several years. Augustus Melcombe, you know, was the name of the dear
grandmother's only brother, her father's heir; he was her father's only
son, two daughters born between died in infancy. That poor young fellow
died at sea, and just at the time (as is supposed) that he expired, his
wraith appeared to the old woman, Becky Maddison, then a very young
girl. I am sorry to say the old woman has made a gain of this story.
People often used to come to hear it, and she certainly does not always
tell it exactly the same. People's inquiries, I suppose, and
suggestions, have induced her to add to it; but the version I am giving
you is what she first told."

Mrs. Melcombe mentioned the book in which Valentine would find it, and
repeated from memory the impressive conclusion, "And this story of the
young man's appearance to her had been repeatedly told by the girl
before his family became alarmed at his protracted absence. It was
during the long war, and the worst they feared was that he might have
been taken prisoner; but more than three years after a member of the
family met by accident, when some hundreds of miles away from home, a
naval officer who had sailed in the ship to which this young lieutenant
belonged, and heard from him, not without deep emotion, that at that
very time and at that very hour the youth had died at sea."

"There is only one mistake in that version," continued Mrs. Melcombe,
"and that is, that we do not know the exact time when the young man
died. Cuthbert Melcombe was not told the month even, only the year."

"But surely that is a very important mistake," said Valentine.

"Yes, for those to consider who believe in supernatural stones. It is
certain, however, that the girl told this story within a day or two, and
told it often, so that it was known in the village. It is certain also
that he was at sea, and that he never came home. And it is undoubtedly
true that Cuthbert, when in London, heard this account, for he wrote his
mother home a description of the whole interview, with the officer's
name and ship. I have seen the letter, and read it over several times.
The year of the death at sea is mentioned, but not the day. Now the day
of the ghost's appearance we cannot be wrong about; it was that before
the night of the great gale which did such damage in these parts, that
for years it could not be forgotten."

"You have read the letter, you say?"

"Yes; it was an important one, I suppose. But I fan