mysterious affair into her own hands
and pooh-poohed it entirely.

They were accustomed to early hours at Cockhoolet, but when the time
came for going to bed the girls declared they were too frightened to
go up stairs alone. "It would be far better," they both said, "for us
to stay here all together in this room till morning: we could sit up
quite well."

"Absurd!" said Bessie.

"Well, we could not sleep even if we were in bed," they protested.

"No fear," said the chatelaine. "If you were to sit up all night you
would be like ghosts yourselves to-morrow morning. Come, I'll go with
you and sit beside you till you sleep. But wait a minute till I come
back."

When they were bidding Mr. Forrester good-night he said to the girls,
"If anything happens let me know."

"Nothing will happen," said Bessie: "the bell is quiet now and the
servants are sound asleep. I have just been looking at them, and the
sooner we follow their example the better."

"What are we to do if we hear the bell ring again?" John asked.

"Nothing. Keep below the blankets, John," his sister said. "It will
ring a loud peal indeed if you hear it: I think a cannon might be
fired at your ear without disturbing you."

"That's a mistake," said John, "I am a remarkably light sleeper: a fly
on my nose will make me turn round any time."

"I believe that, but it won't waken you. Good-night;" and she took
a hand of each of her sisters and went off with all the dignity
beseeming her position as head of the family and governor of the
castle. Her presence being withdrawn, Edwin felt much as you do on a
March day when the sun goes under a cloud, although he had not
enjoyed the sun either, owing to the undercurrent of east wind that
continually chilled him. He almost determined to give it up. Of what
use was it? Evidently she did not care for him, and the words, "Mr.
Forrester here again! he must surely be dull at home," sounded in
his ears. Very east-windy they were; still, he loved her with a great
love, and he could not give her up: he was in a mist, and could see
neither to go back nor forward.

"I say, Edwin," said John confidentially, "what do you think about
this bell business? Of course one couldn't speak of it before the
girls, they are frightened enough already--Bessie too, although she
pretends not. What's your own private opinion about it?"

"Oh, it must be a ghost," said Edwin: "they do things of that kind,
you know--turn tables and rap and so