“Why, Flora was never ill in her life,” declared Ralph; “what’s the matter?”

“She is not really ill, but she fell over something last night and bruised her arm and shoulder, so that she feels lame and tired, and I thought a few hours in bed would be the best thing for her,” explained Mrs. Hayes.  “Mammy doesn’t seem to know just how it happened,” she concluded.

Sylvia and Grace had talked over the “ghost” before coming down-stairs.  Grace had tried best to convince Sylvia that she had really dreamed “Lady Caroline,” but Sylvia insisted that a figure in a wide plumed hat and a trailing gown had really stepped out of the closet.

“The moon was shining right where she stood.  I saw her just as plainly as I could see you when you sat up in bed,” Sylvia declared.  But both the girls agreed that it would be best not to say anything about “Lady Caroline” until they had told Flora.

After breakfast Mammy came to tell the visitors that Flora was ready to see them.

“But jus’ for a little while,” she added, as she opened the door of Flora’s chamber.

Flora was bolstered up in bed, and had on a dainty dressing-gown of pink muslin tied with white ribbons.  But there was a bandage about her right wrist, and a soft strip of cotton was bound about her head.

“Oh, girls!  It’s too bad that I can’t help you to have a good time to-day,” she said, “and all because I was so clumsy.”

Both the girls assured her that it was a good time just to be at the Hayes plantation.

“Flora!  There is a ghost!  Just as you said!  I saw it.  Just about midnight,” said Sylvia.

“Truly!” exclaimed Flora, in rather a faint voice.

“Yes.  And it was Lady Caroline.  For it wore a big hat, like the one in the picture, and its dress trailed all about it,” replied Sylvia.

“Then I guess Grace will believe this is a haunted house,” said Flora, a little triumphantly.

“I didn’t see it,” said Grace.  “And, truly, I believe Sylvia just dreamed it.”

Flora sat up in bed suddenly.

“Sylvia did not dream it.  I know she saw it,” she declared.

“Well, perhaps so.  But I didn’t,” and Grace laughed good-naturedly; but Flora turned her face from them and began to cry.

“After my being hurt, and—­” she sobbed, but stopped quickly.

Sylvia and Grace looked at each other in amazement.

“It’s because she is ill.  And she’s disappointed because you didn’t see Lady Caroline,” Sylvia whispered.  In a moment Flora looked up with a little smile.

“I am so silly,” she said.  “You must forgive me.  But I’m sure Sylvia did see—­”

“I begin to think she did,” Grace owned laughingly.  She had happened to look toward the open closet and had seen certain things which made her quite ready to own that Flora might be right.  But she was rather serious and silent for the rest of the visit.  Before they left Flora’s room Flora asked Sylvia not to tell anyone that she had seen a “ghost.”  “You see, the boys would laugh, and no one but me really believes the house is haunted,” she explained.