CHAPTER III 22
" Do you feel as if you should sleep, Miss?" asked Bessie, rather softly.
Scarcely dared I answer her; for I feared the next sentence might be rough. " I will try."
" Would you like to drink, or could you eat anything?" " No, thank you, Bessie."
" Then I think I shall go to bed, for it is past twelve o ' clock; but you may call me if you want anything in the night."
Wonderful civility this! It emboldened me to ask a question. " Bessie, what is the matter with me? Am I ill?"
" You fell sick, I suppose, in the red-room with crying; you ' ll be better soon, no doubt."
Bessie went into the housemaid ' s apartment, which was near. I heard her say-
" Sarah, come and sleep with me in the nursery; I daren ' t for my life be alone with that poor child to-night: she might die; it ' s such a strange thing she should have that fit: I wonder if she saw anything. Missis was rather too hard."
Sarah came back with her; they both went to bed; they were whispering together for half-an-hour before they fell asleep. I caught scraps of their conversation, from which I was able only too distinctly to infer the main subject discussed.
" Something passed her, all dressed in white, and vanished "-- " A great black dog behind him "-- " Three loud raps on the chamber door "-- " A light in the churchyard just over his grave," & c. & c.