Part 16 (1/2)

”I begin to believe in ghosts, for no human being could fly off in that way, with nothing to walk on. I shall speak to Miss Orne to-morrow; I've had enough of this sort of fun,” said Sally, going to the window, with a strong desire to shut and lock it.

But she paused with her hand raised, as if turned to stone, for as she spoke the white figure went slowly by. Julia dived into the closet, with one spring. Sally, however, was on her mettle now, and, holding her breath, leaned out to watch. With soundless steps the veiled thing went along the roof, and paused at the further end.

Never waiting for her comrade, Sally quietly stepped out and followed, leaving Julia to quake with fear and listen for an alarm.

None came, and in a few minutes, that seemed like hours, Sally returned, looking much excited; but was sternly silent, and, to all the other's eager questions she would only give this mysterious reply:--

”I know all, but cannot tell till morning. Go to sleep.”

Believing her friend offended at her base desertion at the crisis of the affair, Julia curbed her curiosity and soon forgot it in sleep. Sally slept also, feeling like a hero reposing after a hard-won battle.

She was up betimes and ready to receive her early visitors with an air of triumph, which silenced every jeer and convinced the most skeptical that she had something sensational to tell at last.

When the girls had perched themselves on any available article of furniture, they waited with respectful eagerness, while Sally retired to the hall for a moment, and Julia rolled her eyes, with her finger on her lips, looking as if she could tell much if she dared.

Sally returned somewhat flushed, but very sober, and in a few dramatic words related the adventures of the night, up to the point where she left Julia quivering ignominiously in the closet, and, like Horatius, faced the foe alone.

”I followed till the ghost entered a window.”

”Which?” demanded five awestruck voices at once.

”The last.”

”Ours?” whispered Kitty, pale as her collar, while Cordy, her room-mate, sat aghast.

”As it turned to shut the window the veil fell back and I saw the face.”

Sally spoke in a whisper and added, with a sudden start, ”I see it now!”

Every girl sprang or tumbled off her perch as if an electric shock had moved them, and stared about them as Nelly cried wildly, ”Where? oh, where?”

”There!” and Sally pointed at the palest face in the room, while her own reddened with the mirth she was vainly trying to suppress.

”Cordy?”

A general shriek of amazement and incredulity followed the question, while Sally laughed till the tears ran down her cheeks at the dumb dismay of the innocent ghost.

As soon as she could be heard she quickly explained: ”Yes, it was Cordy, walking in her sleep. She wore her white flannel wrapper, and a cloud round her head, and took her exercise over the roofs at midnight, so that no time might be lost. I don't wonder she is tired in the morning, after such dangerous gymnastics as these.”

”But she couldn't vanish in that strange way off the house-top without breaking her neck,” said Julia, much relieved, but still mystified.

”She didn't fly nor fall, but went down the ladder left by the painters.

Look at the soles of her felt slippers, if you doubt me, and see the red paint from the roof. We couldn't open the cupola windows, you remember, but this morning I took a stroll and looked up and saw how she did it asleep, though she never would dare to do it awake. Somnambulists do dreadfully dangerous things, you know,” said Sally, as if her experience of those peculiar people had been vast and varied.

”How could I? It's horrid to think of. Why did you let me, Kit?” cried Cordy, uncertain whether to be proud or ashamed of her exploit.

”Never dreamed of _your_ doing such a silly thing, and never waked up.

Sleep-walkers are always quiet, and if I had seen you I'd have been too scared to know you. I'll tie you to the bed-post after this, and not let you scare the whole house,” answered Kitty, regarding it all as a fine joke.

”What did I do when I got in?” asked Cordy, curiously.