"I am sitting here to recover breath," she said, in answer to my word of exclamation. "It has been taken away by surprise. I don't quite know whether I am awake or dreaming."
"Have you seen the ghost, ma'am?" asked Lizzy, breathlessly, putting her own comment on the words.
"Well, I don't know; I should just as soon have expected to see one as Lady Chandos. She was in the pine-walk.
"Impossible, Mrs. Penn," I exclaimed.
"Impossible or possible, Miss Hereford, Lady Chandos it was," she answered, in a resolute tone. "I can tell you I rubbed my eyes when I caught sight of her, believing they must see things that were not. She wore a black silk cloak, and had a black hood over her head. It was certainly Lady Chandos; she seemed to be walking to take the air."
To hear that any lady, bed-ridden, as may be said, was suddenly walking abroad in a damp, dark night to take the air, was nearly unbelievable. It was quite so to Lizzy Dene. Her eyes grew round with wonder as they were turned on Mrs. Penn.
"Then I say with Miss here that it's just impossible. My lady's no more capable of walking out, ma'am, than——"
"I tell you I saw her," conclusively interrupted Mrs. Penn. "It was twenty minutes ago, at the turn from dusk to dark. I came and sat down here, waiting for her to pass me: which she has not done. But I suppose there are other paths by which she could gain the house. Lizzy, how obstinate you look over it!"
"And enough to make me, ma'am; when I know that my lady it could not be."
"Do you see much of her?" asked Mrs. Penn.