ns about the business which required their presence at Raven
Castle in such haste.

"The orphan children of Sir Henry Fairfax are to be conveyed to some
place of concealment for a short period. Master says he has had
intimation of a design on the part of the late Sir Henry's friends to
seize them perforce. Which act of violence Hildebrand Wentworth, being
left as their sole guardian, will make all haste to prevent."

"The children of the late Sir Harry Fairfax who was killed in the wars?"
inquired Anthony.

"Ay, ay. Poor things! since their mother drowned herself"----

Old Hardpiece here looked round, as though fearing some intrusion. He
continued in an undertone--

"Goody Shelton says she walks in the forest; and that her wraith so
frightened Humphrey's horse that it would not budge a straw's breadth,
just beside the great oak in the Broad Holm, before you get into the
forest on the other side towards Slaidburn."

Anthony was, at this precise moment, cramming the last visible remains
of a goose-pie into the same place where he had before deposited half
the good things on the table, anointing his beard with their savoury
outskirts,--when suddenly his chin dropped, his face assumed a sort of
neutral tinge, and his whole form appeared to grow stiff with terror. He
made several efforts to speak; but the following words only could be
distinguished:--

"I was sure it would be a ghost!"

"What!--a ghost!--Where!" anxiously inquired Geoffery.

"Just by the great oak in the Broad Holm, on the other side of the
forest."

"What was it like?"

"I cannot tell; and Michael pretended he did not see it!"

"Thou canst surely show the appearance it put on."

"Something, as it might be, like unto a woman, crossed our path twice,
and within a stone's throw. O Master Geoffery, we be dead men!"

Another groan here interrupted their discourse. Master Hardpiece
muttered some unintelligible prayers, putting on a face of great
solemnity. Several minutes elapsed, while the following exclamations
rapidly succeeded each other:--

"A ghost!--save us!--a very ghost! I'll not to Slaidburn again without
help. Another draught, Anthony; a stiffener to thy courage, mayhap. It's
now daylight, though," said he, looking through the casement, "and most
of us fear only what may be felt, in the day-time at any rate."

Anthony took the cup, and, apparently without being aware, drank off the
contents. He was much invigorated by the draught wh