you been here some time?"

"No."

"You probably knew the old Judge?"

"No."

Her monosyllabic answers were perfectly colorless, and, with this last,
she picked up an empty dish, and vanished. I endeavored to laugh, but
there was no response in the eyes of the woman opposite. She dropped
her fork, and pushed back her chair.

"Oh, I simply cannot stand this place!" she exclaimed. "There is
something perfectly horrid about it, and--and the people. How shall I
ever get through the night?"

"That is nothing," I soothed, although hardly at ease myself. "She is