"Come away, then," cried John; and he posted his sentinels at
different angles, where each could have his eye on the door. The girls
shut themselves in the house, and outside and in they awaited the
result.

There was no result.

Ordinary sentinels can pace to and fro to make the moments go more
quickly, but Edwin and John and William were compelled to stand
without speech or motion, as to betray their presence would have been
to defeat their purpose. At the end of half an hour their patience was
worn out, and they came to the conclusion that whoever was playing the
trick knew that they were watching; so they went in, and hardly were
they in and the door shut when the bell rang again.

John rushed from the kitchen, whither he had gone for something, but
the others, being in the dining-room and nearer the door, reached it
before him; and again nothing was to be seen but the still calm night,
in which hung the moon with all her accustomed unimpassioned serenity.
What cared she for ghosts? Perhaps she is only a ghost herself, else
why, with all her pale quiet ways, does she never turn round and show
herself thoroughly? No doubt she has reasons of her own, whether
they are good or not: her sex is apt to be both capricious and
persistent--two qualities which she possesses in perfection.

The Ormistons and Edwin stood out on the broad walk before the door,
none of them feeling very comfortable, if the truth must be told, but
none of them showing their feelings except Bell and Jessie, who openly
declared that they were very much frightened.