Gradually the fast beating of her heart had slackened, and she passed her hand over her face in bewilderment.
"It wasn't like a dream at all," she murmured; "it really wasn't.

I _felt_ it." Still as absolutely nothing was to be found, the sense of reality diminished somewhat, and being so healthy a creature, she regained her composure, and on going back to bed slept well until Jane brought her early tea.
Under the influence of fresh morning air and sunlight, of ordinary breakfast and breakfast talk with the Osborns, her first convictions receded so far that she laughed a little as she related the incident.
"I never had such a real dream in my life," she said; "but it must have been a dream." "One's dreams are very real sometimes," said Hester.
"Perhaps it was the Palstrey ghost," Osborn laughed.

"It came to you because you ignore it." He broke off with a slight sudden start and stared at her a second questioningly.

"Did you say it put its hand on your side ?" he asked.
"Don't tell her silly things that will frighten her.

How ridiculous of you," exclaimed Hester sharply.