"Oh, child, I--I think I must be very foolish--but I have just had a terrible fright."
And the fright was upon her still, to judge by the trembling voice and hands.
"But what has frightened you?" asked Ella.
"That's the strangest part of it; that I don't know what--or who," spoke Mrs. Carlyon, after a pause and an effort to collect herself. "I went up for my book, you know, Ella, and I was rather long finding it; and when I got into the corridors and gallery again it was dark, and I missed my way, I suppose. At all events, instead of coming to the staircase as I expected, I presently found myself in a part of the house quite strange to me--at least, it seemed so in the dusk----"
"Was it the north wing?" involuntarily interrupted Ella.
"I don't know; it may have been. Seeing a window, through which a little dim light came in, I halted at it to consider what was to be done, and how I should best find my way down. While thus standing a something black--I cannot tell you what it was--brushed swiftly and silently past me, and disappeared in the deeper darkness beyond."
"Something black!" repeated Ella, feeling an awe she could scarcely account for.
"Ay. The figure--it was human, I conclude, but whether male or female I can scarcely tell, though I think the latter, because the skirts of the garment it wore touched my gown in passing--the figure, I say, just showed itself to me, and was gone."
"Did you hear no footsteps, Aunt Gertrude?"
"None whatever. I was so startled that, for a few moments, I could not stir or think. Then I rushed along the corridors, haphazard, and came straight upon a staircase. Instinct comes to our aid in these moments of perplexity more often than we think," broke off Mrs. Carlyon.