enever any disaster, or any good fortune happens to our
family, Sir Rupert Brodie's figure, just as he appears in the Vandyck, is
seen walking in the Long Gallery; and every night he appears at twelve
o'clock in the green spare bedroom; but only guests and servants ever see
him there. We have a saying at Hootawa, that servants will not stay
unless they are able to see Sir Rupert the first month after their
arrival. Only members of the family are able to see him in the Long
Gallery, and, of course, we never know whether he betokens good or ill
luck. The last time he appeared there, papa was so nervous that he sold
out of Consols, which went down an eighth the day after. We were all
very much relieved. But he invested the money in some concern called
"The Imperial Federation Stylograph Pen Company," and lost most of it; so
it was not of much use."

"Tell me, darling, of your father's other investments," I asked
anxiously.

"Oh, you must ask papa about them, I don't understand business; but I
want to tell you about Sir Rupert. The Society for Psychical Research
sent down a Committee to inquire into the credibility of the ghost, and
recorded four authentic apparitions in the spare bedroom; and on family
evidence accepted at least three events in the Long Gallery. It was just
after their report was issued that papa was invited to lease the house to
some Americans for the summer. He always gets a good price for it now,
simply on account of the ghost. I always think that rather horrid. I
don't believe poor Sir Rupert would like it."

"Perhaps he doesn't know," I suggested.

"Of course, you don't believe in him," she said in rather an offended
way.

"My darling, of course I do; I have always believed in ghosts. Most of
the pictures in the world, as I am always saying, were painted by
_ghosts_."

"Oh, no, Aleister, you're laughing at me; but when you see Sir Rupert, as
you will, in the spare bedroom, you will believe too."

At the end of January, I became Flora's accepted fiance.

In February, I moved with the Brodies to Florence, where I was able to
introduce them to all my kind and hospitable friends,--the Berensons, Mr.
Charles Loeser, Mr. Herbert Horne, and Mr. Hobart Cust. Flora was in
every way a great success, and commenced a little book on Nera di Bicci
for Bell's Great Painters Series. She was invited to contribute to the
_Burlington Magazine_. It was quite a primavera. Our marriage was
arranged