"Well, at all events, what we have both, either separately or together,
seen and experienced, must be something perfectly natural and
commonplace, although we may not either of us be able to understand or
explain it. My private opinion and worse misgiving is, that there is
some woman concealed about the place. If ever I find myself in arm's
length of that little gipsy, I shall intercept her, even at the risk of
receiving such a spiritual-shock as that which struck Mrs. Alicia
Dubarry to the ground," said Lyon, facetiously; for he might well make a
jest of this lighter affair of the chapel mystery to veil the deep
anxiety he felt in the heavy matter of their affliction.
The husband and wife passed this second day of hiding tediously enough.
She made the little housekeeping corner of the chapel tidy, by folding
up and putting aside all their bedclothes and garments, and by washing
and arranging their few cooking utensils. He brought in wood and brush,
which he broke up and piled in another corner, to have it near at hand
to replenish the fire. Also, he brought water from the spring; and then
with no other instrument than his pocket-knife, he made a trap and set
it to catch rabbits.
Then they rambled together through the wilderness around the chapel, and
the better they grew acquainted with the wild neighborhood, the surer
they felt of their safety in its profound solitude.
Their only anxiety connected with their security in this place, was upon
the subject of the mysterious visitant. It was incomprehensible by any
known law of nature.
They talked of this mystery. They reverted to all the so-called
"authenticated ghost stories" that they had ever read or heard, and that
they had hitherto set down to be either impostures or delusions.
But now here was a fact in their own experience that utterly confounded
their judgment, and the end of their discussion on the subject left them
just where they had been at its commencement. They resolved, however, to
divulge the whole matter to Captain Pendleton, to whom they had not yet
even hinted it, and to ask his counsel; and they looked forward with
impatience to the evening visit of this devoted friend.
As it was growing cold towards the setting of the sun they turned their
steps again towards the chapel. It was quite dark when they reached it.
Their fire had nearly gone out, but he replenished it, and she began to
prepare the evening meal.
While she was still engaged in this work, the sound of approaching
footsteps warned them that Captain Pendleton was near. Lyon Berners went
out to meet him.