The spirit of adventure and curiosity that dwelled within her bosom was positively bursting with excitement! It was obvious there was something wildly interesting inside the gristmill, and Amoretta silently swore to herself she would discover what it was no matter what. She promised herself that nothing short of torture could keep her from seeing what was inside now that her feet were set on the path. Her imagination couldn't list possibilities quickly enough.

"Oh! Do link arms with me, Calliope," Blanche whispered, her brown eyes widening with apprehension. She took Calliope's arm, tightly linking it with her own. "The old Mulholland house still gives me the willies every time I walk past it. I hate to think on what might have gone on inside. It's truly terrifyin'!"

Reproduction of the original: Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama by E. Cobham Brewer

Evangeline startled a little as a somewhat quiet bark drew her attention from the autumn vista before her and to a medium-sized brown dog that had suddenly appeared at her side. The dog stood panting happily, as if he'd known her all her life, and it quite warmed Evangeline's heart. "Well, aren't you a friendly little fellow?" she giggled as the dog -- who, she quickly noticed, was missing one hind leg -- sat at her feet, wagging its tail and panting in joyous anticipation of attention. Again, Evangeline giggled. "Aren't you just a handsome man? Yes, you are," she said to the dog as she hunkered down and scratched behind his ears. She laughed when the dog's one hind leg began to beat the train platform as a signal of delight. "Oh, you are a sweetheart, aren't you? I bet you're quite the Romeo in town too, hmmm?"