e. It would be rare fun to torment her a little. I will be very sweet
to Master Bob for the time to come."

Mary caught her arm, and looked imploringly in her face.

"So you are afraid of my marrying Bob Mason? What foolish women you are!
He is not rich enough for me. A drunken spendthrift! When I sell my soul
for money, as mother calls my getting a rich husband, it shall be to one
who is better able to pay for it."

And in high spirits the hitherto discontented grumbler undressed and
retired to bed, leaving Mary to pray for her during the greater part of
the night, to entreat God to forgive her volatile sister, and make her
sensible of her sin.

CHAPTER IX.

THE GHOST.

A short time after this conversation took place by the sick-bed of
Dorothy Grimshawe, a report got abroad that the road between the town of
---- and C---- churchyard was haunted by the ghost of old Mason; the
apparition of that worthy having been seen and spoken to by several of
his old friends and associates, who had frequented the "Brig's Foot"
during his occupation of it, and to whom his person was well known. The
progress of the stage-coach had been several times stopped by the said
ghost, the horses frightened, the vehicle overturned, and several of the
passengers seriously injured. Those who retained their senses, boldly
affirmed that they had seen the spectre, that it was old Mason and no
mistake; a man so remarkable for his ill-looks in life, that even in
death they could not be forgotten. These tales, whether true or false,
were generally believed among the lower classes, and were the means of
bringing a great influx of guests to the "Brig's Foot." All the idlers
in the town flocked hither after the night had closed in, to ask
questions, and repeat what they had heard during the day about the
ghost.

Martha Mason looked sourly on her new customers, and answered all their
questions regarding her departed husband with an abrupt, "What concern
is it of yours what the man was like? He is dead. I know nothing about
him now; nor do I want to know. I don't believe one word of your foolish
lies."

One circumstance struck Mary as very singular: young Mason was always
absent of an evening, and seldom returned before daybreak, particularly
on those nights when the coach from N---- was expected to pass that
road, which was only twice during the week. This was the more
remarkable, as he had always been the foremost in the scenes of riot an