e out on the
landing. He moved slowly, hesitatingly, as though impelled by some force
outside his logical comprehension.

Still walking as if drawn forward half against his will, the doctor
descended the stairs to the big living-room. At the stair-foot stood
Peter Grimm, with outstretched hands to receive him.

"Well, Andrew," said the Dead Man, in the tone of banter that had never
in life failed to "get a rise" out of his medical crony, "I apologise.
You were right. I was mistaken. I didn't know what I was talking about.
So I've come back, as I promised, to keep our compact and to apologise.
You see, I----"

"Well, Doctor," asked Kathrien, looking back into the room at sound of
McPherson's steps, "how is Willem?"

"Better," answered McPherson. "He's dropped off to sleep again. I'm
still a bit puzzled about his case. It's----"

"Andrew! _Andrew!_" interrupted the Dead Man, almost fiercely. "I've got
a message to deliver, but I can't get it across. This sort of thing is
your own beloved specialty. Now's your chance. The chance you've always
been longing for. Tell her I don't want her to marry Frederik! Tell her
I----"

"A puzzling condition," continued McPherson, unhearing. "I can't quite
grasp the meaning----"

"What meaning?" demanded Peter Grimm. "Mine? Try again. Tell her I don't
want her to----"

"But," went on McPherson, drawing out pad and fountain pen, "I'll leave
this prescription for one of the gardeners to take over to the
druggist's. I'll leave it as I go out. I'll be back in--Why, what's up,
Kathrien? What has happened? Oh, you've thought it over, eh? That's
good. That's the way it should be. I left you all tears and now I find
you all smiles. It----"

"Yes," answered Kathrien, half ashamed at her own oddly changed spirits.
"I am happier for some reason. Much, _much_ happier than I've been for
days and days. I've--I've had such a strange feeling this past few
minutes!"

"Have, eh?" asked McPherson curiously. "H'm! So have I. It's in the air,
I suppose. I've been as restless as a hungry mouse. Something, for
instance, seemed to draw me downstairs here. I can't explain it."

"I can," exulted Peter Grimm. "I'm beginning to be felt!"

"Doctor," hesitated Kathrien, looking nervously about her into the
dimmer corners of the lamplit room, "just a little while ago, I--I
thought I heard Oom Peter call me.--I was upstairs in my room. And it
seemed to me I could hear that dear old call he used to give.