"I envy you," said Ellerton; "I wish I could run off for a year or two."
I saw Josephine's lips move, but she could not command her voice, and, bending down, she caressed Tigre with a nervous hand. I could not but pity her; I had not realized before how much her heart had been set upon this match; and wounded pride is next in sting to wounded love.
The gentlemen lit their cigars, and talked of Mr. Rutledge's plans; we all lounged idly about the north end of the hall; the doors were all open, and a fine fresh breeze came in. I had been listening anxiously to a faint sound overhead, where I knew too well; a hasty stride from one end to the other of the room above us.
"Hark!" cried Grace, "what's that? I heard the same sound this morning."
Every one stopped talking, and listened.
"The house is haunted, you may depend," said Josephine. "There have been strange noises next my room for the last three nights."
"That's a peculiar sound. What do you make of it, Mr. Rutledge?" said Ellerton, walking toward the stairs.
"It is nothing," he returned, advancing that way too. "Some of the servants are up there now, perhaps; I will go and see. Don't trouble yourself, Mr. Wynkar."
"I'll go," I cried, starting forward. "Perhaps it's Kitty, she may be waiting for me."
Ellerton paused and listened; Mr. Rutledge passed up before him, followed closely by Tigre. I brushed past Ellerton and kept close to Mr. Rutledge. Mrs. Roberts was standing at the head of the stairs.