I sprang to my feet. "Hag!" I cried, "what trick is this? Beware how thou triflest with me."
The voice of the crone floated across to me through the smoke.
"No trick," she mumbled; "'tis but the magic of the great white spirit. Would my lord behold his rival? Look!"
And there upon the silver disk, with his brave, true eyes upon me, shone the face of Bobby Vane.
"'Tis false!" I cried. "False! He would not act thus."
"Wonder not," replied the crone. "Stranger things than this have happened; men would betray all for love of such a maid;" and she muttered something to herself. "Wouldst behold how thy friend conducts himself in thy absence with thy lady-love? Behold!"
And there upon the glass I saw my lady and Bobby. They were at some dance or merry-making, for I could see dimly the moving forms around them. Suddenly they turned and passed out into a moonlit garden, and seated themselves in the shadow of some thick trees. I saw Bobby lean forward nearer that beautiful face; saw him whisper something into that little shell-like ear; saw the smile upon her face; and then, reaching out his hand, he took one of Margaret's in his own, and bent down as though to kiss her, looking into her beautiful blue eyes all the while.
It was more than flesh and blood could stand. With an oath, I cast the mirror far from me, and throwing the cowering crone a coin, strode out from the miserable hut into the free air of heaven.