He retraced his steps cautiously through the hall and up the stairs. Once more his eyes rested thoughtfully on Sabrina’s closed door. No. Not tonight. She mightn’t like it, no matter how careful he was. Besides, one couldn’t go barging into a girl’s bedroom.... He went on up the second flight of stairs, and passed again without mishap through his own door.

After he had reached the upper passage, Aunt Effie emerged from the study on the ground floor, leading Father by the coat-sleeve and carrying Bella under one arm.

“It was there—on about the fourth step up,” she whispered, and cleared her throat and went on quaveringly. “Bella saw It first—didn’t you, darling? Well, I don’t mean to say I exactly saw It myself, but—I’m sure I touched something!”

“Oh, come, now, Effie—”

“Well, then, I didn’t touch anything—” said Aunt Effie, babbling with nerves, “—but It felt very queer! So then I grabbed up Bella and ran into the living-room and looked out through a crack in the door—and It crossed the stone floor and went into the dining-room!”

“Well, we’ll soon find out about that.” Rather impatiently Father went into the dining-room too and switched on all the electric lights. “There you are, Effie. No ghost in here. Put the dog down and see what happens.”

Aunt Effie placed Bella on her feet just inside the door. The little dog ran about suspiciously for a moment with her ears cocked, and then returned, smiling and unperturbed, to Aunt Effie’s side.

“There, you see?” said Father triumphantly. “Nothing here at all. And they’ve got a light on in the kitchen so no spook would go in there.”

“But, Alan, I heard footsteps—”

“Nonsense. I was walking about in the study just before you came in. You heard me.”

“F-footsteps on stone, Alan—”

“Now, Effie, I know that fellow Shenstone’s visit upset you—talking about his dead brother, and locking up the room, and all that. But this is childish.”

“I—I don’t think I like this place after all. Alan, I’d like to leave.”

“Leave? Leave what?”

“Leave this house,” said Aunt Effie in a very small voice.

“That’s impossible, I’ve taken a lease. Besides it’s just the thing for my work.” Father began to recede towards the study again.

“Alan!” cried Aunt Effie desperately at his back.

“Yes—well?” He paused on the threshold.

“W-would you mind if I brought my needlework into the study tonight? I promise not to talk.”

“Very well,” he said patiently. “Does the dog have to come too?”

“Oh, Alan! It was Bella who saw It! She’s ever so much more upset than I am!”

Father swallowed visibly.

“Come if you like,” he said, and vanished within.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN