l be together," he replied.

"But why that far only, Charley--eh?"

"That's what you could never guess," said he, "and very few else aither;
but go I must, an' go I will. At all events, I'll be company for you in
passin' it. Are you never afeard at night, as you go near it?"

"Divil a taste," she replied; "what 'ud I be afeard of? my father laughs
at sich things; although," she added, musing, "I think he's sometimes
timorous for all that. But I know he's often out at all hours, and he
says he doesn't care about ghosts--I know I don't."

The conversation now flagged a little, and Hanlon, who had been all the
preceding part of the evening full of mirth and levity, could scarcely
force himself to reply to her observations, or sustain any part in the
dialogue.

"Why, what the sorra's comin' over you?" she asked, as they began to
enter into the shadow of the hill at whose foot her father's cabin
stood, and which here, for about two hundred yards, fell across the
road. "It is gettin' afeard you are?"

"No," he replied; "but I was given to undherstand last night, that if
I'd come this night to the Grey Stone, I'd find out a saicret that I'd
give a great deal to know."

"Very well," she replied, we'll see that; an' now, raise your spirits.
Here we're in the moonlight, thank goodness, such as it is. Dear me,
thin, but it's an awful night, and the wind's risin'; and listen to the
flood, how it roars in the glen below, like a thousand bulls!"

"It is," he replied; "but hould your tongue now for a little, and as
you're here stop wid me for a while, although I don't see how I'm likely
to come by much knowledge in sich a place as this."

They now approached the Grey Stone, and as they did the moon came out
a little from her dark shrine of clouds, but merely with that dim and
feeble light which was calculated to add ghastliness and horror to the
wildness and desolation of the place.

Sally could now observe that her companion was exceedingly pale and
agitated, his voice, as he spoke, became disturbed and infirm; and as he
laid his hand upon the Grey Stone he immediately withdrew it, and taking
off his hat he blessed himself, and muttered a short prayer with an
earnestness and solemnity for which she could not account. Having
concluded it, both stood in silence for a short time, he awaiting the
promised information--for which on this occasion he appeared likely to
wait in vain;--and she without any particular purpose beyond