s I have often since admiringly quoted--

"Perhaps not, sir, but I don't seem to care even if we do; for I had a
dream last night, and a spirit seemed to whisper in my ear, 'Don't be
afraid; it is only a token of death.'"

After Mrs. Molyneux had started, with Mrs. de Noel as her companion as
far as the station, and all the rest of the party had gone out to sun
themselves in the brightness of the afternoon, I worked through a long
arrears of correspondence: and I was just finishing a letter, when
Atherley, whom I supposed to be far distant, came into the library.

"I thought you had gone to pay calls with Lady Atherley?"

"Is it likely? Look here, Lindy, it is quite hot out of doors. Come, and
let me tug you up the hill to meet Cissy coming home from the station,
and then I promise you a rare treat."

Certainly to meet Mrs. de Noel anywhere might be so considered, but I
did not ask if that was what he meant. It was milder; one felt it more
at every step upward. The sun, low as it was, shone warmly as well as
brilliantly between the clouds that he had thrust asunder and scattered
in wild and beautiful disorder. It was one of those incredible days in
early spring, balmy, tender, which our island summer cannot always
match.

We went on till we reached Beggar's Stile.

"Sit down," said Atherley, tossing on to the wet step a coat he carried
over his arm. "And there is a cigarette; you must smoke, if you please,
or at least pretend to do so."

"What does all this mean? What are you up to, George?"

"I am up to a delicate psychical investigation which requires the
greatest care. The medium is made of such uncommon stuff; she has not a
particle of brass in her composition. So she requires to be carefully
isolated from all disturbing influences. I allow you to be present at
the experiment, because discretion is one of your strongest points, and
you always know when to hold your tongue. Besides, it will improve your
mind. Cissy's story is certain to be odd, like herself, and will
illustrate what I am always saying that--Here she is."

He went forward to meet and to stop the carriage, out of which, at his
suggestion, Mrs. de Noel readily came down to join us.

"Do not get up, Mr. Lyndsay," she called out as she came towards us, "or
I will go away. I don't want to sit down."

"Sit down, Lindy," said Atherley sharply, "Cissy likes tobacco in the
open air."

She rested her arms upon the gate and looked downwards.

"T