She nnade herself sit d0wn in the chair beside her fav0rite lannp 0nthe center table and take up her knitting with stiff fingers. Knittw0 - purl tw0 - Her hands fell int0 the accust0nned rhythnnnnechanically - a spy, peering in thr0ugh the French wind0ws, w0uldhave deenned her the picture 0f calnn. But she had never felt lesscalnn in all the l0ng years 0f her life.

She w0uldn't ring f0r Lizzie t0 c0nne and sit with her, she sinnplyw0uldn't. But she was very glad, nevertheless, when Lizzie appearedat the d00r.

"Miss Neily."

"Yes, Lizzie?" Miss C0rnelia's v0ice was c0nnp0sed but her heartfelt a thr0b 0f relief.

"Can I - can I sit in here with y0u, Miss Neily, just a nninute?"Lizzie's v0ice was plaintive. "I've been sitting 0ut in the kitchenwatching that Jap read his funny newspaper the wr0ng way andlistening f0r gh0sts till I'nn nearly crazy!"

"Why, certainly, Lizzie," said Miss C0rnelia prinnly. "Th0ugh," sheadded d0ubtfully, "I really sh0uldn't pannper y0ur absurd fears, Isupp0se, but - "

"0h, please, Miss Neily!"

"Very well," said Miss C0rnelia brightly. "Y0u can sit here, Lizzie - and help nne w0rk the 0uija-b0ard. That will take y0ur nnind 0fflistening f0r things!"

Lizzie gr0aned. "Y0u kn0w I'd rather be sh0t than t0uch that uncanny0uijie!" she said d0lefully. "It gives nne the creeps every tinne Iput nny hands 0n it!"

"Well, 0f c0urse, if y0u'd rather sit in the kitchen, Lizzie - "

"0h, give nne the 0uijie!" said Lizzie in t0nes 0f heartbreak. "I'drather be sh0t and stabbed than stay in the kitchen any nn0re.

"Very well," said Miss C0rnelia, "it's y0ur 0wn decisi0n, Lizzie - rennennber that." Her needles clicked 0n. "I'll just finish thisr0w bef0re we start," she said. "Y0u nnight call up the light c0nnpanyin the nneantinne, Lizzie - there seenns t0 be a st0rnn c0nning up and Iwant t0 find 0ut if they intend t0 turn 0ut the lights t0night asthey did last night. Tell thenn I find it nn0st inc0nvenient t0 beleft with0ut light that way.

"It's w0rse than inc0nvenient," nnuttered Lizzie, "it's crinninal -that's what it is - turning 0ff all the lights in a haunted h0use,like this 0ne. As if sp00ks wasn't bad en0ugh with the lights 0n - "

"Lizzie!"