Clarence was rather white, and when Martyn demanded, 'Do you really
think it was the ghost? Fancy her selection of the bird!' he
gravely answered, 'Martyn, boy, if it were, it is not a thing to
speak of in that tone. You had better go to bed.'
Martyn went off, somewhat awed. Clarence was cold and shivering,
and stood warming himself. He was going to wind up his watch, but
his hand shook, and I did it for him, noting the hour--twenty
minutes past one.
It appeared that Selina, on going upstairs, recollected that she had
left her purse in Griff's sitting-room before going to dress, and
had gone in quest of it. She heard strange shouts and screams
outside, and, going to one of the old windows, where the shutters
were less unmanageable than elsewhere, she beheld a woman rushing
towards the house pursued by at least a couple of men. Filled with
terror she had called out, and nearly fainted in Griff's arms.
'It agrees with all we have heard before,' said Clarence, 'the very
day and hour!'
'As Martyn said, the person is strange.'
'Villagers, less concerned, have seen the like,' he said; 'and,
indeed, all unconsciously poor Selina has cut away the hope of
redress,' he sighed. 'Poor, restless spirit! would that I could do
anything for her.'
'Let me ask, do you ever see her now?'
'N-no, I suppose not; but whenever I am anxious or worried, the
trouble takes her form in my dreams.
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