were set, my lips
tight together, my glance unswerving. By sheer strength of endeavor I
cast aside all my forebodings of defeat, and in my heart I said with
the profoundest conviction that I would love Rosa though the seven
seas and all the continents gave up their dead to frighten me.

So we remained, for how long I do not know. It may have been hours; it
may have been only minutes; I cannot tell. Then gradually there came
over me a feeling that the ghost in the chair was growing larger. The
ghastly inhuman sneer on his thin widening lips assaulted me like a
giant's malediction. And the light in the room seemed to become more
brilliant, till it was almost blinding with the dazzle of its
whiteness. This went on for a time, and once more I pulled myself
together, collected my scattering senses, and seized again the courage
and determination which had nearly slipped from me.

But I knew that I must get away, out of sight of this moveless and
diabolic figure, which did not speak, but which made known its
commands by means of its eyes alone. "Resign her!" the eyes said.
"Tear your love for her out of your heart! Swear that you will never
see her again--or I will ruin you utterly, not only now, but forever
more!"

And though I trembled, my eyes answered "No."

For some reason which I cannot at all explain, I suddenly took off my
overcoat, and, drawing aside the screen which ran across the corner of
the room at my right hand, forming a primitive sort of wardrobe, I
hung it on one of the hooks. I had to feel with my fingers for the
hook, because I kept my gaze on the figure.

"I will go into the bedroom," I said.

And I half-turned to pass through the doorway. Then I stopped. If I
did so, the eyes of the ghost would be upon my back, and I felt that I
could only withstand that glance by meeting it. To have it on my
back!... Doubtless I was going mad. However, I went backwards through
the doorway, and then rapidly stepped out of sight of the apparition,
and sat down upon the bed.

Useless! I must return. The mere idea of the empty sitting-room--empty
with the ghost in it--filled me with a new and stranger fear. Horrible
happenings might occur in that room, and I must be there to see them!
Moreover, the ghost's gaze must not fall on nothing; that would be too
appalling (without doubt I was mad); its gaze must meet something,
otherwise it would travel out into space further and further till it
had left all the stars and w