binson became superstitiously nervous. As for Teddy
O'Donel, he had seldom been entirely free from this condition during any
night of his existence; but he was much worse than usual on the present
occasion!

After sunset, Jack had his tea alone in the hall, while O'Donel took
his--also, of course, alone--in the kitchen. Tea over, Jack sat down
and wrote part of a journal which he was in the habit of posting up
irregularly. Then he went into the kitchen to give Teddy his orders for
the following day, and stayed longer than usual. Thereafter, he read
parts of one or two books which he had brought with him from the
civilised world. But, do what he would, the image of the dead woman
lying so near him invariably came between him and the page, and obtruded
itself on his mind obstinately. Once he was so exasperated while
reading, that he jumped violently off his chair, exclaiming, "This is
childish nonsense!" In doing so he tilted the chair over, so that it
balanced for an instant on its hind legs, and then fell with an awful
crash, which caused him to leap at least three feet forward, clench his
fists, and wheel round with a look of fury that would certainly have put
to flight any _real_ ghost in creation.

Jack gasped, then he sighed, after which he smiled and began to pace the
hall slowly. At last he said, half aloud, "I think I'll smoke my pipe
to-night with that poor fellow, O'Donel. He must be lonely enough, and
I don't often condescend to be social."

Taking up his pipe and tobacco-pouch, he went towards the kitchen.

Now, while his master was enduring those uncomfortable feelings in the
hall, Teddy was undergoing torments in the kitchen that are past
description. He had had a grandmother--with no nose to speak of, a
mouth large enough for two, four teeth, and one eye--who had stuffed him
in his youth with horrible stories as full as a doll is of sawdust.
That old lady's influence was now strong upon him. Every gust of wind
that rumbled in the chimney sent a qualm to his heart. Every creak in
the beams of his wooden kitchen startled his soul. Every accidental
noise that occurred filled him with unutterable horror. The door, being
clumsily made, fitted badly in all its parts, so that it shook and
rattled in a perfectly heartrending manner.

Teddy resolved to cure this. He stuck bits of wood in the opening
between it and the floor, besides jamming several nails in at the sides
and top. Still, the latc