"The very idea made me creep. Put my hand behind those curtains and
touch--what? Even the cold wall would be sufficient to terrify me. For
reply I remarked suggestively, 'If we had the light we could see.'
"'Yes, that would be just the thing. Go bring it--do!'
"I felt that something must be done, and soon, or I should be in no
state to accomplish it. If Nan would not go, I must: when we had the
light half our trouble would be over, and, after all, she might have
been mistaken.
"'Did the door move?' I ventured to ask.
"'No, it didn't do anything--at least I don't think it did--but it
_looked_ so awful that it frightened me.'
"'That light in there may set something on fire,' I remarked.
"'Go fetch it: it will only take you a minute. Do go!'
"'You are sure the door didn't open?' I asked, far from liking my
task.
"'I will go with you half-way,' she volunteered, 'and stand there
while you run in quick. Come on, and don't let us talk any more about
it: we shall only get more and more frightened.' You will see that
Annie's gifts lay more in persuasion than in action.
"Thus adjured, I went with her to the communicating door, cautiously
listened, then looked through the keyhole. The silence within was
oppressive, but the flickering bougie warned me that I must make an
effort, and without allowing myself time to think I hastily turned the
key and opened the door.
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