nted to see what I was doing and
whether I was enjoying myself. Why this curiosity? I have never roused
it anywhere else. It is not myself they are interested in, but the cause
and purpose of my presence under this roof." I paused to wonder over the
fact that the one member of the family who might be supposed to resent
my intrusion most was the one who took it most kindly and with least
token of surprise--Mrs. Packard.

"She accepts me easily enough," thought I. "To her I am a welcome
companion. What am I to these?"

The answer, or rather a possible answer, came speedily. At nine o'clock
Mayor Packard entered the room from his study across the hall, and,
seeing me alone, came forward briskly. "Mrs. Packard has company and I
am on my way to the drawing-room, but I am happy to have the opportunity
of assuring you that already she looks better, and that I begin to hope
that your encouraging presence may stimulate her to throw aside her
gloom and needless apprehensions. I shall be eternally grateful to you
if it will. It is the first time in a week that she has consented to
receive visitors." I failed to feel the same elation over this possibly
temporary improvement in his wife's condition, but I carefully refrained
from betraying my doubts. On the contrary, I took advantage of the
moment to clear my mind of one of the many perplexities disturbing it.

"And I am glad of this opportunity to ask you what may seem a foolish,
if not impertinent question. The maid, Ellen, in showing me my room, was
very careful to assure me that she slept near me and would let me into
her room in case I experienced any alarm in the night; and when I showed
surprise at her expecting me to feel alarm of any kind in a house full
of people, made the remark, 'I guess you do not know about this house.'
Will you pardon me if I ask if there is anything I don't know, and
should know, about the home your suffering wife inhabits? A problem such
as you have given me to solve demands a thorough understanding of every
cause capable of creating disturbance in a sensitive mind."

The mayor's short laugh failed to hide his annoyance. "You will find
nothing in this direction," said he, "to account for the condition I
have mentioned to you. Mrs. Packard is utterly devoid of superstition.
That I made sure of before signing the lease of this old house. But I
forgot; you are doubtless ignorant of its reputation. It has, or rather
has had, the name of being haunted