I answered as politely as I could, and felt a strange comfort glide from the sweetness of her countenance.
‘What an adventure you had last night!’ she said. ‘It was well you did not fall.’
‘That wouldn’t have been much worse than having to stop where we were,’ I answered.
The conversation thus commenced went on until I had told them all my history, including my last adventure.
‘You must have dreamed it,’ said the lady.
‘So I thought, ma’am,’ I answered, ‘until I found that my sword was gone.’
‘Are you sure you looked everywhere?’ she asked.
‘Indeed, I did.’
‘It does not follow however that the ghost took it. It is more likely Mrs Wilson came in to see you after you were asleep, and carried it off.’
‘Oh yes!’ I cried, rejoiced at the suggestion; ‘that must be it. I shall ask her.’