CHAPTER XIII An Arrest
"I want you to know that I understand who the ghost was last night, Eugenia," Barbara said unexpectedly next morning.
Eugenia was just about to leave her bedroom, Nicolete having gone downstairs half an hour before.
At these words the older girl turned and stood straight and severe with her shoulders braced against the wall as if for support.
"What do you mean?" she inquired slowly.
Barbara had not finished dressing. Indeed, she was in the undignified attitude of sitting on one side of the bed putting on her stockings. Nevertheless, she gazed at Eugenia squarely.
"I mean just what I said," she answered. "That is, of course, I don't know the name or the age or the identity of the man I saw by accident in the woods last night. But I realize that he must be the same person you have been concealing ever since you took this house. Naturally he must grow weary of the long confinement and be obliged to go outdoors now and then at night."
Eugenia had not replied, so Barbara went on thinking aloud.
"Or else some one may have been coming to the house with a message for the person in hiding. Of course, I don't know whether your refugee is a man or woman. But whoever he or she may be, goodness knows, I'll be grateful enough when the escape is over and this house left behind!"
Eugenia's face whitened at the younger girl's words. Nevertheless, she again turned as if she meant to leave the room without an answer.