Laura screamed and Violet jumped clear out of her seat.
They stared at Billie, wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
"Wh-what did you say?" asked Laura when she could get her breath.
"I said," said Billie, speaking very distinctly and enjoying the sensation she had caused, "that Aunt Beatrice left me a haunted house."
"Th-then I wasn't dreaming," stammered Violet, while Laura just continued to stare. "Is th-that all, Billie?"
"Isn't that enough?" asked Billie, just as her father had done a few hours before.
"It's either not enough or it is too much," replied Violet. "If I had to have the ghosts, I should want some very substantial compensations to make up for such housemates as those airy and playful ladies and gentlemen are said to make."
"But it is a house," persisted Billie. "And you know it isn't everybody who can own a haunted house."
"A haunted house!" said Laura, speaking in a hushed tone. "Is it a real haunted house, Billie, or are you fooling?"
"Well, I don't know that it is a regular honest-to-goodness one," admitted Billie reluctantly. "You see, it is the house Aunt Beatrice used to live in when she was at home, and she left it to me, with everything in it."