Mrs. Lucien’s eye brightened, and she clasped her hands with childish naivete.
“Really?�
“Yes, really! Mr. Wylie has an especial invitation and tickets given him, so we shall not feel that we are intruding. He bade me come at once and tell you, as he knew how much you desired to witness such an exhibition.�
“How kind you are, dear Mrs. Wylie. I cannot express how grateful I am to you for such an opportunity,� said Mrs. Lucien warmly.
“It is arranged, then; we will call for you at half-past seven this evening.� And Mrs. Wylie tripped away, feeling that she had at least given pleasure by the invitation, little as she herself desired to attend the seance. The lectures of Dr. Lyman, which she had attended to please her husband, had rather prejudiced her against than converted to his teaching, and she could not appreciate the interest which her friends seemed to take in them. As for this seance, she would go that Mrs. Lucien might have the desired privilege of attending, but her conscience disapproved of it.
At the appointed time the trio took a carriage to Scoville Street as directed, and stopped before a small story-and-a-half house, with an “L� upon one side, and a broken paling in front.
“I am bound to investigate everything thoroughly,� said Mrs. Wylie, in a whisper, as they went toward the house.
“Certainly, that is your privilege, my dear. I am sure the spirits will have no objections,� said Mr. Wylie.
They were met at the door by a grave-looking man, who asked for their credentials, and when Mr. Wylie had presented his card of invitation they were ushered into a small square room furnished only by a centre table holding a lamp, a little old-fashioned carpet lounge standing in one corner, upon which two or three persons were seated conversing in subdued tones, and a tall base-burner stove offering warmth to a small group of people gathered about it.
No one spoke to the members of our party, who, while warming themselves by the fire, gazed into an empty room adjoining. This room had only the light of a single lamp fastened near the ceiling in one corner and covered and shaded by a Japanese umbrella. A string depended from this lamp to the cabinet in the opposite corner of the room. An antique, black hair-cloth tete was near the cabinet, and a carved mahogany stand stood between the only two windows in the room. The remaining space of the apartment was taken up by chairs for the invited spectators.