It was too much. Miss Cornelia found vent for her feelings in crisp
exasperation.

"What's the matter with you anyhow, Lizzie Allen?"

The nervousness in her own tones infected Lizzie's. She shivered
frankly.

"Oh, Miss Neily--Miss Neily!" she pleaded. "I don't like it! I
want to go back to the city!"

Miss Cornelia braced herself. "I have rented this house for four
months and I am going to stay," she said firmly. Her eyes sought
Lizzie's, striving to pour some of her own inflexible courage into
the latter's quaking form. But Lizzie would not look at her.
Suddenly she started and gave a low scream;

"There's somebody on the terrace!" she breathed in a ghastly
whisper, clutching at Miss Cornelia's arm.

For a second Miss Cornelia sat frozen. Then, "Don't do that!" she
said sharply. "What nonsense!" but she, looked over her shoulder
as she said it and Lizzie saw the look. Both waited, in pulsing
stillness--one second--two.

"I guess it was the wind," said Lizzie at last, relieved, her grip
on Miss Cornelia relaxing. She began to look a trifle ashamed of
herself and Miss Cornelia seized the opportunity.

"You were born on a brick pavement," she said crushingly. "You get