All at once a sound broke the awful silence of the place, the sound of a stealthy footstep creeping slowly near.
Her heart beat so loudly that she could hear it distinctly; the cold perspiration stood in clammy drops upon her forehead. She stood still and listened.
It was enough to terrify a stouter heart than Violet Arleigh’s; for she knew well that this portion of the great house was deserted, and no one knew of her visit to the east chamber, save old Betty. The footsteps must be those of some marauder, or else could it be something supernatural?
A vague and undefined terror of she knew not what took possession of the girl. Pale and trembling she stood there, not knowing which way to turn; and slowly but surely the footsteps drew near and nearer. They did not seem to come from the same direction from which she had come; they sounded apparently from the left side; yet Violet knew that there was nothing there but the wall of the house.
What should she do? Here in the darkness—for it was nearly dark now within the ghostly chamber—she would be compelled to face an unknown presence. It was enough to terrify a stronger heart than hers.
On, on, came the ghostly footsteps. Violet turned to fly. She could not stand quietly within that horrible chamber to face this unknown terror. She would meet it half-way.
Pale and panting, she darted to the door. It was pushed softly open wide, and a man stood before her. One glance into his face, and Violet recoiled with a low cry of terror. Ah! this was worse than ghosts or supernatural visions, for the man before her was Gilbert Warrington!
With an inarticulate cry Violet fell back. Warrington put his arms about her and drew her to his breast.
“I have come to you here in this ghostly room,” he said, in a low, impressive voice. “I have been waiting and watching for this hour to come; and now that it is here, Violet Arleigh, you shall go with me this very night!”
Violet drew back and faced the villain before her with pale face and kindling eyes. Well, at least this was something tangible to combat. Better to face a real danger than to fear some dreadful visitant from another world.