"What's the matter?" he demanded.
"Sure I saw a ghost!" gasped Ellen. "I was on a chair dusting the
picture, as I always does mornings, an' I looked up, an' there in the
door stood the very same girl that's in the picture, kind of smiling
like. And so I give a yell an' run."
As she spoke Ida stepped out upon the piazza, and precipitately
sheltering herself behind Paul, Ellen whispered, "Sure there she is now!"
On seeing that, instead of sharing her terror, he cordially greeted the
ghost, the girl's face showed such comical bewilderment that Ida smiled
and Paul laughed outright.
"This is no ghost, Ellen. This lady is Miss Ida Ludington, a relative of
Miss Ludington's, who came to live here last night."
"I hope ye'll not mind me takin' ye for a ghost, miss," said Ellen,
confusedly; "but sure ye are the livin' image of the picture, and me not
knowin' anybody was in the house more than the family;" and she
disappeared to tell her story in the kitchen.
Ida's appearance was noticeably calmer than the night before. There was,
indeed, no indication of excitement in her manner.
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