"'You are next the wall: feel along it,' in her most persuasive voice.
"The very idea made me creep. Put my hand behind those curtains and touch—what? Even the cold wall would be sufficient to terrify me. For reply I remarked suggestively, 'If we had the light we could see.'
"'Yes, that would be just the thing. Go bring it—do!'
"I felt that something must be done, and soon, or I should be in no state to accomplish it. If Nan would not go, I must: when we had the light half our trouble would be over, and, after all, she might have been mistaken.
"'Did the door move?' I ventured to ask.
"'No, it didn't do anything—at least I don't think it did—but it looked so awful that it frightened me.'
"'That light in there may set something on fire,' I remarked.
"'Go fetch it: it will only take you a minute. Do go!'
"'You are sure the door didn't open?' I asked, far from liking my task.
"'I will go with you half-way,' she volunteered, 'and stand there while you run in quick. Come on, and don't let us talk any more about it: we shall only get more and more frightened.' You will see that Annie's gifts lay more in persuasion than in action.