first visit still impressed upon her mind. Everything was unchanged in
that chamber of the dead, except, perhaps, the sprawling cupids on the
ceiling, which looked a shade dingier than of old, and more in need of
soap and water than ever. But the black draperies on the walls, the huge
candles in the silver tripods, the pall-covered coffin in the middle of
the room, were all as Janet had seen them last. There, too, was the
oaken _prie-dieu_ a yard or two away from the head of the coffin. Sister
Agnes knelt on it for a few moments, and bent her head in silent prayer.

"My visit to this room every midnight," said Sister Agnes, "is made for
the simple purpose of renewing the candles, and of seeing that
everything is as it should be. That the visit should be made at
midnight, and at no other time, is one of Lady Chillington's whims--a
whim that by process of time has crystallised into a law. The room is
never entered by day."

"Was it whim or madness that caused Sir John Chillington to leave orders
that his body should be kept above ground for twenty years?"

"Who shall tell by what motive he was influenced when he had that
particular clause inserted in his will? Deepley Walls itself hangs on
the proper fulfilment of the clause. If Lady Chillington were to cause
her husband's remains to be interred in the family vault before the
expiry of the twenty years, the very day she did so the estate would
pass from her to the present baronet, a distant cousin, between whom and
her ladyship there has been a bitter feud of many years' standing.
Although Deepley Walls has been in the family for a hundred and fifty
years, it has never been entailed. The entailed estate is in Yorkshire,
and there Sir Mark, the present baronet, resides. Lady Chillington has
the power of bequeathing Deepley Walls to whomsoever she may please,