e_.
Here he stopped, and, pointing downwards, showed me on the bare ground
an exact outline of the dagger which he had drawn from his side.

"'Here they dug my grave and here they buried me; a salt spring washes
over me.'

"At this moment the great clock of St Andrew struck ONE.

"'All that you have told me is very sad and strange,' I said, 'but now,
will you allow me to ask you why you have appeared to me? Is there
anything you want done on earth that I can do? Is there any restitution
to be made, or justice to be administered? Anything that you require, I
am ready to do, if you will grant me one favour when you return to the
spirit realm.'

"I had been speaking with my eyes fixed on the ground, but now,
happening to raise them, I was surprised to see that my companion
appeared to be sinking into the ground.

"'My time is up,' he said. '_Remember!_'--and, as his head disappeared,
his words came in a hollow, sepulchral voice from beneath _that spot of
black earth_--'remember you are my witness!'

"I was left standing alone under the plane-tree, with the thought, that
in returning to my room, I might probably meet the restless spirit of
Lucretia Carbury.

"Nothing of the kind, however, occurred. I passed through the doors that
had opened at the touch of Captain Carbury, and I noticed that they
closed behind me without any effort on my part. I regained my bed, and
almost immediately fell asleep. All had passed so naturally, and as a
matter of course, that only when I woke this morning, and thought over
the events of the night, did I realise that I had passed through such an
experience as is given to few human beings.

"You see, dear Edie, that my narrative has taken so long to write that I
have no time to speak of other things, even if I could bring my mind to
think of anything else, which, I confess, I should have great difficulty
in doing.--Ever your very affectionate, "M. PORTER."

Copied _verbatim_ from Miss Porter's letter, written on the morning of
14th April 1875.

* * * * *

So ends the story, with apologies to the S.P.R.!

I claim nothing for it beyond the following _facts_:

The Priory still exists at Grantwich, and is known to have been the
family mansion of the Carbury family.

Miss Porter was undoubtedly matron of the school where my friend's
brothers were educated. She was a woman of unblemished character and
truthfulness, and would certainl