From out the Vasty Deep

usly, for, when approaching the dining-room, he became aware that the door was not really closed, an

ne friend, Mr. Varick-" Such was the very unpleasant o

uncle has to go back to London this morning. Isn't it unfortunate? He's had a letter from an old friend who hasn't bee

he night before. It was the séance which had upset Mr. Burnaby-not a doubt of it! Without being exactly unpleasant

ld gentleman, and he had thought he had succeeded. The words he had overheard when approaching the dining-room showed h

y more, as some of the others gradually lounged in, and as the meal became a trifle more animated, he told himself that after all Mr. Burnaby might have turned out

was tending! His own experience of Bubbles' peculiar gift had been very far from agreeable, and had given him a thoroughly bad night. That strange, sinister e

he girl's stay at Wyndfell Hall her host had been rather glad to miss her at breakfast-it had been a cosy little meal shared by him and Blanche-he now resented her absence. He told himself angrily that she ought to have

ood-bye. And then it was that Varick suddenly realized with satisfaction that both Miss Burnaby and Helen regarded the departure of their kinsman with perfect equanimi

ting guest, she noticed that Varick looked more annoyed, more thoroughly put out, than she had ever

ht-reading tomfoolery," he said disagreeably. "Wha

che quickly. "I'm certain he rece

hat Varick restrained himself from telling her what he

all the better without hi

After all, the girl had come to Wyndfell Hall out of the pure

ldn't afford to quarrel with Blanche.) "And

doctor friend?"

a good chap, Blanche"-there came a note of real feeling into Varick's v

sleep in the

ghost, even if he saw one! Be nice to him, fo

efited by prosperity. In old days, though his attractive, dominant personality had brought him much kindness, and even friendship, of a useful kind, his h

anding by his side, his good-humour quite restor

into her mind. That thought was, how extraordinary had been Varick's transformation from what a censorious world might have called an unscrupulous advent

ngely perfect old house had been. It was Milly-not that sinister figure that Pegler thought she had seen-whose form ought to h

through her mind, "Any news of the ghost, Blanche?" he

who ought to have seen the ghost-but of

"This is a most wonderful old book, Mr. Varick! It gives such a curious account of a ghost who is supposed to haunt this ho

to the conversation, suddenly remarked: "The ghost has been

that?" asked V

ays hear all the

imply perfect!" She turned her eager, smiling face on Lionel Varick, "I've a

that, Miss

voice which uttered thos

, however, by her apparent intimacy with their attractive host. How and where could Varick have come across the Burnabys and their niece?

his present host, after turning some dangerous corners, had drifted, by an amazing series of lucky bumps, into so safe and pleasant a haven. There are certain people, who, when unsatisfied

question in that deep, musical voice which many people found so

Blanche Farrow and Miss Burnaby were alone together in the hall. "Your niece

d by what had happened the night before; she must choose her words carefully. So, "Bubbles has a remarkable g

ss Burnaby's usually placid face. "D'you think then, t

I am not a fair judge, for I haven't the slighte

her. She once took me to what is called a Circle, and, of course, I could not help feeling interested. But the medium who was th

said Blanche uncomfortably. "I know it would have anno

were very devoted to one another, but my dear father refused his con

ss in her voice, and Blanche told herself that she had been wrong

es to do it," she exclaimed. "I'm afraid

in love, or thought he fell in love, with a young woman. It was a very unfortunate and tragic affair-for, Miss Farrow, the unhappy young person killed herself! I was very young at the time, and I was not supposed to know anything about it. But of course I did kno

She made a delightful, brilliant, Goya-like picture, in her yell

rmuring something about having letters to write, quickly left the room. The sight of the girl affected

She's very much thrilled over Pegler's experien

s and simplicity," she went on. "She doesn't seem ever to have gone anywhere,

ndred to-day," sai

. Somehow she always very much disliked speaking to Bubbles of what she called, in her own mind, "all t

words gave h

ttle of her would bore me to death. But still, I amused myself at

?" repeated Bl

she's one of the rich

and more than surprised, keenly interested. "

an-in the world. But her uncle and aunt have never allowed her to know anyone or to see anyone outside their own tiresome, fuggy old lot. They've a perfect terror of fortune-hunters, it seems. The poor girl's hardly ever spoken to a man-not to what I should call a man! I'm surprised they allowed her

not thinking of Helen Brabazon's possible i

the old gentleman up a bit

did! And as a result he made up some cock-and-bull excuse and went

s, and there came into her voice the touch of slight, almost ins

glad; he was furious,"

d he wanted his guests entert

between them, she asked: "What did you think of it, B

edged. "I kept wondering how you did it. I mean that I kept won

of the things I said I saw?" said Bubbles slo

e you saw the-the figures you described so clearly. But I realized that in some queer way you

Bubbles spoke wi

In some ways he had been the most inwardly perturbed of her last

ly, "if Lionel has some enemy-I mean a woman-i

"That's the sort of thing one can ne

now-"is not a young woman. She's about sixty, I should think. She has

ch a person with Lione

ot exa

you mean,

med to feel her last night. I suppose you would say I saw her in

y. "D'you mean you can always see what

er hand through the other's arm. "Don't be worried, old thing"-she spoke very affectionately. "I've promised Bil

in this serious, thoughtful mood bef

ed to quote something to yo

" repeated

en and earth, my dear, than ar

le piqued. "I've never dou