Page:Quiller-Couch--Old fires and profitable ghosts.djvu/212

204 "Good Lord!" I heard him say, "the amphitheatre!"

"Come, sir," I interrupted, "I think we have had enough of this jugglery."

But the girl's voice went on steadily as if repeating a lesson:— "And then you came "

"I!" His voice rang sharply, and I saw a horror dawn in his eyes, and grow. "I!"

"And then you came," she repeated, and broke off, her mind suddenly at fault. Automatically he began to sway the daisy-chain afresh. "We were on board a ship … a funny ship … with a great high stern…."

"Is this the same story?" he asked, lowering his voice almost to a whisper; and I could hear his breath going and coming.

"I don't know … one minute I see clear, and then it all gets mixed up again … we were up there, stretched on deck, near the tiller … another ship was chasing us … the men began to row, with long sweeps…."

"But the sand," he insisted, "is the sand there?"

"The sand? … Yes, I see the sand again … we are standing upon it … we and the crew … the sea is close behind us … some men have hold of me … they are trying to pull me away from you…. Ah!"

And I declare to you that with a sob the poor girl dropped on her knees, there in the aisle, and