Advancing quietly, I caught at her wrap which was falling from her shoulders.

She grasped my hand as I did so.
"Did you hear that laugh ?" she panted.

"Whose was it?
Who is down-stairs ?" I thought, "Is this one of the unaccountable occurrences which have given the house its blighted reputation ?" but I said: "Nixon let you in.
I don't know whether any one else is below.

Mayor Packard has not yet come home." "I know; Nixon told me.

Would you--would you mind,"-- how hard she strove to show only the indignant curiosity natural to the situation--"do you object, I mean, to going down and seeing ?" "Not at all," I cheerfully answered, glad enough of this chance to settle my own doubts.