As he lay down in bed that night, all Matthew could think of was the dungeon he had heard about, said to be full of treasure and ghosts, that no one had ever seen but that a mysterious servant just short of a century in years swore was hidden somewhere beneath the house, with all its past locked away and shrouded in ancient legend.

He laughed to himself.

It could not be more perfect, he thought. An old house like this, an old woman, probably with fewer than half her wits left about her, telling of ghosts and treasures and dungeons. This was the stuff of old mystery tales, yet here he was lying down to sleep in just such a house! Somewhere above him, old Eppie was lying in her bed too. What dreams and memories and tales must be going through her brain!

Slowly Matthew drifted into semiconsciousness. Images filtered into his sleep-fogged brain. An old lady with white hair shooting out in all directions was walking down a dark and musty passageway. Underfoot the ground was damp. The way was so narrow as to allow but one person to follow another in single file, and the stone enclosure of walls rounded up into a curved ceiling scarcely higher than his own head. The old lady walked with noiseless step. She stood erect, though the wrinkles on her face spoke of centuries, not mere years.

Uttering not a peep, Matthew followed, not sure whether she was aware of his presence and not wanting to call attention to his being only a step behind her. The passage was dark, the only light coming from a candle the old woman carried in her hand. He had to stay close for fear of being lost in the dark. Though she was walking, the candle’s flame moved not so much as a flicker.

Matthew realized neither he nor she was moving along the passageway in the body at all, but only in some ethereal, dreamlike state. He leaned to one side and attempted to blow at the candle over her shoulder. Still the flame burned straight upward without so much as a flicker.

Suddenly the truth dawned on him—she was a ghost!

Now he realized… he could see the candle right through her body… and the passageway beyond!

He tried to stop, but his feet would not obey. Still he followed her down the passage.

He would go back to his room, he thought to himself. He tried to turn. He could not. Fear swept through him. He opened his mouth to scream. He could not move his lips. All was silent.

Paralyzed now with fear, he felt himself trembling, breaking out all over with perspiration, still following. Though he was behind her, he suddenly realized all along the way he had been able to see her face. In the darkness of the passageway, her eyes burned with a glow of passion almost the equal of the candle.