I looked up and saw that Miriam 's work had dropped on her knee and she was leaning forward , her lips apart , her eyes gazing upward with an unearthly expression . '' ` Do n't look like that , Miriam ! ' I said , with a little shiver . ` You seem to be looking at something a thousand miles away ! ' `` Miriam came out of her trance or reverie and said , with a little laugh : '' ` How do you know but that I was ? ' `` She bent her head for a minute or two . Then she lifted it again and looked at me with a sudden contraction of her level brows that betokened vexation . '' ' I wish you had n't spoken to me just then , ' she said . ` You interrupted the message I was receiving . I shall not get it at all now . ' '' ` Miriam , ' I implored . ' I so wish my dear girl , that you would n't talk so . It makes people think there is something queer about you . Who in the world was sending you a message , as you call it ? ' '' ` Sidney , ' said Miriam simply . '' ` Nonsense ! ' '' ` You think it is nonsense because you do n't understand it , ' was her calm response . `` I recall another event was when some caller dropped in and we had drifted into a discussion about ghosts and the like -- and I 've no doubt we all talked some delicious nonsense . Miriam said nothing at the time , but when we were alone I asked her what she thought of it . '' ' I thought you were all merely talking against time , ' she retorted evasively . ''
` But , Miriam , do you really think it is possible XXXXX ghosts -- ' '' ' I detest that word ! ' ''
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