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〃I know what it was；〃 the apparition answered。 〃You had better sell。〃
〃But they say it will go to a hundred！〃 the man protested。
〃No backtalk； Rogers！〃 Bushwick interposed。 〃That was the
understanding。
〃But we didn't understand；〃 one of the girls said； coming to the rescue；
〃that the ghost was going to answer questions that were not asked。 That
would give us all away。〃
〃Then the only thing is for you to go and ask before it gets a chance to
answer；〃 Bushwick said。
〃Well； I will；〃 the girl returned。 And she swept round into the library；
where she encountered the phantom with a little whoop as it started into
sight before her。 〃I'm not going to be scared out of it！〃 she said；
defiantly。 〃It's simply this： Did the person I suspect really take the
ring。〃
The answer came； 〃Look on the floor under your dressing…table！〃
〃Well； if I find it there；〃 the girl addressed the company； 〃I'm a
spiritualist from this time forth。〃 And she came back to her place；
where she remained for some time explaining to those near how she had
lately lost her ring and suspected her maid； whom she had dismissed。
Upon the whole； the effect was serious。 The women； having once started；
needed no more urging。 One after another they confronted and questioned
the oracle with increasing sincerity。
Miss Macroyd asked Verrian； 〃Hadn't you better take your chance and stop
this flow of fatuity； Mr。 Verrian？〃
〃I'm afraid I should be fatuous； too；〃 he said。 〃But you？〃
〃Oh； thank you； I don't believe in ghosts； though this seems to be a very
pretty onevery graceful； I mean。 I suppose a graceful woman would be
graceful even when a disembodied spirit。 I should think she would be
getting a little tried with all this questioning； but perhaps we're only
reading the fatigue into her。 The ghost may be merely overdone。〃
〃It might easily be that；〃 Verrian assented。
〃Oh； may I ask it something now？〃 a girl's voice appealed to Bushwick。
It was the voice of that Miss Andrews who had spoken first； and first
refused to question the ghost。 She was the youngest of Mrs。 Westangle's
guests； and Verrian had liked her； with a sense of something precious in
the prolongation of a child's unconsciousness into the consciousness of
girlhood which he found in her。 She was always likelier than not to say
the thing she thought and felt； whether it was silly and absurd； or
whether； as also happened； there was a touch of inspired significance in
it； as there is apt to be in the talk of children。 She was laughed at；
but she was liked； and the freshness of her soul was pleasant to the
girls who were putting on the world as hard as they could。 She could be
trusted to do and say the unexpected。 But she was considered a little
morbid； and certainly she had an exaltation of the nerves that was at
times almost beyond her control。
〃Oh； dear！〃 Miss Macroyd whispered。 〃What is that strange simpleton
going to do； I wonder？〃
Verrian did not feel obliged to answer a question not addressed to him；
but he； too； wondered and doubted。
The girl； having got her courage together； fluttered with it from her
place round to the ghost's in a haste that expressed a fear that it might
escape her if she delayed to put it to the test。 The phantom was already
there； as if it had waited her in the curiosity that followed her。 They
were taking each other seriously； the girl and the ghost； and if the
ghost had been a veridical phantom； in which she could have believed with
her whole soul； the girl could not have entreated it more earnestly； more
simply。
She bent forward； in her slim； tall figure； with her hands outstretched；
and with her tender voice breaking at times in her entreaty。 〃Oh； I
don't know how to begin；〃 she said； quite as if she and the phantom were
alone together； and she had forgotten its supernatural awfulness in a
sense of its human quality。 〃But you will understand； won't you！ You'll
think it very strange； and it is very unlike the others； but if I'm going
to be serious〃
The white figure stood motionless； but Verrian interpreted its quiet as a
kindly intelligence； and the girl made a fresh start in a note a little
more piteous than before。 〃It's about thethe truth。 Do you think if
sometimes we don't tell it exactly； but we wish we had very； very much；
it will come round somehow the same as if we had told it？〃
〃I don't understand；〃 the phantom answered。 〃Say it againor
differently。〃
〃Can our repentance undo it； or make the falsehood over into the truth？〃
〃Never！〃 the ghost answered； with a passion that thrilled to Verrian's
heart。
〃Oh； dear！〃 the girl said； and then； as if she had been going to
continue； she stopped。
〃You've still got your half…question； Miss Andrews；〃 Bushwick interposed。
〃Even if we didn't mean it to deceive harmfully？〃 the girl pursued。
〃If it was just on impulse； something we couldn't seem to help； and we
didn't see it in its true light at the time〃
The ghost made no answer。 It stood motionless。
〃It is offended；〃 Bushwick said； without knowing the Shakespearian words。
〃You've asked it three times half a question； Miss Andrews。 Now； Mr。
Verrian； it's your turn。 You can ask it just one…quarter of a question。
Miss Andrews has used up the rest of your share。〃
Verrian rose awkwardly and stood a long moment before his chair。 Then he
dropped back again； saying； dryly； 〃I don't think I want to ask it
anything。〃
The phantom sank straight down as if sinking through the floor； but lay
there like a white shawl trailed along the bottom of the dark curtain。
〃And is that all？〃 Miss Macroyd asked Verrian。 〃I was just getting up my
courage to go forward。 But now； I suppose〃
〃Oh； dear！〃 Miss Andrews called out。 〃Perhaps it's fainted。 Hadn't we
better〃
There were formless cries from the women； and the men made a crooked rush
forward； in which Verrian did not join。 He remained where he had risen；
with Miss Macroyd beside him。
〃Perhaps it's only a coup de theatre！〃 she said； with her laugh。 〃Better
wait。〃
Bushwick was gathering the prostrate figure up。 〃She has fainted！〃 he
called。 〃Get some water； somebody！〃
XIX。
The early Monday morning train which brought Verrian up to town was so
very early that he could sit down to breakfast with his mother only a
little later than their usual hour。
She had called joyfully to him from her room； when she heard the rattling
of his key as he let himself into the apartment； and； after an exchange
of greetings； shouted back and forth before they saw each other； they
could come at once to the history of his absence over their coffee。
〃You must have had a very good time； to stay so long。 After you wrote
that you would not be back Thursday； I expected it would be Saturday till
I got your telegram。 But I'm glad you stayed。 You certainly needed the
rest。〃
〃Yes； if those things are ever a rest。〃 He looked down at his cup while
he stirred the coffee in it； and she studied his attitude； since she
could not see his face fully； for the secret of any vital change that
might have come upon him。 It could be that in the interval since she had
seen him he h