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Benson, Robert Hugh, 1871-1914

"The Necromancers"

"It
wasn't in the least disfigured, if that--"
"Maggie, will you please tell me exactly in what condition this grave
was yesterday? When was it put right?"
"I ... I noticed it when I brought the chrysanthemums up yesterday
morning. The ground was sunk a little, and cracks were showing at the
sides. I told the sexton to put it right. He seems to have done it....
Laurie, why do you look like that?"
He was staring at her with an expression that might have meant
anything. She would not have been surprised if he had burst into a fit
of laughter. It was horrible and unnatural.
"Laurie! Laurie! Don't look like that!"
He turned suddenly away and left her. She hurried after him.
On the way to the house he told her the whole story from beginning to
end.

III
The two were sitting together in the little smoking-room at the back
of the house on the last night of Laurie's holidays. He was to go back
to town next morning.
Maggie had passed a thoroughly miserable week. She had had to keep her
promise not to tell Mrs. Baxter--not that that lady would have been of
much service, but the very telling would be a relief--and things
really were not serious enough to justify her telling Father Mahon.


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