"As soon as we got upstairs, I had to pack Louise off before she had time to hear anything, for I can't have the whole household upset simply because a girl allows herself to become hysterical. May is now sitting with Gwen, as she won't be left alone for a moment."
"What are you going to do?" asked the Warden, in a slow hard voice.
"That's the question," she said, looking down at him narrowly.
"Do you want a doctor?" he asked. "Is it bad enough for that? It is rather late to ask any one to come in when there isn't any actual illness."
"Well, then, what do you suggest?" he asked.
"Couldn't you say something to her to quiet her?" said Lady Dashwood.
The Warden looked surprised. "I couldn't say anything, Lena, that you couldn't say. You can speak with authority when you like."
"More is wanted than that. She must be made to think she saw nothing here in this library," said Lady Dashwood. "You used to be able to 'suggest.' Don't you remember?"
"She would like to keep the whole house awake--if she had the chance," said Lady Dashwood, and the bitterness in her voice made her brother wince.
"Couldn't you make her believe that the ghost won't, or can't come again, or that there are no such things as ghosts?"
The Warden sat still; the glow was dying out of the cigar he held between his fingers. He did not move.
"When you were a boy you found it easy enough to suggest; I remember I disapproved of it. I want you to do it now, because we must have quiet in the house."
"She may not be susceptible to suggestion!" said the Warden, still obstinately keeping his seat.
"You think she is too flighty, that she has too little power of concentration," suggested Lady Dashwood, with a sting in her voice. "You must try: come, Jim! I want to get some rest, I'm very tired."
She did, indeed, look hollow-eyed, and seeing this he rose and threw his cigar into the fire. So this was the first thing he had to do as an engaged man: he had to prevent his future wife from disturbing the household. He had to distract her attention from absurd fears, he had to impose his will upon her. Such a relationship between them, the husband and wife that were to be, would be a relationship that he did not wish to have with any one whom he ought to respect, much less any one whom he ought to love.