"The destroyer of my happiness and your good fame," answered the lady.
"Impossible!" said Hannah, glaring on the excited features of the prostrate form before her.
"I tell you I have seen him!" returned the invalid, shaking like an aspen on her couch. "I cannot be mistaken. 'Twas his face; the high, colorless brow, surrounded by thick, short auburn curls. He stood at that casement, and gazed fiercely on me from his large, dark eyes."
"Pshaw!" said Hannah, "'twas but a hideous dream, or a sudden attack of apoplexy. The man you fancy you have seen to-night, has not been heard of these fifteen years, and is probably in his grave."
"Then it was his ghost that I saw," said the lady.
"May be it was," returned Hannah, smiling strangely; "though I don't know why it should have honored you with a visit. I am glad I was not deemed worthy his ghostship's regards."
The affrighted lady after a while grew calmer, and Hannah retired to her own apartment, which joined that of her mistress.
In a few days, a letter was despatched to Major Howard by the invalid, informing him of the strange appearance which had alarmed her, and urging his immediate return.
The letter never reached its destination.
CHAPTER XXXI.