ourself it
was a good setting for a ghost story! It was yourself that put it in my
head!"

"I believe you are right. I certainly did make that remark," said the
stranger obligingly. For some reason or other his colour had decidedly
heightened during the last few moments, and he looked at Esmeralda with
a quick, embarrassed glance, as if afraid to meet her eyes. She was
flushed like himself, a beautiful young fury, with eyes ablaze, and lips
set in a hard, straight line. Propitiation was plainly hopeless at the
moment, and he was not so foolish as to attempt the impossible. This
was evidently "Beauty O'Shaughnessy," of whom he had heard so much, and,
to judge by his own experience, his friends' accounts of the
eccentricities of the family were no whit exaggerated. The dear little
girl with the sweet eyes was plainly the eldest sister, since she took
upon herself to perform the honours of the house, and he was thankful to
follow her towards the fireplace, leaving the belligerents at the end of
the hall.

"I'm exceedingly sorry to have caused such an alarm! Please make my
peace with your sister. I am afraid, if she was not prepared to see me,
my actions must have seemed sadly suspicious," he began apologetically;
but Bridgie stopped him with uplifted hand, and a queenliness of manner
which sat charmingly upon her slight figure.

"Indeed you were not to blame at all, and there is no need to give it
another thought. You have had bad weather for your visit, but I hope
there is a change to-night. The Major will be delighted that you took
him at his word, and Dandy will carry you like a feather. Here he is at
last, to welcome you himself."

The Major came forward as she spoke, calling out welcomes from afar, and
holding out his hand in hospitable Irish greeting. He was all smiles
and superlatives, charmed that Mr Hilliard had called, overjoyed to
give him a mount, delighted that he had already made the acquaintance of
"me children," beamingly unconscious that there was trouble in the air,
and persistent in summoning Esmeralda to his side.

"What do you think of that for an impromptu costume? All made out of a
couple of sheets, me dear fellow, and at a moment's notice. Quite a
display we had this night, with the whole lot of them got up to match;
but this child is the only one that kept it on. Me daughter Joan!
Esmeralda, for short. Mr Geoffrey Hilliard!"

Hilliard bowed deeply. Esmeralda drooped her eye