In silence we let Miss Reardon lead us to the sitting room of her suite on the third floor. It was small but pretty, and smelt of La France roses, though none were visible, nor were there any other flowers there. Robert and I looked at each other as this perfume rushed to meet us. La France roses were June's favourites, and belonged to the month of her birth. Robert had sent them to her often, especially when they were out of season and difficult to get.
"_She_ is here, waiting for us!" exclaimed Miss Reardon. "Oh, _surely_ you must see her--on the sofa, with her feet crossed--such pretty diamond buckles on her shoes!--and her lap full of roses. She holds up one rose, she kisses it, to you--Robert--Robert--some name that begins with L. I can't hear it clearly. But Robert is enough."
Yes, Robert was enough--more than enough!
Miss Reardon asked in an almost matter-of-fact way if he would like to sit down on the sofa beside June, who wished him to do so. He didn't answer; but he sat down, and his eyes stared at vacancy. I knew from their expression, however, that he saw nothing.
"What will be the next thing?" I wondered.
"_She_ asks me to take your hand and hers. Then she will talk to you through me," Miss Reardon explained. As she spoke, she drew up a small chair in front of the sofa, leaned forward, took Robert's right hand in hers, and held out the left, as if grasping another hand--a hand unseen.
As the medium did this, with thin elbows resting on thin knees, she closed her eyes. A look of _blankness_ came over her face like a mist. I can't describe it in any other way. Presently her chin dropped slightly. She seemed to sleep.
Neither Robert nor I had uttered a word since we entered the room. We waited tensely.
Just what I expected to happen I hardly know, for I had no experience of "manifestations" or séances. But what did happen surprised me so that I started, and just contrived to suppress a gasp.
A voice. It did not sound like Miss Reardon's voice, with its rather pleasant American accent. It was a creamy English voice, young and full-noted. "_June!_" I whispered under my breath, where I sat across the length of the room from the sofa. I glanced at Robert. There was surprise on his face, and some other emotion deep as his heart. But it was not joy.