"I'm very glad you're not a boy," said Blanche. "You're just as good as one in being strong and knowing how to do things, but you're much nicer than a boy." And she gave her friend a loving hug; then continuing, "I don't suppose the fairies would talk to a boy like they do to you."
"No, they say that they only talk to people who believe in them," laughing, and looking at Blanche.
"I say, Marj," said Blanche suddenly, "do you believe in ghosts?"
"Because," lowering her voice and speaking in a low, mysterious tone, "Crossley--that's our maid--told me that the people in the village say your house is haunted, that a light comes there in the middle of the night, and moves about in the old part. Have you ever seen it?"
"No; the old part is always shut up. I never heard about any light."
"Wouldn't it be fun if we could find out about it?" said Blanche excitedly.
"Yes. But how could you be there in the middle of the night? I might go and look some night."
"Not by yourself; you _couldn't_. Besides, it would be much jollier to be together. It would be so exciting finding out what it is, and so romantic. Mother says that all such stories can generally be explained by some quite ordinary thing; but still it's fun finding out, isn't it?"
Marjory agreed, but her busy little brain was trying to discover some possible explanation of the mysterious lights. She had no fears of the darkness. Her simple faith taught her that she was as safe in the dark as in the daylight, but she had many fancies--fancies that had come to her as she lay alone in her little bed watching the moonbeams playing across her windows, and listening to the whispering of the leaves outside. The darkness was full of mystery and charm to the lonely child, but fear had no place in her thoughts concerning it. What could these lights be--lights that moved about when every one else was asleep? Could they be the will-o'-the-wisp that Peter had told her about? Could they perhaps be angels with beautiful white wings and stars on their foreheads--guardian angels watching over the house while its inmates slept peacefully?
"Oh, I _should_ like to see what it is!" she cried. "We _must_ try some night, if only you could come and stay with me!"