“Alice, O Alice!� Mark lifted the trembling figure in his arms and held her tightly. “Alice Cramer, do you not know me? What has happened to put you in this state?�
She turned her white face against his shoulder, hiding it.
Darker thoughts took possession of the man. Was there a reason why his wife should fear him, her husband? His blood grew hot with anger. Had that villain, Russell, so poisoned her mind that she feared his return, or had some person, just previous to his return, frightened and prostrated her? He glanced into the adjoining room and listened for any noise to denote an intruder. No, Alice was alone.
“Alice, speak to me!� he commanded sternly.
“Mark, Mark,� she murmured. “Oh! has it gone? Can you save me from it?� And again she shrank fearingly against his arm.
“There is nothing here, Alice; only I, Mark. What has disturbed you so? Was any one here before I came? Has any one been trying to frighten you?�
Alice raised her head and looked shrinkingly behind her, clinging closer to her husband as she did so. Then she began to sob, and clutch his shoulders tightly.
“Yes—oh—I do not know! I saw it behind me here in the room. It was so hideous—so dreadful! I saw it over my shoulder there!�
“I think, my dear, it was only the shadow cast by my horse as it came down the road.�
“Oh, no, no, it was there!�