'And, my dear,' I said, 'there is another thing. We mustn't think that
Oliver has gone down into silence. You must help him to speak to you, a
little later, when you are fit and when he has found his way to the
Door. You mustn't shut him out, my child.'
'Mother,' said Jane, 'you know I don't believe in any of that.'
'I only ask you to try,' I said earnestly. 'Don't bolt and bar the Door…. I shall try, my dear, for you, if you will not, and he shall communicate with you through me.'
'I shan't believe it,' said Jane, stating not a resolve but a fact, 'if he does. Of course, do what you like about all that, mother, I don't care. But, if you don't mind, I'd rather not hear about it.'
I decided to put off any further discussion of the question, particularly as the child looked and must have been tired out.
I went down to the kitchen to talk to Emily about Jane's lunch. I felt that she ought to have a beaten egg, and perhaps a little fish.
But I wished that she had told me frankly about that man Gideon's visit last night. Jane was always so reserved.
CHAPTER II
AN AWFUL SUSPICION
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