"That was it, was it?" he said, feigning content. "I should like to ask
you another question; perhaps your daughter will not mind going down."
With evident reluctance the daughter withdrew. Valentine shut the door,
and came back to his place.
Naturally enough, he cared nothing about the story; so he approached the
only thing he did care about in the matter. "I want to ask you this one
thing: a ghost, you say, appeared to you--well, what do you think it was
for--what did it want--what did it mean?"
Evident surprise on the part of his listener.
"It must have come for something," Valentine added, when she remained
silent. "Have you never considered what?"
"Ay, sir, sure-ly. He came to let folks know he was gone."
"And that was all, you think?"
"What else could he come for?" she answered.
"Nobody has ever said, then, that it came for anything else," thought
Valentine. "The poor ghost is not accused of any crime, and there is no
crime known of concerning the family or place that could be imputed to
him."
"You are sure you have nothing more to say to me?"
"Ne'er a word, sir, this blessed marnin', but thank you kindly.
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