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ANNABELLA (eagerly).

Whose ghost was it? Who was the dead man you saw?

RUTHERFORD (rising from his chair, and stepping back from her with displeasure).

I reckoned, Madam, but upon one listener.

LADY DUNGARREN.

Nay, be not angry with her. Who can well refrain from listening to such a tale? And be not angry with me neither, when I ask you one question, which it so much concerns me to know. Saw you aught besides this apparition? any witches or creatures of evil?

RUTHERFORD.

I will answer that question, Lady, at another time, and in greater privacy.

ANNABELLA (to Lady Dungarren).

He has seen them; it is evident he has. But some of his friends might be amongst them: there may be good cause for secrecy and caution.

DUNGARREN (to Annabella).

Why do you press so unsparingly upon a man whose spirits have, from some cause or other, received such a shock?

RUTHERFORD.

I forgive her, Dungarren: say no more about it. It is God's goodness to me that I am here