); another
time she was with me in the drawing-room, when she laid down her book
and whispered, 'See, see, near the door!' There, sure enough was the
appearance that had visited me in the study in clear daylight. I did not
make her out quite as distinctly now because our candles did not light
up that end of the long room, or my older eyes were not as good as
Angela's."

"What did Mrs. Henniker do?"

"She started up and ran to catch the old woman in the black bonnet."

"And did she catch her?"

"She caught a _shiver_--nothing more!

"After this I resolved to give up the Hall at once, sacrificing four
months' rent for the sake of my wife and children, whose nerves would
have soon become shattered had we remained. I went to Mr. Harold and
told him how disagreeable the place was to us. He was grave and very
guarded in manner, confessing that no tenant stayed more than a couple
of months at the Hall--that his client certainly made considerably in
consequence--that he had done his utmost to find out what was wrong with
the house, but all in vain. Mr. J---- would not speak about it, and when
strenuously urged to explain, replied emphatically--'_I shall never tell
you the story of that house._'

"We dismissed the servants with handsome presents at once on our return
to Dublin, so desirous were we that the children should never be
reminded of their terror. I think they have not heard the old woman in
the black bonnet spoken of since we left the Hall, and the younger ones
have probably forgotten her. As to us, we can only say that the mystery
is unexplained."

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