I was sure of this the next minute, and felt correspondingly irritated with myself and deeply humiliated.

That my nerves should play me such a trick at the very outset of my business in this house! That I could not be left alone, with life in every part of the house, and the sound of the piano and cheerful talking just across the hall, without the sense of the morbid and unearthly entering my matter-of-fact brain! Uttering an ejaculation of contempt, I reseated myself.

The impulse came again to look behind me, but I mastered it this time without too great an effort.

I already knew every feature of the room: its old-fashioned mantel, large round center-table, its couches and chairs, and why should I waste my attention again upon them?
"Is there anything you wish, Miss ?" asked a voice directly over my shoulder.
I wheeled about with a start.

I had heard no one approach; it was not sound which had disturbed me.
"The library bell rang," continued the voice.