"I'm afraid," echoed Willem.
Kathrien gathered him more closely in her warm young arms and whispered soothingly to him. The fear died out of his eyes.
"You're not afraid, any more?" she reassured him.
"N-no," he faltered, "but—oh, please don't let Mynheer Frederik come back, Miss Kathrien! Please, don't! Because—because then I'll be afraid again. I know I will."
McPherson whistled low and long. A light was beginning to break upon his shrewd Scotch brain.
"Willem!" pleaded the Dead Man. "Willem!"
"Yes, sir," answered the boy.
"You must say I am very unhappy."
"He is very unhappy," repeated Willem, parrot-like.
"Why is he unhappy?" demanded McPherson. "Ask him?"