“Yes, take the lamp.  You know there’s no light in that end of the hall.  You’re not afraid, are you?”

“N-no, not really.  I can’t help thinking of those foolish stories the girls tell, though I know there’s nothing in them.”

Esther took up the lamp and started.  She did not wish to appear cowardly before her room-mate, though she really dreaded the short journey.

As she walked past the dark trunk-rooms and up the uncarpeted stairs, her heart beat fast at the “swish” of her own skirts on the boards.

When she opened the observatory door, she couldn’t help noticing how very dark the room was, and how feebly the rays from her lamp illuminated it.

Instinctively she glanced toward the telescope to see that there was no white figure behind it, and breathed a little more freely when she saw that there was not.

She searched a long time for the book, standing with her back to the door.  At last she found it under a pile of others.

Glad to have accomplished her task, and inwardly peopling all the shadowy corners of the room with ghostly visitants, she turned round to begin her return journey, when—­

What was that by the telescope?  A white, tall figure stood by the instrument.

In vain reason told her it was a fanciful delusion.  Her nervous organization was no longer under the control of reason.  Esther gave a quick scream, and fell to the floor, fainting.

In an instant a white sheet was thrown from the shoulders of the figure by the telescope.

“Esther, Esther!  It’s only I—­Marie!” she cried.  “I followed you up stairs just to frighten you for fun.  Do speak to me.  Tell me I haven’t scared you to death!”

After a little Esther regained consciousness, shuddering as she opened her eyes and remembered where she was.

“Take me away—­take me away!” she begged, recognizing Marie.

“I will have to bring help.”

“No, no; don’t leave me alone a minute.  I can walk if you will help me.  And bring the lamp.  I can’t go down those stairs in the dark.  Don’t go away or that dreadful thing may come back.”

She shivered as she glanced toward the telescope.  Marie was weeping penitently.

“Dear Esther,” she said, “don’t you see that it was only I. There is the sheet on the floor.  I didn’t know it would make you faint.  Only say you forgive me, and I’ll take any punishment Mrs. Hosmer chooses to give me.”

“Oh, Marie, I know you didn’t mean it, but I can never forget that awful feeling when I felt myself falling.  But help me away from this ghostly place.”

Marie, frightened at the result of her heartless trick and really deeply touched by Esther’s distress, helped her to their room.

Then, notwithstanding Esther’s magnanimous offer to keep the whole matter a secret, to Marie’s credit be it said that she sent for Mrs. Hosmer and confessed the whole thing.