“I shall not have to leave you to-night,” was all Margaret’s answer.

As for Hugh, when first he woke, the extraordinary experiences of the previous night appeared to him to belong only to the night, and to have no real relation to the daylight world.  But a little reflection soon convinced him of the contrary; and then he went through the duties of the day like one who had nothing to do with them.  The phantoms he had seen even occupied some of the thinking space formerly appropriated by the image of Euphra, though he knew to his concern that she was ill, and confined to her room.  He had heard the message sent to Mr. Arnold, however, and so kept hoping for the dinner-hour.

With it came Euphra, very pale.  Her eyes had an unsettled look, and there were dark hollows under them.  She would start and look sideways without any visible cause; and was thus very different from her usual self —­ ordinarily remarkable for self-possession, almost to coolness, of manner and speech.  Hugh saw it, and became both distressed and speculative in consequence.  It did not diminish his discomfort that, about the middle of dinner, Funkelstein was announced.  Was it, then, that Euphra had been tremulously expectant of him?

“This is an unforeseen pleasure, Herr von Funkelstein,” said Mr. Arnold.

“It is very good of you to call it a pleasure, Mr. Arnold,” said he.  “Miss Cameron —­ but, good heavens! how ill you look!”

“Don’t be alarmed.  I have only caught the plague.”

“Only?” was all Funkelstein said in reply; yet Hugh thought he had no right to be so solicitous about Euphra’s health.

As the gentlemen sat at their wine, Mr. Arnold said: 

“I am anxious to have one more trial of those strange things you have brought to our knowledge.  I have been thinking about them ever since.”

“Of course I am at your service, Mr. Arnold; but don’t you think, for the ladies’ sakes, we have had enough of it?”

“You are very considerate, Herr von Funkelstein; but they need not be present if they do not like it.”

“Very well, Mr. Arnold.”

They adjourned once more to the library instead of the drawing-room.  Hugh went and told Euphra, who was alone in the drawing-room, what they were about.  She declined going, but insisted on his leaving her, and joining the other gentlemen.

Hugh left her with much reluctance.

“Margaret,” said Lady Emily, “I am certain that man is in the house.”

“He is, my lady,” answered Margaret.

“They are about some more of those horrid experiments, as they call them.”

“I do not know.”

Mrs. Elton entering the room at the moment, Margaret said: 

“Do you know, ma’am, whether the gentlemen are —­ in the library again?”

“I don’t know, Margaret.  I hope not.  We have had enough of that.  I will go and find out, though.”