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r neighbour； she had had for nurse a woman who rejoiced in supernatural events。 With ghost stories of the most terrifying kind she besieged Grace's young heart and mind。 The child had never imagination enough to visualise these stories in the true essence； but she seized upon external detail…the blue lights； the white shimmering garments； the moon and the church clock； the clanking chain and the stain of blood upon the board。
These things were not for her； and indeed did she allow her fancy to dwell； for a moment； upon them she was besieged at once by so horrid a panic that she lost all control and self…possession。 She therefore very quickly put those things from her and thenceforth lived in the world as in a castle surrounded by a dark moat filled with horrible and slimy creatures who would raise a head at her did she so much as glance their way。
She decided then never to look； and from a very early age those quarters of life became to her 〃queer；〃 indecent； and dangerous。 All the more she fastened her grip upon the things that she could see and hold； and these things repaid her devotion by never deceiving her or pretending to be what they were not。 She believed intensely in forms and repetitions； she liked everything to be where she expected it to be； people to say the things that she expected them to say； clocks to strike at the right time； and trains to be up to the minute。 With all this she could never be called an accurate or careful woman。 She was radically stupid； stupid in the real sense of the word； so that her mind did not grasp a new thought or fact until it had been repeated to her again and again； so that she had no power of expressing herself； and a deep inaccuracy about everything and every one which she endeavoured to cover by a stream of aimless lies that deceived no one。 She would of course have been very indignant had any one told her that she was stupid。 She hated what she called 〃clever people〃 and never had them near her if she could help it。 She was instantly suspicious of any one who liked ideas or wanted anything changed。 With all this she was of an extreme obstinacy and a deep； deep jealousy。 She clung to what she had with the tenacity of a mollusc。 What she had was in the main Paul； and her affection for him was a very real human quality in her。
He was exactly what she would have chosen had she been allowed at the beginning a free choice。 He was lazy and good…tempered so that he yielded to her on every possible point； he was absolutely orthodox and never shocked her by a thought or a word out of the ordinary； he really loved her and believed in her and said； quite truly； that he would not have known what to do without her。
It seems strange then that it should have been in the main her urgency that led to the acquisition of Maggie。 During the last year she had begun to be seriously uneasy。 Things were not what they had been。 Mrs。 Constantine and others in the parish were challenging her authority； even the Choir boys were scarcely so subservient as they had been； and； worst of all； Paul himself was strangely restive and unquiet。 He talked at times of getting married； wondered whether she； Grace； wouldn't like some one to help her in the house； and even； on one terrifying occasion； suggested leaving Skeaton altogether。 A momentary vision of what it would be to live without Paul； to give up her kingdom in Skeaton； to have to start all over again to acquire dominion in some new place； was enough for Grace。
She must find Paul a wife； and she must find some one who would depend upon her； look up to her； obey her； who would； incidentally； take some of the tiresome and monotonous drudgery off her shoulders。 The moment she saw Maggie she was resolved； here was just the creature； a mouse of a girl； no parents； no money； no appearance； nothing to make her proud or above herself； some one to be moulded and trained in the way she should go。 To her great surprise she discovered that Paul was at once attracted by Maggie： had she ever wondered at anything she would have wondered at this； but she decided that it was because she herself had made the suggestion。 Dear Paul； he was always so eager to fall in with any of her proposals。
Her mind misgave her a little when she saw that he was really in love。 What could he see in that plain； gauche； uncharming creature？ See something he undoubtedly did。 However； that would wear off very quickly。 The Skeaton atmosphere was against romance and Paul was too lazy to be in love very long。 Once or twice in the weeks before the wedding Grace's suspicions were aroused。
Maggie seemed to be an utter little heathen； also it appeared that she had had some strange love affair that she had taken so seriously as actually to be ill over it。 That was odd and a little alarming； but the child was very young； and once married…there she'd be； so to speak！
It was not； in fact； until that evening of her arrival in Skeaton that she was seriously alarmed。 To say that that first ten minutes in Paul's study alarmed her is to put it mildly indeed。 As she looked at the place where her mother's portrait had been； as she stared at the trembling Mitch cowering against Maggie's dress； she experienced the most terrifying； shattering upheaval since the day when as a little girl of six she had been faced as she had fancied； with the dripping ghost of her great…uncle William。 Not at once； however； was the battle to begin。 Maggie gave way about everything。 She gave way at first because she was so confident of getting what she wanted later on。 She never conceived that she was not to have final power in her own house； Paul had as yet denied her nothing。 She moved the pictures and the pots and the crochet work down from the attic and replaced them where they had been…or； nearly replaced them。 She found it already rather amusing to puzzle Grace by changing their positions from day to day so that Grace was bewildered and perplexed。
Grace said nothingonly solidly and with panting noises （she suffered from shortness of breath） plodded up and down the house； reassuring herself that all her treasures were safe。
Maggie； in fact； enjoyed herself during the weeks immediately following Grace's return。 Paul seemed tranquil and happy； there were no signs of fresh outbreaks of the strange passion that had so lately frightened her。 Maggie herself found her duties in connection with the Church and the house easier than she had expected。 Every one seemed very friendly。 Grace chattered on with her aimless histories of unimportant events and patted Maggie's hand and smiled a great deal。 Surely all was very well。 Perhaps this was the life for which Maggie was intended。
And that other life began to be dim and faint…even Martin was a little hidden and mysterious。 Strangely she was glad of that； the only way that this could be carried through was by keeping the other out of it。 Would the two worlds mingle？ Would the faces and voices of those spirits be seen and heard again？ Would they leave Maggie now or plan to steal her back？ The whole future of her life depended on the answer to that 。 。 。
During those weeks she investigated Skeaton very thoroughly。 She found that her Skeaton； the Skeaton of Fashion an