"No, no, Mrs. Dixon," said her companion, "that would be hard lines on the poor creature! It was just a joke, that someone played on you."
"Is it a joke?" she repeated shrilly. "Didn't I see her face, and by my faith, I'll never forget it.—I see you don't believe; there does be people that cannot see shapes, and lucky for them! There is something here too," she added triumphantly.
"What, in this house?" said Mallender, sitting erect.
"So the servants say. I've not come across it, but there does be strange stories about bad folk, that lived in the bungalow long long ago. Whatever it is, it's in your room."
"Oh, I don't mind, as long as it's not a cobra. I'd like to meet a ghost, and question it!"
"Now, Captain Mallender dear, don't talk that way," she urged, once more laying down her work, and surveying him gravely—"it brings ill luck; ill luck, and no mistake."
"Can't bring me much more than I've had!" he answered bitterly.
"Oh, hould yer tongue for goodness' sake!" she protested with a scared expression; then after a short silence, added:
"I heard from the Major to-day, they will soon be moving. He says Mota is looking splendid, and making a terrible stir at children's parties, and Mrs. Rochfort wrapped up in her, as if she was a thousand times her own. I can't rightly get my tongue round Rochfort, him living here so long as Major Smith—it's a bit confusing, but I expect he was ashamed of his first marriage, and kep' it a secret." She looked interrogatively at Mallender, who merely nodded his head; he was not going to let Rochfort down.
"He says, he is writing to you to-morrow, and so is Mota, and now Captain," rising and folding up her mending, "there is ten o'clock striking, and I'll wish you good luck and a good night," and she went away.