“Safe from whom, my child?” replied the astonished Jacintha; “What alarms you? Of whom are you afraid?”

“In three days! She told me that we should meet in three days! I heard her say it! I saw her, Jacintha, I saw her but this moment!”

She threw herself upon Jacintha’s bosom.

“You saw her? Saw whom?”

“My mother’s ghost!”

“Christ Jesus!” cried Jacintha, and starting from the bed, let fall Antonia upon the pillow, and fled in consternation out of the room.

As she hastened downstairs, she met Flora ascending them.