‘No, no! pray do not,’ cried Bessie, clinging to me. ‘What are you doing? It might come into the room.’
‘My dear Bessie, if it is a ghost, no locks can keep it out; and if it is not a ghost, what harm can it do us by entering? Pray be reasonable. We shall never clear up this mystery if we are not a little brave!’
I shook her off, and approached the door, whilst she rushed back to her own bed.
I confess that as I turned the key in the lock I felt very nervous. Do what we will, it is hard to accustom ourselves to think lightly of communication with the dead; neither did I relish the idea of a trick being played us in that lonely house at dead of night. The light was burning brightly in my room, but as I threw the door open, the corridor seemed dark and empty. I stood upon the threshold and looked from right to left. What was that white, tall shadow in the doorway of the spare room?
I called out, ‘Who are you? What do you want?’ The answer I received was a quick sob and a rustle. Then I saw an indistinct figure move down the passage with a hurried step, and disappear somewhere at the further end.
Shall I confess that for all my boasted strength I had not the courage to follow it? It was one thing to have stood on the threshold of my lighted room and addressed the apparition, and another to venture out into the cold and darkness in pursuit of it. I retreated to Bessie’s bedroom instead.
‘I have seen it!’ I exclaimed. ‘I believe that you are right, Bessie, and for the first time in my life I have seen a ghost. I meant to have followed it; but I really felt I couldn’t. To-morrow night I may have more courage. But hark! what is that noise? Isn’t it baby crying?’
‘Never mind baby; Mrs Graham will attend to him,’ said Bessie. ‘Lock the door again, Dolly dear, do, and get into bed with me, or I sha’n’t sleep another wink to-night. I’m shaking from head to foot as it is.’
But the cries from baby’s room became more distinct; and my courage had returned to me.