The youth's high heart sank. His boyish dread of darkness began to people this death-chamber with monstrous shadows, with malignant forces. He was very grateful for the presence of this cheery and undismayed believer in the spirit world. Without her he would have been panic-stricken.
She rose to enter the bedroom, and he followed as far as the threshold.
It was very dark in there, and for a moment he could see nothing, could hear nothing. Then a faint whisper made itself distinctly audible just above his head. "Victor, my boy," it said.
He did not reply for a moment, and Mrs. Joyce eagerly called, "Did you hear that whisper, Victor?"
"Yes, I heard it," he replied.
"It was Lucy. Was it you, Lucy?" asked Mrs. Joyce.
"Yes," came the answer.
"Are you still out of the body, Lucy?"
"Yes."
"What shall we do?"