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That he did Such a clamor! A creould work for a week, then be curtly dismissed, only to be replaced by a neho would last perhaps five or six days before Mr Hobbes sent the in the old cellar, building a storeroooods and supplies--or so he said, for Ida was not allowed below "Too dangerous," he’d told her with a smile that did not reach his eyes (His eyes, those cold andeyes) "Wouldn’t want you to catch your death down there" There were other peculiar changes in the house Doors that went nowhere Decorative rosettes that frae ss and necessary for higher spiritual work A long laundry chute that Mrs White assured her would help the poor laundress They were down to only three servants--a laundress, a houseraceful, and Ida hoped no one kne bad things were But then Mary would smile and tell her she’d been visited by the spectral for rose over therateful for this small comfort For Ida’s nervous state, Mary offered her sine, which soest dreaes of sober-faced e ht Once or twice afrom downstairs People cas?" Ida asked anxiously one evening when they dined She only picked at her food; the roast beef was far too bloody for her taste

"Why don’t you join us, reat city, is fallen It is ti A rebirth Wouldn’t you say, Miss Knowles?" Mr Hobbes asked, s His eyes were so very blue that Ida felt quite undone For aat him, she wondered what it would be like to dance with Mr Hobbes To feel his kiss His caress And as soon as she thought it, she was overcome with revulsion

"I’m sure I don’t knohat you mean," she said Her hands tre pool on her plate "I… I’o to bed"

That night, she heard strange sounds co from inside the house, the most terrible bestial noises and whispers She was too afraid to leave her bedroo

In a cabinet in the fore leather-bound book, rather like a Bible But when Ida tried to get at it, she discovered that the cabinet was locked Her own cabinet in her own house, locked against her! Shaking with anger, she confronted Mrs White (for she no longer regarded her with the sisterly affection of "Mary") "I won’t have it, Mrs White I won’t," Ida sniped

"It isn’t your house any longer, my dear," Mrs White answered, and her smile was cruel

It was a Tuesday when Ida discovered a pile of bloodied clothing scraps that Mr Hobbes assured her, in as delicate a fashion as was proper, belonged to the laundress and which was due to the girl’sfor her Of course we offered her fresh clothing and sent her home to rest The poor, poor dear I fear she is too overcome by shame to return to us") Ida wrote a desperate letter to her cousin in Boston, who sent the authorities, but when they came Ida was in such a torpor that Mrs White told the cared for, and that she hoped even this effort to descend the stairs and suber The authorities retreated,servant, Eood-bye She didn’t even stop to collect her wages

Ida had had enough She’d stopped drinking the wine Her body, though weakened, was strong enough to carry her down the stairs, for she intended to knoas happening in her own home Yes, her home! It had been built by her father, for their family! She was a Knowles, not like these Johnny-come-latelies with their new money and airs: that charlatan Mrs White, who had left to conduct a séance at the country house of some poor soul with more money than sense And Mr Hobbes Mr Hobbes, with his cold eyes and arrogant air, his lies and secrets Wickedin her house, and she would begin by looking in the forbidden cellar

She took the long, narrow staircase down into the dank, dark space It sed at the foulness of it She’d have a quick look around and, hopefully, she’d find what she needed to go to the authorities and have these horrid people thrown out of her house Then she’d look for a proper tenant, or even--dare she think it?--a husband A knight noble ould share her life Together, they’d ain Host parties attended by decent people, people of consequence and status Knowles’ End would reign once more