"Why, Flora was never ill in her life," declared Ralph; "what's the matter?"
"She is not really ill, but she fell over something last night and bruised her arm and shoulder, so that she feels lame and tired, and I thought a few hours in bed would be the best thing for her," explained Mrs. Hayes. "Mammy doesn't seem to know just how it happened," she concluded.
Sylvia and Grace had talked over the "ghost" before coming down-stairs.
Grace had tried best to convince Sylvia that she had really dreamed
"Lady Caroline," but Sylvia insisted that a figure in a wide plumed hat
and a trailing gown had really stepped out of the closet.
"The moon was shining right where she stood. I saw her just as plainly as I could see you when you sat up in bed," Sylvia declared. But both the girls agreed that it would be best not to say anything about "Lady Caroline" until they had told Flora.
After breakfast Mammy came to tell the visitors that Flora was ready to see them.
"But jus' for a little while," she added, as she opened the door of
Flora's chamber.
Flora was bolstered up in bed, and had on a dainty dressing-gown of pink muslin tied with white ribbons. But there was a bandage about her right wrist, and a soft strip of cotton was bound about her head.
"Oh, girls! It's too bad that I can't help you to have a good time to-day," she said, "and all because I was so clumsy."
Both the girls assured her that it was a good time just to be at the
Hayes plantation.
"Flora! There is a ghost! Just as you said! I saw it. Just about midnight," said Sylvia.