And when morning had come, the nocturnal visitation wore such a
different aspect to both our minds that we decided to say nothing to
our parents, who, said Clarence, would simply disbelieve him; and,
indeed, I inclined to suppose it had been an uncommonly vivid dream,
produced in that sensitive nature by the uncanny sounds of the wind
in the chinks and crannies of the ancient chamber. Had not Scott's
Demonology and Witchcraft, which we studied hard on that day, proved
all such phantoms to be explicable? The only person we told was
Griff, who was amused and incredulous. He had heard the noises--oh
yes! and objected to having his sleep broken by them. It was too
had to expose Clarence to them--poor Bill--on whom they worked such
fancies!
He interrogated Chapman, however, but probably in that bantering way
which is apt to produce reserve. Chapman never 'gave heed to them
fictious tales,' he said; but, when hard pressed, he allowed that he
had 'heerd that a lady do walk o' winter nights,' and that was why
the garden door of the old rooms was walled up. Griff asked if this
was done for fear she should catch cold, and this somewhat affronted
him, so that he averred that he knew nought about it, and gave no
thought to such like.
Just then they arrived at the Winslow Arms, and took each a glass of
ale, when Griff, partly to tease Chapman, asked the landlady--an old
Chantry House servant--whether she had ever met the ghost.
Pages:
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118