y; "I am not gone! I am sitting here waiting
for you to come to your senses!"

Joe, who after the first glimpse had not dared to look upon the ghost,
now ventured from this safe distance to steal a glance. The glance grew
into a gaze, and then he spoke:

"Miss Sybil--"

"Well, Joe?"

"Is it you?"

"Yes, it is I."

"But is you alibe?"

"Yes, I'm alive."

"Is you sure?"

"I am hungry and mad! That should make me sure."

"--Mad 'long o' me, Miss Sybil?"

"Yes; mad with you for being such a fool!"

"But I thought you was a ghostess!"

"Bosh! you haven't as much sense as little Nelly!" exclaimed Sybil,
affecting more anger than she really felt.

"But an't you dead?" mysteriously inquired Joe, gazing at the pale face
of his mistress, now very pale indeed through all that she had suffered.
"An't you really dead, Miss Sybil?"

"Not much, Joe."

"But wan't you robbed and murdered by them riporate willains?"

"Neither the one nor the other, Joe! I am safe and sound, and have my
money and jewels still about me."

"But--wan't you reducted?"

"I was _ab_ducted, Joe; but not harmed! It is a long story, Joe. I
cannot tell it now, because I want to know about my husband. Is he
safe?"

"Yes, Miss Sybil, he's all right now! only grieving arter you! 'cause
everybody beliebes as you perished in the blowing up of the old chapel.
Lord! where was you all the time? Did Nelly find you?"

"Yes, Nelly found me; but--"

"Lord! the sense of that little thing!"

"--But tell me about my husband! Where is he!"

"He is at Capping Pendulum's, a doing very well now."

"Doing very well _now_! That means he has been doing badly lately! Has
he been ill?" exclaimed Sybil, in breathless anxiety.

"No, Miss Sybil; but he was in the old Haunted Chapel when de debbil
blowed it up."

"Oh, good heavens!" cried Sybil, clasping her hands, and unable to speak
another word.

"Don't be scared! he wasn't hurt not to speak of; only stunned and
bruised a bit. And he's all right now. On'y grievin' of hisse'f to
death, which is perfec'ly nateral, you see. Goodness knows as I myse'f
hasn't eat a meal's wittels, nor likewise sleeped a wink o' sleep, since
gone you's been! And oh! how I thank my Heavenly Marster as has 'stored
you to us once more alive and well!" cried Joe, hobbling towards Sybil,
sinking at her feet, and giving way to his feelings in a burst of sobs
and tears.

Sybil raised him up, and then noticed for the first time