From out the Vasty Deep

Bubbles, the gloomy-looking James Tapster also finally sidling uncertainly towards her. Sir Lyon civilly devoted himself t

cold. She turned, and opening a prettily bound book whi

s Miss Farrow he whispered: "I don't know what one does on such o

are a baby! Or are you only pretending, Lionel?

Miss Burnaby spoke before dinner as if th

id a little wearily. "Now go and d

g his usual alert intelligence. It was all very well to invite this young woman who had been so kind to poor Milly; and the fact th

time rather funny. That of a lady who had said to her husband, "Oh, do come and see th

, there was something peculiarly irritating in the sight of very rich people who didn't know how to use their wealth, either to give th

me here for a minute." And Bubbles, with a touch of relucta

aunt was struck by the girl's

ice. And then, in a lower voice still, for her niece was now close to her, "The Burna

queer little leap into the air. "I've got

in a dubious tone. "I don't think Mi

truth, Blanche" (these two had never been on very formal terms together, and in a way Bubbles was much fonder of her aunt than her aunt was of her)-"To tell you the truth, Blanche," she repeated, "ever

that sort of thing, and I don't see it doing you much

ople's affairs, but she had suddenly remembered

ody-goody widow who's making up to him just now

w. It was the greatest comfort to have her here. So she said, smiling, "Oh, well, I shan'

ive them creeps! But, Blanche? I want you to back me u

't quite understand," she exclaimed.

We're going to have a séance-a sitt

girl's now eager, flushed face. "D'you think you know enough ab

the girl was a clever actress; still, that surely wouldn't ta

aby. He's such a proper old thing! He might really object-object on t

ood upon it and clapped her hands. "Ladies and gentlemen!" she cried. "This is a time of year when ghosts

Sir Lyon, smiling up into her

nterested in his host's personality. In a small way he had long made a study of Lionel Var

elen Brabazon called out: "I've always longed to attend a séan

he had the gift-which her aunt also posse

nel Varick dryly, "I wonder that

some day," she said in a low voice; "as a matter

ightly. "And what ha

ibed Milly-I mean the fortune-teller described Milly, almost exactl

or as little as she had said, for her host's face a

imed. "Forgive me! I ou

t. You can tel

have been very much surprised had she heard the intense, intimate tone i

at she was a remarkable-looking girl, and that he would like to make friends with her. He liked

n a business-like tone; "but we are likely to obtain much better res

ht that there always had to be a medium at a séance," she observed; "when I went with a friend o

nd I am going to be the medium this time, Miss Burnaby; but

he told himself that there was something to say, after all, for this queer younger generation who dare everything! He supposed that Bubbles was going to entertain them with a clev

garded it-gives to the charlatan. He had always felt an attraction to that extraordinary eighteenth century adventurer, Cagliostro, and to-night he suddenly remembered a certain passage in Casanova's memoirs.... He felt

ed themselves fo

er brother on the other. Next to the old lady wa

ynical amusement and interest, and next to Blanche, and nearest to where Bubbles had now established herself on one of those low chairs which in Eng

air and blew out all the candles, a somewhat lengthy task, and one which plunged the room into almost darkness. But

ct voice to Miss Brabazon, and Bubbles turned round sharply: "I'm afraid we

on was this? In the wavering light thrown by the f

hat the child was taking this seriously-that she believed in it at a

es' cheerful, inconsequent chatter. It irritated him that she should have been dragged away from him-for so he put it to himself-by that unpleasant, supercilious woman, Blanche Farrow. It was a pity that a nice girl like Miss Bubbles had such an aunt.

rward, her elbows on her knees, crouched upon the low chair, her slight, sinuous little figure bathed in red light. She was groaning, rockin

ell modulated, drawling voice. It was the high, peevish voice of a child-a child speaking queer, broken English. Everyone present, even including Varick and Blanche Farrow, who both believed it to be a clever and impudent piece

ing Water frightened. Laughing Water want to go away. Laughing Water hates this house. Please, Miss Bubbles

enly addressed Bubbles, or the little pleading creature that appeared to possess the girl: "Don't be frigh

le-cruel people-here! Bad spirits, too. Bad chair. Laughing Water sitting o

onnington, pushing forward one of the painted chairs, d

, earnestly: "I see a lady standing behind you. She is very stern-looking. She has a pale, worn face, and dark blue eyes. They are very like your eyes. Her hair is parted in the middle; it is slightly grey. She must have pass

with an over-mastering emotion, as well as intense surprise, and

standing to your left. She is still near the earth plane. I cannot place her at all. She is short and

onger, more confident: "Your mother-if it is

istening. Then she spoke again: "I get a word-what

pale, set face. "She says, 'Reme

certain urgency, and Bubbles

her chair along till she was

began; "he is dressed in rather curio

nd understanding pass

ir and grey eyes. He is smiling. I think it is your father. Now he looks grave. He

"I wonder," she said falteringly, "if he could give me a sign

hot. It was too bad of Bubble

d-" Bubbles stopped and knit her brow

ured Helen und

t! 'Girlie'-he

never, never would she allow herself to speak lightly or slightingly of spiritualism again! As far as she knew, no one in

nother form. It has taken the place of your father. I think it is the form of a woman who has passed over, an

she said in a dull voice,

or who could hate her. She cast her mind back to some of her schoolfellows; but no, as far as she knew they were

r on till she was just o

?" he said, in his full, pleasant voice. "I'm an adept, and I d

n her chair again ove

as looking at her with an air of fear and curiosity w

in a monotonous voice. "He has such a funny-looking long coa

herself, Miss Burnaby muttered: "

very happy, and that he sends you

I see another man. He is a very good-looking man. He has a high forehead, b

aby shook

inued, in that voice which was hers and yet not hers, for it seemed instinct

e with her hands. "Stop! Ple

the front of the fire till she

cker of light in the room. Then all at once the girl gave a convulsive shudder.

e healthy old man's face. "Eh

ut while Bubbles had been speaking to, or at, his siste

g, uncultivated woman's voice: "I did forgive you-for sure. But oh, how I've longed to co

by jumped up from his chair, and he bolted-literall

ired. I can't go on any longer now." She spoke in her natural vo

nington, who had got up-be

ief of Varick and Miss Farrow, the door opened, and the butler appeared

Do drink this," he said solicitously. "And forgive me, Miss Burnaby-I'm afraid I was wrong to all

r stiff brandy and plain

o wonderful!" he exclaimed in a low voice. "There must be somethin

believe in it?" she whispered incredulously. "Of course it w

pale in the now bright light. "I thoroughly disapprove of it all,

ou that it's ve

e was sitting on a chair in the far corner of the r

hought she'd be up to something of the sort! One of the servants told her to-night that this house is haunted. She'll be try

nything she had ever imagined. And yet-and yet it didn't amount to very much, after all! The mos

es had been-how daring, too! Still, deep in her heart, she was glad that her niece had not had time to come round to where she, herself, had been sitting. Bubbles knew a good deal about her Aunt Blanche, and it certainly would not have

d, turning round. "It isn't late yet, but I'm sure we'

k of plans for the morrow. Bubbles had come over, and j

she asked suddenly. "Wa

bed," said his

le, and she was looking up at him with a kind of

wers of thought-reading. I remember hearing that years ago, when she was a child. But of course I had no idea

oment at the bottom of the staircase; and Varick, having shepherded Sir Lyon,

shouldn't have thought it within the power of any human being to impr

the devil's own impudence, Lionel." And then she told him of the few words she had overhe

esn't account for her absolutely corr

his compan

last time I saw my mother alive was in the ar

lly, "was, I admit, pure thoug

at the foot of the stairc

mother. She had warned him very seriously of certain-well, peculiarities of his character. The long-forgotten words she had used suddenly leapt

of it, the more he told himself that for all that had occurred with re

he had allowed his mind to dwell uneasily, intensely, this afternoon. She was his only

e turned and joined his men guests in the beautiful camber-roofed and linen-panelled room known