ly admissible thing then. "See, the lamp was not filled fresh
to-day, and it's burning down; we'll be in the dark in a few minutes."

"Oh, I'm so afraid," quavered Kat. "Let's all sleep together."

No one seemed to object, for really it was something to chill even a
brave heart. Those four girls alone in the great still house at
midnight, with the terrible fear at their hearts, and their wildest
imagination in full play. They went up stairs as softly as though
Ernestine lay dead in the house; and all went with their eyes shut
except Olive, who carried the lamp, and even she kept her eyes away from
everything save right where she walked. No one had cried yet but Bea; so
when they knelt about the bed for prayer, each one broke down, and they
finally dropped asleep, sobbing softly, with their arms about each
other.

Morning came, with the brightest of sunshine, and put a more cheerful
face upon things, as daylight always does. The girls jumped up merrily,
quite convinced that it was all a joke, and that they were foolish to
have been so frightened. Ernestine had gone to Mrs. Dane's and stayed
all night; she would be home pretty soon and they would all have a good
laugh over it. So they thought, and flew about lively with their work;
but breakfast was over and cleaned up, the house was all in order, and
the day fairly begun; still no Ernestine had arrived, and Olive had not
gone.

"Seems to me, I can't go until we know something," she said, standing in
the door and looking down the street. "I will be home to dinner, and
surely she will be here by that time."

"I suppose so, of course," said Bea, feeling last night's fear beginning
to tug at her heart again.

"Seems to me nothing could happen with a morning so lovely as this,"
said Kittie, looking anxious and sleepy.

"Well, I suppose I must go," said Olive at last. "I'm an hour late now,
and I don't know what to tell Mr. Dane; but then, it's the first time
I've ever been tardy, so he may not speak of it."

"If she comes pretty soon, I'll trot down and tell you," volunteered
Kat, who was stretching on the stairs, and pretty near strangling with a
succession of gasps.

"All right," said Olive, going out reluctantly.

Morning went slowly and heavily; the girls tried to study as usual, but
found it impossible. There was only one thought in their minds;
Ernestine! Ernestine! where was she?

"Kittie," said Bea, when it was nearly noon, "Olive is so tired, I
expect,