alarming! Something seemed to be ready to jump at her! Was
something in the room? Gwen made a dash for the desk and threw down the
letter. As she did so, a sudden thrill passed up her spine and stiffened
her hair. She was _not_ alone! There _was_ somebody in the room, a
shadow, an outline, at the far end of the room against one of the
curtains--a man, a strange figure, looking straight at her! He was
standing, bending forward but motionless against the curtain, and
staring with eyes that had no life in them--at her!

Gwen gave a piercing scream and rushed blindly for the door. She dashed
against the projecting book-case, striking her head with some violence.
She tried to cry for help, but could not, the room swam in her vision.
She struck out her arms to shield herself, and as she did so she felt
rather than heard some one coming to her rescue, some one who flashed on
the lights--and she flung herself into protecting arms.

"It's all right, it's all right," said the Warden. "What made you cry
out? Don't be frightened, child!" and he half led, half carried her
towards a chair near the fire.

"No, no!" sobbed Gwen, shrilly. "Not here--no, take me away--away
from----"

"From what?" asked Lady Dashwood quietly, at her elbow. "What is the
matter, Gwen? You mustn't scream for nothing--what has frightened you?"

Gwen groaned aloud and hid her face in the Warden's arm.

"Something in this room has frightened you?" he asked.

Gwen sobbed assent.

"There is nothing in this room," said Lady Dashwood. "Put her on the
chair, Jim. She must tell us what it is she is afraid of. Come, Gwen!"

Although Gwendolen submitted to the commanding voice of Lady Dashwood
and allowed herself to be placed in the chair, she still grasped the
Warden's arm and hid her face in it.

"What frightened you, Gwen?" asked Lady Dashwood. "No harm can come to
you--we are by you. Pull yourself together and speak plainly and
quietly."

Gwen uttered some half-incoherent sounds--one only being intelligible to
the two who were bending over her.

"A man!" said the Warden, glancing round with surprise.

"No man is in the room," said Lady Dashwood. "Did he go out? Did you see
him go out?"

Gwen raised her face slightly.

"No. At the end there--looking!" and again she burst into uncontrollable
sobs.

The Warden released his arm and walked to the farther end of the room,
and Gwen grasped Lady Dashwood's arm and clung to her. The two women
could hear