old half-ruined house below; and sometimes saw white-frocked Gracie
walking on the terrace in the evening sun, and sometimes in returning
passed her window near enough to wave a greeting. And once, when she had
the fever, and Dr. Hawkins came twice a day to see her, I had no heart
for school, but sat on that stile the livelong day, looking at the gabled
house where she was lying ill. And Mr. Glennie never rated me for playing
truant, nor told Aunt Jane, guessing, as I thought afterwards, the cause,
and having once been young himself. 'Twas but boy's love, yet serious for
me; and on the day she lay near death, I made so bold as to stop Dr.
Hawkins on his horse and ask him how she did; and he bearing with me for
the eagerness that he read in my face, bent down over his saddle and
smiled, and said my playmate would come back to me again.

So it was quite true that I had watched the house, but not as a spy, and
would not have borne tales to old Maskew for anything that could be
offered. Then Ratsey spoke up for me and said--''Tis a false scent. The
boy is well enough, and simple, and has told me many a time he seeks the
churchyard because there is a fine view to be had there of the sea, and
'tis the sea he loves. A month ago, when the high tide set, and this
vault was so full of water that we could not get in, I came with Elzevir
to make out if the floods were going down inside, or what eddy 'twas that
set the casks tapping one against another. So as I lay on the ground with
my ear glued close against the wall, who should march round the church
but John Trenchard, Esquire, not treading delicately like King Agag, or
spying, but just come on a voyage of discovery for himself. For in the
church on Sunday, when we heard the tapping in the vault below, my young
gentleman was scared enough; but afterwards, being told by Parson
Glennie--who should know better--that such noises were not made by
ghosts, but by the Mohunes at sea in their coffins, he plucks up heart,
and comes down on the Monday to see if they are still afloat. So there he
caught me lying like a zany on the ground. You may guess I stood at
attention soon enough, but told him I was looking at the founds to see if
they wanted underpinning from the floods. And so I set his mind at ease,
for 'tis a simple child, and packed him off to get my dubbing hammer. And
I think the boy will not be here so often now to frighten honest
Parmiter, for I have weaved him some pretty tales