chwarden now coming to the broad arched door.

"Well?" he cried; "caught 'em?"

"There's no one there," came chorused back.

"Then we must all hev dreamed we heard bell swing," said the
churchwarden. "Let's all goo back to bed."

"It is very mysterious," said the rector.

"Very strange," said the doctor. "The ringing was of so unusual a
character, too."

"Owd place is harnted," said a deep voice from the crowd, the speaker
having covered his mouth with his hand, so as to disguise his voice.

"Shame!" said the rector sternly. "I did not think I had a parishioner
who could give utterance to such absurd sentiments."

"Then what made bell ring?" cried another voice.

"I do not know yet," said the rector, gravely; "but there must have been
some good and sufficient reason."

"Perhaps one of the bells was left sticking up," said Macey--a remark
which evoked a roar of laughter.

"It is nearly two o'clock, my good friends," said the rector, quietly;
"and we are doing no good discussing this little puzzle. Leave it till
daylight, and let us all return home to our beds. Chakes, have the
goodness to lock the door. Good-night, gentlemen. Doctor, you are
coming my way; young gentlemen, please."

He marched off with the doctor, followed by his four pupils, till Distin
increased his pace a little, and contrived to get so near that the
doctor half turned and hesitated for Distin to come level.

"Perhaps you can explain it, my young friend," he said; and Distin
joined in the conversation.

Meanwhile Gilmore and Macey were talking volubly, while Vane seemed to
be listening.

"It's all gammon about haunting and ghosts and goblins," said Gilmore.
"Chaps who wrote story-books invented all that kind of stuff, same as
they did about knights in full armour throwing their arms round
beautiful young ladies, and bounding on to their chargers and galloping
off."

"Oh, come, that's true enough," said Macey.

"What!" cried Gilmore, "do you mean to tell me that you believe a fellow
dressed in an ironmonger's shop, and with a big pot on his head, and a
girl on his arm, could leap on a horse?"

"Yes, if he was excited," cried Macey.

"He couldn't do it, without the girl."

"But they did do it."

"No, they didn't. It's impossible. If you want the truth, read some of
the proper accounts about the armour they used to wear. Why, it was so
heavy that--"

"Yes, it was heavy," said Macey, musingly.

"Yes, so heavy, that