house. Such sensitiveness in a mind naturally firm and uncommonly
well poised, called for attention. Yet a physician had asserted that
he could do nothing for her. Granting that he was mistaken, would an
interference of so direct and unmistakable a character be wise in the
present highly strung condition of her nerves? I doubted it. It would
show too plainly the light in which we regarded her. I dared not
undertake the responsibility of such a course in Mayor Packard's
absence. Some other way must be found to quiet her apprehensions and
bring her into harmony again with her surroundings. I knew of only one
course. If the influence of the house had brought on this hallucination,
then the influence of the house must be destroyed. She must be made
to see that, despite its unfortunate reputation, no specter had ever
visited it; that some purely natural cause was at the bottom of the
various manifestations which had successively driven away all previous
tenants.

Could I hope to effect this? It was an undertaking of no small moment.
Had I the necessary judgment? I doubted it, but my ambition was roused.
While Mr. Steele was devoting himself to the discovery of Mayor and
Mrs. Packard's political enemy, I would essay the more difficult task
of penetrating the mystery threatening their domestic peace. I could but
fail; a few inquiries would assure me of the folly or the wisdom of my
course.

Having reached this point and satisfied myself as to my real duty, I
rose to leave my room for another word or two with Ellen. As I did so
my eyes fell on the shade still drawn between me and the next house. The
impulse to raise it was irresistible. I must see if either of the two
old faces still occupied that gable window. It was not likely. It was
not in ordinary human nature to keep up so unremitting a watch. Yet as
the shade flew up at my touch I realized that my astonishment would
have been great and my expectations altogether disappointed if I had
not encountered the fixed countenance and the set stare with which I
had come to connect this solitary window. Miss Charity was there, and,
though I now knew what underlay her senile, if not utterly mad watch,
the impression made upon me by her hopeless countenance was as keen as
it had ever been, and lent point and impetus to the task I had just set
for myself.

It was apparent that Mrs. Packard had forgotten or changed her mind
about joining me in her own room, but nevertheless I went