Then Maggie began at the beginning, and told the whole thing, from Amy's death down to Mr. Morton's letter. He put a question or two to her during her story, looking at her with pressed lips, and finally put out his hand for the letter itself.
"Mrs. Baxter doesn't know what I've come about," said the girl. "You won't give her a hint, will you, father?"
He nodded reassuringly to her, absorbed in the letter, and presently handed it back, with a large smile.
"He seems a sensible fellow," he said.
"Ah! that's what I wanted to ask you, father. I don't know anything at all about spiritualism. Is it—is it really all nonsense? Is there nothing in it at all?"
He laughed aloud.
"I don't think you need be afraid," he said. "Of course we know that souls don't come back like that. They're somewhere else."
"Then it's all fraud?"
"It's practically all fraud," he said, "but it's very superstitious, and is forbidden by the Church."
This was straight enough. It was at least a clear issue to begin to attack Laurie upon.