There was something of a shudder about Clarence as he went to unbolt
the back door; Martyn kept close to him. We saw them outside, and
then Emily flew after them. From my window I could watch them
advancing on the central gravel walk, Emily standing still between
her brothers, clasping an arm of each. I saw the light near the
ruin, and caught some sounds as of shrieks and of threatening
voices, the light flitted towards the gable of the mullion rooms,
and then was the concluding scream. All was over, and the three
came back much agitated, Emily sinking into an armchair, panting,
her hands over her face, and a nervous trembling through her whole
frame, Martyn's eyes looking wide and scared, Clarence with the
well-known look of terror on his face. He hurried to fetch the tray
of wine and water that was always left on the table when anyone went
to a party at night, but he shivered too much to prevent the glasses
from jingling, and I had to pour out the sherry and administer it to
Emily. 'Oh! poor, poor thing,' she gasped out.
'You saw?' I exclaimed.
'They did,' said Martyn; 'I only saw the light, and heard! That was
enough!' and he shuddered again.
'Then Emily did,' I began, but Clarence cut me short. 'Don't ask
her to-night.'
'Oh! let me tell,' cried Emily; 'I can't go away to bed till I have
had it out.'
Then she gave the details, which were the more notable because she
had not, like Martyn, been studying our jottings, and had heard
comparatively little of the apparition.
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