"Great heavens!" she thought, "can these things really be! Have the
ghostly traditions of this world truth in them at last? When I heard
this story of the haunted window I thought some one had surely
imagined or invented it! Now I have seen for myself; but if I were
to tell what I have seen not one in a hundred would believe me!"

While these startling thoughts disturbed her usual well-balanced
mind, a vivid flash of lightning, accompanied by a tremendous peal
of thunder and a heavy fall of rain, roused her into renewed
activity.

"Gyp, my boy, the storm is upon us sure enough! We shall catch it
all around, get well drowned, beaten and buffeted here and well
abused when we get home! Meantime, Gyp, which is the worst, the full
fury of the tempest or the mysterious terrors of the Haunted House!"

Another blinding flash of lightning, a stunning crash of thunder, a
flood of rain and tornado of wind decided her.

"We'll take the Haunted House, Gyp, my friend! That spectral lady of
the lighted window looked rather in sorrow than in anger, and who
knows but the ghosts may be hospitable? So gee up, Dobbin!" said
Capitola, and, urging her horse with one hand and holding on her cap
with the other, she went on against wind and rain until she reached
the front of the old house.

Not a creature was to be seen; every door and window was closely
shut. Dismounting, Capitola led her horse under the shelter of a
thickly leaved oak tree, secured him, and then holding up her