n; and glad I was when
Creswell knocked at the door, as she did every morning, for we always
locked it, and it was my business to get out of bed and let her in. But
on this occasion, instead of doing so, I called out, "Come in, the door
is not fastened"; upon which she answered that it was, and I was obliged
to get out of bed and admit her as usual.

When I told my mother what had happened she was very grateful to me for
not waking her, and commended me much for my resolution; but as she was
always my first object, that was not to be wondered at. She, however,
resolved not to risk another night in the house, and we got out of it
that very day, after instituting, with the aid of the servants, a
thorough search, with a view to ascertain whether there was any possible
means of getting into the rooms except by the usual modes of ingress;
but our search was vain; none could be discovered.

Considering the number of people that were in the house, the
fearlessness of the family, and their disinclination to believe in what
is called the _supernatural_, together with the great interest the owner
of this large and handsome house must have had in discovering the trick,
if there had been one, I think it is difficult to find any other
explanation of this strange story than that the sad and disappointed
spirit of this poor injured, and probably murdered boy, had never been
disengaged from its earthly relations, to which regret for its
frustrated hopes and violated rights still held it attached.

XXXI

THE GHOST OF ROSEWARNE

From HUNT'S "Romances of the West of England"

"Ezekiel Grosse, gent., attorney-at-law," bought the lands of Rosewarne
from one of the De Rosewarnes, who had become involved in debt by
endeavouring, without sufficient means, to support the dignity of his
family. There is reason for believing that Ezekiel was the legal adviser
of this unfortunate Rosewarne, and that he was not over-honest in his
transactions with his client. However this may be, Ezekiel Grosse had
scarcely made Rosewarne his dwelling-place, before he was alarmed by
noises, at first of an unearthly character, and subsequently, one very
dark night, by the appearance of the ghost himself in the form of a worn
and aged man. The first appearance was in the park, but he subsequently
repeated his visits in the house, but always after dark. Ezekiel Grosse
was not a man to be terrified at trifles, and for some time he paid but
slight attenti