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.

Strangway.  No!  Full moon, Tibby!  Shall we wish for it?

Tabby.  Full mune.

Strangway.  Moon!  We’re wishing for you.  Moon, moon!

Tibby.  Mune, we’re wishin’ for yu!

Strangway.  What do, you wish it to be?

Tibby.  Bright new shillin’!

Strangway.  A face.

Tibby.  Shillin’, a shillin’!

Strangway. [Taking out a shilling and spinning it so that it falls into her pinafore] See!  Your wish comes true.

Tibby.  Oh! [Putting the shilling in her mouth] Mune’s still there!

Strangway.  Wish for me, Tibby!

Tibby.  Mune.  I’m wishin’ for yu!