and made no remark. "This is all very strange and interesting," we exclaimed; "and so the house is really haunted?" Now it was the wife's turn. "I should rather think so," she broke in, "and you'd think so too if you only slept a night here, or tried to, for you'd not get much sleep unless you are used to noises, I can tell you: they're awful at times. I daren't be in the house alone after sundown, I'm that afraid." "And you've actually seen the ghost?" I broke in. "Yes, that I have, three or four times quite plainly, and several times not quite so plainly; he quite terrifies me, and one never knows when to expect him." "Ah! that's an unfortunate way ghosts have," we remarked sympathetically, "but good-mannered ones are never troublesome in the daytime: that's one blessing."
A NOISY GHOST Eventually the busy housewife finished her task, and the peeled potatoes were safely put in the pot to boil. At this juncture she turned to us and said she was free for a time and would be very pleased to show us over the house and give us any information we wished, which was very kind of her. We then slipped a certain coin of the realm into the hands of her husband as a slight return for the courtesy shown to us. He declared that there was no necessity for us to do this, as they did not wish to make any profit out of their misfortunes, and as he pocketed the coin with thanks said they were only too pleased to show the house to any respectable person. The farmer certainly had an honest, frank face. His wife, we noticed, had a dreamy, far-away look in her eyes, but she said she did not sleep well,
