From out the Vasty Deep

nster at dinner the night before. He was one of those men-there are many such-who, while professing to despise women, yet

d how really child-like, under her staid and sensible appearance. Of what she called "society" she cherished an utter contempt, convinced that it consisted of frivolous women and idle men-in a word, of heartless coquettes and of fortune-hunters. To Helen Brabazon the world of men and women was still all white

h young Donnington. Bubbles was the subject of their conversation, and different as were the ingenuous young man and his somewhat cynical and worldly companion,

of the extraordinary thought-reading gifts

afraid it's a good deal more than mere th

ess almost the whole party into the business of decorating the church. Their host entered into the scheme wit

and, on principle, never attended funerals); Sir Lyon, who was always at anyone's disposal when a bit of work had to be done; Helen Brabazon, who declared joyfully that she h

nington understood what a rare and perfect ecclesiastical building stood before them. He had inherited from a scholarly father a keen interest in c

xclaimed. "And it will be of the greatest help, for I've been sent for to a ne

by its lofty beauty. Indeed, the word which rose to both Sir Lyon's and Donnington's lip

ing on the stone floor of the central aisle; and though everyone worked with a will, there wasn't very

humouredly. "I've done this sort of thing every year since I was quite a kid

claimed Helen Brabazon. "I've enjo

ther men to do would be to cut down some trails of ivy. She explained that she always a

ed cheerfully bac

eyes rested in turn for a long moment on Bubbles' now laughing little face. Perhaps because of that frowning look, she drew the girl after her into the hall. "Come in here fo

"Of course it's understood! Though, as a matter of fact, Mis

ight, and, to tell you the truth, I don't care-for it's none of my business. But there was one moment this morning when

serious, Blanche? We should hav

a far corner of the great room, near the finely carved confessional box, wh

importance to these people; Helen Brabazon was a great friend of his poor wife's." She hesitated, a

riend," muttered the girl, in so low a voice t

l. Even quite at the end Mr. Burnaby had been barely civil. He seemed to think that there had been some kind of conspiracy against him the night before; and as they watched the car go over the moat bridge, Varick

ore she shooed them out to cut down some ivy. Varick looked annoyed when he heard that the decorations in the church were not yet finished. "Can't we bribe

s knew what she wanted to do, and generally managed to do it. "I would much rathe

ured comments and chaff of the rest of the party. James Tapster alone looked sulky and annoyed. He wondered how a bri

ad which separated Wyndfell Hall from the ch

He could only just see her little face in the twilight, and when they finally passed thro

e best about this church,

nnington simply, "I li

minutes of hard work, managed to li

ent on Bubbles, "are

h, carved in white bas-relief, lions, hares, stags, dogs, cats, crocodiles, and b

lowly. "Though somehow I did feel this aftern

hink of them here! I'm sure that at night they leap joyf

e exclaimed

r, taking it all in all, than almost any human being." And then she

redbreast

Heaven in

like to see put ov

isus'd upo

aven for hu

Donni

and Bill, surely t

wounded o

doth ceas

han you are," he said. "If I were a schoolmaster,

the moth o

Judgment dr

touches remained to be done. Still, it meant moving a ladder about, and stretching

nd leading the way up the central aisle, she sa

putting her hands behind her n

aning back more comfortably now, her red cap almost off her head.

his; after a moment of hesitation

that here and now you would make up your mind to give up ev

everything, Bill? Perhaps I will. B

aid"-she leant forward, and passed her right hand, with a touch of tenderness most unusual with her, over his upturned face and curly hair-"I

oo!" he exclaimed,

we're in a church I don't mind sayi

spoken to her faithful, long-suffering friend. "But a great deal of what hap

painful choking feeling in his throat. "

an that wherever I am, They come too, and gather about me. It wasn't my fault

ee it-had anything to do with you? Wyndfell Hall has been h

ry seldom admit it, even to myself, I know quite well, Bill, that I'm never really alone-n

ful dread, in her voice. In spi

ome specially round yo

ong medium. But I'll tell you, Bill, som

range sinking of the hear

Wise Man, whom certain people in L

ou would g

en he saw me he made his interpreter tell

ll's shoulders. "I wonder if I ought to tell you all he

ht to tell me! Wha

by the evil demons who had come rushing through; that only by fasting and p

at he said," said Bill hoarsely. "And yet-and yet

ry earnestl

, for instance, as I sit here, where good, simple people have been praying together for hundre

where an old man holds a prayer meeting every Wednesday evening-he's a Dissenter-you

' In old days I should have been burnt as a witch. Sometimes I feel as if a battle were going on round me and for me-a battle between good and evil

d what?"

r clut

they're dull and stupid, they remain dull and stupid. But here in Wyndfell Hall, I'm frightened. I'm frightened of Varick-I feel as if there were something secret, secret

," said Donnington reluctantly. "But I should have though

doesn't know anything about human nature-she only th

feeling about Varick,"

rch to meet me, there was Something standing by him, which looked so real, Bill, that I though

e spirits, even when you're not setti

his was the first time she had ever talked to him

ld to get rid of it! But this woman whom I saw standing by Lionel Varick in the porch was not a spirit. She was an astral

ieve that!"

dy before, I knew that Thing to be one-as soon as

" he asked, impress

rmined sort of face, and she was staring up at him with a horribl

r seen the-th

dy was there last night. It was from her

stral body-as you call it-exc

ice. But during the week that I've been here, I'v

y about her? Why does

omeone he was fond of when he was a young man, and whom he tre

ttered her name

, Bi

seeing these kind of strange

t sometimes I could stop myself. But it excites and stimulates me! I feel a sort of longing to be in touch with what no one else is in touch with. But I'll tell you one thing"-sh

oarsely, "what w

m with you. I think I saw your Gu

ed to

"though often, as you know, I should like to shake you, still, I know th

lid down, and was now lying in his arms, he

ercely to his heart, and for the first tim

must be going back to the house," he said, speaking with a touch o

e muttered-and then: "You don't know

become his wife in secret, under any conditions that seemed good to her! But he checked the impulse, drove it back. He felt that he would b

rgiven her for saying it-though he

Not even if I marry somebody else? Not even-?" She laughed nervously, and her laugh, to Donnington a horrible

he arm. "What d'you mean,

rinking back. "But you are really too simple, Bill. Didn't i

y. He understood now why men sometimes murd

lsive. It wouldn't be fair if he was as rich as that, and

art: "I'm a beast," she exclaimed. "A beast to have spoiled our time together in th

anger-not all the nonsense that Bubbles talked about her power of raising ghosts, and of being haunted by unquiet spiri

ing for him. In the darkness he looked for, found, and lifted, the heavy latch. Together they began pacing down the path b

medley of sounds-a bleating, a neighing, a lowing, even a faint trumpeti

he asked, his heart beating, his

ack, surprised. "We must hurr