Wilkie Collins "Mrs.Zant and the Ghost"

THE events happened soon after the first thirty years of the present century had come to an end.

___ a fine morning, early ___ the month of April, a gentleman ___ middle age (named Rayburn) took his little daughter Lucy out ___ a walk ___ the woodland pleasure-ground of Western London, called Kensington Gardens.

The few friends whom he possessed reported of Mr. Rayburn (not unkindly) that he was a reserved and solitary man. He might have been more accurately described as a widower devoted to his only surviving child. Although he was not more than forty years of age, the one pleasure which made life enjoyable to Lucy's father was offered by Lucy herself.

Playing ___ her ball, the child ran ___ to the southern limit of the Gardens, ___ that part of it which still remains nearest ___ the old Palace of Kensington. Observing close at hand one of those spacious covered seats, called ___ England "alcoves," Mr. Rayburn was reminded that he had the morning's newspaper ___ his pocket, and that he might do well to rest and read. ___ that early hour the place was a solitude.

"Go on playing, my dear," he said; "but take care to keep where I can see you."

Lucy tossed ___ her ball; and Lucy's father opened his newspaper. He had not been reading ___ more than ten minutes, when he felt a familiar little hand laid ___ his knee.

"Tired of playing?" he inquired—with his eyes still ___ the newspaper.

"I'm frightened, papa."

He looked ___ directly. The child's pale face startled him. He took her ___ his knee and kissed her.

"You oughtn't to be frightened, Lucy, when I am ___ you," he said, gently. "What is it?" He looked out of the alcove as he spoke, and saw a little dog ___ the trees. "Is it the dog?" he asked.

Lucy answered:

"It's not the dog—it's the lady."

The lady was not visible ___ the alcove.

"Has she said anything ___ you?" Mr. Rayburn inquired.

"No."

"What has she done to frighten you?"

The child put her arms ___ her father's neck.

"Whisper, papa," she said; "I'm afraid ___ her hearing us. I think she's mad."

"Why do you think so, Lucy?"

"She came near to me. I thought she was going to say something. She seemed to be ill."

"Well? And what then?"

"She looked ___ me."

There, Lucy found herself at a loss how to express what she had to say next—and took refuge in silence.

"Nothing very wonderful, so far," her father suggested.

"Yes, papa—but she didn't seem to see me when she looked."

"Well, and what happened then?"

"The lady was frightened—and that frightened me. I think," the child repeated positively, "she's mad."

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