rehead.

"We must go down these steps, and then to the right. I remember----"

They crossed the terrace, when two or three persons came out through a
window behind them. They were talking, and Nell heard a voice which made
her wince, and her hand grip Falconer's arm convulsively; for the voice
was Drake's.

"They have a fine night to go home in," he was saying. "Not much of a
moon, but better than none."

Nell stopped and looked despairingly at the patch of light which the
window threw right across their path to the steps.

"Come quickly," said Falconer, in a low voice.

"No, no; we shall be seen!" she implored, in an agitated whisper.

But Falconer deemed it best to go on, and did so.

As they moved, Drake saw them, but indistinctly.

"Good-night, once more!" he called out, in the tone of a host speeding
parting guests.

Falconer raised his soft felt hat.

"Good-night, my lord," he responded. At the same moment they stepped
into the stream of light. Drake had been on the point of turning away,
but as he recognized Falconer's voice and figure, he stopped and took a
step toward them. Then, as suddenly, he stopped again, gazing after them
as a man who gazes at a vision of the fancy.

"Who--who is that?" he demanded, almost fiercely.

Lady Luce was just behind him.

"That was the man who played the violin," she said. "Didn't you
recognize him? How romantic he looks! Quite the idea of a musician."

Drake put his hand to his brow and stood still, looking after the two
figures, now disappearing in the darkness, made more intense by the
contrasting streaks of light from the windows.

"My God! How like!" he muttered, taking a step or two forward
unconsciously.

But Lady Luce's voice aroused him from the half stupor into which he had
fallen, and he turned back to her.

"I must be mad or dreaming!" he muttered. "What folly! And yet how
like--how like!"

"Why, what is the matter, Drake?" asked Lady Luce, laying her hand on
his arm, and looking up at him anxiously. "You are quite pale. You
look"--she laughed--"as if you had seen a ghost!"

He smiled grimly. She had described his feelings exactly. In the
resemblance of the girl, whoever she was, on the violinist's arm, he had
in very truth seen the ghost of Nell of Shorne Mills.

Nell hurried Falconer along, but presently was forced to stop to regain
her breath. Her heart was beating so wildly that she had to fight
against the sensation of suffocation whic