"I thought the abbot might be feeling without a home, and sympathized
with him, I assure you, very heartily."

"I can tell you what it is: the servants had to rise at three this
morning to work. It is the light shining out from the laundry-window:
I've seen it often enough."

"Well, it was a providential ghost for you and Edwin."

"[illegible]" said John when they were assembled at breakfast next
morning, looking no worse for the excitement of the previous evening,
having all slept well: if the bell had rung it had disturbed no one
at all. Mr. Forrester and Bessie had not made any one the wiser of the
well-timed appearance of the abbot's ghost which had played such an
effective part in their previous night's drama,--"I say," he
said looking at Mr. Forrester and then at Bessie, "there is some
understanding between you two; you are always looking at each other,
and when you entered the room this morning you [illegible], and
started off [illegible] been caught. But I have [illegible] this
time."

Bessie realized that her secret had become common property, and
blushed becomingly.

Mr. Forrester said, "What have you suspected, John?"

"That Bessie and you laid your heads together to make the bell ring
last night to frighten us. Remember, I'm not stupid altogether."

"I assure you, John, I had nothing to do with the ringing of the