It was pitch dark. There were no glimmerings of lights outside as in a city. The night was cloudy, without star or moon visible. Quite a breeze was stirring. Perhaps there would be another storm, though there were no flashes of electricity.
"Tap, tap, tap, tap," she heard. Well, that might be the broken branch that she had noticed hanging against the pergola outside.
Then a weird sound began. Perhaps that was what had wakened Nell. That must be the "Dutch Banshee" that Jan had mentioned. It was indescribable, something like the whistling of the wind, then a little like the hooting of an owl. Was that what Paulina meant, then?
That _was_ a queer, rustling sound. Yes, it _did_ sound like someone lightly coming down a stairway; why, it sounded right in the wall, Jannet thought! Step, step, step, step, slowly. Paulina would be saying "That's '_Her!_'"
Could it be true that there was something sinister and evil, or something unhappy, that could not rest, that came back to its old home? In the daytime Jannet would not have had these fearful thoughts, but it was eerie, indeed, to lie in a dark room and listen to sounds that she did not understand.
A faint moaning sound began and suddenly stopped with a little choke or gasp.
"Is Chick a ventriloquist?" whispered Jannet.
"No," replied Nell, "and neither is Jan."
For a few moments there was no sound at all. Then the "Dutch Banshee" began again. Jannet whispered, "Static,--Jan's radio!"
Jannet listened. Yes, it did sound more like a voice now. How scarey it did make a body feel! Anyhow it wasn't in the room. Jannet sat up in bed, determined not to be frightened as she had been before. If there were anything going on, she was going to see it, come what might! She wished again for the flashlight that she had forgotten and left at school. Nell gained courage and sat up, too.
Now there was an odd light from somewhere. Why,--there was a dim veiled light on the wall, as if shining through! What in the world! There, it was gone. But some one was moaning,--no, sobbing!
Next the sound, tap, tap, tap. Jannet again thought of Paulina's expression: "I suppose that's 'Her' coming down some stairs somewhere," she whispered to Nell, who still clutched her hand.