“There’s only one thing left for me to do now.”  She said out aloud.  “I have no choice left but to go down there, first thing in the morning, at the crack of dawn…”

     “Yes, but I’m coming with you.” Said a voice from behind.”

     Mary turned to look back, startled.  An elderly man stood there, dressed in a light brown frock coat and green wellington boots and in his hand he held a heavy white book, entitled, “Revival” in gold letters.  He also wore a glass monacle on his right eye with a gold chain running into his waist coat pocket.

     “W…who are you and how did you get in here?  How long have you been here?”  The man held out his left hand, and smiled reassuringly.

     “My dear child, please calm down first.  You look so petrified.  Here, let me prepare you some warm soup, eh.”

     “No.  First I demand to know who you are.”  The man coughed and sat down on the stool beside her bed.  He spoke in a soft tone of voice.

     “Oh, I do apologise.  My name is Professor Stonehurt and I have come here to help you solve the mystery that surrounds you in this mansion.  I must admit, you are a very brave girl.  I mean, how did you manage or even dare to come back here after so many creepy incidents and warnings?”  Mary retreated back as far as she could on the bed and eyed him suspiciously.

     “You seem to know alot about me and what has been going on in my life.  Can I ask you, how did you come to find out?”

     “You certainly may not.”  Professor Stonehurt folded his arms tightly and formed a stubborn expression on his face, which seemed to say, do what you want, I won’t tell you, so there.  “You’ll just have to trust me completely.  But I promise you that only once we have cracked the mystery, I will reveal everything to you then and then alone: agreed; or should I leave?”  Mary paused in thought and stared at the Professor, straight into his eyes.  She reached out to touch his coat, as if to assure herself that he was as real as she was.  He smirked.