ighborhood and no inquiry be made for her?"

"No, my dear; there was inquiry, and it was answered plausibly--that
Madame Eugene was insane and sent off to a lunatic asylum: but there are
those who believe that the lovely lady was privately made away with,"
whispered Mrs. Condiment.

"How dreadful! I did not think such things happened in a quiet country
neighborhood. Something like that occurred, indeed, in New York, within
my own recollection, however," said Capitola, who straightway commenced
and related the story of Mary Rogers and all other stories of terror
that memory supplied her with.

As for poor little Pitapat, she did not presume to enter into the
conversation; but, with her ball of yarn suspended in her hand, her eyes
started until they threatened to burst from their sockets, and her chin
dropped until her mouth gaped wide open, she sat and swallowed every
word, listening with a thousand audience power.

By the time they had frightened themselves pretty thoroughly the clock
struck eleven and they thought it was time to retire.

"Will you be afraid, Mrs. Condiment?" asked Capitola.

"Well, my dear, if I am I must try to trust in the Lord to overcome it,
since it is no use to be afraid. I have fastened up the house well, and
I have brought in Growler, the bull-dog, to sleep on the mat outside of
my bedroom door, so I shall say my prayers and try to go to sleep. I
dare say there is no danger, only it seems lonesome like for us three
women to be left in this big house by ourselves."

"Yes," said Capitola; "but, as you say, there is no danger; and as for
me, if it will give you any comfort or courage to hear me say it, I am
not the least afraid, although I sleep in such a remote room and have no
one but Patty, who, having no more heart that a hare, is not near such a
powerful protector as Growler." And, bidding her little maid take up the
night lamp, Capitola wished Mrs. Condiment good-night and left the
housekeeper's room.

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE PERIL AND THE PLUCK OF CAP.

"Who that had seen her form so light
For swiftness only turned,
Would e'er have thought in a thing so slight
Such a fiery spirit burned?"

Very dreary looked the dark and silent passages as they went on toward
Capitola's distant chamber.

When at last they reached it, however, and opened the door, the cheerful
scene within quite reanimated Capitola's spirits. The care of her little
maid had prepared a b