once resolved to pay the sevenpence-halfpenny to the widow, in order to make all sure.
The reflections of the reverend gentleman were of a still more deeply metaphysical caste. He had, theretofore, imagined apparitions to be spiritual, ethereal!—beings having nothing at all physical about them! —but the spirit which he had seen was enveloped in a sheet, of which the material was linen—material linen! The question, therefore, was, Where did it get that sheet? The attempt, however, to solve this question was presumptuous. The reverend gentleman felt it to be presumptuous—although he tried hard to get at the solution—and as he eventually thought that he must have been mistaken—as he brought himself at length to believe that the sheet which he had seen was a spiritual sheet—he turned to the consideration of the course which he felt it his duty to pursue, and upon this he was engaged until the day began to dawn, when he and Jones left the cottage, and went thoughtfully home.
CHAPTER XII.
THE FEARFUL CONJECTURE.
When Judkins went into the stable that morning, he found Snorter steaming and bleeding at the mouth; and feeling indignant at the idea of his being thus treated, he declared he'd give a crown if the horse could but speak.
'What devil's tricks have they been up to now?" he enquired of the animal. " What have they been doing with you? What have they been after? What do they want to spit their spite upon you for? Come out, old boy—come, and let's have a look at you. They've guv you a benefit this time, that's certain!" he added, on finding the horse in a worse plight than before. "Poor fellow!—poor old fellow!—have they been ill-using on you? Poor old boy! But I'll catch 'em! Blarm their bodies on 'em, I'll find 'em out. But a'n't you a fool?" he continued, indignantly, "What do you mean? Why didn't you kick 'em clean off? What did you want to let 'em sarve you out in this here way for? Do you think I'd ha' stood it? Why didn't you strike out fierce, when you saw 'em come into the stable? You might ha' knowed what they wanted—it wasn't the first time. What did you want to let 'em take advantage of your ignorance for? You know them as treats you well, don't you? Very well, then, why don't you know them as treats you ill? Poor old boy! come and let's wash your mouth out. Poor old fellow! There—you'll soon be all right again. You a'n't lame, are you? No, you a'n't lame. Come along in again, and make your
