The Spectre

"But Mrs. Dubarry did not therefore get rid of her visitor. Not more
than three days had elapsed since the issuing of her order, when, one
evening between the lights, she entered her own bedroom, and saw the
girl in the red cloak sitting quietly in the easy-chair beside the fire.

"'How dare you come here, after the message I sent you? Get up and
begone, and let me never catch you here again,' angrily demanded the
lady.

"The apparition melted into air; but as it disappeared, the words came,
like a sigh borne upon the breeze: "'I wait.' "The lady was about to dress for an evening party, and so she paid no
attention to any chance sound.

"But the next morning she met the girl in the hall, and the next evening
in the parlor; again she passed the figure on the stairs, or encountered
it in the drawing-room. The lady lost patience, and sent for the
house-steward in her presence.

"'Did I not command that that girl should not come here again?' she
sternly demanded.

"'Yes, my lady,' respectfully answered the man.

"'Then how is it that she comes here as much as ever?' "'My dear lady, she have never entered the house since your ladyship
gave the order that she was not so to do.' "'But she has. I have seen her here at least a half a dozen times.' "'Dear lady, I dare not contradict you; but poor Milly Jones has been
down with the pleurisy for these two weeks past, and could not have got
out of her bed, even if your ladyship had ordered her to come.' "'Isaac, is this true?' "'True as truth, your ladyship, which you can find it out for yourself
by riding up to the hut and seeing the poor girl, which it would be a
charity so to do.' "'And you say she has not been here for a fortnight?' "'No, madam.' "'Then, in the name of Heaven, who is it that I meet so often?' slowly
and sternly demanded Mrs. Dubarry.