Had he followed the figure of Mivanway into the valley, he would have known that out of sight of the Witches' Caldron it took to running fast till it reached a welcome door, and fell panting into the arms of another figure that had hastened out to meet it.
"My dear," said the older woman, "you are trembling like a leaf. What has happened?"
"I have seen him!" answered Mivanway.
"Seen whom?"
"Charles."
"Charles!" repeated the other, looking at Mivanway as though she thought her mad.
"His spirit, I mean," explained Mivanway, in an awed voice. "It was standing in the shadow of the rocks, in the exact spot where we first met. It looked older and more careworn; but oh! Margaret, so sad and reproachful."
"My dear," said her sister, leading her in, "you are over-wrought. I wish we had never come back to this house."
"Oh, but I was not frightened," answered Mivanway. "I have been expecting it every evening. I am so glad it came. Perhaps it will come again, and I can ask it to forgive me."
So next night Mivanway, though much against her sister's wishes and advice, persisted in her usual walk, and Charles, at the same twilight hour, started from the inn.