t I gave a glance behind to see if Aunty was
following, before I should go right up to him and demand an explanation.
But when I faced round again, he was gone! I walked up and down the lane
and out on the plain nearly half an hour, seeking him. It was strange, I
know; but I was not a bit FRIGHTENED, Dick--that was so queer--but I was
only amazed and curious."

The look of spiritual terror in Dick's face here seemed to give way to a
less exalted disturbance, as he fixed his eyes on Cecily's.

"You remember I met YOU coming in: you seemed so queer then that I
did not say anything to you, for I thought you would laugh at me, or
reproach me for my boldness; and I thought, Dick, that--that--that--this
person wished to speak only to ME." She hesitated.

"Go on," said Dick, in a voice that had also undergone a singular
change.

The chestnut head was bent a little lower, as the young girl nervously
twisted her fingers in her lap.

"Then I saw him again--and--again," she went on hesitatingly. "Of course
I spoke to him, to--to--find out what he wanted; but you know, Dick, I
cannot speak Spanish, and of course he didn't understand me, and didn't
reply."

"But his manner, his appearance, gave you some idea of his meaning?"
said Dick suddenly.

Cecily's head drooped a little lower. "I thought--that is, I fancied I
knew what he meant."

"No doubt," said Dick, in a voice which, but for the superstitious
horror of the situation, might have impressed a casual listener as
indicating a trace of human irony.

But Cecily did not seem to notice it. "Perhaps I was excited that night,
perhaps I was bolder because I knew you were near me; but I went up to
him and touched him! And then, Dick!--oh, Dick! think how awful--"

Again Dick felt the thrill of superstitious terror creep over him. "And
he vanished!" he said hoarsely.

"No--not at once," stammered Cecily, with her head almost buried in her
lap; "for he--he--he took me in his arms and--"

"And kissed you?" said Dick, springing to his feet, with every trace
of his superstitious agony gone from his indignant face. But Cecily,
without raising her head, caught at his gesticulating hand.

"Oh, Dick, Dick! do you think he really did it? The horror of it, Dick!
to be kissed by a--a--man who has been dead a hundred years!"

"A hundred fiddlesticks!" said Dick furiously. "We have been deceived!
No," he stammered, "I mean YOU have been deceived--insulted!"

"Hush! Aunty will hear