"You were under the beech tree--our beech tree. You appeared to me to be looking for something on the ground--something which you could not find."
"But four nights ago? I remember it quite well. I was reading and writing till ever so late. Then I fell asleep directly I got into bed. I certainly never woke again until Evans called me."
"The probability is that you got out of bed directly you were asleep. It struck me that there was something singular about your whole proceedings. A doubt crossed my mind at the time as to whether you could possibly be in a somnambulistic condition. As I approached you retreated so rapidly that I never caught sight of you again."
"Do you mean to say I was in my nightdress?"
"As to that I cannot be certain. You had on something white; but it struck me that it was some sort of a dressing-gown."
"I have no white dressing-gown."
"On that point I cannot speak positively. You understand that I only saw you for a few seconds, just long enough to make sure that it was you."
She put her hands up to her face, shuddering.
"This is dreadful! that I should walk in my sleep--in the woods--and everyone see me--and I know nothing! What shall I do?"
"There is one thing I should recommend. Have someone to sleep in your room--someone who is quickly roused."