to
stare fixedly beyond her, at the empty space between her chair and the
white wall.

There crept over Enid Crofton a sensation of acute discomfort. She
stepped back, and sat down in her low, easy-chair. What was Timmy looking
at with that curious, fixed stare?

It was in vain that she reminded herself that no sensible person now
believes in ghosts, and that she had but to press the bell on the other
side of the fireplace to ensure the attendance of her cheerful servant.
These comforting reflections availed her nothing, and a wave of fear
advanced and threatened to engulf her.

After what seemed to her an interminable pause, but which was really less
than a minute, Timmy's eyes met hers, and he said abruptly, "Is it true
that someone has asked you to go to India? Rosamund says it is."

She gave a little gasp of relief. On her way home from the station in the
Old Place pony-cart, she had told her companion that while in London she
had met a man who had fallen in love with her in Egypt, during the War.
Further, that this handsome, brilliant, rich young soldier had urged her
to marry him and go off to India with him at once. She was surprised as
well as dismayed by this quick betrayal of her confidence. What a goose
Rosamund was!

"Yes, Timmy," she bent forward and smiled a little, "it is quite true
that I have been asked to go to India, but that doesn't mean that I'm
going."

"I would, if I were you," said the child gravely.

"Would you?" Again she smiled. "But I've only just come to Beechfield.
I hope you're not in a hurry to get rid of me?"

"No," he said, "I'm not in a hurry, exactly. It's you who ought to be in
a hurry, Mrs. Crofton." He waited a moment and then added: "India is a
very nice place."

"Yes, indeed. Full of tigers and leopards!" she said playfully.

"I should go as soon as you can if I were you."

She looked at him distrustfully. What exactly did he mean?

_"Someone we wot of got off very lightly at the inquest."_

His voice sank almost to a whisper, but Enid Crofton felt as if the
terrible sentence was being shouted for all the world to hear.

Timmy's eyes were now fixed on the gay-looking blue rug spread out before
the fender to his right. He was remembering something he had done of
which he was ashamed.

Then he lifted his head and began again staring at the space between Mrs.
Crofton's chair and the wall.

Enid Crofton opened her mouth and then she shut it again. What did the
b