She appeared to read and reread these works, which were chiefly on occult subjects, day and night, except when she was imparting to me choice excerpts of the most baleful and fearsome kind.

Indeed, before a week was over I found myself to be an expert in the history of the cult, as well as in its manifestations, which latter I had been versed in for a good many years.
The result of all this was that it set me brooding.

Such, at least, I gathered was the fact when Aunt Janet took me to task for it.

She always speaks out according to her convictions, so that her thinking I brooded was to me a proof that I did; and after a personal examination I came--reluctantly--to the conclusion that she was right, so far, at any rate, as my outer conduct was concerned.

The state of mind I was in, however, kept me from making any acknowledgment of it--the real cause of my keeping so much to myself and of being so _distrait_.