d
misrule that were constantly enacted beneath that roof. When he did make
his appearance, he was unusually sober, and repeated all the pranks
performed by the ghost as an excellent joke, mimicking his looks and
actions amid loud bursts of indecent laughter, to the no small horror of
his superstitious guests.

"What do the ghost look like, Bob?" asked Joshua Spilman, an honest
labourer, who had stepped in to drink his pint of ale, and hear the
news; and having tarried later than his wont, was afraid to return home.
"I never seed a ghost in all my born days."

"Why, man, ghosts, like owls, only come abroad of a night, and you have
little chance of having your curiosity gratified during the day. But if
you are very anxious to see one, and are not afraid of leaving the
chimney-corner, and stepping out into the dark, just go with me to the
mouth of the Gipsy lane, and look for yourself. It was there the old 'un
appeared last night, and there most likely he'll be to-night again."

"The Lord ha' mercy upon us! Do you think, Bob, I'd put myself in the
way of the ghost? I would not go there by mysel' for all the world."

"It would not hurt you."

"Not hurt I? Sure it broke the leg of Dick Simmons, when it skeared the
hosses, and overturned the coach last Monday night. I'd rather keep
myself in a whole skin. But when you seed it, Bob, worn't you mortal
feared?"

"Not I."

"An' did you speak to 'un?"

"Ay to be sure. Do you think I'd run away from my own dad? 'Old boy,'
says I, 'is that you? How are you getting on below?' He shakes his head,
and glowers at me, an' his one eye looked like a burning coal.

"'You'll know one day,' says he.

"'That's pleasant news,' says I. 'You'll be sure to give me a warm
welcome at any rate. There's nothing like having a friend at head
quarters.' When he saw that I was not afraid of him, he gave a loud
screech, and vanished, leaving behind him a most infernal stench of
brimstone, which I smelt all the way from the cross-road as far as the
bridge. He had got his answer; and I saw no more of him for that night."

Josh thrust his chair back to the wall, and drawing a long breath, gazed
upon the reprobate with a strange mixture of awe and terror in his
bewildered countenance. "Why, man, 'an my feather had said sic like
words to me, I should have gone stark staring mad with fear and sheame."

"The shame should be all on his side then," quoth the incorrigible Bob.
"I did not make him the