“What of it?”
“I rebuked him with such strong words that he seemed frightened for a moment. I don’t know how I looked: it might have been murder, for I felt it.”
Adele had grown excited.
“Who else visit at your mothers house?” further inquired Mr. Fleetwood.
“Oh, a great many people. Circles meet there every night, and sometimes every day. But I never saw any good that came of it all. The spirits tell strange things, but I can’t see that any one is made better. Mother hasn’t been made better, I know. I am afraid her right reason is gone. When I was a very little girl, she belonged to the church, and used to read the Bible a great deal. She always read it aloud when I was with her; and so I got my thoughts full of verses and stories, until I could say almost chapters by heart. But mother believes now that spirits are making a higher revelation than the Bible, and that its teachings are of but small account in comparison. I am afraid that if the spirits were to tell her to do almost any thing that is forbidden in the Bible, she would do it. Isn’t it dreadful?”
“Dreadful indeed!” said Mr. Fleetwood. “But you believe in the Bible?”
“Oh, yes,—yes! At first they put me to sleep, and tried to make a medium of me. I believe that I did write and talk some. But when I got back into my real self again I had such awful feelings that I was sure it must be wrong. And so I prayed God to teach and help me. And I think he did. Their power over me grew less and less; and at last I was able to throw it all off. Oh, sir, I do not think it would be right for me to go back again.”
“You must not return,” answered Mr. Fleetwood, positively. “God heard your prayer, verily, and has granted you a deliverance.”
The lashes of the girl’s eyes fell slowly down upon her cheeks, and there came into her face a meek, sad, yet thankful, expression.
“You will remain here for the present,” said Mr. Fleetwood. “To-morrow we will talk over your future, and decide what is best to be done. Think of us as your true friends, and fully depend upon us for protection. If your heart is right, Adele,—that is, if you wish to be and to do right,—you have nothing to fear, and every thing to hope.”