"What time did you sup that night?"
"Now," she replied, "you are not going to say, I hope, that it was nightmare. Most people would; but I hoped that you knew me better than to suppose that I eat such suppers as would occasion nightmare, or that I should not know nightmare from reality."
"But, my dear Mrs. Wharton, what else can I say?"
"Perhaps you had better listen further, before you say any thing."
He nodded and smiled, as much as to say that was true.
"I have seen the same appearance on three occasions since."
"Indeed!"
"Yes, on three several nights, about the same hour. And, since the first appearance, my supper has been merely a little bread and butter, with a glass of water. I chose to exclude nightmare, as I would exclude any thing whatever that could possibly cause an appearance so horrible."
"What sort of face is it?"
"Short and broad;—silly, and yet sly; and the features gibber and work—Oh! fearfully!"