[She leads a noiseless scamper towards the shoes.  Bobbie Jarland shins up the ladder and seizes the lantern.  Ivy drops the tambourine.  They all fly to the big doors, and vanish into the moonlight, pulling the door nearly to again after them.]

[There is the sound of scrabbling at the hitch of the side door, and Strangway comes into the nearly dark barn.  Out in the night the owl is still hooting.  He closes the door, and that sound is lost.  Like a man walking in his sleep, he goes up to the ladder, takes the rope in his hand, and makes a noose.  He can be heard breathing, and in the darkness the motions of his hands are dimly seen, freeing his throat and putting the noose round his neck.  He stands swaying to and fro at the foot of the ladder; then, with a sigh, sets his foot on it to mount.  One of the big doors creaks and opens in the wind, letting in a broad path of moonlight.]

     [Strangway stops; freeing his neck from the noose, he walks
     quickly up the track of moonlight, whitened from head to foot,
     to close the doors.]

     [The sound of his boots on the bare floor has awakened Tibby
     Jarland.  Struggling out of her hay nest she stands staring at
     his whitened figure, and bursts suddenly into a wail.]

Tibby.  O-oh!  Mercy!  Where are yu?  I’m frightened!  I’m frightened!  O-oooo!

Strangway. [Turning—­startled] Who’s that?  Who is it?

Tibby.  O-oh!  A ghosty!  Oo-ooo!

Strangway. [Going to her quickly] It’s me, Tibby—­Tib only me!

Tibby.  I seed a ghosty.

Strangway. [Taking her up] No, no, my bird, you didn’t!  It was me.

Tibby. [Burying her face against him] I’m frighted.  It was a big one. [She gives tongue again] O-o-oh!

Strangway.  There, there!  It’s nothing but me.  Look!

Tibby.  No. [She peeps out all the same.]

Strangway.  See!  It’s the moonlight made me all white.  See!  You’re a brave girl now?

Tibby. [Cautiously] I want my apple.

     [She points towards her nest.  Strangway carries her there,
     picks up an apple, and gives it her.  Tibby takes a bite.]

Tibby.  I want any tambourine.

Strangway. [Giving her the tambourine, and carrying her back into the’ track of moonlight] Now we’re both ghosties!  Isn’t it funny?

Tabby. [Doubtfully] Yes.

Strangway.  See!  The moon’s laughing at us!  See?  Laugh then!

     [Tabby, tambourine in one hand and apple in the other, smiles
     stolidly.  He sets her down on the ladder, and stands, holding
     her level With him.]

Tabby. [Solemnly] I’se still frightened.