"Oh! Captain Ernscliffe, did you see it?" she gasped, rather than spoke.
"Did I see what?" he inquired, rather blankly.
"The horrid vision that came between me and the flowers and made me faint," she answered, sitting up and looking at him in surprise.
"My dear young lady, there was nothing to see, only the dancers. You were tired and excited, and the heat overcame you. You are unaccustomed to the crush and excitement of balls, you know."
"And you saw nothing but the dancers?" she said to him, shivering as she spoke, like one in a chill, and passing her hand before her eyes.
"Nothing, I assure you," he answered, gravely.
"What did you see, Queenie?" inquired Mrs. Lyle, coming forward.
"Oh! mamma, is that you?" Little Queenie reached out her white arms, twined them about her mother's neck, and sank on her bosom trembling and shivering, and moaning faintly: "Oh! mamma! mamma!"
"My dear, my dear, compose yourself. You are nervous and hysterical," remonstrated Mrs. Lyle. "See, you are distressing Captain Ernscliffe very much."
Little Queenie hushed her sobs and looked up at the gentleman, who did indeed look anxious and distressed.